((OOC: Moratorium, my name is Lokuri, not Iokuri.
I forgot to make the "l" a capital letter.
Okay, the first "dream within a dream" was written when I was in a poetic mood. xD The rest of the post started off the top of my head, but then I started listening to this one song over and over again, and...a LOT of twists happened.
This was the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_U6i...eature=related ))
What was happening to her? Standing next to her, already dwelling in the realm of the past that Joachim lured them into, was Jansen's motionless body that stiffened to the point where he didn't budge an inch. He was still near her, the distance between them still the intolerable space that should have sent her head on an aggressive roller coaster ride. Oddly, Natalie's mind was a tranquil abyss that felt as if part of her was residing within it, while the other half was still in the present. Why hadn't she collapsed from the overwhelming flood of memories like everyone else? Ethan had succumbed as well, waves like those gathered around a grill on a hot day encircling him. Was that the effect of lingering in one's past? What about Liam? She too didn't put up a fight, unable to resist the temptation that Joachim left before them. A numbing sensation was threatening to take her away, just like the others, but...could she leave Lia? If she spirited away into a world that could overlap this one, would Lia...would she disappear?
"Natalie...please, d-don't worry...about me. I'll...wait for you, so p-please...promise...promise that y-you won't...f-forget, and...when we meet again, you'll...be stronger, and...stop Joachim! Promise...and I'll...I'll h-help you...keep everyone's hearts a-away from...Joachim! We...won't lose, o-okay?"
"Promise? ...Promise...I...pr-prom...ise..."
************ Revisiting the Past ************
*** The Terrors of Birth ***
Wordless notes beckoned to all that were near, a ceaseless wail struggling to communicate in some way with the world. However, a miniscule throat organized the measly composition, so no one understood what truly wanted to be said. All they could offer to such gibberish were frightening smiles that held no attachment to the one sobbing in denial. This wasn't what she wanted, but no matter how much she flailed her tiny fists in disproval, the painted masks continued to hover above her, their chilling fingers holding no comfort. Even when her frosty blue orbs widened and shrunk in an attempt to blink away the scary strangers, they kept pouring into the room of white, gapping and pointing at her. Someone, please...but how do you beg for a friendly hand to reach out to you when you cannot speak with your mouth? Then, with all her will and all her heart, the small being would call for a companion that could share her feelings of lonliness.
"You must be Natalie. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Natalie settled within her mother's arms, but her attention was aimed at the corner to her far left. Waving in utter delight to be seen by such woeful eyes was a young lad of twelve. He stood around four feet, with yellow snow boots made from a slippery substance providing little assistance to his height. Light gray, padded pants could barely be seen underneath an oversized, dark gray jacket that puffed out and made him look rounder than he truly was. It was clear that he was quite skinny, for the half buttoned jacket revealed a yellow shirt over a thin stomach, as if he hadn't eaten for quite some time. Concealing most of his face was a large hood in faux fur that resembled that of a wolf. At first, he would have seemed a tad suspicious, lurking in the corner like a creeper hunting his prey, but as he wobbled over -- there was a lot hindering his ability to walk -- his hood tumbled backwards a bit. Heneydew irises of a light quality similar to Natalie's eyes gazed down at her, filled with a wamth that any shade of green could provide. His locks of brown tousled in every direction gave him a wild apparance, only tamed by his almond shaped eyes. Why was it that despite how rough and patched up he appeared, Natalie found herself soothed by his reassuring eyes? Was this the form of communication she had been longing for?
"I am Raphael. Please allow me to protect you from all that may cause you harm. In exchange, let us promise to meet another time in the age of new beginnings. I shall once again be reborn, and you shall encounter those who shant exist. Do not submit to the fear of what may not be understood by those who cannot transcend realities like you and I. If you do, you may lose sight of...important friends."
