Solanne watched the child quietly. Her mind was full of thoughts, yet she feels like she can't process them. She stood there, trying to be the witness of the child and waiting for midnight to strike.
"Sister!" The child called again. Why does she kept calling Solanne when in fact, she doesn't answer any of her questions.
The child's eyes met Solanne's gaze. This time, the child gaze has changed. "Sister," Her voice trembled.
Solanne stared at the child, especially her eyes. Solanne's eyes seemed to glow as the child's reflection can be seen on her eyes.
She felt like she has no hold of any of her emotions. "Are you scared?" She asked. Her tone of voice seemed to implied that she was expecting this.
"Yes," The child trembled. Her hands were desperately holding Solanne's clothes. "I do not know where to go and what to do. I want to be the best. I want to be helpful yet. There's so many."
'That's natural,' Solanne thought. Just walking in this world for a few hours she can already concluded and see how many endless dreams and possibilities one can have. Yet, at the same time, despite of the choices, this child will suffer in order to get them.
It's the other side of the coin, often they say.
Solanne smiled at the child. "What do you want to do the most?" She asked.
"I want to help people."
"Then start from there."
"But there's so many!" The child acted so frustrated.
"Think again," Solanne encouraged. That's the only thing she can do for this child. "Do not stop thinking."
"Help me."
Solanne pat the child's head. "You're the only one who can decide what you wanted to become."
The child swallowed; she looked down trying to gather her last bit of courage mixed with her little desperation. Her eyes was wondering, trying to look for a dream, a place where she can feel at home. A place for her calling.
"Perhaps, there's something beyond this."
A paused. Solanne eyes gaze went straight beyond the edge of all of these dreams. The pamphlet glowed once again.
"Do not stop the child. Your actions are being observed."
Solanne heaved her breath as she looked up. Just like what the pamphlet had said, there were indeed an "eye" above their head that was watching. This eye wasn't present if they were inside the place of dreams but now, they are already beyond.
Perhaps, this is what they called the guardian. This place was full of magical fantasy she could never even thought before. At the same time, this place also has rules that were absolute.
Solanne could only scoff. She feels withdrew to this dream. She could feel it deep inside her. Her emotions that seemed to be confusing the longer she stayed here.
She looked at the time on the pamphlet. Seven more hours.
Solanne followed the child through the mist. She doesn't seem to be afraid. She was excited.
They walked and walked and walked. The child seemed to be getting desperate as all they could see was mist.
"I need a dream," she whispered hungrily. Solanne could only pity her. "I'm useless if I do not have any dreams."
The child walked and walked. Yet, the child who seemed to be in desperate hunger soon kneel to the ground, eyes bursting into tears, her whole being seemed to be in despair.
"I don't want to go further anymore," the hope that has masked the child's voice was nowhere to be found. The moment she gave up, the mist had cleared, and a harsh horror of reality had unfolded into the child's eyes.
Just by looking at this, Solanne knew, in the memories that has been releveled on her mind that this was the last place and the darkest corners of the "Place of dreams."
This was the place where every fantasy like magic turned into horrors. The air becomes heavy, and the vibrant colors that put one person into a trance has transformed into a murky pallet of shadows and fear.
"What?" The child could only whisper as her dress had slowly turning to the color of this place.
Solanne can feel it, as she looked through the different pathways, that the time here is warp and it stretch for eternity. Dark soil and lifeless tress. The place that was full of graveyards and the epitaph that had nothing on it, not even a name nor a quote, nothing.
Everything in this place feels like it was the very being of symphony that signals the descent of reality, away from the depths of dreams.
From a far distance, Solanne can see a castle, cloaked in decaying leaves and tress, as it stands as a witness of those people who had wondered deep into this place and has lost their very own dreams.
Yes, just like this child.
Solanne applauded the child's endless hunger. Yet, at the same time, her desperation has also led her into this place.
Her own expectations were the one who killed her and those people whom she talked to has led her to this.
Influence and carelessness.
She's the one at fault too.
She had watched this kid into ruin. And then?
Just as Solanne had contemplated through her thoughts, the child panicked, as she stood, and rushed her way out. She wondered what was going on inside her little head. This was far too cruel for a child and yet, this world doesn't even spare those who are innocent.
Was there any chance to get away? Solanne followed her like she always does. But the path seemed so endless, and the child was barely hanging. Solanne can feel her heart sinking as if she was watching a fire burning down every single thing that has been precious and turned it into dust.
The child's desperation, she can hear it, she felt like she's being haunted by it. Why now? She wasn't feeling any emotions until now. Yet, the child's desperation was like a knife slowly killing her making her bleed.
The child continued to run. She didn't blame anyone.
The child ran and ran, until she has exhausted her energy and in the last bit of her strength, her mouth was shut, her eyes were dead.
Soon enough, a magic has descended to the sky enveloping the child. Soon enough, the child changed. Her whole body became an adult, even her clothes has changed.
Solanne watched everything that happened fulfilling her role as a "witness"
And now, Solanne was looking at her own reflection.
Solanne's eyes widen in disbelief. Her heart sank. The child has smiled back to her.
Not knowing what to do, Solanne stared at the child, no she's not a child anymore. And right before she knows, she heard the sound of train coming from a distance. She blinked. And now, she was back to where she started.
She was back at the entrance of the "Place of dreams"
The train stopped right in front of her. The conductor has opened the door and was waiting for her yet, Solanne's were on the child.
She was not a child anymore.
Her clothes mirrored her. She stood there, on the entrance of this place, until a little girl approached her. Her eyes were beaming with energy. The child was full of hopes. "I want to pick my dream!" Solanne can feel the child's passion.
The same thing was happening again. And this time, the one who has become a "witness" was the child who went further and beyond the mirage.
"It's time to board the train," The train conductor reminded.
Solanne blinked her eyes following them as they disappeared through the place.
In the end, she stayed true to her role. Her clothes reverted back to normal. The memories in her head had disappeared and she boarded the train.
The moment she had sat down, that was the only time she understood the whole meaning and reason of that place.
Solanne felt the bitterness seeping through her.
She can't help but chuckled out of frustration.
Once again, the train continued its path. And once again, a train ticket had appeared on her hand telling her where her next destination would be.
Solanne bit her lips. She blinked and the moment she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the endless night sky and the stary stars shines beautifully.
She's back. She's back and she's still in the beach Laying on the sand.
It was still dark. Solanne looked at the time on her phone. It's twelve midnight. She has been dreaming for only a few hours.
Picking herself up, Solanne stood up. This time, she saw Yael's figure, his eyes that were closed before slowly opened. Their gaze met.
There was a soft smile on his face. "You're awake?"
Solanne nodded. "Good morning."
Yael sighed as he stood up. "Yeah, good morning to you too." He sighed as he looked up the sky. Solanne followed him through her gaze.
"Let's go home."
"Yes."
--