Chapter 5

As I went back home i was absolutely tired due to the research based on the homunculus. I fell asleep as soon as I changed my clothes without even having dinner.

In my sleep, I was back in the forest. But this time i new that I was dreaming. Before I started chasing the way I usually do, I stayed still and thought about my surroundings for a moment. I couldn't believe how real I felt. When I knelt down to touch the grass, I could clearly feel its sharpness across my fingers.

Now that I've been to the therapist for quite sometime, I learnt to not fear my dreams anymore. Instead I walked around.

As I continued to explore the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The sounds of someone flinching seemed to be getting louder and more urgent, and I knew I had to investigate.

I followed the sounds as best as I could, pushing through the underbrush and darting around trees until I finally came across a man leaning against a tree. He was clearly in pain, his leg bent at an awkward angle and his face contorted in a grimace.

I rushed over to him, trying to assess the situation as quickly as possible. "Are you okay?" I asked, kneeling down beside him. "What happened?"

As I got closer to him, I realized that its the same guy I saw last time. His dark hair fell over his eyes and

the moment he noticed me, a grin crossed his lips.

“Not scared of me anymore, are ya babygirl?” He asked cheekily. His voice was deep.

“You're hurt.”

‘That's not what I asked.” He replied.

"I'm not scared of you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But I am worried about your injury. Do you need help? Can I call for medical assistance?"

The man let out a low laugh and shook his head. "I'll be fine," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "It's just a little scratch. I've had worse."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as I looked at him. There was something about the way he looked at me that made me feel vulnerable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something.

 "Well, if you're sure you don't need help, I'll leave you be," I said, taking a step back. "But if you change your mind, don't hesitate to call for help."

The man nodded, a sly smile crossing his lips. "I'll keep that in mind," he said. "But I have a feeling I won't be needing it. Not with you around, love."

With that, I turned and walked away, trying to shake off the feeling that I was being watched as I made my way back through the forest.

A few steps in and I realised i have no clue where to go. I cant just go back home in a dream afterall.

Groaning to myself. I did the only thing I could think off. I went back to the guy.

“I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“Why do you always follow me around?” I asked. For some reason I didnt feel like beating around the bush.

The man looked at me for a moment, then chuckled. "I'm not exactly following you around," he said. "It's just a coincidence that we keep running into each other like this."

I raised an eyebrow. "A coincidence? That seems a little hard to believe. You've been in all of my dreams lately, and every time I see you, you're hurt or in some kind of danger. It doesn't feel like a coincidence to me."

The man sighed. "Fine, I'll admit it. I've been trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" I asked, feeling a surge of confusion and concern. "What is it that you think I need

protection from?"

The man hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't tell you that. It's not my place to say. All I can do is try to keep you safe, even if it's just in your dreams."

I frowned. "That doesn't make any sense. How can you protect me in my dreams? And why are you even here in the first place? Are you some kind of guardian angel or something?"

The man chuckled. "I'm not an angel, that's for sure. But I am someone who cares about you, and I'll do

whatever it takes to keep you safe."

I looked at the man, trying to make sense of what he was saying. It was clear that he was trying to protect me, but from what, I had no idea. And why did he keep showing up in my dreams? It all seemed so confusing and strange.

"I don't understand," I said, shaking my head. "Why would you want to protect me? And how can you do it in my dreams? It doesn't make any sense."

The man looked at me, his eyes filled with concern. "I can't explain it to you right now," he said. "But just trust me, okay? I'm here to help you, and I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

I wanted to believe him, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. There had to be some reason why he kept appearing in my dreams, and I was determined to find out what it was.

"I'll trust you for now," I said slowly. "But I need you to be honest with me. Tell me the truth about why you're here and what you're trying to protect me from. I deserve to know the truth."

The man nodded. "I understand. And I promise, I'll tell you everything you need to know. But not right now.

Right now, we have to focus on getting you out of this dream and back to the real world."