*** A Familiar Time and Place ***
Tears swelled from Natalie's eyes, trickling across her face as they split into narrow trails of liquid. How could she have forgotten such a special memory? Granted, her mind sealed them in the back of her head as more memories rushed inside to fill any vacancy, just like the minds of many others. Still, it marked an important moment in her life, a time when someone could read her heart as if it were right in front of their eyes. The question that lingered in her head, though, was why no one else took notice of him? Amongst the crowd of noisy souls, only Raphael stepped forward with such a peculiar aura that he could have easily drawn the eyes of the most uncaring beings upon him. His words were just as strange, spoken in a cryptic manner as if she was suppose to comprehend it once her mind could process it. Sadly, even as everything he said played in her head in a loop, Natalie could only gather that he had been waiting for her, and that they would encounter one another later in life. When would that be, though? Soon, or in the distant future? He also mentioned protection, but what--
"Ah- auouch!"
Moaning at her clumsiness, Natalie whacked at the soft sheets of white, only to find herself ensnarled by a brown comforter with patterns of white flowers dotting its surface. Pausing for a second, her hands brought the material closer so that she could examine it, a unique shade compared to all the white hindering her. That's when she recalled the fustrating chains around her,which she tried to kick her way through. Amazingly, the process took more effort than usual to remove what was the result of all the tossing she did in her sleep. How the sheets managed to wrap around one of her legs like a snake and threaten to suffocate her was beyond Natalie, but it proved to be a good exercise that woke her up in the morning. The only problem this time was the fact that it was early morning, so early that not a single ray of light besides the moon and stars lit up the sky. In other words, she would have to crawl back into her bed and...
"My...bed? This is...my bed! So that's why...my comforter...! I'm not...I'm no longer in 'Happy Home'! Timothy! Julie! I can...I can see them again! After being away for so long, not seeing their faces...so long, and yet...I've missed them so much! I can...be by their sides! Not just in mind, but right next to them! Timothy, Julie...and I can tell them about Liam and--"
Suddenly, it dawned on her as to where she was exactly, given by how her hands were now that of a tween's. Glancing passed the maroon curtains that wavered against the night air, Natalie stumbled over to her wooden dresser, which was a lot wider than the end table holding up a decorative lamp next to her twin sized bed. There wasn't much on top, since its main purpose was to keep her clothes neatly folded within its three, wide compartments. The top held her shirts and under garments, while the other two held pants and night clothes. Since there wasn't much money supporting their family, Natalie held objects of importance scattered within all of the drawers, one of which happened to be a mirror. The reason the mirror was important to Natalie was the angelic design of its frame, from the cozy clouds supporting the mirror when placed on a steady surface to the beautiful angel resting on top. Just looking at the loving smile upon its lips, followed by its brilliant eyes that shined brighter than Natalie's eyes made her treasure the token even more. After all, it was a gift from Timothy that she couldn't take with her because it could be used as a weapon. Not that she would have shattered something so precious just to harm herself--
"Ah, focus! If what shouldn't have happened...happened, then...I didn't return home. I returned...to..."
Grasping the mirror at an angle that reflected her face, Natalie peered down at it. Her curly locks formed fine spirals that were parted down the far left of her forehead, causing her bangs to cascade away from her left eye and nearly hide her right eye. It was a popular hairstyle for both genders, but more in favor of girls. Of course, the way her curls looped tightly amongst each other instead of the loose waves common of most girls made it difficult to pull off. Luckily, her face was oval shaped, making even the craziest of hairstyles work. The main problem of her features, though, was her tanned skin, shockingly darker than she remembered. Was it summertime? Compared to her skin complexion, Natalie's eyes were pale, so pale she really could have passed as blind if someone saw a picture of her. She even stepped back in surprise, but not because of subtle changes. No, Natalie was taken aback at how much younger she looked. Two years younger, to be exact. Shakily taken her eyes off of what was revealed in the mirror, Natalie noticed that she was wearing a white nightgown, an eerie reminder of what brought her back to her past.
"I...I'm i-in...the past! This is...no, this shouldn't -- no, it should! I'll still...I'll go back to 'Happy Home' -- especially if I help them! I won't...I won't run away this time! I'll be...stronger, so that I can help Ethan, and...Liam, and...Lia! And...I still need to know...about Jansen...and Basil, too. That's why...I'm here, ...right? I won't...I won't give in to Mi -- Joachim! But...how can...I...prove myself?"
