[Tiki Time]

The Nightmare

Amalia was standing in the center of the woods with the moon shining brightly. Although the moon was full, it was still very dark and very cold. She couldn't hear anything...and as she tried to call out, no noise came from her mouth.

Where am I? Where is Tyrael? Where is Alaric? Max? Marister?

A chill ran down her spine. As she reached to rub the back of her head, she felt something soft. Hair? I don't have hair... But she did. Her hair was thick and black, it was long and tied into a ponytail that ran all the way down to her waist. She knew this hair, she had it once before...long ago.

Before she could continue her thoughts, she caught a glimpse of something move behind a tree. Who is there? Where am I? She was scared, but curious.

Attempting to hide within the shadows, she moved towards the tree. Suddenly, she felt an icy cold hand upon her shoulder. She quickly turned around to see the robed figure of a woman. "I've been waiting for you," the woman spoke to her. She recognized that voice...it was her own.
But if that's me...who am I? She looked down at herself and nothing looked~ different, but she couldn't see her own face. I need a mirror, I need to see my face. Who am I? Am I me? But...she's me.

The voice broke the silence once more, "Oh, poor dear, don't be scared." Not scared...confused. "You're lost dear, you lost your way. I'm here to get you back on track." I am lost, aren't I? Where am I? Why am I here? "Come, this way, sweetheart. You'll be okay, trust me."

As she began to follow the woman, there was a flash of light so bright she had to shield her eyes. She was hot, and as her eyes adjusted she could see nothing but endless sand. She was naked, and her tattoos were missing. Where did that woman go? Amalia was alone again.

She began to walk, she did not know which direction she was walking in; she could not find the sun to assist her in navigation. Her skin was bare and burning, and the sand was rubbing her raw. She could smell burning flesh...her flesh. Her fingers were blistering, her feet were smoking, and her head was so, so hot. Hair...so much hair. Her hair untied itself and fell about her shoulders, she shuddered as she suddenly became even warmer. I thought I cut this off, I thought my hair was gone...it's too hot, why is it so hot? Why am I here? Please, someone...am I lost? Am I lost in Moszabbar? Is Tyrael here? Will he rescue me from these sands? No...no, Tyrael is in Eltabbar now.

She couldn't see a city anywhere, just endless sands. You said you'd protect me...where are you? I need you to protect me. She was alone, abandoned, she knew he'd leave her...they always did. She began to sob, but she was too dehydrated to cry. No tears streamed down her face, but she felt as if she was crying all the same.

The woman appeared before her once more, "Shh, you aren't alone. You have me."
But, you are me? Who am I? Who are you? The woman faded into the sand and re-emerged as a man.
Marister? It was Marister and he was staring right at her in all her naked glory. She quickly threw her hands about her body, trying to cover herself. Her arms were blistering hot and red as a rose, and soon her cheeks were as well.

"Thay is a dangerous place. You need to be careful, trust no one."
No one...not even you?
"No, you can trust me."
You said no one, you said...no one.
"Yes, no one but me."
No...you're trying to isolate me. Why? Why are you doing this to me? Where are my friends? Stop keeping them from me! Please! Where are they?
"You have no friends. Only me."
Stop it! No, stop it! She began to run, she ran right through him. Her feet were burning in the sand, they were melting under her, she was melting. Soon she was nothing but a torso and she was running on her hands. She was scooping sand behind herself as she tried to propel forward. I'm dying, I'm alone and dying.She tried to whimper again, when the woman appeared. The robed woman reached her hand down and Amalia took it.

Suddenly she was in the ocean, her legs were back, and she was swimming. She could see an island in the distance, with a massive tower. She began to swim towards it as fast as she could. Tower. Towers mean wizards and wizards mean Alaric. I need to get to Alaric, he'll save me from this. But as she continued to swim, the tower never seemed to get any closer.

She was becoming exhausted, she never had to swim this much before. Alaric! I can't swim much longer! Please, Alaric! I need you! As she called out for him, he appeared before her. He was standing upon some sort of odd floating contraption...a strangely shaped raft. She didn't question it, she looked up to him and reached out. He was staring down at her and shaking his head and as she reached, he moved away. He moved further, and further out of her reach until she was crying once more.

Don't leave me! Come back! I can't swim much longer!
"I have to study and you are distracting me," he remarked simply.

Her arms and legs gave out and as much as she tried, she could not use them anymore. She began to sink, the water was closing in around her. She was suffocating, she couldn't breath, the water was filling her lungs and she was trying to cough it out...but she couldn't.

Suddenly the robed woman scooped her out of the water, "Shh, you're fine, dear. I'm here. I've got you." Amalia began to sob once more.

She looked at herself and she was just a child, and the safety of the robed woman's arms were gone. She was kicking and screaming, rolling around on the floor.

"Your mother is dead because of you," she felt a thick boot jam into her stomach. She gasped and cried out...she knew that voice. Father...?

"You useless child. All you do is cry. You'll never be anything. I'd sell you to the brothel but you aren't worth anything. I may just give you to them, to be free of your incessant crying." No, no please. I promise I'll be good. I promise I'll be useful. I'll become something, I will, I won't let you down.

"You're nothing. You're no one. You're a shame to the Mulans. You're a snivelling, useless, ugly brat." He kicked her once more, this time she heard a cracking and she felt as if her ribs were poking into her lungs. She gasped for breath and begin to crawl away. She knew this feeling, she knew this scene...it had happened once before.

The robed woman scooped her up once more and wrapped her arms around her. They were warm and comforting, she felt safe...and her father faded away. "Shh, you're okay. I'm here. I'm always here. I'm the only one who will always be here for you."

Amalia whimpered some more, nodding her agreement. She understood, no one was there for her...no one but the robed woman. She opened her mouth in an attempt to speak once more but before she could say anything she felt something shake her. "Mistress Amalia, we've arrived."

Oh, thank the Gods. She crawled out of the bed and left the caravan.