I gritted my teeth and endured the antagonistic pain searing through my leg. I could hardly bear witness to the wound enveloping around my ankle, dripping over to the lowest section of the ground. Despite the throbbing reality, I drag my lower extremities to safety and continue striving upwards the ladder, even with my injured right foot. Thankfully, the canine dogs huddled around the pond of blood gave me adequate time to flee and to reflect.
I let out a sigh after reaching the apex of the building. Gazing below, the busy hounds' feasts over to the strewing of blood all over the walls, licking it like crazy bastards.
"What are they?" I toss a query to the air, yearning to recognise the answers to the enigmatic world around me. Everything I look at suggests having hostility over my frame, either wanting me dead or turning into human meat.
Realising that the roof is still perilous to call it my base, I advance and stroll over at the edge to get a view over the horizons. Before I can even comment on the scenery before me, the barks deafen my ears, instructing me to run elsewhere.
Obeying my instincts, I wobble to the diverse surface of the tower and attentively examine my surroundings. Upon my conclusion, I could only find a separate track to guarantee my escape while taking into consideration my immobile leg.
"I need to jump over to the other side and cushion my fall. However," I shift my stare and painfully palpate the outer layer of my wound, showing no signs of regenerating. "I need to deal with this first."
The height of the corresponding building stretches for at least dozens of feet away from where I stand. I need ample strength for me to secure my landing with my foot still constrained by the mark.
Without giving me any chances to conceptualise any plans, the pack of wolves finally cuts to the chase and leers parallel at me. I can even peer through their fangs, crunching over the mixture of dirt bathed with my blood, wanting to taste for more.
Not wanting to agitate them, I slowly crept to my back and prayed for my survival. The dogs did not slip away any chances and make a run straight in my direction while showing their pointed claws and teeth.
"Screw this!" I yelled and rushed over to the open space, carrying with me my broken and hurt limb. Thankfully, my bump landed first on the concrete floor, followed by my hands to cushion my fall. Recalling the correct format of plummeting, I rolled over to my side and kept the damage to a minimum. My fall was not graceful as it implies, but enough to keep me alive; for now.
Realising that I landed in one piece, I move over to the door and go inside while barricading the surface. The dogs did the exact thing and clumsily followed my trace and attacked the protected ingress.
"Hopefully, this will last longer than it should," I assured myself and placed the last piece of chair and blocked any chances of getting breached. However, I cannot go astray for far too long, so I move forward downstairs.
The staircase does not have any source of light, making my perception in a bit of a daze. But instead of shivering like a coward, I drag myself with my fake confidence armed with the battleaxe in one hand.
"Would this weapon make a difference?" I ask myself and imagine facing against the horde of monsters with a single melee weapon. "It's better than nothing, I guess?"
My thoughts running inside my head kept me company as I ventured down the unlit floors. I immediately find a switch on the nearby wall and click it open, revealing the ambience for the whole storey.
"Electricity!" I cannot conceal my excitement for long after perceiving the once dim room.
Moments later, the door upstairs finally breaks through, leading the army of dogs rushing over towards my direction.
Reacting to the noise, I sprint to the lit hallway and enter one of the vacant rooms on the corner and hide inside. Quick breaths escape my mouth as I lean my ear close to the gate and desperately listen to the side and anticipate their movements.
A moment of silence fills the empty room while waiting for the group of hounds to wander around the hall. Eventually, footsteps ring my ears, confirming that the animals are outside.
"I better stay here for the time being," I convince myself once more before taking a deep breath to calm my senses.
I turn around and open the lights, exposing the usual furniture for a hotel room. The atmosphere gives off a cosy remark, besides the comfortable bed and chairs lying in wait for my exhausted body.
Restless, I urge myself to take a quick nap and lay myself on the surface of the bed, clear with unimaginable thoughts and disasters from the outside. My body shuts down the second I close my eyes and indulge myself in a soothing dream.
_______________________________________________________________
"Wake up, Roxanne. You're late for school." A familiar voice echoes inside my ear, paired up with the strange but prosaic air.
I stretch my fingers and feel the texture of a bed, unsure whether I am still in the nightmare or reality. The only thing that can confirm the situation is to open my eyes and see for myself everything around me; so I did.
I gently peer my eyes open and stare blankly at the bedroom door, slightly vibrating from the knocking sounds of my mother.
"Roxanne?" She calls my name yet again, worried that I may be asleep for the time being.
"I'm awake," I replied as loud as I could, hoping that my mother could hear me. "In a second."
"Okay"
She responded and went back downstairs without adding another word. But before I can even begin the day, my mind boggles by the sudden transfer of my body between two distinct realities without warning. I can still feel the pain resonating around my ankle, akin to a laceration of the canine.
I investigate the pain carefully and notice scarlet liquid stretching through the white linens. Astonished, I raise the blanket and gawk my eyes to the spherical wound, similar to what I received inside the forsaken world. Even the sensation that I had felt so similar, which reminded me that that dream is becoming one with my reality.
Relieving myself from the matter, I stand up and head over downstairs and meet with my family. Both of my parents seem to struggle to cope up with the daily chores that made me chuckle out a laugh.
Upon witnessing my reaction, the two of them flash me with their smiles as they offer the meal.
________________________________________________________
Eventually, the school bell chimes, advising all the students to leave the campus. With the alarm sounding our dismissal, the students leave the room with haste, followed by our professor.
"Class dismissed. And by the way," Mrs. Evergreen said while calling the attention of the entire class. "They invite everyone to join any clubs you are interested in. Be sure to respect the club members and your seniors." She added before leaving the room.
Noticing the excitement in their eyes, each of my classmates hurriedly strides towards the clubrooms at the far east section of the school; opposite from the entrance's gate. I, who cannot sympathise with their joy, went on my way.
I still need to investigate the origin of my situation before anything else. This is my utmost priority.
However, the world despises my existence as I bump into a student I wish I have never had.
"I'm sorry I wasn't looking!" The girl said with teary eyes and an uneven expression carved beneath her face.
I look at the corner and distinguish the pile of books scattered abstractly. I could even see her glasses and other items lying across distinct places on the marble floor.
"It's alright," I answered and attempted to help the pity girl, still baffled with all the commotions happening. "Let me help you."
The girl was hesitant at first to stop me from compiling the disperse books, but that did not halt me from providing a helping hand.
After gathering the files from where it originally came from, the girl places her eyeglass back, walks up to me, and offers something in return.
"T-Thank you," She awkwardly said while extending both of her hands and showing me a pocket-sized book.
"Oh, no need for-" Before I can even refuse her gift, she forcefully sets the book on the palm of my hands and immediately runs back.
With a joyous grin, she turns around one last time and proffers an apology and gratitude to the efforts I exhibited.
"And by the way," The anorak student added. "If you're interested in joining a club, meet us at the west section of the school!" and absconded the frame.
I can only watch her figure running gracelessly.
Left alone yet again, I inspect the book in my hand while resuming my walk towards the entrance hall. The tome handed over to me has a unique design and akin to an antique item inside a museum. It also has a rough and unique texture that feels indistinguishable to the ones I have seen inside the tavern in my dreams.
Although vague and distant, the strange book appears to be alive as I can feel its exciting aura gushing over to my fingers, tingling me with its electrical circuit.
Brushing off my imaginations, I went outside the school grounds, thinking of finding the next clue of some sort revolving around the incident happening with my life. However, little did I notice that the club next door already has the answers.