The air in the Sleep Restoration Institute buzzed with a quiet hum, the sound of machinery and soft footsteps blending together in a steady rhythm. The sterile halls stretched out ahead, bathed in the dim, bluish light that seemed to blanket the entire facility. Alice C. Gale's shoes tapped against the floor as she stepped forward, her grip tightening around the small, worn-out alarm clock in her hand.
It's not too late to turn back, she thought. You don't have to do this. You don't even know if you can do this.
But something deep within her pushed her forward. The Institute loomed before her, a place where hope was dim, but determination was bright. The nightmares that plagued the world had grown more frequent, more dangerous, and Alice had seen enough. She wasn't strong, and she certainly wasn't brave. But she had to try.
A tall woman stood at the entrance to the next chamber. Terra Luna. Alice recognized her instantly—the Director of the Institute, the one responsible for gathering the world's last line of defense against the Nightmares. Terra's presence was commanding, her silver eyes sharp with intelligence. She was everything Alice felt she wasn't: confident, collected, and in control.
But even Terra couldn't hide the weariness behind her eyes.
"You must be Alice C. Gale," Terra said, her voice as steady as the ticking of a clock. "I've read your application. You're volunteering to fight the Nightmares."
Alice swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I—I want to help."
Terra's gaze shifted to the alarm clock in Alice's hand, the small, battered piece of metal that had become Alice's constant companion. "That's your Sleep Totem?"
Alice glanced down at it, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. "It is. My grandmother gave it to me when I was little. It doesn't work very well anymore, but… it's special to me."
Terra raised an eyebrow. "That's good. Sentimental value strengthens the bond between a Sleep Totem and its user. But you understand, this is more than a memento. When the time comes, you'll need to merge with it, and that requires skill. Training."
Alice shifted her weight from foot to foot, suddenly very aware of how underprepared she was. "I haven't… I haven't merged with it yet. I don't even know how."
For a moment, the silence between them felt like it stretched into eternity. Terra studied her, her expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, she nodded.
"Most of our recruits haven't merged with their Sleep Totems right away. It's something you learn here, through discipline and control. But once you start, there's no turning back. Are you sure you're ready?"
Am I ready?
The question rang in Alice's mind, bouncing around her doubts and insecurities. She wasn't a fighter, she wasn't a hero. She was just… Alice. But then she thought of the nightmares, of the way they ripped through people's minds, leaving nothing but fear and madness behind. How long had it been since anyone had slept peacefully?
"I'm not sure I'm ready," Alice admitted, her voice soft but steady. "But I can't just stand by and watch anymore. If there's even a chance I can help, I have to try."
Terra's lips quirked up into the smallest of smiles. "That's all we can ask for."
The sound of a door opening behind them drew Alice's attention. More recruits were filing in, some looking confident, others as uncertain as she felt. One of them, a young woman with a tall, pointed witch hat, caught Alice's eye. She had sharp, piercing green eyes and an air of quiet confidence, though there was something playful in the way she adjusted her hat. She gave Alice a quick, knowing glance, the corner of her lips curling up as though she could read Alice's thoughts.
Alice blinked, returning the smile, though her stomach churned with a mix of excitement and dread.
"Follow me," Terra said, turning and leading the way down the hall. "Your training begins now."
As Alice followed, clutching her broken alarm clock, she felt the weight of what she had just agreed to sink in. She was stepping into the unknown, into a battle she wasn't sure she could win.
But she had made her choice.
And there was no turning back.