While Natalie pondered over matters out of her hands, something rustled within the room, startling her for a second. Turning her head, a familiar sight nearly made her run across the room in utter happiness, but she prevented herself from doing so. Instead, she crept over to her sleeping brother, his face even more child-like than her sleeping sibling cuddling in his arms. Just like Natalie, Julie had nightmares at times, at which she would sneak from the matching set to Natalie's bed over to the queen sized bed given to Timothy. It was a birthday present as well as a comfortable adjustment to the small bed that now belonged to Julie. Timothy often complained that it took up too much space, but it allowed Julie and Natalie to sleep under protected arms. Of course, being the middle child meant that Julie deserved more compassion than Natalie, which was one of the reasons why she tried her best to not speak of the spirits that visited her. Could that have been another reason why Natalie felt she had to be independent, to not bring harm to those above and below her? That also was the reason she felt so weak, unable to tug those who were dear to her close enough to keep them from harm.
"I...was afraid...to return, but...I'm glad. I'm not afraid now. I know you'll keep Julie safe, Timothy. I'll do my best, too. I won't run away!"
Growls alerted that Natalie that something devilish was lurking somewhere nearby, but it didn't shock her. This had happened before, but she had been unprepared then. Raising from her crouched position, Natalie spun around to face a nearly transparent wolf, its bluish white fur ruffling in an unsettling wind. One of its large paws were tearing into the surface of her mattress, an assault that should have harmed her. Would he reveal himself soon? Shaking her head, Natalie kept her eyes locked on the menacing wolf, patches of darkness ever so faint that they were hardly noticeable were left wherever it stepped. Soon, its piercing, white flames for eyes targeted Natalie, at which she sprinted at it. If it got too close, it would slash its way to Julie and Timothy, something that was unforgiveable to her. Still, how would she fight it? Without thinking, she gripped at its side, hugging the wolf with all her strength. Snarling told Natalie that the wolf wasn't one to be tempted by acts of compassion, but she wouldn't give up. That's when she felt herself lunging forward, hurdling into the mattress.
"N-Natalie? Wh-what's...wrong? Ah, you're...b-bleed...ing..."
Glancing up at Julie's tear-stained face, Natalie tried her best by calming her by raising a finger to her lips and patting her on the head. Unfortunately, the split second that she ignored the wolf was enough for it to pounce on her, knocking the wind out of her. Julie's dark brown eyes became those of an owl's, curious at what was causing blood to seep from Natalie's stomach, as well as what left its marks on her arms. Her left arm had bite marks, while her right arm held several scratches that formed purplish blue bruises around the areas where her skin had been shredded off. How it hurt, but nothing was more painful than the expression on Julie's face. Everytime she had encountered a spirit -- be they genuinely kind or impeccably cruel -- they had disappeared the moment Julie or Timothy tried to view the situation with their own eyes. Did she already change the past so much? Again, it charged at her, making it difficult to even kneel without getting dizzy.
"W-weak...why am I...so...weak?!"
"Because you are still blind! Awaken and see the world as it is!"
"R-Raphael! I'm...sorry--"
"Natalie, who are you talking too?"
"You have those who you wish to protect, correct? Then, escape this illusion and return to where you belong!"
"H-how?!"
"Natalie..."
"If you have to ask, you may never see those dear to you again."
"I do, but...Julie, Timothy, I..."
"...Don't leave us...again..."
"I can't lea -- ...again? How do you know...I left?"
"You still have yet to realize it, have you? Timothy and Julie are--"
Raphael was yanked to the ground, his sentence left unfinished. Gasping in surprise, Natalie stared at Timothy with glossy eyes, a sharp sting bringing forth foaming liquids. He had sprung from his bed, a false state of sleep having had made Natalie unaware of him until he had forced Raphael onto the ground. Why was he being so violent? No, more importantly, how could he...how was he able to even touch or be remotely aware of Raphael's presence? Why...why did her heart feel as if it was sinking, drifting into a frigid void depleted of the joyful atmosphere that had supported it until now? Was it all...a lie? Fingers devoid of warmth clung to her, belonging to her beloved sister. Her too? Biting her lip, Natalie lowered her head upon her knees, trying to stop the tears, but...they kept coming, dripping in a relentless downpour upon her skin. Everything...made sense, but it only hurt her more by knowing the truth.
