She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTNvLVYbel
“Angela?”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNwKtKMhoc
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRwrw23Vth
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyO9URaUo9
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mpi9NVohF
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk63eQvmOTG
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHN7O4nVu8
“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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkTPkj3QWi
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWDUwa6u5n
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJtUNPZOB3
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM57JzLj0mQ
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEpQZslfZy
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidXfxlSuN7
“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!”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqRAFK4Lkr
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7yqgUJtvp
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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKn1rBk7to
“I will not let you-62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KGmZds90z
“You’re Angela Carter?”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK8DxbmRRR
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJgTgIbFFr
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrBpTeKktJ
“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.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjnC3xmxRu
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBo9RQnna9
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2yGNki5iA
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8TRPpGKhP
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bn8uEXJvc
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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCxsK4i1GF
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZhSqvm4eI
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl18fh2lqU
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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXNpvy20TX
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArPNrJJh2u
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUjug59ASe
“What do you mean?”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKfz71FXMv
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG1sfBfvRX
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqxUc3byIs
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZFEUyhV8G
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqZ6MydYj9
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. 62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIy8msRxoN
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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKos2Qh3W6U
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. 62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5Qr27SMJB
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cRL3Hkobl
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcebHQlUFCu
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF8foMaKKi
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kjGO4wwH0
"Angela Carter?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM6fg43W9K
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1zR1OY3vm
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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv4cgWJKLb
"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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2wUCAQx09
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy7vO7NBF0
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SwH5R7R0J
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uBbZsRBXI
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."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbiuRg0INp
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu2u0lj2YD
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." 62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvO97YQeMU
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH81lMuIuA
"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.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8Q2DH72vQ
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbHGKbBTdd
I blink again. "What..?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHtkMxXhat
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6K1fpO9Yr
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."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmfnAdHG8c
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nnIYxEW5C
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuqXqrl9Ml
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpk04VhSoH
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz1yzmt5eD
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYERS39jwX
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
