The air was cold, almost as hard as a winter night in the North Pole. As she breathed heavily, she could see the fog escaping between her frigid and shivering lips. She wrapped her arms tightly around her chest like a snake coiling around its prey. Where am I? She looked around to see herself surrounded by perished trees, as though they were burnt to the ground by a massive forest fire. Her feet dug into the ash-filled ground. The sky was a dark shade of grey, resembling an impending tornado. She attempted to shift her position but found herself unable to move, feeling as though she were paralyzed. As she switched her attention forward, a figure stood ahead in the dust and darkness. It was tall and slender.
She squinted to get a clearer view of the humanoid creature standing only a few yards away. It looked similar to the one that had chased her in her dream the night before. The shadowy outline of the creature's horns was nearly identical to the others. She thought she saw spike-like bones protruding out of the creature's back. However, she could not confirm this, which worried her more. Her anxiety started peaking as the creature continued to stay where it was, watching her with its demonic eyes. Silence swarmed the cold air; the only sound was her deep breaths echoing through her head. Where in the actual fuck am I! I was just at home, in my comfy and warm bed.
Her thoughts continued to race as she began to panic more and more. Suddenly, she heard a voice from behind her, a familiar voice that she instantly recognized. Jacomus? Despite feeling paralyzed and unable to move, she managed to let out a response, her voice cracking as she put pressure on her vocal cords. "Jacomus!" she shouted with all her strength, "Jacomus, get me out of here!" The creature stalking her let out an ear-pitching screech just as Willow saw a bright light that blocked her sight. When her sight came back, she was sitting in her bed again.
Willow was shaking, still freezing, and full of fear. She was hyperventilating and couldn't breathe. "Willow," Jacomus said, grabbing Willow's face and turning it to face his. "Willow, can you hear me? Breathe, you need to breathe." Willow was still hyperventilating and looked up at Jacomus for help. He noticed how distressed she was and began doing breathing exercises before her. Willow tried to follow his example, even though it was initially difficult. After a while, she caught up with Jacomus and took deep breaths. Jacomus then asked, "Willow, what the fuck just happened?" Still shaken from the recent events, Willow found the strength to speak.
"I—I don't know," she started. "I laid my head down on your chest, and then I was just in a different world. Universe perhaps? I—I don't know where I was. There was this humanoid creature that was stalking me. I—I don't know." Willow finished, utterly distraught from the events that had just happened. Jacomus looked at her. Shock and rage filled his face. "Did I leave?" Willow asked." After a moment of silence, Jacomus finally spoke. "You were transparent," he said. His response took aback Willow. "Let's just go to bed," he continued, "Come here." Jacomus motioned for Willow to lie down and positioned her so that her head and upper body rested on his chest. "I promise you won't disappear like that again." Willow contained her tears and fell asleep while Jacomus, still awake, sent a message to the other divines. "The time is close. Prepare all registered preparations immediately."
As morning approached, the light peeked through the curtains. Jacomus had stayed up all night, watching over Willow, who remained in the same position as when she had fallen asleep. Willow started rustling around. Jacomus looked down at her, and she opened her eyes shortly after. "Hey," Jacomus said softly, "How was your sleep?" Willow rolled over and slowly sat herself up. Jacomus positioned himself as well. "It was okay; I didn't have a dream which is new." she responded, "Did you have a good sleep?" she asked.
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"I was awake all night, but I'm good. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Thank you, but you didn't need to do that," Willow said, looking up at Jacomus with awe.
"I did, but don't worry. Would you like me to make breakfast for us? You should get comfortable on the couch and watch TV. I want you to have a calm and relaxed day before the week begins tomorrow, and we are back at school."
Willow reluctantly agreed and shifted herself out of bed. "Can you feed Pixie as well?" she asked.
"Of course," he responded.
Jacomus followed Willow out of the bedroom. Willow headed left towards the living room, while Jacomus went right into the kitchen with Pixie following closely behind. Jacomus then proceeded to prepare Pixie's breakfast using a combination of dry and wet kibble in one of the kitchen cupboards. Willow got herself comfortable on the couch. She curled up, threw one of her rabbit fleece blankets over herself, and turned on the TV. After waiting for about thirty minutes, Jacomus entered the living room carrying two plates of food. Each plate had eggs, toast, and a few breakfast sausages arranged neatly on each plate. He handed one to Willow, who thanked him. Jacomus nodded in response, giving her reassurance.
They both sat in silence for at least an hour. The food was finished, and the TV was still playing. Jacomus noticed that Willow was still shaken up from last night's events, unsure of how to help. It seemed she wanted to forget about it, and Jacomus compelled himself not to discuss it with her to avoid disruption. "What would you like to do today? Do you want to go out or stay in?" Jacomus asked, looking over at Willow, sitting at the opposite end of the couch.
"I just want to stay in today; I hope that's okay with you. If you have plans or need to go out, please go ahead. I don't want to hold you hostage." Willow responded with a hint of melancholy in her voice.
"No, if that's what you want to do, then we'll do that. I want to be with you for the rest of the day. I didn't want to say anything, but I can tell that you're not okay after last night, and I want to be there for you in case something goes wrong again. Even if you need somebody else's company to reassure you that you're not alone, I will be here all day, and if you get sick of me, tell me to leave. This is your place, and I don't want to intrude." Willow looked up at Jacomus; no response was needed. She smiled and nodded her head in agreement. Jacomus opened his arms and gestured for Willow to come and lay down with him. Willow stood off the couch and walked a couple of steps toward Jacomus before sitting beside him and slumping her body onto his. "Thank you," she said.
They sat comfortably on the couch together, waiting for the day to end. They watched episodes of Rick and Morty one after another, snacking occasionally and sipping from a jug of juice. Not a word was spoken between them. Jacomus understood that Willow preferred to spend time with him without feeling lonely, and he was content with that arrangement.
It was about four in the evening when Willow decided to sit up. She looked at Jacomus. "Did I fall into that different world because of you or me?" she asked bluntly. Willow's question took Jacomus aback. "I don't know, Willow. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can answer that," he replied.
"You know something. You have to know something!" Willow responded with a hint of rage, "What is going on with me, Jacomus? Your parents found me alone, in my baby bassinet, under a fucking Willow tree on some random fucking island."
Jacomus stared at Willow in disbelief after her sudden outburst. He stayed silent.
"Jacomus! You know something, don't you?" she shouted. Jacomus looked at Willow with a gentle smile and opened his arms in an invitation for a hug. Overwhelmed with emotion, Willow started crying at the sudden, kind gesture that Jacomus had just given. She fell forward into his lap, and tears streamed down her face like raindrops on a car window.
Jacomus laid his hand on her head, petting her hair back. "I do. You're right, but you need to trust me. I will tell you everything when you are 20, but now, my lips are bound by an oath. If I were to break that oath, hell would be let loose, and we cannot have that happen. I am sorry, truly I am sorry. I have never let you down once, so you must trust me with this one. I've only ever done what was best for you." Jacomus finished. Willow let out a muffled and upset okay.