She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDgT1ZUR36
“Angela?”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OAlqV9SWK
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBvAaQMKfN
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun4d9OEWpq
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmTnNRUZKO
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAki5Uf19mk
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdsgYVahhN
“Will you sign my copy?” She holds out a copy of my book, ‘The Dragon’s Heart’. The cover is a dark purple and blue sunset splayed out behind the silhouettes of three people. And if you look below the title, the faint outline of a dragon silhouette can be seen in the sky.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGedxAiNdS
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LhUttBpqf
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCfl8XZ4OU
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRqEg51UXw
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwi5QATaey
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01maY2Q64i
“I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t end it there!” She clutches the book to her chest. “Wait’ll my friends hear about this!”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE9DwRdaHW
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUme3pqPIG
I reach for my hot chocolate and take a sip. I return the cup to the table, my mind to the story, and my fingers to the keys.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqINp4ggHm
“I will not let you-51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4Lmko5Zka
“You’re Angela Carter?”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv4pjGxOIn
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJXrQzdrIa
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiR9KRI7h4
“Funny.” I sip my hot chocolate. “I wasn’t aware my hair, eye color, and face shape had all changed since I published my novel.” I set down my drink and smile sunnily at him. “I’m sure I just look different in person.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2235bgfo9u
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pZHlcbsye
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhTcsqVP3u
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDIs6aqq8U
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoui37hwcp
I sigh. For some reason it's always easier to deal with the haters. I finish my cup of hot chocolate and set it back on the table, turning once more to my laptop.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFsq0VBL7u
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kwtrd5BBs
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVENyGRF8r
I sigh, shutting my laptop. “That would be me. Who’s asking?” I turn in my seat, to find a young woman in a cloak.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0TBYewmwy
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1ypopPz0e
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdCGVRIr3H
“What do you mean?”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3pAMb2UUN
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdtwnobjDx
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWzylraoTB
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB11E8cJWu
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2poelgOBq
I blink. Then blink again. “Um….” I say elegantly. I glance around the coffee shop but everyone is going about their business, no one giving a second thought to the shocked author I happen to be. 51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkjInAgkff
After a moment the shock fades away and I laugh at myself. I guess I am more tired than I thought I was. Either that or the sugar is getting to me. People don't disappear.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs851OImjCe
I collect my laptop under my arm, quietly leaving the small coffee shop in my city, ducking my head in hopes of being ignored by the passerby.
~ ✨ 🌹 🌺 ~
I open my laptop in my room, reluctantly closing my document, and opening my browser. 51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru95SxQet9
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrimnzIoCqm
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvERnYBCC9
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrFglxVIad
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEcRWWgCgp
"Angela Carter?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesrLfHav9y
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVVEtRunbZ
The same woman -the one I hallucinated- stands a few steps away. She still wears her gray cloak, but the hood isn't thrown over her head any longer. "Angela Carter?" She repeats softly, swaying slightly.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrnWC9nUPS
"Uh..." My wide eyes take in her features. Her hair is pure white, like freshly fallen snow. Her eyes are a deep magenta, spots of bright color on her freckle-less face.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyOjyqACTL
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVTel8UOo4
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyi2Bf56BnI
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFms6TKmjw
I blink hard, reaching up to scrub at my eyes. This isn't happening. It can't be happening. "Yes.." I finally say. "I'm Angela Carter... But you can't be Ellena of Spokeshore."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitW9TQDunS
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUDpZoRubK
I stare at her. "But you can't be. You can't be. You're not real. You're a character. A fictional character in my book." 51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e3tge2u1Z
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UM6hLCuV0
"What?" I try to remember what happened in my book. I know she isn't one of the ones who died. But, I don't think she is a die-hard fan. I have no idea if bleach can get your hair that white.. or if there's even a way to make eyes that color. I must be hallucinating. Again.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqibFQCfEG
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPSDLgOlj4
I blink again. "What..?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lgjLf4nEX
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9JG9sq6ga
I step forward, wincing slightly when my bruised knee straightens. Not a dream then... "What on earth do you think I can do? Even if you're real, which you're not, you're in another land."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rjMz1VvOv
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBqrNNRQhl
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo0fs5etZu
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ATCtqBFy6
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDZmfrcakc
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."51Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalu5sGx5K0
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
