Dream (4)
Everything felt hazy, like I was trapped in a dream. I was walking along a faint dirt path through a dark forest thick with towering trees. I wasn't alone—someone was walking a little ahead of me. They were clad in armor straight out of a fantasy comic.
I wanted to look around and gather information, but I couldn't control my body. All I could do was roll my eyes, staring endlessly at the grass and trees stretching on forever.
A while later, the person ahead whipped around and snapped at me irritably.
"Hey, how much farther is it to the destination?"
I'd assumed it was a man from the black armor, but it was a woman with striking black hair. My body moved on its own, pulling a strange orb from my pocket and peering into it.
"Hmm... it says we still have a ways to go."
"We've been walking for hours now... We might have to camp in this damp forest..."
The armored woman grumbled wearily but didn't stop walking. After a bit more trudging, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes nearby.
A woman with long brown hair burst out from the undergrowth. It was too dark to see her face clearly, but she seemed to be a companion, seamlessly joining our group.
The brown-haired woman approached the black-haired one leading the way.
"Hero, it's really not much farther. Hang in there just a little longer."
Hero. That's what she called the black-haired woman. Both she and the brown-haired one were equipped with armor and weapons of remarkably refined design.
After walking some more, the hero leading us turned back, her face twisted in frustration as she addressed me.
"...Guide, I'm starting to get pissed off... It's really almost there, right?"
Just then, faint sunlight filtered through the dense trees, briefly illuminating the hero's face. The moment I saw it, I couldn't help but gasp in admiration at her stunning beauty. Her long, deep black hair was tied back, and her slightly upturned eyes gave her a sharp, cat-like impression.
As I stared dazedly at her face, my mind grew foggy, my vision narrowing. Like losing consciousness, everything went dark, and I blacked out.
A moment later, I came to and opened my eyes to a different dream. The first thing I saw was a high, clear sky, accompanied by the bustle of voices around me.
I still couldn't move my body at will, so I just rolled my eyes, scanning the surroundings. It was like a marketplace—merchants hawking their wares, customers browsing the goods.
Someone had my arm linked in theirs, leading me along. A glance revealed it was the hero from the previous dream.
As we strolled silently through the market, a merchant called out with a hearty laugh.
"Hey, young man! Tools are dirt cheap right now! Perfect chance to score points with your girlfriend!"
The hero seemed annoyed, quickening her pace as she muttered to me.
"...Ignore them. Don't even glance at those creepy old perverts."
I followed her lead without a word. Her arm was wrapped tightly around mine, pressing her ample breasts against my side, but she acted like it was nothing.
I started wondering what the point of wandering aimlessly through the market was. That's when we passed a small stall lined with pretty accessories.
A young couple was haggling with the merchant over some jewelry, catching my eye. The woman showed off a ring on her finger to the man.
"Look at this! It fits my finger perfectly."
"Yeah... We'll take it, mister!"
The man grinned broadly and paid the merchant.
"Aw, you two are made for each other! Fine, I'll knock a little off."
The hero walking beside me had been looking at the same thing. She murmured softly.
"A ring..."
Hearing her mutter, my dream-self suggested buying one.
"Wearing a ring would just get in the way..."
She said that, but her eyes were glued to the ring. I insisted we just browse, dragging her to the stall.
Pretending nonchalance, she glanced around at the accessories before carefully picking up a ring. Her innocent sparkle as she gazed at it made my heart flutter a little, for some reason.
My dream-self quietly paid for it behind her back and offered it as a gift. Caught, she blushed and stammered excuses.
"N-No, what do I need a ring for? I'm a hero... a warrior! I can't fight with something like this..."
Despite her words, her eyes never left the ring. I gently took it and slipped it onto her left ring finger, whispering.
"...Thank you for always protecting me."
It felt cringey from my third-person view, but she was deeply moved, fighting back tears.
"Th-Thank you... Sniff... I'll... protect you... hic... forever!"
Tears streaming down her face, she buried herself in my arms. Stroking her gently like that, I couldn't help thinking how cute she was.
At that moment, my vision darkened again, and I lost consciousness.
A moment later, I cracked my eyes open to a twilight sky. Another dream.
Rolling my eyes around, I saw a tiny village under the sunset-dyed sky, so small you could see where it ended.
Suddenly, villagers came rushing out toward me, screaming.
"Run!! It's a monster!!!"
"Mommy! Waaah..."
"Get up! If you fall, you're dead!"
Something was happening—people fleeing the village. My dream-self looked around. There stood the hero from before and the brown-haired woman.
Leading the two women, my dream-self pushed past the fleeing villagers toward the village.
As we advanced slowly, the brown-haired woman grumbled to the hero.
"...Hero, we don't have to protect a tiny village like this, right?"
...Not very heroic for a companion. The hero flashed a bright smile and boasted confidently.
"I'm the hero. If I step in, I can protect anything."
The brown-haired woman stared at her, then took position a bit away from us. My dream-self said nothing.
As we neared the village, a booming thud-thud-thud shook the ground.
Moments later, tall trees beyond the village snapped and toppled. A massive creature burst through.
Kuooooh!
Huge monsters were heading for the village, roaring. There were at least ten of them. It felt like watching a kaiju movie.
