--
Dreams can be absurd and most of them do not make any sense.
That's right that was the only explanation for this. This is the only explanation she could ever accept.
Yet, as Solanne was looking around, everything, every bit of this place was so vivid. All of the seats were occupied by passengers. They just staring what's in front of them, afraid to even glance to their surroundings.
The air was heavy. There's no noise that can be heard except for someone's breathing.
It was as if they were transported in a different place that no one knows. Can she wake up from this dream? Solanne subconsciously tried to pinch her cheeks.
"Ow!"
"What are you doing?" With the noise, Yael looked up to meet her gaze. Solanne was afraid that they'll attract attention, but when she looked, no one was looking at them. She looked back at Yael.
He seemed quite annoyed. His arms were crossed over his chest. He was obviously not happy. Even in her dreams, this version of him was really accurate.
"I'm just thinking I'll wake if I hurt myself."
He sighed as he looked at the view outside the window. How can he not feel dizzy looking at that blur images.
"What an idiot," He mumbled yet as Solanne looked at his face, there's a red mark on his forehead.
Her eyes widen in disbelief. She feels like she shouldn't ask. 'Did he try to bang his head against the wall thinking the pain would wake him up?'
Since when did he do that?
Solanne almost laugh. Still, it was a work trying to calm her laughter. No! How can she even laugh at this kind of situation?
Solanne, feeling the pressure and the awkward atmosphere again tried to looked inside the train carriage.
The conductor seemed to have done checking all of the passenger's ticket. After that, he went to the other carriage. Solanne was thinking that the train would become lively after the conductor left, but the silence was still there.
The passengers were not even blinking! How come there's a skeleton ridding this train as if it was nothing?
Has she read too many fantasy books that she's having this kind of dreams?
Feeling like she has no way out of this, She sat down. Her eyes were focus on Yael. Just like always, there's silence between them.
Yet Solanne didn't mind.
This silence felt so comfortable that she has nothing to say. Her mind was blank after her fears left her body. She was drained.
What to even do? She just needs to wait until she wakes up.
Feeling a little bit bored, she put her feet on the cushion seat of the train and leaned her head to the side. Yael glanced at her yet he kept his mouth shut.
Both of them were looking outside, wondering when will this train stop.
Both of them do not know what time it was. There's no sense of time. There's no clock.
They're just here, waiting… and waiting… and waiting….
The silence between them feels like an eternity. Solanne stretch her lips.
She feels like she should say something. Something that would make them pass the time. Something that would occupy their minds.
Then she remembers her talk with the owner of the cabin earlier this afternoon.
"Yael," she whispered. For a moment, she feels like his name perfectly fits her lips. Was It because the way her tongue rolled? Or was it because she feels nothing like herself in this dream.
There was a soft sigh she heard. She didn't look at him. Her eyes were just on the window, wondering.
"Do you believe in those legends?"
"…."
There was no answer. Solanne was used to it by now. She didn't mind.
"The cabin owner recently told me about those occult and weird legends that was talked about around the province," she was talking in a low voice, almost like a whisper and she doubt that he'll hear any of her words and random ramblings.
"You see, I look forward in reading those legends. The owner has tons of books about them. Right, Did I tell you? Of course I didn't. We do not even talk that much back in the cabin. Where was I again? Right, a week from now I'll be going to the owner's home to get some foods and supplies. I'll also borrow some books for research materials."
"You're too loud." Solanne heard Yael mumbled quietly. Her words suddenly stopped. She felt like her heart sank and was buried six feet on the ground.
She looked at him and he was now leaning on the window. His eyes were closed as if he was sleeping. Biting her lips, she glared at him.
This is a dream.
Just a dream.
She reminded.
Still, she thought… How come his attitude is still the same?
Solanne swallowed feeling her eyes burned yet she tried her best to keep composed.
How embarrassing….
Solanne's jaw tensed. She wanted to wake up from this dream. She wanted to leave.
What did she even do to be hated like this?
Solanne sighed.
How long will this train ride continue?
Just as her thoughts drifted, Solanne heard a powerful sound of break coming from a distance. Suddenly, the blur images outside the window become incredibly vivid.
Solanne's mind was blank. She can't think of anything as her eyes were drawn by the scenes outside. She was in daze.
What is this sight? How come she's dreaming something like this?
Nestled deep into the forest, where their train was surrounded with trees, everything was so vivid. Solanne can feel the living testament of horror and fantasy whispering through her as she stared through the large forest trees.
These towering trees gnarled branches entwined, like snakes reaching through a shrouded canopy preventing the moonlight from seeping through. There was mist scattered and she can heard different noises inside.
She can hear the sound of water and even soft laughter.
She blinked feeling something crawling on her skin.
This forest feels like despair. The evidence of hope abandoning the world.
How can someone live in this kind of place?
"What in the world?" She heard Yael whispered. Her mind was too afraid to even think. From a distance, Inside the train she heard one passenger said, "This is my stop."
This place?
She didn't mean to look yet, she was curious. Who would like in this place?
As soon as she looked, she bit her lips, as she pulled her eyes back again and look down. That man was dressed in cloaked garments preventing the light to seep through. Solanne cannot see thought his face as it was covered. He moves as if everything was weighing him down and that he, had also abandoned hope.
How come a person look so much like the harsh representation of the unforgiving nature of this forest?
"This is home," the man said. Solanne trembled. He called it home…
As she got down of the train, Solanne saw a boat floating out of nowhere and coincidentally, it found itself in the trains entrance as if it was an animal waiting.
Solanne watched the man carefully. Yet suddenly, she feels as if she should not look through the window.
Trying her best to follow her instinct, Solanne looked down at her hands entangling her fingers.
She's afraid.
She's never been this afraid.
This is a nightmare!
She needs to wake up!
The train soon started to move again and just a passing illusion; everything went back to normal as if nothing happened.
Was that the reason why the views from this window was a blur? Are they traveling in a very fast speed? Or was it because they're forbidden to look?
Where are they even?
What dream is this?
How come it's something like this?
Can she subconsciously even make something like this? On her mind?
Suddenly, it dawned her…. 'it's time to wake up,' a whisper. Again….
Eyes wide opened, Solanne was greeted by a familiar ceiling. Solanne felt the relief wash over her as soon as she realized that she was back again. She looked at the window and she can see the moon shinning so beautiful.
Yet, Solanne can't appreciate it. She hugged her pillow. Tears falling from her eyes.
'Nightmare,' she tried to comfort herself. 'it's only a nightmare. There will be better days. This is nothing, Solanne. You are just stressed.'
'it's okay, Solanne," she softly whispered. 'It is okay.'
--
Yael woke up. He blinked several times to confirm that he was back at the cabin.
'What a ridiculous dream,' he mumbled to himself as he sat up. Yet, he still remembers the way Solanne appeared out of nowhere.
It was as if she was summoned. Was it really a dream? He asked.
It was weird that he started to have a dream about her. And what was even more confusing was, the way she appeared.
Was there something about this dream he was having?
Perhaps he needs to talk to his doctor about this.
--