Chapter 1
The statues with peeling paint and blank stares look directly at the baren bushes, the greenery is gone, the light has left this place.
I stare into the sky as the stars ascend into heaven.
The dark abyss of night, I run towards the hollow, but time chases me, the minutes and seconds are my every move.
I keep running, then I hear a crack, someone or something is behind me, I run faster, they can’t find me, not here, not today.
The branches slash me across the face, I don’t have to look to know that red marks are left behind.
I reach the hollow, and climb in the underground city, lights hang from the ceiling as the bustle of the market is not there, it’s empty.
I look up and see the moon’s light through the glass, it’s not as amazing as it is above ground.
I take an elevator to the town square, and step by silent step I walk towards the towering fountain, they forgot to turn it off tonight, the sweet patter of water will keep me awake tonight.
I climb on the slippery fountain, pull on the lady’s finger as it points to the sky, now it points to the market, magically the fountain’s bottom slides down into the earth as stairs pop out the sides.
I climb down them one by one until I’m in my home, just a stone floor, with a tiny bed, mirrors that I’ve found in old makeup containers, a few outfits, a sketchbook, a journal, a tattered rug, and a photo of my parents.
The droplets fall in a pattern, almost a dance. It nags at me and keeps me awake, but I force sleep upon myself, or else I won't be at my full capability.
I wake up before the sun, I bolt up the stairs and when at the top I push in a brick on the wall, they start sliding in and I jump out, out into the sunrise. I got up too late.
The streets are overflowing with people, some old, some young, but they're people nonetheless.
I pull my hood over my face, lucky for me no one ever goes by this fountain anymore.
I run to the hidden elevator and ride up to land, no one knows about this way up, they're stuck down in the earth.
I run through the forest to a blackened castle with ivy growing up the sides and the statues of horrified people.
Some say that the castle caught on fire and when it did so it took the nightmares of people and burnt it with them, leaving ash that was moistened by the rain and the nightmares were frozen, the statues made of nightmares, in the palace of broken dreams.
