https://i.imgur.com/rlT9P8f.jpeg [https://i.imgur.com/rlT9P8f.jpeg]

The Dream Merchant was waiting for Ollie at the heart of the crossroads.

The young Pig approached with firm steps and a serious countenance.

The white porcelain mask smiled subtly, the delicate black lines painted an illusion of amusement, but inside Ollie didn't know if there was a face or emotion.

"You refused the Blue House?" The ethereal voice asked without interest.

"Yes." Ollie replied, frowning his snout.

"You still have three houses," The Merchant gestured. "three choices."

"The Pig from the Blue House told me that you deceived me."

Ollie let the accusation weigh in the air, he didn't want to say more than necessary. He would let the Merchant's response reveal the depth of the accusation.

However, the Merchant didn't bother to answer anything, not even a wave of the mask. Was this his way of denying it? Or was his silence a confession?

"He said that of the five dreams," Ollie continued, "only one is a good dream."

The Merchant's porcelain mask turned to contemplate the Blue House, then slowly moved to gaze at the young Pig. "Wouldn't the good dream be the one you choose?"

"You're not answering me." Ollie said seriously, with an intensity that was unfamiliar to him. "I want to know if you sold me bad dreams?"

"I didn't sell you dreams," The Merchant waved his long black finger. "I sold you the power to nurture and fulfill one of your dreams."

"But you didn't tell me that I had bad dreams." Ollie couldn't contain the hurt in his voice. "You knew and didn't tell me."

"I don't hold the value of your dreams, Ollie." The ethereal voice spoke, bored. "You alone chose the ones that are worth keeping, and those that are better given away."

"I didn't find any good dreams in there." Ollie stared at the Blue House with judgment. "I found a nightmare."

"And who was the owner of the nightmare you found?"

"What?" Ollie choked on the idea. "What do you mean by that?"

"Who disguised your dream as a nightmare?"

You, that's what Ollie wanted to say, you deceived me, you gave me the bad dream.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He wanted to deny it, wanted to say that this dream never belonged to him, that he had never visited the Blue House, that the Merchant had conjured it out of nowhere. However, now that he had opened the box, that was a lie he could no longer tell himself.

"Is it true that I have only one good dream?"

The Merchant rose and hovered over the young Pig with the grandeur of his height.

"Yes." he answered with finality.

"Why only one?"

"Why did you refuse the Blue House?"

Ollie didn't know how to answer, why after all had he refused the Blue House? His reasons for wanting and not wanting the dream seemed the same, how was it possible not to want what you want?

"I want something better."

"Can you describe this better?" The Merchant's ethereal voice asked with a fraction of genuine curiosity. "What do you hope to find here?"

Ollie thought of Seffia, he wanted to go back to her, wanted to go back and make time stop running. This was close to what he wanted, but this was not a dream, it was a memory, one he had sold to the Dream Merchant.

"I don't know what I want." Ollie spoke, frustrated.

"But do you know it exists?" A yellow spark shone in the darkness of the Merchant's eyes. "Not only do you believe it exists, but that it is here, waiting for you?"

"Of course." Ollie frowned his snout. "Why else would I be here?"

"The good dream is the dream that makes you stop dreaming."

"Only one dream can do that?"

The white porcelain mask nodded.

Ollie lowered his ears. "That doesn't seem fair to me."

"How can you find what you want, if you only want what you cannot have?"

"Which of my dreams is my good one?"

"Whatever one you choose," The Merchant placed his hand on the young Pig's shoulder and gestured to the three houses on the horizon. "Here, you are the judge of your own happiness."

Ollie stared at the Black House on the hill and a chill gripped his heart.

He shuddered to think what awaited him in that dark place.

Nothing good waits for me there.

He decided that he would return to his room empty-handed before climbing the steps to the Black House on the edge of the abyss.

The Golden Mansion seemed to be the best option, something inside him told him that everything he wanted in life, he would certainly find there.

However, the stone path first passed through the ruins of the Red Castle.

https://i.imgur.com/OMS6ty0.png [https://i.imgur.com/OMS6ty0.png]

The Castle also frightened him a little, in fairy tales the ruins hid dangers and trials, but they also housed treasures and artifacts of power.

He could still hear the smiling Pig's voice telling him that he would regret it, that he had no good dreams, only nightmares that would hurt him.

He was tired of lowering his head, of silencing his will, he couldn't explain it, but suddenly the dangerous choice didn't seem so dangerous anymore.

After all, he had defeated the Blue House, hadn't he?

Part of him told him no, that the host of the Blue House had been his only ally, that he would regret continuing, that he would regret not staying by his side.

But he had found another part now, one that said if he wanted to live, he had to stop running away from his life.

Ollie arched his lips and made his way to the Red Castle.

The Dream Merchant followed him a little, but as he approached, he stopped and let Ollie go on alone to meet his second dream.

Ollie didn't look back this time, with his snout raised he reached the shattered and open gates. This time he didn't call or knock, this time he just walked silently into the darkness.