I dreamt of the strangest things as I slept. I saw delicious food dancing—cakes of every size, flavor, color, and type. And yet, every time I reached for one, it vanished. To make it worse, my favorite lemon tarts danced before me. I used my mouth to grab one, but all I tasted was air. I began crying and sobbing, and just as I was about to give up, I heard a voice.
"What do you think she's dreaming of? She looks like she's in pain, doesn't she?" This unfamiliar voice pierced my dream. It sounded like a kid, but my dream's fog hindered me from discerning who. Whoever it was, they snapped me out of my la la land, and I tried to look subtly at my surroundings from under my lashes. I could barely make out two shapes standing above me. I stopped myself from peeking, not wanting to give away I was awake just yet. Since I couldn't see where I was, I needed to ensure I was around good people. My people.
My body was still between the stages of sleep and being fully awake. My body became more alert each second, and reality went from surreal to real. My dreams that felt so tangible were fading into my subconscious where they belonged. It didn't feel good being weighed down by flesh and blood. It felt better to float around delicious treats, but it was time to wake up.
My mortal flesh wasn't too rotten off from a pain perspective. Given how I exceeded my limits, I expected every inch of my physical shell to hurt. Not that it didn't; I got off-light yet again. How divinely lucky. Something was poking me, though. A needle? Was it what was keeping me sedated?
"Could be the ordeal she just went through. She's a strong girl, but she's still a child." A warm hand stroked my forehead, moving my bangs from my eyes. I fought to open my heavy lids for eyes. With a shameful amount of effort, I kept trying. I was alive but exhausted and sore. I also knew that I was safe. I didn't need to see to recognize that warmth. Mary she was stroking my head. Her warm hand brought me more tears, and I opened them.
She cried out in delight, and I was gently hugged, and my sight was blocked.
"Where am I?" I tried to peer past the bosom of Mary, but it was impossible.
Mary pulled away, and her warm blue eyes inspected me. "You're at home."
I opened my mouth to ask about Grandpa Evans, and Mary, the mind reader, smiled before she said, "He's fine. He ate an early lunch and is sleeping in his room. I've been staying over to take care of you. Wyatt has helped around the house as well."
"Wyatt?" I said as I looked at the boy, who waved eagerly. He was the voice I heard as I came back to reality. I scanned him, noting his shaggy blonde hair and striking blue eyes. He wore a smirk on his face as if he knew something I didn't, and instantly, I bristled. Something about him put me on edge, and I had no rhyme or reason to be so wary of him. Yet I was.
"I'm going to make some phone calls to let everyone know you've woken up and make sure the doctor can come over."
Mary patted my head and ran off before I could say more. A zap of sadness shot through me as I watched her retreating back. No one could pamper like Mary. My lips jutted as I pouted, wanting all the fuss and frills.
"You've been out for two days." Wyatt's voice drew me out of these yearnings.
I met his curious gaze as my mouth dropped." Two days?!" I hissed in shock. No way was that true.
"You slept like the dead. Everyone was scared. You only made any noise or fuss when they tried to move you. You didn't want to leave this place for some reason or Grandpa Evans." He informed me with very little compassion in his voice.
I looked at the IV that was attached to my arm. I took it out and held down the hole it exposed. No wonder I dreamed of nonstop food. My poor body was starving! I missed so many meals!
As if reading my mind, Wyatt asked me, "What were you dreaming of? You were crying out in your sleep."
"Food." I answered honestly, "I dreamed of all the meals I missed while I lay in this bed." I moved my body to test out how it felt. Everything was shaky from disuse, but I was in decent shape. I overextended myself nonstop for hours and paid the price. I was lucky to be still alive. It was more than possible to die while exceeding power limits. Usually, when I trained, I took breaks and naps in between it all. Powers were like any other muscle, and you couldn't rush it all at once. Only with time and methodical improvement could you grow. When the asshat brigade came, I burned through my power. It could have easily been life or death. Naturally, my body conked out for days to rest.
Would it have been alright, though, had I croaked? I should have been able to jump back into the book, right? What if the asshat brigade robbed me while they were at it? It was better to be safe than sorry. They did the crime, and hopefully, they would spend time repenting.
Wait, how did I go to the bathroom? A gnawing fear about how squeaky my bottom was made me lift the covers to peek...