"...That's right. Timothy and Julie...are dead."
"Nat...you don't have to remember! We can...still be together, just the three of us. You don't have to go back--"
"It isn't fair! Timothy...you were delivering newspapers--"
"I can still protect you, Nat!"
"--it was winter, but you still had to work--"
"Just forget it!"
"--you went missing, so I went looking for you--"
"I told you! We'll always be together!"
"--while I was searching, I met Raphael--"
"Forever!"
"--he told me where to look, but it was too late--"
"I don't wanna leave you!"
"--You were dead, but I wouldn't listen! I brought you back, and--"
"Please...stop..."
"--Julie was with you. The both of you...froze to death, exactly where Raphael died. I cherished both of you, so I...ran away, and kept running...and running...but I can't run anymore! I won't be lonely, so please...let's all move on."
"You've...changed a lot, Nat. We all said we'd do everything together, but...I'm happy...you've become so strong! Don't lose sight of this path you've chosen, okay?"
"Natalie, we'll still be together, right? You'll still think about us, right? I'll...miss you...a lot!"
"I'll miss you too, Julie, but I can't hold on to the past. When it is my turn to die, I promise I'll come running for you again, and you too, Timothy. Until then, I won't forget either of you, and I'll remember to never hesitate again!"
"Congratulations, Natalie! You've escaped the webs of your past. Oh, and I apologize for the Guardian attacking you. He only wanted to free their souls, and he saw you as a threat. I should have kept a better eye on him, ha ha. Now, we have to part ways. Please guard your important friends with your new strength. You'll face much harsher challanges from now on."
************ Returning to the Present ************
Another voice had beckoned to her, following right after Raphael finished his farewell speech to her. After existing within a vivid scenerio that had stolen her reality for what felt like an eternity, hearing Jansen's voice sounded like a far off dream. She had to regain her senses for a bit, but she heard everything he said. Should she stand back like before? What did that accomplished? Then again, when she tried to assault the Guardian in her past, she ended up...injured? Tracing the spots where her wounds used to be, Natalie discovered that nothing was there. Was it because it was a different "world", a dimension isolated from the reality she now was in? So much was unanswered, but there was something else that was bothering her as she looked towards Joachim and crew with renewed eyes.
"Hey, Jansen...are those the locks you and Ethan can see?"
"Natalie? You're...back! Welcome back!"
"Lia...Yeah, I'm back! Nothing changed, thank goodness. Ah, except...Joachim."
((OOC: EPIC POST!~ Phew, it took me long enough to write, though.
Enjoy! I doubt it can beat the twist in Moratorium's post, but I hope you find/found it interesting.
EDIT: Since my post is very long, I'll summarize what happened. The first part is a dream of when Natalie was an infant. Obviously, she was terrified of all the family members and what-not hovering over her, like any baby (well, in my opinion, anyway). That's when she met Raphael, who somehow sensed Natalie's presense.
Flash forward to twelve year old Natalie, who basically observes her room and remembers that she isn't in "Happy Home". That's when she spots Timothy and Julie, resulting in a wolf spirit to show up. Originally, Natalie was suppose to be attacked while she slept (see History), but this time she tried to counter the attack...and failed. xD The wolf spirit turned out to be a Guardian who takes souls trapped on Earth and lead them to Heaven or Hell. Raphael, who couldn't move on until he helped the Guardian (Timothy and Julie died where Raphael had died, thus making him a middle man of sorts), tries to get Natalie to remember the deaths of her siblings and thus everyone "moves on".
Also, Natalie was sent to "Happy Home" because she claimed to see Timothy and Julie. The wounds she got from spirits that were drawn to her contributed to her going to "Happy Home" as well. I'll update my History...later. xD ))