Chapter 8- Her Fire Burn

The Human World

Anna woke up and howled in genuine agony, watching her bitten mark from the Moonland at White Mountain's peak with fiery veins encircling her arm. Her body was glowing from the inside out. She was frightened. For hours, she lay there alone, crying and, worst of all, burning. She had never had this kind of experience before. It was unnerving and yet she was questioning her sanity.

The dawning morning sun brightened in the tiny window, adding light to her hell, and the burn was unbearable, painful as all night she had been there and no one had heard her screams for help. A sense of grief washed over her at the moment. She was going to die here unattended, and Norma wasn't in her apartment.

Every minute, her heartbeat slowed, and every second, her slow death drew closer. The distress and burning hadn't ceased, but after being in agony for hours upon hours, her mind was no longer her own. The hardest part was that the burn took her to the verge of consciousness but never let her fall over into oblivion. She could still feel her body but couldn't move it. So she lay on her bed, staring out the window, waiting to die.

When she thought the pain and burning were the worst of it, a new twinge struck. A harsh bolt shoots from her head and extends to her heart, causing her to arch in bed. Anna's weary voice finds itself a scream that leaves her an insignificant force. Her hands clasp her chest when it beats harder than before. She pulls her fists away and shouts in horror at the sight of her arms.

A fiery glow covered her veins, so brilliant that she wanted to cover her eyes but dared not. Then it stopped. It was the most frightening and worst experience of her life after so many years of visiting the Moonland.

Her eyes suddenly hazed and she was losing her sight when a raw and luminous heavy tear escaped from them. Anna blinks to clear them, but it doesn't work. Instead, she uses her shaky hands to wipe them clean. The substance leaking was moist and bright. She squinted harder, forcing herself to see anything, then a while later she saw the outline of her fists, then fingers, with the shiny tar-like substance coating them. Oh goodness me. What is this? '

Anna opened her mouth to cry out, but unexpectedly, her throat closed up. Not only that, but she needed to clear her mind. It was awful! so horrible that maybe she was still dreaming. Yet, she was in bed. She knew she was awake now. She knew she was in her room. A minute later, she withdrew from her consciousness.

By nightfall, her phone rang.

And though she woke up screaming again in pain, she was so weak that she couldn't even answer her phone.

Her thoughts were accelerating inside her head. She wished for them to slow down so she could breathe, but they wouldn't. Her breaths came in gasps, and she felt like she would blackout again, yet her heart was throbbing inside her chest. The room spun, and she crouched on the floor, trying to make everything easy, something her brain and body could bear with. She needed to call an ambulance, but the phone was far away, blackness, wriggling blackness.

She was on the floor in a ball-fetal posture when her door opened with a loud bang. Harry was striding faster towards Anna's room like there was a cyclone inside him. He was moving like his brain was urging him with the energetic expense of an athlete. He was anxious. When he woke up in his mansion, he contacted her immediately. But he'd been calling her phone for ages, and no one answered, so he ordered his secretary and asked for Miss Brown's address, and all the way there, he called his cousin. Nathaniel.

Anna's eyes were vicious, and when Harry arrived, she kept on rocking and rocking herself on the floor.  However, her cries were full of anguish. Her head was a carousel of fears whirling out of control, each one pushing her mind into blackness.

"Help! It's painful, "she mumbled as Harry scooped her up and laid her on her bed.

"Miss Brown, it's me, Mr. Camilton. Are you okay? What happened?" 

"Can you stop it? It's so painful. Save me, don't leave me, please! " Anna begged as her vision blurred. "Don't leave me, please! Don't go." 

"I won't leave you, Miss Brown."

Hours passed.

Anna woke up. Confused about where she was. Her hair was as wild as the jungle, untamable and unruly. Her once remarkable golden and blond ringlets now vaguely resembled a bird's nest, and any bows or clips that had once held them in place were long gone. She looked around and remembered that she was in her bedroom apartment.