Yup, the most embarrassing thing was that I was wearing a diaper. It was to reduce accidents while I was out of it, but that didn't stop my face from burning a bright red.
The door creaked open, and I opened my mouth, ready to talk more with Mary. To my surprise, Nips pranced in.
"Nips!" I opened my arms to my beautiful boy. He looked in my direction politely but loped towards Wyatt instead of me. Wyatt's face lit up with a massive grin as he hugged my Nips. The two gave love and joy to each other, to my dismay, as my presence in the room became that of a jilted mother.
I picked my jaw off the floor at this picture of pure betrayal and said, "Nips, it's me!"
Nips once again looked at me before showering all his love again to Wyatt.
My lips quivered as my heart began to pang sadly. I was only asleep for two days, you fickle dog!
"He just needs some time to adjust, I'm sure," Wyatt said as he looked at me with sympathy and pity.
My pain promptly turned to anger. "What kind of dog treats did you feed my puppy?" I accused him unfairly, but I was the injured party here. After everything we've been through! I gave him so many bribes and treats, too. Nips somehow forgot about me for this stupid boy!
Wyatt opened his mouth, but Mary reappeared before he could say anything. I buried my pain and rage to accept all the fussing I needed.
I burrowed into her arms for twenty minutes. A loud groan from my stomach reminded me that only one thing was missing from this lovely scene.
"Can I have some apple pie?" I peeked up with my big eyes only to be met with Mary's steel firmness of a professional baseball player.
"Nothing too strong until we know you're better for sure." She said as she lovingly patted my head and batted aside my pleading.
I nodded happily, unaware of what would come once I reached the dining room table.
I watched as platters filled up the once-empty dusty wood top. Wait a minute, why did Wyatt and Mary have a plate to load up their food? Where was mine?
To my horror, Mary brought over a tray with bland rice soup, crackers, and bananas. I ate my whimper of pain, knowing that she did this out of love.
Wyatt and his stupid smile eagerly ate a little of everything on the table. I watched as he even mopped up the remains of his thick lamb stew with Mary's special bread.
I cried in my heart of hearts as I slowly sipped away at my plain soup. Without May's loving gaze, I would have returned to the bed to sneak food from my space. I didn't want to break her heart and worry her, however. Remember, I told myself as I sniffed the excellent food and attempted to trick my taste buds as I swallowed. She's doing this out of love. Just imagine you're eating Wyatt's soup, not this soup. It could have worked if my taste buds were better at defining food than my crappy nose.
The only good part about being placed back in bed to rest was that I didn't have to clean. Wyatt washed the dishes, and I tucked myself into bed. I snuck out a raspberry almond bar and ate it under the covers.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Although my body felt solid and healthy, my brain was tuckered out. Taking out the single bar wiped me out, and I could feel the land of dreams calling my name. Too tired to bother much, I hid the bar wrapper under my pillow. I could barely keep my eyes open, so I passed out.
The next day, the doctor came. I wanted to appear as if I was in the best health, so I pinched my pale cheeks to gain color. I sat up and grinned at him sunnily. I looked the very picture of health. Now, let me get out of this bed! I implored him silently with my eyes.
"Everything appears to be on the mend." The doctor said. I saw Mary's worried face above him, and they smiled brightly.
"Let's keep her on the regime at least until Monday." NOOOOO, I screamed internally. My smile faltered, and Mary walked the doctor out of the house, asking him questions.
"Crap." Today is Friday. I need to meet Adam. If I don't show up, he'll be worried, and Mary guarded that satellite phone like it was her baby. She seemed to think that the only thing my fragile body could handle was going to the bathroom and sitting at the table.
All the progress to show how capable I was to her was washed clean with this incident. Damn you, asshat brigade. I knew from Mary that they were going to be in jail for a long time but damn them even further.
"Whatcha up to?" Wyatt's eyes gleamed at me mischievously. I snorted; there was no way I would tell this unknown kid that I planned to sneak out. "I could help you?" His grin curved as he stood on my bed and looked up at me. "We can help each other out. Friends help each other out."
"We're not friends," I said ruthlessly blunt.
"We can be, and I can be of use to you."
"What do you need?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. I had mere hours before Adam arrived at our usual spot to wait for me. How could this kid help me get out from under Mary's grasp? Even if he did, why would he? Neither had explained his identity to me, and I knew he wasn't related to Mary. I knew the Simons family, and no Wyatt existed in that familial tree. Who was this kid?
