“Stay back,” Z whispered as he bent to set his torch down. “In fact, turn and run. Get back up those stairs as fast as you can.” Then he took a step forward.
“You can mean to fight it,” she yelled, pulling back on his arm. “I’m not going anywhere without you!”
Z shook his head. “It’s my duty to protect you, regardless of the danger. Now go!”
He jerked out of her grasp and Dawn stumbled. “No!” she screamed, terrified as Z lunged forward to meet the beast.
They’d already proved that it was possible to be harmed in this realm. Although their bodies back in the lab may not be physically harmed, there could be extreme mental damage if someone was killed in this unconscious state. Illusion could become real in those circumstances, and Z, as powerful as he was, was no match for the horrible creature that was even now licking its vile snout.
If only they could break out of this dream-like state.It is like a dream, she realized suddenly. It had long been postulated that comatose persons could dream, so it was possible that they’d stumbled into the alien woman’s nightmare.
And if this was a dream, then the dreamer could control it.
“You!” Dawn screamed, hoping to catch the woman’s attention. “Please, you have to help.”
The woman’s troubled eyes found hers and Dawn waved frantically at her. “You’ve got to stop this! Please!”
The creature swiped at Z’s chest but he leapt backward in time to avoid the blow. Then it was the Vartik’s turn to attack, swinging a fist at the beast’s midsection. He connected but paid for the privilege as the beast managed to claw his arm before he could withdraw it. Blood spewed from the wound and Dawn screamed.
Unable to allow the creature to rip Z to shreds, she sprinted forward, avoiding the beast who was distracted by the hard kick to its chest. Although she wanted to watch the fight, she knew their only hope lay in convincing the woman to assist them.
“You!” she shouted as she ran toward the chair. “You have to help. Make the beast go away!”
The woman’s eyes narrowed, but then she let out a sigh. “You go away,” she said, her voice listless. “I wish you all would go away. Just let me rest.”
“I can’t go anywhere, you idiot,” Dawn said, her anger overpowering her politeness. “This isyourdream. You control it. You can send the monster away.”
“He never leaves,” the woman said, folding her hands serenely on her lap. “He follows me everywhere. You, however, are a rather new appearance. Are you working with him? Is that why you’ve been following me?”
Dawn heard a groan and glanced back, wincing at the sight of Z on the ground before the beast. But the Vartik climbed back up and landed another blow, so she returned her attention to convincing the woman to wake. “We’re here to help you. I found you floating in space, locked in a red crystal. I managed to get inside, and we’ve entered your unconscious to help you wake up.”
“Wake up?” the woman whispered, her face taking on a confused expression. “Red crystal?”
“Yes! Please try and remember! You’re asleep, and we’re all in your dream. That means you can control that horrible monster and save us all. It’s the only hope we have of surviving!”
The woman stood suddenly, her long lavender hair tumbling around her shoulders. “A dream! I’m asleep!”
“Yes! Now help us please!” Dawn shook the woman, hoping to help restore her memory.
The female blinked up at her, her eyes no longer blank. She stepped out of the raven chair and took a couple of paces forward. “Stop it!” she shouted at the creature’s back. “Leave him alone!”
The beast stiffened, turning its vicious yellow gaze on the female. Its lip twitched, its expression verging on shock.
Z took the opportunity to plant several punches against the creature’s side, causing it to roar in anger and return to the task at hand, felling the Vartik with a heavy backhand.
“Keep trying,” Dawn encouraged, grabbing the woman’s hand and pulling her forward. “Concentrate all your power on making the beast disappear!”
The woman frowned. “He will never disappear, but I can fight him.” Her expression was deadly serious. “I will fight him.”
As Dawn watched, the beast grabbed Z, holding him tight in its grip while the Vartik struggled.
All of a sudden, the female strode forward until she was a few feet from the creature. “You will stop this! Now!”
The monster’s hand was raised, claws exposed, ready to rip out Z’s throat. Dawn watched as the hand began to tremble, as if the creature was fighting against an unseen force.
“Release him!” the woman ordered, causing the beast to roar. “Now!”
Z tumbled from the monster’s grip, hitting the ground with a meaty thud. Dawn wanted to go to him, but she was still afraid to cross the beast’s path.