She scanned her view and noticed how it was just tidy enough to show that she cared about the space and just messy enough to show that she was able to let her creativity roam free. It was her "goldilocks zone," perfect for who she was. The afternoon sun peaks in the tiny window. Blinding her eyes as she squinted. Anna moves toward it, feeling the light reach her skin and her eyes adjust to its brilliance. She reaches out with her hand and leans on the silver gloss frame. She notices the subtle pattern on the glass of raindrops that came and dried. 

Through the bedroom window comes the brightness of the day, that boldness that lifts her spirits, and the ever-changing art of the sky, the clouds that bring infinite images of beauty. Looking at it, her nightmare was forgotten. There was something in that feeling of gratitude, for all those gifts given so freely, all for spending a moment gazing into the blue. Yet, looking above, she knew a storm was coming. Somehow, above the clouds, a storm was brewing, waiting for the perfect moment to serve its purpose.

Her throat was charred when a burning sensation in her throat grew stronger. She went to the bedside table and picked up the glass of water, and when she pressed the cold glass rim against her parched, cracked lips, she felt even thirstier.

She savored a drop of water that traced its way into her mouth. Thick saliva streaked the inside of her mouth, instantly sapping any moisture that may have entered. Yet her thirst wasn't quenched. The feeling of needing to drink something more was normally just her brain's way of warning her that she'd been dehydrated. It was a burn that didn't go away but instead grew stronger than ever. How could she still be so thirsty after a glass of water? Somehow, it felt like she wanted more.

She slowly raked her hands through her hair, her stomach clenching with a desire to feed. A cold chill creeps down her spine. Opening the door and going straight to the kitchen. The kitchen table cools her palms as the warm golden hues rekindle her soul. It was a steady companion to the aroma of freshly baked bread and the birdsong that flutters in from the neighborhood garden. She eyed the fridge and hoped for something to eat. It was smaller than the average cooler box, and it vibrated and groaned with the effort of staying cool. Inside, the ice had built up a thick frosty layer, and all that could be fitted into space was a can of beer. "Oh! No! I need to visit the grocery store later." She murmured.

A moment passed. She stiffened, aware that it was due to the presence of the door behind her. For the first time since her unbearable pain last night, she felt fear creeping into her mind. Her intuitive thoughts were telling her brain that someone was on her back. A part of her didn't want to turn back because she knew the moment she did, everything would change. Another part wants to know what's happening. Slowly, she turned on her heel. A silhouette appeared at the far end of the kitchen. She gaped and stared at the man. 'Mr. Camilton?'

He was slowly getting closer, his eyes never leaving her. She gets a better view through her surprised eyes as the light from the window falls on him. He was beyond gorgeous. "Deadly handsome." She has to admit it though. Was she dreaming?' Anna closed her eyes for a while as if trying to gain her bearings.

Harry shut her kitchen door behind him, then with a steady stride, he walked to the kitchen. The fridge covers were left open as she stood there shivering from the frosty mist. "How are you feeling, Miss Brown?" 

"Oh," Anna said weakly, her pain gone, and she felt fantastic. Anna knew she looked crazy with her oversized shirt on. Her winter coat was gone. Yet, she was amazed and confused about what happened. Looking upon Mr. Camilton, who looked ravishing in his tailored navy sweater and double-breasted overcoat. 

Mr. Camilton was here in her apartment? Alone with her? What the hell... She panicked, but she pretended to act cool. "...Fancy meeting you here?" She mumbled. Harry could feel the corner of his lip hitch up in response to her panicking, yet she was covering herself with her two delicate hands.

"You are still weak, Miss Brown. You should sleep more to allow your body to recover from the shock.

"Oh, I think I'm fine now, Mr. Camilton." However, she nodded. With different circumstances, she should be gaping at the absurdity of this situation. 'How the hell did he know her place? And, oh my goodness, she still has a lot of questions in her head, but none of them seem to make it to her mouth to be asked.

