I Should Wake Up Now!

I dreaded going to work today. I awoke grumpy and sluggish. I had off tomorrow. At least I could look forward to that. A message on my answering machine from my boss filled me in on my extra day off this week.

I wish I did not have to actually earn a living.

When I got to work, everyone seemed to be in a dazed mood. It was like having fellow employees who were actually drones. I noted to myself the strange feeling lingering in the atmosphere. I contemplated the fact that maybe my dream just caused me to be a bit disoriented this morning.

There was a note on my desk.

I had to glance around the office to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Oddly, it seemed as though everyone was leaving me alone for once. I let out a good sigh of relief.

This surely disappeared when I opened the note.

I need you to come back to the caves. I have found something you may be interested in. Armond.

Now this, I did not expect. How is this possible? I felt so confused. My entire work day passed in only a blur. I thought about the note all day.

Something was wrong. I could sense it. I was in a rush to return to my dreamland. I hoped I just wasn't going crazy.

Maybe I am. Maybe I am not.

When I got home, I found another note in my mailbox. This too was from Armond.

Do not go to the caves. They have come out of hiding. I will find you.

Now, this just made me nervous. I can't control where my dream starts.....or can I?

I readied for bed rather early. Around four hours early. I felt like I needed plenty of time. I also wanted to spend more time with Armond. I liked his company. I have had his company for many nights.

As I drifted to sleep, I kept my train of thoughts on the first place I ever met Armond. Hartwood Mansion.

I guess you could say Armond lives in Hartwood Mansion. I was quite frightened of the place my first time here. It is rather dark and dreary. The atmosphere was always a bit colder here than any other place in my dreams.

As I drifted into sleep, the Hartwood Mansion came slowly into view. It took a few minutes for the haziness to clear up. Once I could clearly see my surroundings, I made my way up and through the front door. I could hear music playing from one of the back rooms. I followed the tune until I was in the room with Armond.

The music he was playing seemed rather sad, yet beautiful as well. He did not stop playing when I entered the room. He usually doesn't. He plays the song till the last note before he acknowledges that he has company.

I hummed with the tune for a few minutes. Then there was dead silence. I felt chills shoot down my spine.

"We can no longer go into the caves my dear. I need to bring you to someone who is very dear to me. They will help me understand why you come to this world."

"I am a bit confused here. All I know, is that I go to sleep and end up here. I then wake up and go about my day. I use to have normal dreams once. Now I only end up here."

"Dreams? There are no dreams here! We have our own world here. I am unsure as to why or how you end up here. My friend will help us understand, I hope."

I felt really confused now. I stared into my hands for a while. Armond broke my attention span when he kneeled down in front of me. He placed his hands around mine and kissed my forehead.

"Do not worry. We should go now. I assume you will have to 'wake up' in only a matter of time."

"Yes. I did go to sleep a few hours before I normally would. Let us go then."

Armond went into the barns and came back out with two beautiful horses. One black and one white. Armond helped me onto the white horse.

"Something tells me the white horse was meant for you. I found her by the caves a few weeks back. She was dazed and scared. I suspect the enemy from the caves had staked claim to her. I call her Gabriel."

It felt great to actually be given such a fine horse. I never even rode a horse before. When Armond turned his horse and looked into my eyes, I felt like I belong here. With him. Part of me wanted Armond to feel the same.

Our journey took a couple of hours. We stayed silent for most of the way. Armond felt strangers were in the surrounding woods. Maybe even spies for the enemy in the cave.

What would this thing want with me? I hoped to get some answers to not just that, but as to how this is all possible.

"Armond? How were you able to send me those letters?"

"My friend can send things through many barriers. Including the barriers that separate our world from yours. I am unsure of how it works beyond that. I am unsure of how you cross over. He should be able to clear the issue up for both of us."

"I hope so. I really do."