She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR0XXbhtyG
“Angela?”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz0QxzhR6p
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A5yHibbrO
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjTH4iuCpF
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8WdAJJ51h
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfWiqdwQNi
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcLQ6o2kpk
“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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8j4LBIsYu
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuCUrLV39N
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIIkRI2WIB
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz2QpCFJxe
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYzgSLVmXe
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqmKnt5G7v
“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!”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlomIkgd8M
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJssvSFYJ3
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRd4WCx7e2a
“I will not let you-165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9l2Sir5pR
“You’re Angela Carter?”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu2K1yRaJd
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEvc0DEyNK
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPtRUbu0SF
“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.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuSqxsQuV2
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7MrH44N6v
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtpuSXwe2t
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA2VEzZVD1
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5LSqpEvUn
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGLTnB4Id1
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFQ1N8IaMj
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8E2peswGg
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM72ZFUGJG0
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZyMS84TtW
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00stgvtmr5
“What do you mean?”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclNuUObU3F
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYxxl67j5V
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqEbiZGa8Y
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPUgK8v2X5
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc5jlltq4A
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. 165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUO1avn8TB
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXReS0eoIQs
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. 165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUgs22MaEK
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZLLCkWr7X
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAzEXtBFPA
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7MFW4VV2I
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPzFNtSVSH
"Angela Carter?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWw2HIpPRv
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U2OTSJxXC
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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADtvS8GaBy
"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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0inyLtFvO4
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ASSHZLiVp
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Aei6lhO6g
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRwQ6ratYQ
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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUZG4MRoSi
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPZOe8wh9x
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." 165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzuJ15MfIp
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYTL9iFNhV
"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.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOSuTemzeN
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzpPA7FOfQ
I blink again. "What..?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzHUt8vQGe
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIkBY9zz1r
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."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pKp7bJehq
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7LQ74Y1se
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnHkAzltk2
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3GFQjFPx7
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ171lrhanfF
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."165Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnFQeYbOUb
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
