She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9zTLjsdPf
“Angela?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsebcx3DqGA
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFrTw8cKmZ
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTDqipHZ4a
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJsfFxKKsi
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeQZMq45lf
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulXXX1W17K
“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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNazWeTfkkO
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmXmGhHOp3
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9XBLnD3Qj
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUlvyhfiLq
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42fbV8HAoD
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBKZGx0BoI
“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!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9b33U0zC0
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u94vV1rkd
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJQeFbBlhK
“I will not let you-58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPxiKC3Kpf
“You’re Angela Carter?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlfKwpJvWq
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vjh5mP7Nd
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbO2ZpQaca
“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.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc3uYQ21mi
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYH00AZfr3
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IfHStWfpL
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqc6Qu7sW3
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso4HO416T3
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRUoaM5hGp
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytXa8k0nB4
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnajuKHD88l
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3jMrJ0szh
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA7HzzAcdd
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRZP0U9EBd
“What do you mean?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvxLLNPlhK
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKmCvQIbzd
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHGkLbvBRv
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD62olmurZp
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnxDHrV3WV
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. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIISJtRhFa
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzqP7km3hL
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. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWLx5u2QZZ
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA2e0nx4A4
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQj9nUBeob
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EhZ8FDJKz
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0sNdTXVRs
"Angela Carter?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKhSrKBVbE
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8k62p6gRT
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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjAoWwXAFF
"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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnZ2Tt5nD7
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ754Bm5J6Sw
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN96WZRs7k
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CuLjtJwPU
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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziMdBjja6P
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv62RKmoeKt
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." 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvljWB5ooOh
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YMtaPLOJh
"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.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHGLaNQn8V
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhqLWY6N6K
I blink again. "What..?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNmEOo6zgL
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8PTH98hgz
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."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHzl7YRvcl
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SC1RNNhGc
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVKNOsJro7
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4B2iybFQq
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdhcY7RAC1
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNazyl0UQd
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