"I'm an orphan. I live at the church in town. The orphanage is dinky, and we don't eat enough. Only three of us are there, so resources aren't wasted on us. Let us stay here some nights for a sleepover. You can put us to work around the home, and we could have a warmer bed." He said in a rush.
I stared at him, puckering my lips in thought.
I could weigh the pros and cons, but I mostly saw the pros. Undoubtedly, Wyatt had wandered the home and seen extra rooms. There was a lot to do in the house now that we had crops and animals. I could have him deal with the messier side of having livestock. I was still wary of killing to eat, so having extra hands would be nice. I would have more time and energy to train my powers with help around the home. I could doubt this deal and not have strangers in my home. However, how could things have gone differently if I had backup of any kind? Even though I didn't know Wyatt, I was open to friendship.
"I'll feed you guys and give you food to take with you. I would need you mostly around harvesting time to help with the livestock. We could give this a try." Keeping them in the long run could be worthwhile if we all clicked. There were three empty rooms upstairs, and I loved having Adam as a friend, but I wanted more social contact. I needed it. I wasn't doing so well talking one-sidedly with Grandpa Evans. The open connection we gained before I reconnected for two days was closed again. The fear of losing me ruined the progress. Let's shake things up and give myself less work around the farm and time to train. Maybe the wipeout after the asshat brigade wouldn't happen again.
"You have a deal." Wyatt held out his hand, and I shook it.
"Now, what were you planning?" He said with a smirk.
"I have to sneak out for a couple of hours, but Mary barely lets me out of her sight."
Wyatt seemed surprised as he asked me, "You want to sneak out?"
I nodded, "I have to meet up with my friend. He'll be waiting for me."
"I thought you were going to ask for food," Wyatt said, peering into my eyes with far too much doubt.
I snickered. I had my space to keep me full while the regulated meals left me wanting." This is more important." I insisted.
"But you clearly love food." Like Nips with a bone, Wyatt wouldn't let it go. I shoved his head off my bed, and he laughed.
"I'm a lady. I can eat like a bird if I need to." I said primly as I lifted my nose in the air.
"You nibbled on your pillow when you were out of it." The Wyatt said with a far too knowing smirk. His smile grew as he pointed out the pillow in question.
My face turned red, and I looked at the offending pillow. I looked back at Wyatt and his stupid, smiling face. I grabbed the pillow in question and tried to hit him with it. The goblin dodged it, his shining blue eyes laughing.
"I'm glad this is what you want." Wyatt stopped laughing to turn serious. At my curious look, he elaborated, "Ever since you dropped, Mary hasn't slept to take care of you." My eyebrows furrowed as my face grew pale. "Her son offered me room and board to help her take it easy, but she hasn't at all."
Mary no! I now needed to make sure she took a break. I needed to make her some sleepy-time tea. It would be all herbs, and we'd have time to make sure she drank it and relaxed enough to let it take effect.
"I have a herbal tea that might help her sleep. But I doubt she'll nod off if I'm awake." I nibbled on my lip.
"We can fake your sleep, then have her drink the tea so you can sneak out." It seemed like the best plan, but I couldn't help but feel guilty. I adored Mary, and she loved me too.
"Let me ask for the satellite phone before we do this." If I could call Adam instead, I wouldn't feel like a trash person for tea drugging Mary. She needed sleep, but was it right to do it that way?
"Bill took it this morning when he dropped off the doctor." At my wild eyes, Wyatt shrugged, "It died, and they couldn't find the charger." That was my bad because the charger was in my space. "Bill took it to find a new charger to charge it."
"Okay, we only have one option." And I had a sea of guilt in my gut.
"Operation Tuck Mary is a go!" He cheered, I shushed him, and he grinned back at me. He was an infectious one, and his warm energy was contagious.
The operation was a huge flop. No matter how hard we tried to get Mary to sit still for more than a few minutes, she wouldn't. She was a woman after my heart, bustling about the home, garden, and animals. We figured Mary would sit still once the homestead chores were done, but nope. She started cooking and baking extra food, and she checked in on me in between it all.
"What were you supposed to be here for?" I grumbled lowly at Wyatt, and he laughed good naturally. Collectively, we watched Mary run about. It's been almost three hours since she had her first cup of herbal tea—time to crank up the charm and give her another.
