I'm caught in a dreadful illusion that torments my mind... no, it's more terrifying than that. It's a nightmare in a nightmare. The irresistible force pulled me into the depths of a book, enveloping me in a world of words and imagination. A book that I remembered from my high school years. It was one of the compulsory texts for literature class. It is a timeless story of a myth about two princesses who had a tragic fate.
How did this happen?
As I'm walking alone on the street after having dinner with my fiancée, suddenly, a beggar appears before me, holding something in her hand. I thought she wanted to rob me. I was ready to pounce on her. The old woman looked like a witch, with dirty clothes, tangled hair, and a crooked nose. I wondered if it was already Halloween. For some reason, I couldn't remember the date. I stared at the woman blankly.
She held a book in her hands and thrust it towards me, saying in a raspy voice, "Take this book. It will change your life."
I was surprised when she handed me the book, and I took it from her in a daze. It was as if she hexed me. The book's cover caught my attention, and I saw it was titled "Celestia: Tales of the Two Princesses!"
Huh? This rubbish again?
I intended to return the book, but the beggar vanished into thin air, perplexing me with a hardcover book in my grasp. I gazed vacantly at the thick book, wondering what to do with it. Where did she go? Did she vanish by magic? But I don't believe in magic. It's a notion that only exists in fairy tales like the book I'm holding.
What if magic still exists, but only certain individuals know it? It seems far-fetched, perhaps even the idea of a secret society, so I quickly dismissed those thoughts. As I walked, I carried the book with me, intending to donate it to the public library on my way to work tomorrow.
I unlocked the door and entered my apartment, feeling relief. I loved my cozy, comfortable home, which reflected my personality and taste. The living room was decorated with warm colors, soft cushions, and framed digital photos of my family and friends. My kitchen was neat, with a fridge full of healthy food and a coffee maker I used every morning. The bathroom was spacious and clean, with a bathtub I enjoyed soaking in after a long day. The bedroom was my sanctuary, with a king-sized bed, a fluffy duvet, and a walk-in closet.
I went straight to the bedroom, feeling tired and sleepy. I took a quick shower and donned my nightgown, feeling the soft fabric caress my skin. I put the book on the side table, not bothering to look at the cover or the title again. I crawled into bed and closed my eyes, drifting into a peaceful slumber.
Well, it is not a peaceful one. In my slumber, the book the beggar gave me suddenly opened its pages. A bright light came from the pages, shining on my dim bedroom. I opened my eyes in shock. The bright light had interfered with my REM sleep. I turned to my side table, where the light was coming from. To my horror, the beggar's head comically popped up from the pages, just like the crooked-nosed evil witch from Disney's.
"Princess! You must go home now!" She said threateningly.
I could not understand, nor I can do anything when suddenly my body was floating in the air and sucked into the book like a cartoon character! I screamed my lungs out, terrified about what would be my end.
I was still screaming when I heard a loud bang on the door. That was when I woke up from my nightmare.
"Keep it down, will you!" Mr. Timothy, my front neighbor, was banging on the door without mercy.
"I'm sorry!" I yelled, feeling guilty for my improper behavior, disturbing the neighbors in the middle of the night.
"You've been watching crap again, don't you?" He was still yelling in front of my door. Despite the volume of his voice, Mr. Timothy's tone exudes warmth and friendliness as he tends to the building's maintenance. It seemed that he had just finished his shift for the day and coincidentally arrived home at the precise moment when I was screaming like being possessed by a ghost.
"Sorry again!" I apologized for the second time.
I touch the laptop's screen to bring down the volume as I binge-watched my favorite anime, Tonari No Totoro, for the 100th time and fell asleep after the fifth episode. Why the hell am I screaming in the middle of a nap? What was it about?
I had a dream within a dream where I experienced a nightmare. It was quite strange.
As I wandered through the dream, I found myself strolling homeward after a delightful dinner with my fiancée. Our conversation was lively, peppered with laughter and the easy affection that defines a loving couple.
What? I don't have one, to begin with. I'm a happy single career woman with no time for romance, even though I'm almost 30! Okay, cut the crap! Let's continue remembering the dream.
When I got home, I went to bed and had a nightmare. In the nightmare, I was being sucked into a book. I screamed.
At that moment, the sound of my own screams jolted me awake, and it was then that I realized I had inadvertently frightened the neighbor.
What the hell? I sighed briefly and sat straight, hugging the plushies of a giant black cat's head. I turned up the sound a bit and continued watching the anime. I tried to focus, but deep down, my consciousness was whispering something about a book.
What book?
It's a book that's going to change my life. Little did I know I would have an adventure that would change my future!