Watching her, Harry went to turn around, but she called out to him. "Wait," she said, pausing, biting her pale lip, unsure what to say next.

"What happened?"

It stunned Harry. He could tell Anna was in a lot of trouble earlier, but looking at her now, so bright and beautiful as ever, he seemed hopeful. Yet, he wondered why she didn't remember a thing. He stared at her since the look on her face was peaceful, her eyes gleaming with astonishment, and he was taken aback by the sincerity in her voice.

"Hmp, thanks for coming here. But, a... well. "

Harry watched her close the fridge door and walked slowly toward him. He didn't even know he had walked towards her, not until he felt her cold hand brush against his face. That look conveyed an awareness of what happened to them with that creature. After all, he had his demon to worry about.

Holding her hand, Harry walked to the fridge, opened it, and took a bottle of water. After opening the lid, he gave it to her and ordered Anna to drink it. "Here, drink this." She seized the water and gulped it down in one go.

A minute passed. She turned to face him. She was gorgeous. For some strange reason, something healed her, something had changed and gave her a glow more amazing than the sun. Anna's green eyes now had specs of fiery glistening fiery shine that burned with the same desire reflected in Harry. Something happened to them on that mountain. They both knew it and wanted to acknowledge it and talk about it.

He moved closer to her until they were nose to nose. Anna's breathing hitched and Harry's heart hastened. The need was a surprise to her, but it was different this time. It seemed more than a passion, it appeared as if they belonged to each other. It wasn't just what she desired, though her stomach tightened with this new feeling. And she doesn't know what to do.

Harry wanted her. At this point, he doesn't care; all he wants is to have those plump lips on his. She inched closer, becoming almost desperate for his touch. Harry gazed into her eyes as she moved to hold the thumb of his heart against his chest. It made him seem needy. Their lips were closed. She could feel his delightful-smelling breath on her face and she closed her eyes in anticipation.

Knock, knock

A soft knock on the door halted the trance-like state they were in. Harry jumped off with a surprised look and backed away from her.

Anna seemed uncomfortable. She couldn't help but feel disappointed as he was eager to be away from her. The need she just felt vanished when he left her side.

Harry then opened the door; a small man walked in with a cell phone in his hand. He was tiny and nerdy. His eyes were like the blue-green of the mountain lakes, hues that could tell tales of sky and evergreen all the same. Not only that, but he reeks of happiness. His eyes were familiar to Anna, and it made her feel like she knew him from somewhere.

"Who are you? Why are you here in my room?" Anna then asked and watched the man. She wondered why she wasn't panicking with a stranger in her apartment. The man had a nerdy look, with denim jeans and a wool black blazer paired with white ledge boots.

"Oh! about that," Harry answered back, looking at her as if he had already recovered from the trance-related state they shared earlier.

"He is my cousin." Harry blurted out.

"Your cousin?"

On cue, the man intruded and gestured to them. "Yes, unfortunately, he is my cousin, Miss Brown. Sorry to interrupt your moment, but the car is ready. Shall we go? " He was looking at them both with a smile on his lips. He gave a lopsided grin.

"Wait, who are you and where are we going?" Anna asked while covering herself from embarrassment.

"Oh sorry, okay, I'm Nathaniel, the better version of this guy here," pointing to Harry. "...I'm his cousin, by the way, smarter than the two of you combined, and we all need some coffee, so, chap! chap! Let's go, hurry! I'm tired, and I'm dying for a cup of caffeine," Nathaniel added while stepping away. 

Five minutes later, Anna dressed up with a pair of dark jeans, a sweatshirt, and a sturdy, supportive pair of walking boots, covering them with a cream coat and shawl.

The coffee shop was the favourite of the locals; it was warm and cosy and they provided their customers with the world's best freshly roasted coffees, with excellent service at a price that was fair to their customers. The cheerful ambiance was wrapped up in the wintertime, dressed for the occasion, the patrons' hands warmed and their breath rose in fortunate puffs as they appreciated their warm coffee, bread, cookies, and foam art, the sweetness of chocolate cups, and freshly baked goods. Anna noticed how around the edges were food vendors, giving the middle of the community a sort of market atmosphere and the shopping area zone.

