In the dream Ridley was still running. His chest pounded as he fled through the trees and into the darkness. He remembered what he was told prior to coming to this awful place. Avoid the shadows, keep calm and look for the door. Looking back on it he soon realized that he didn’t pay so much attention to the first steps but he definitely remembered the last one. Look for the door. The door that would take him home. After an unknown length of time he would finally come home to his family.

He could feel the brass lantern at his waist burn with the dragon’s fire he acquired from Lyra. He felt like he was invisible to the creatures in these woods. Sneaking around in the darkness. But this would not last long. Soon the wolves would be at his heels. He had to keep moving.

The cool light rain gently tapped against his face as he made his way through the forest. Then off in the distance he saw a light. A golden light. He gave a small shriek of joy as he headed for the light. This must be the way home he thought. But then, the effects of the brushweed were starting to fade and he could hear the sound of wolves all around him. Now was not the time to stop. He kept going. He was so close.

As he got near the light he saw something he didn’t expect. He saw his sister. She was standing around gaping up at the sky. Ridley faltered. He knew the brushweed would have odd side effects as he recalled the warnings from the pixie he met before heading up to the Forgotten Hills and this was too good to be true. He approached his sister and reached out to her.

Just then the sound of wolves filled the air as suddenly he was swept off his feet and dragged off into the darkness screaming. His legs flared up in writhing pain as the darkness swallowed him whole. He was so close and to think it would end like this. He let out one more cry of terror and suddenly woke up.

He was in a soft bed with white sheets. His arms and fingers were covered in clean white bandages.

“Where the hell am I?” He called out. He frantically looked around. There was another woman in the same room as him. She wore a pink shirt and green pants. Ridley looked at her with confusion.

“Umm...Hi.” He said. She continued to look at him in silence before walking up to him.

“Rest easy there, sir. You’ve experienced a great deal of trauma.” She said as she shined a light into his eyes. Ridley shook his head and held out a hand to block the light from shining in his eyes.

“Where am I?” He asked once again. Still hung up on that question.

“You’re safe. You’re in a hospital. We’ve been looking after you for the past few days.” She said. Ridley frantically sat up from his bed.

“A hospital!?” he shouted as he started to pat himself down. “Fingers, arms, legs. Oh good I still got my legs.” He said with a smile as he leaned back. His eyes quickly widened as he tried to get out of the bed. The nurse moved up and placed her hands on his shoulders and gently pushed him back down on the bed.

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“Sir, you are still not well. You need to rest.”

“And let you guys cut my legs off. Oh hell no.”

“Sir, please calm down. Your legs will not be amputated. You don’t require any surgery. Just bed rest and some medicine.” The nurse said as she struggled to keep Ridley still on the bed. Ridley looked at her and relaxed.

“Fine. But I’d like to see a doctor.” Ridley said in a calm voice.

“And you will, sir. But for now please try to get some rest and I will be back with the doctor and your lunch?”

Ridley looked at the nurse with a suspicious look in his eyes. “Human food, yeah? Bread, fruit, meat. That kind of thing? No deals or riddles with it?” Ridley asked suspiciously. The nurse looked at Ridley with a profound puzzled look upon her face. She didn’t know what to make of his words. She blinked and shook her head.

“Of course and no riddles of any sort.” She said in a kind voice. The look of confusion was still obvious on her face. And with that she turned and left the room leaving Ridley alone.

“Bullshit.” Ridley whispered to himself as he got himself out of bed. As he got up he noticed some of the machines that surrounded him. One of them made a beeping noise and it started to annoy him. He looked at himself as he stood up from the bed. Bandages all his arms and legs. He soon realized there was something stuck in his arm but with a gentle pull he removed the piece of metal that was jammed into his arm. He moved over to the door and tried to turn the knob but it was locked.

“Perfect.” He mumbled to himself as he looked around the room. Ridley then turned and faced the door. “Did I make it? Am I home?” He thought to himself. Ridley held out his hand and thought about his sword. He stood in front of the door for a solid two minutes before giving a sigh of relief.

“No sword. No magic. Best news I’ve had in a damn long time.” He whispered to himself. A smile cracked across his face.

The door suddenly unlocked and swung open. He backed away as a few men in black suits came in, one of which was holding a folder in his hand.

“Ridley Lorn of the 91st New York Infantry Regiment?” The man said as he opened the folder and started to flip through the pages. Ridley felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and a chill racing up his spine. He tried to appear unafraid or unworried but it was obvious. The trembling in the tips of his fingers gave that away.

“Uh..yes, sir.” He said. The man looked back up at him with a smile.

“Good to have you back, sir.” the man said with a smile. A mixture of relief and guilt filled Ridley. He had truly made it home but now he was faced with someone who addressed him by the regiment he deserted. He was happy that his journey had finally come to an end but at the same time, lingering in the back of his head and slowly bleeding out, he knew he had to answer for what he did. He could only mutter one word in response.

“Shit.” He said with a tone of astonishment.

Meanwhile, a few doors away from Ridley, Samantha was sitting at a table carefully reading over several documents that were handed to her for review. There was another person in the room sitting at the opposite end of the table with her, dressed in a black suit as well.

“Well, Miss Lorn. Are the documents updated and correct?” The man asked. Samantha popped her head up and adjusted her glasses.

“Just a few minor details here.” She said as she shifted some papers around. “I understand that you are giving me these required documents for citizenship as your previous counterpart has stated but there are a few mistakes here.” The man tilted his head in confusion as he leaned over, eyeing the documents.

“Show me.” He said. Samantha pointed to one of the papers.

“Here.” She said as she pointed to the first document. “I was born on September 9th 1841. The certificate here says I was born on September 9th 1992.” Samantha said. The man looks down and then quickly looks back up.

“Apologies, Miss Lorn. But there is no error here in this document. Do you have any other further questions or concerns I may be able to assist you with?” The man said in a brush yet quick tone. Samantha leaned back in her chair. She looked down at the documents in confusion. The numbers didn’t add up. Her eyes darted back and forth from one paper to the next. She looked up again at the man.

“Please confirm with me what it is you wish for me to do.” Samantha said in an inquisitive tone.