When she looked around she couldn't see anything, nor could she make out whether she was underwater or above ground. Around her a dark blue haze lit up the otherwise dark abyss. Normally darkness scared her, but in this moment she felt rather calm.
She suffered from terrible night terrors as a child, and they stopped at the age of seventeen, however after nine years she still continued to have lucid dreams often, so this didn't seem too strange except normally in her dreams, she visits places she's been.Normally they are quite busy, but this dream seemed quiet, calm. She couldn't make out where exactly the blue light was coming from, but when she looked up she saw a floating blue flame hovering above her. As she looked at it, it began moving forward slowly. She didn't know why, but she just had this feeling that she needs to stay out of the darkness. Nothing good ever happens in it. She followed the flame, on what seemed to be a road to nowhere.
Time seemed an odd thing here, moving slowly. It felt as if she had been walking forever with nothing around her to track her distance, a seed of worry began to sprout in her mind.
"No!" She shouted, and shook her head violently as if to rip it right out.
The flame halted briefly before continuing.
I need to stay positive, otherwise this could turn into something terrible.
***
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the blue light began touching things around it. Trees sprung into view, she began traveling through a forest. Somehow this seemed worse than nothing as the forest almost made it seem darker.
It can't be possible.
She wasn't sure why she thought that. She decided not to look around her and focus straight ahead.
This place really creeped her out. After a little while longer she managed to reach the end of the forest.The blue flame halted a few steps ahead. She looked ahead, A lake, and to her surprise across it is what looked like a small town. There were red lanterns hung in a row down every street, and lots of small buildings right next to one another. The town was built on a hill allowing her to scan it's layout, however it was too far to make out the small details. Stephanie was standing quite high herself. She had no idea how to get down to the lake or even across the lake. The town looked so inviting with all the lights. It sure beat the darkness all around her. She had to get there.
She looked up at the blue flame above her as to almost command it to find a path. It hovered for a little while unresponsive.
"Come on you stupid thing don't tell me we are stuck heeeRRRe!"
The ground beneath her collapsed and she began sliding rapidly down the bank, without delay the flame followed her. She began grabbing everything she could get her hands on, but all the plants she grabbed were ripped straight out of the ground. She could see far enough to see a deadly drop ahead of her.
"please God noo!" She screamed as she fell down the cliff.
She closed her eyes as tight as she could, bracing herself. She braced and braced and, nothing? What the hell?
She looked below her. She wasn't falling anymore. The lake quietly brushed against the rocks beneath her. Her shirt felt tight, as if something was holding her by the back of it.
"God? ha don't make laugh." a mysterious voice said.
***
She struggled to try look behind her, waving her arms trying to swing herself around to see her mysterious saviour. He chuckled at her pointless attempt before yanking her on to a ledge. She gathered herself for a moment, and looked to face him. He was devilishly handsome, it took almost no time for her to register that. She felt herself getting nervous, it's not often she sees anyone that she finds attractive. He had nice black hair, although not that long, it was very wild with curls going in every direction. He was taller than her, but not in a disproportionate way that made her feel too short. He had a nice build too, not too skinny and not too muscular. She studied his body for a while, eyes going further down until, wait is he, naked!?
"Oh my god!" She quickly turned around.
"Why are you naked!?"
"I burnt all my clothes." He said casually.
Burnt them? She looked around for the small blue flame that acted as her guide before, but it was gone.
"Did the flame burn your clothes?" She continued looking away.
"Something like that, I have a little trick I can do."
All of a sudden there was a burst of light. She turned around and stared at the flame curiously.
"Is that you?"
He didn't answer.
"Can you not talk?"
The blue flame swayed side to side.
"Well before you turn back, maybe we should get you some clothes first." She said smugly.
****************
Update: I decided the previous two chapters were too short, but as to not confuse anyone I renamed them as a two part chapter. I hope you are enjoying it so far. I will try add a chapter everyday!