Mary sipped at it as she wiped the counters clean of flour and dough.
I yawned, "I think I'm going to nap."
Mary checked my forehead and shooed me off to bed. A few minutes later, Wyatt said he wanted a nap, too.
I got dressed as quietly as possible. I wanted to be able to slip out the second Mary slowed down to rest. With two cups of potent tea from herbs I grew, she would be out when Mary allowed herself to sit down. l slipped on a pair of jeans and the pink sweater I knitted. Then I laid face down on my stomach, not trusting my eyes to spill the secret of my being wide awake.
I imagined an endless book, started counting page numbers, and reached almost two thousand before my door creaked open. I could smell Mary's snickerdoodle scent as she kissed the back of my head before she left. I counted about another two thousand pages before I snuck out of bed. I crept out to the living room and saw Grandpa Evans watching a Swedish game show.
He looked the same as before. Relief filled me when I saw him in his chair watching TV. "Grandpa Evans." I tried to whisper, but his response was a grunt and rocket snore hybrid. I laughed silently before tiptoeing over to where Mary was.
Mary was on the couch, and I snuck up to see if she was awake. I fell into the trap of just joining Grandpa Evans and passing out. It was a nice one.
To my happiness, she was out cold. I did a little shimmy and slipped out the front door. I was late, and Adam was waiting for me. I ran all but through the forest, but I only got far before I noticed that someone was behind me.
"Go away!" I hissed at Wyatt, who cheerfully followed me.
"Friends, don't let friends sneak out alone to meet unknown friends." He sang cheerfully as he dodged my swatting arms.
I scowled; he took this friend thing seriously.
"Adam is a good guy," I said, primly turning my nose at Wyatt. I didn't need to explain, but still, I would defend Adam. Adam was my first friend. He gave me five lemon trees and made time to see me. Adam seemed to like my company, and I've never had someone go out of their way for me before. How could he not be a good guy! I adored Adam, and I wanted to be able to tell him what had happened. He would comfort me in his adult-like manner and help me feel like everything would be alright.
I tried to lose Wyatt, but I found that to be impossible. The toad had long legs, and the one instance I almost lost him, I stopped myself. He didn't know the Unruly Forest; if he got lost, it would be bad. It would take too much of my newly conserved power to find him.
Wyatt cheerfully chattered, and for once, I was treated to my own medicine. Damn, no wonder I didn't like this kid. He was enjoying my misery. Sorry, Gus. I get it now. Still, you're not forgiven for dumping me in this world.
Through great suffering, we made it to the entrance of the forest. I could see Adam's car and was pleased to see him standing outside it. His posture and face looked relaxed, but there was something stormy in his eyes.
I opened my mouth to greet him, but Wyatt spoke first. "Is that him? Hello, friend of my friend." I glowered and playfully shoved Wyatt aside. He retaliated by dropping his arm on my head. "He should join the sleepover we're having."
I ignored him to smile at Adam and note what he wore today. Soon, I would get this kid in jeans. Adam's brown hair was slicked back, and wearing a crisp green suit. It made his brown eyes pop. Those brown eyes locked onto mine. I could feel my smile drop at the glacial coldness in his gaze.
"Go back into the forest and wait for me. Don't wander off, though." I glanced at Wyatt, my expression serious.
Wyatt made a mock, painful gasp, but I ignored him as I turned to race towards Adam, except he was gone.
Wait, where did he go? Did he enter the car? Oh no, the car was starting. I moved without thinking and latched onto the car door and opened it. I sat down on the plush leather but paid no attention this time.
Even though I clearly entered the car, he didn't look at me. His hard eyes remained fixed on the window. Adam looked pissed. It didn't take a genius to see why. He waited for me to attend our play date, and I arrived hours late with another kid. His posture was turned away from me, and anger seemed to radiate from his body. He looked scary, and not for the first time, I could see why he was called a young master. If I didn't know him, I would probably fear him. But I knew Adam. This stiffly vexed kid was more than just this exterior. Adam was my friend. He visited me and treated me well. Adam was attentive and far more admirable than he needed to be. He was a steady force to my erratic nature and someone I could turn to. Adam was a good kid, and I didn't want to lose his friendship because he thought I ditched him for Wyatt.