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We both knew that in the dreamworld, emotions, and memories had the power to manifest as nightmares.
And given Uhah’s current state, it was highly likely he was trapped in a particularly dark one.
Together, we stepped into his dream, and the world around us shifted.
Darkness enveloped us, punctuated by flashes of vivid, violent memories.
Screams echoed around us, and the sensation of being trapped, bound, and suffocated was almost overwhelming.
22
GRACE
Everything felt different.
The usually stable, consistent dreamworld of the fourth level now seemed on the brink of collapse, mirroring Uhah’s declining health.
I felt Tix’s strong grip around my hand, pulling me forward as we faced the altered blueprint sprawled in front of us.
This wasn’t like any of the other times we’d been here.
“Look out!” Tix shouted as a large chunk of debris plummeted from the abyss above, tearing through the blueprint like a meteor through the night sky.
Another fragment followed, then another, raining destruction upon the carefully drawn plans.
We ran.
It was like running through a shifting maze, with the rules of reality suspended.
“It’s Uhah,” Tix yelled over the cacophony. “His deteriorating condition is causing the blueprint to destabilize!”
Each tear in the blueprint was like a wound, reminding me of the fragility of life and the closeness of Uhah’s impending end.
“We need to find a way to stabilize it,” I said, my voice tinged with desperation.
“I don’t think we can. Not this time,” Tix replied, his face pale. “But we can find what we’re looking for and get out.”
We darted through the changing rooms, ducking under falling debris and vaulting over newly-formed obstacles.
Every so often, I would catch Tix’s gaze, his eyes filled with determination, and it would give me the strength to keep going.
We came upon a vast hall, depicted in great detail on the blueprint.
As soon as we stepped into it, the ceiling began to crumble, giant fragments threatening to crush us.
We took shelter under a drawn archway, waiting for a momentary respite.
“This place is coming apart,” I whispered, staring wide-eyed at the disintegrating hall. “Tix, what are we even looking for?”
He looked deep into my eyes, his face illuminated by the glow of the dreamworld. “I wish I knew, Grace. Something tells me that amidst this chaos lies our solution. Our ticket out.”
We continued our frantic search, venturing into every room, every corridor, and every hidden nook the blueprint offered.
Some rooms held fleeting memories of Uhah’s past — a child’s laughter, the warmth of a hug, a cherished song.
Others were dark, filled with regrets and fears that tried to ensnare us.
Through it all, Tix and I remained a team, supporting each other, drawing strength from our bond.