The hero leading us stopped at the sight, turning to me. She undid something from her neck and handed it over—a ring. The one I'd given her before.
Backlit by the sunset, she grinned at me.
"I'll protect you, so wait here, okay?"
Without waiting for a reply, she charged the monsters. Her hand flashed, summoning a massive sword. Leaping high, she cleaved through them in an instant.
I just watched. Soon, consciousness faded again.
I snapped awake in pitch blackness.
"...Damn! ...Damn! Wake up!"
It wasn't dark around me—my head must've taken a hit; I couldn't see properly. Someone was shaking me violently. The familiar voice sounded like the hero's.
"Snap out of it!!"
My dream-self groaned and opened his eyes. The first thing in view was the hero. Her pale face was splattered with red liquid everywhere.
...It looked like blood. Her hair was soaked, red droplets beading at the tips.
Seeing me conscious, she fussed over me, checking everywhere as she spoke.
"A-Are you okay? Does it hurt bad? S-Sorry, I... I messed up..."
Her gaze wavered anxiously as she stuttered. She looked deeply unsettled. I said I was fine, and she jumped up, yanking a huge sword from beside my head.
Looking down at me, tears began streaming down her face, mixing with the red on her cheeks like blood tears.
"I-I'll... protect you... J-Just wait a little..."
Leaving me, she vanished in a flash. My dream-self struggled to lift his head, searching for her. The blood-red sky revealed nothing.
Suddenly, an explosion rang out, followed by agonized screams and wet, crushing sounds like watermelons bursting.
Looking toward the noise, I couldn't believe my eyes. Mangled corpses everywhere. A man wailed for his mom, his limbs severed. Beside him, a man sobbed over a woman with her torso halved, his own lower body gone, entrails spilling out.
The gruesome scene made me want to vomit, but my body just stared impassively.
...This dream-me wasn't really me. No matter how tightly I shut my eyes, the images burned into my mind, driving me mad.
The blasts stopped, leaving only survivors' wails. My dream-self looked around again. The crawling, screaming man went still. The one clutching a corpse fell asleep beside it.
Like absorbing the scene solemnly, dream-me knelt reverently, taking it all in.
...Insane.
Soon even the cries faded. The hero reappeared, looking worse—dark flesh chunks splattered on her.
Still anxious, she fidgeted as she approached, blocking my view of the horror behind her with her body.
Her wet hair swayed, a drop of blood falling onto my face. Her expression hardened at the sight.
"...Dirty."
She pulled out a clean handkerchief from somewhere and gently wiped the blood from my face. While her own was drenched in it...
Our eyes met as she calmly checked for more. A chill ran down my spine.
...Not human eyes.
Satisfied with my clean face, she smiled faintly. Seeing her smile, my vision darkened, and I blacked out.
*
"Hah!"
I bolted upright from the dream. Instinctively scanning around, I was relieved—it was my room. Confirming that brought the nightmares flooding back, nausea surging.
Clamping my mouth, I dashed to the bathroom. I heaved violently into the toilet.
After ages of retching, my stomach settled. I flushed, collapsed to the floor.
To clear my foggy head, I splashed cold water on my face, rinsed my mouth, then returned to my room.
Sitting blankly on the bed, I checked the clock—still early morning. I lay down to sleep again, but the dreams kept me awake.
To distract myself, I grabbed my phone and scrolled endlessly. Staring vacantly at a video...
Knock-knock-
Someone knocked. "Cho-in, Mom says come eat."
Lee Ji-yeon's voice. Moments later:
"...Coming in?"
Morning already? She was waking me. Snapping to, I jumped up and opened the door before she could.
"...I'll be there."
Lee Ji-yeon, standing at the door, grinned at me. "I was hoping to peek at your room after so long... Too bad."
Our eyes met, and her smile faltered, puzzled. "...What's wrong?"
I brushed off her concerned stare and led her to the living room. We sat at the table in the quiet kitchen and started eating.
"So, when's Ji-yeon coming again?"
"Soon, Dad."
"Haha, good—come often..."
Seeing my happy family, I let out a short sigh. Trying to eat, the horrific nightmare killed my appetite.
Mom noticed my picking at the food. "Why aren't you eating, son?"
"...No, I am. Eat up, Mom."
I felt Lee Ji-yeon's gaze lingering, but ignored it, forcing down bites.
Thud-thud-thud.
Someone pounded at the front door. Mom realized, setting down her utensils.
"Oh! The rice must be here."
I asked as she stood. "...Rice?"
"Yeah, we were running low, so I ordered some."
Rice delivery!
Another knock, then a young woman's voice urging. Mom told us, "Keep eating, I'll get it."
Couldn't let her lift heavy stuff... I stood quickly, seating her. "...It's heavy. I'll get it."
"That's my boy. Just paid, so grab it."
I rushed out and flung open the door.
Click. A young woman's voice from beyond. "Oh, there you are! Hello!"
"Yes, hel—"
The door fully open, her face hit me like a blank slate. She stared curiously at my dumbfounded expression.
Setting down the rice bags, she asked cautiously. "...You okay?"
Her voice felt familiar. Deep black hair tied neatly back. Slightly upturned eyes with a sharp, cat-like edge...
A face that rang bells... She resembled the hero.