Anna laughed that the sound washed over in a wave of nostalgia. Her laugh had made Harry feel giddy and flustered, and it brought back a few distant memories. They explained it all to Nathaniel, as he had a lot of experience dreaming something unexplainable while ordering something for breakfast.  They told him all about what happened in the White Mountains, and together they spent hours discussing their experiences.

"It all comes back to us, doesn't it?" asked Harry, his brows snapping together while sipping his coffee. He has been rationalising the dream and subconscious memories of his visit to the moonland. However, Nathaniel knew that the visit of his cousin a while back was new to him, and Harry was asking him about his uncertainties. "Harry, I know it confuses you, okay? But an obvious starting point of your inquiry is to ask me, Nathaniel, smart cousin of mine, what is fucking Moonland?" Nathaniel continued sarcastically and went poker-faced. "...And yes! "I have to agree with Anna that it sounds fancier than Dreamland." He scoffed at him while drinking his coffee, enjoying his cheese bagel, and savouring the bitter aftertaste of the foamy liquid.

Then Nathaniel added, "However, there are many theories and sources of knowledge about the conscious human mind, Okay? But let me summarise it for you. Are you following me? "

Both nodded as they relished their food. Minutes later, "...The first was introspection, which involves you focusing on your thought processes and discovering how they operate. For example, you might explore the nature of your subconscious mind and feelings, or why you choose one course of action over another." Nathaniel paused and sipped his coffee again,"... But this consciousness is known as common sense intuition, and the second is our behavioural consciousness: how we act often tells us what we were thinking and so much more. So to make it understandable, our conscious understanding was private, in that you can never understand them in the direct immediate way that Anna can." Nathaniel explained in a way that made it appear as if he was lecturing a child. After all, he's been studying this phenomenon for ages, since he too can dream and go to the supernatural world.

"English please," Anna mumbled as she went for the blueberry cheesecake and a cup of coffee, enjoying the sweet-bitter aroma.

"Fine, Anna, what I meant was, in the dreamland..."

"Moonland," she corrected.

But Anna's here," he trailed off, implying to her, "...was a different story entirely, especially given her painful ordeals earlier."

"Yes, I have to agree with Nathaniel."

"See?... As you very well know, there are certain elements we can have philosophies about. You do not need laboratories or experimental settings to speculate on many of the most important factors, like what happened to her. But, DRI would have been useful after all, since it studies our dreams and such." Nathaniel added:

"But why do we experience the same dream?" I questioned Harry, then, after a more coherent explanation from Nathaniel, the conversation went on in the assumption that everything that happened both in their dreams and in the possibilities of many dreamers, as well as the possibility that somehow some humans know about the supernatural world. Harry knew about this all, but he listened to him regardless.

Now, Nathaniel was suggesting it might not be just the three of them after all. It changed the circumstances of their experiences that what happened in an alternate plane of existence and much more had happened to some as well.

"Are you saying, we are not just dreamers here in London? That somehow someone can travel to the supernatural world of Moonland as well?" Harry inquired, almost horrified at the suggestion, yet choking in disbelief. He stopped eating his sandwich and watched Anna's face, who somehow wasn't all that concerned.

"I am not affirming it, Harry.  I am only suggesting it as a possibility."

"My God, that's impossible!" Now she was in a panic mood.

"Why so?" Nathaniel's brows knitted together.

"B-because ..." she added.

"... Because what? That would mean you have not been dreaming alone and maybe had the experience as well. Or somewhere in between?" Nathaniel interrupted her blubbering. "...And if what I say is true, it will throw everything you believe in? Somehow you are not the only one who could dream of Moonland, and yet here we are having coffee together discussing the possibilities of it and more dreamers who by far could access the world of supernatural beings. " He added.