That night, after all the parents had left, I noticed something peculiar. I lay on my bed sideways, facing Jonah's direction. His movements were abrupt as he slept deeply under his blanket, muttering words I couldn't quite understand.

Slowly, I sat up straight, my gaze shifting towards Ashley's cubicle, where her light glowed softly. Jonah's movements grew more restless, and he began to speak aloud in his sleep, his words echoing through the quiet room.

"Get away from me! Somebody, help me...please."

As Jonah began to plea for help, Ashley suddenly appeared, drawn by the commotion at this late hour. She found me awake, my gaze fixed on Jonah's bed.

"Is he okay?" She asked.

"It seems that he is asking for help."

Ashley approached Jonah and gently pulled back his blanket. Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at him. "He's sweating,"

She places her hand over his forehead and immediately retrieves it. "We need to call for help."

I quickly pressed the button on my bed to call the nurse. After a few minutes, the nurse arrived, promptly realizing the call was not intended for me. She swiftly moved around Jonah's bed, adjusting him to lie flat.

"Did you guys notice when he started to develop a fever?" The nurse asked.

"I saw him moving around in his bed a couple of minutes ago. He seemed to be asking for help,"

The nurse rushed out of the room, leaving us uncertain about how to assist Jonah. Ashley approached my bed and settled down beside me. "I feel terrible for him. He seems to be in a lot of pain."

The nurse returned, attaching a drip to his hand.

"I'm going to administer some medication. If you notice that he doesn't improve within the next twenty minutes, please call me again. I've also contacted Dr. Deveraux; he'll be here in the next thirty minutes."

As the nurse exited the room, The Godmother appeared, catching my attention with a smile. I observed Ashley's growing unease as if sensing a presence behind her.

"She is here, right? Why can't I see her?"

The Godmother approached, placing her hand gently on Ashley's shoulder. "The answer is simple; I am right behind you."

Startled by her sudden appearance, Ashley stepped back from her. "What are you doing here?" Ashley asked.

"I came to warn you, that your friend's life is ebbing away. He is standing on the border of the real world and the other side. If he tries to battle this sickness on his own, he will not achieve a natural death."

"" don't understand. You are saying that he might die, but it will not be a natural death?" Ashley asked.

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"Correct. I can see his suffering through the veil of life. Usually, these types of problems are not my concern, as I will perform according to my duty. I know he is a good friend of yours. He might need your help holding on until the doctor gets here."

Ashley looked at me and nodded. "How do we help?"

"You both are connected to the other side as your time is almost here. Unfortunately for him, his time is yet to come. If he dies, his spirit will become angry. Every soul born into this world has a purpose, a path that must be walked in spirit and body. He must survive to fulfill his purpose. The only way to help him is through a collective dream walk."

"What is that?" I asked.

"It means that you both will be able to enter his dream and help him overcome his woes, is the only way to bring him back into this world. His consciousness cannot exist independently of his physical form, as his soul requires a healthy body. Should the body suffer, the mind will likewise be afflicted."

Jonah starts to visibly wince in agony, shifting restlessly on his bed.

"If you are going to help your friend, it needs to be done immediately. I will connect your life threads with his. You must wish from your heart to enter his dream. Write the wish with the pen and perform the steps the way you have done it before."

Ashley ran towards her cubie, retrieving the notebook we used for her wish.

"We are ready," Ashley said.

I took the pen from under my pillow and wrote, 'I wish to enter Jonah's dream to help him come back to us'. Then I placed my hands over the written wish and said, "This I wish from my heart."

Immediately, the dials began to count the words, decreasing the total from 976 to 963.

"Additionally, I'll merge the two beds, and Ashley, you need to share the bed with Samuel. It's crucial that you stay as close to your friend as possible since you share the deepest connection with him."

Ashley's cheeks turned pink. "OK, but I will have a conversation about what you just said."

I took Ashley's hand, intertwining our fingers together. "Come on, Ashley, let's go."

"Goodnight, my little warriors. Come back soon."

As soon as I closed my eyes and opened them again, I found myself on soggy earth, with a tempest gathering above us. Ashley materialized beside me, quivering as the icy breeze cut through us.

She grasps my arm, seeking warmth. "It's freezing in here."

"We have to find Jonah, fast."

"Finding him won't be simple. Just look at the chaos around us; it's completely disordered."

From strange noises to ominous trees, there seemed to be no limit to Jonah's imagination. Every aspect of this dream acted as a mirror to his inner turmoil, suggesting that locating him could prove challenging.

"My fluffy shoes are ruined," Ashley said, trying to brush off the mud from her shoes.

"They're not actually dirty. They'll be as good as new once we return."

"That's right. I forgot we're in his dream. And you're walking on your own too."

"Truthfully, it's refreshing being able to walk again. Now, if I were Jonah, where would I be?"

Abruptly, the earth shook beneath us. Lightning streaked across the overcast sky, and the wind intensified rapidly. From afar, I spotted what appeared to be a mountain moving toward us, a sight that struck me as highly unusual.

"What is that moving towards us?"

Out of nowhere, Jonah came sprinting towards us, his expression etched with panic. He halted abruptly, his look shifting from dread to joy upon seeing us.

"I'm so glad to see you both! But I recommend you start running!" After delivering his warning, he immediately turned and continued to flee.

"Jonah, wait!"

A shadow loomed above me, compelling me to glance upwards. Confronted with the sight of its hairy legs and the myriad hues of its eyes, my legs started to quiver. Ashley quickly seized my hand, yanking me back from the grasp of a colossal spider.

"Have you lost your mind? Why would you stand there staring at that spider? It's enormous!"

We sprinted as fast as we could. Suddenly, Jonah collided with an unseen barrier, tumbling to the ground.

"Ouch," Jonah said, pressing a hand to his forehead. "I should've considered doors rather than force fields."

We gathered around him, while the giant spider steadily closed the gap between us.