She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfSFubgGjN
“Angela?”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqagiAXbSEy
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDrDpVKYom
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfuXp8lTlO
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIIRFFbrfm
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqxhBV6wEG
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrZX0kkkON
“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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke15Wgpuec
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBmWpPzR5S
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiOxpR4mRd
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmteQgmEtS
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokvAo8OsSY
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurIR8q62jX
“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!”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnCzCyTqZj
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo6Otmy9EF
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNsBrbx7d9
“I will not let you-39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglX3CHi915
“You’re Angela Carter?”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7wFeg8hd4
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyuH68G3N8
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXuLYnNwuW
“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.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf3Zql1HV9
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKuIfaj8qo
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEFQ22WVKw
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWrIEuC0j1
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc6ffdi1fm
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTki6ylZ8qH
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVWgasWI5J
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajoUVt6hmB
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1LdfvnPbF
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgYjMTj8OJ
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsXGSxsSDk
“What do you mean?”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1bZci0IST
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mth7tOeDg
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5nkxJ80TE
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGD2q3mHNW
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04x1qLEFLe
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. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKCdUQGWV9
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCdcNlPALy
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. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvrwojMem5
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mnQ0ZP80S
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4e7NAst1g
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUwW0T8zj8
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE7BSOrUGe
"Angela Carter?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDUljPHqMT
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79TYkGgx9R
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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhJ00APR1S
"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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTapCUrUrrO
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85Rir8BgAC
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRl5yHrLbN
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf6Ije46py
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBXbMUImvj
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlBPFSYlDl
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." 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzVFGQW9gD
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYSOIJYwuU
"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.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFaB9H1Vx5
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ462jlMBbLO
I blink again. "What..?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRG227q2ka
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCka3DTQMOG
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."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfl5pkRMiO
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QjgZKbUUu
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5ee9P4QT9
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvRq0u1Rmn
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr6XFT3dNY
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J3kLsyZTu
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
