She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgiytNvGHr
“Angela?”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU2jiVGRqu
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdo1ytOAWf
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dNVpF8jJp
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0KHKxAlyw
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhEl9XXRpZ
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiEepzfoSJ
“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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXbesbI7kx
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxCbvqjp1y
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEv5yjsrGb
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8iEHPFw0q
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSwCXrjI81
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wv6LdcDdA
“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!”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz0dyqoqNV
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDjy42tmsE
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU6fNSxdnZ
“I will not let you-32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfguQtNeqU
“You’re Angela Carter?”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAucpJfTo2
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7nzdFfzXa
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHk93IjJmV
“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.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDbHeZna6S
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Wrd2o2Q6O
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBzUIgfBtK
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB2Rm6d72D
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK4FHZb8YL
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpyqcU6VsM
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f1P5aNhoo
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAf0gy93WR
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFnYmhhTdf
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYeQGglHoU
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMUtvblkQ8
“What do you mean?”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqoVmtTynn
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZhVOTYeNF
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9p2gWHpnQ
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadQaHOKYf1
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtlg0ZcYi8
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. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopkpTQyPN4
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIjt0WvwAl
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. 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDYAdpbPB1
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrT3LxPLF6
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1wpcCpDfD
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74HyVeMAkA
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrJHdNaksn
"Angela Carter?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfXxTZgXDZ
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CbB2oMZob
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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGIV7ex7JH
"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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rXJ274EG3
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYSBi0pwHl
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQQ0jXiEJF
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLk5HB6ZHT
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."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mBJWtZ0VI
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl0cLTYbuA
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." 32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1C4ygg8Fz
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BggGpr36c
"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.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS2HiVd4Eo
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ94mx13MwC
I blink again. "What..?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIRH6XFnoZ
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8R98DPfjT
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."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKQCjwpfVz
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G6FqRYyX5
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nzbm8uGor
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kHzQ30X0M
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fYtmYgf81
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCJURnTl0x
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
