Chereads / Dreams of the End / Chapter 2 - The Desert’s Secrets

Chapter 2 - The Desert’s Secrets

Yumi's heart pounded in her chest as she looked around the vast, barren desert. The ground beneath her feet was cracked, parched by years of neglect. The air felt unnaturally hot, and she could feel the oppressive weight of the sun hanging in the sky. She squinted, trying to make out the distant figures of others who, like her, had appeared in this strange dreamscape. They were scattered across the horizon, moving like dots in the vast nothingness, each one seemingly searching for answers.

She hesitated, unsure of what to do. Her mind told her that this couldn't be real, but the heat of the air, the dust in her mouth—it all felt too real to dismiss. "What is this place?" she whispered to herself. Her hands trembled as she reached into her pocket, only to find her phone still there. A sense of dread washed over her when she saw the screen—it was completely blank. No signal, no messages, just an empty black screen.

The ground beneath her feet shifted slightly, as if the earth itself was trembling. Yumi instinctively looked around, her breath caught in her throat. In the distance, she saw something—no, someone—standing alone. It was a figure of a man, his silhouette barely visible against the harsh light of the desert. He looked out of place here, but something about him felt strangely familiar.

Her feet moved on their own, driven by an impulse she couldn't explain. The air became heavier with each step, and it felt as if she was walking through molasses, her legs growing tired with every movement. When she finally reached the figure, she saw that it was Kaito Mori, the scientist whose warnings had been broadcasted to the world before everything went dark.

"Kaito?" Yumi called, her voice uncertain.

He turned slowly, his eyes widening in surprise. "Yumi? How... how are you here?" His voice cracked with confusion, his hands raised in disbelief.

"I don't know," she replied. "I was just in Tokyo, and then... and then I woke up here. What is this place?"

Kaito looked around, scanning the empty landscape. "I don't have answers. But I think we're connected—somehow. This... this is real, Yumi. Whatever's happening here, it's tied to the collapse of Earth. I don't know how or why, but I feel like we're in this together."

Before she could respond, a harsh wind kicked up, swirling sand around them. Yumi felt a chill creep down her spine as something distant caught her eye. A large, dark shape appeared on the horizon, its outline jagged and unnatural against the sky. It wasn't a structure; it was something much larger, something alive.

"Do you see that?" Yumi asked, pointing toward the ominous shape.

Kaito narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening. "I do. And I think it's coming for us."

The two of them stood frozen, watching as the shape drew closer, its features becoming clearer. It was a massive, twisted creature, its body covered in scales that gleamed under the sun like metal. Its eyes were dark voids, and its mouth opened in a grotesque grin, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth.

"We need to move," Kaito urged, grabbing Yumi's arm and pulling her toward the safety of a nearby rock formation.

The creature's growl echoed across the desert, sending vibrations through the ground. As they ran, the air seemed to grow heavier with each step. The creature was getting closer, its enormous claws scraping against the ground with terrifying force.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in the air, though it didn't come from either of them. It was a voice deep and resonant, like a distant, ancient being speaking through the very fabric of the dream.

"You cannot escape."

The words reverberated in their minds, chilling them both to the core. Kaito and Yumi exchanged a glance, both understanding the gravity of what they had just heard. There was something at work here—something beyond their comprehension—and it wasn't just the creature they had to fear. The very fabric of the dream seemed alive, watching them.

They scrambled behind the rock, panting from their run, trying to catch their breath. The creature stopped for a moment, its head tilting as if it could sense their presence. It sniffed the air and then let out an ear-splitting roar, causing the ground to tremble even more violently.

Kaito looked around, his mind racing. "There has to be something we can do. This dream, this world—it's changing. It's like it's alive, evolving with us in it."

Yumi's mind raced as well. Could it be that the dream itself was aware of their presence? Could it somehow be connected to the end of the Earth? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

Before they could act, the ground beneath them began to crack. A deep, resonant sound echoed as if the desert itself was about to split open. With a surge of panic, they leapt from behind the rock and ran, the ground shaking violently underfoot.

"Stay close!" Kaito shouted, urging Yumi to keep up. They couldn't afford to slow down. Whatever was happening, they had to escape it.

But as they ran, another shape emerged from the dust and chaos. This one was different—a figure, tall and cloaked in darkness, its presence foreboding. It moved with unnatural grace, its silhouette like a shadow against the light.

And then, it spoke.

"You are not alone."

The voice was calm, but it held a power that froze Yumi in place. Something in the air shifted as if the dream itself had altered its course. The figure stepped closer, its face obscured by the hood of its cloak, but its presence was undeniable. It was as if it was made of the very desert around them.

"Who are you?" Kaito demanded, his voice firm despite the fear that gripped him.

The figure tilted its head slightly, as if contemplating the question. Then, it stepped forward and raised a hand, causing the ground to shift once more. Sand swirled around them, forming a barrier between them and the approaching creature.

"I am a guide," the figure said, its voice almost a whisper. "But I cannot help you unless you understand why you are here."