She stood atop the hill. Sword raised, hair blowing wildly in the wind. “I will-161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEza5y43tb9
“Angela?”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTMK1hnDbu
I sigh, my fingers stilling on the keys of my laptop. With one hand, I reach up and brush my wavy brown hair aside.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0OvH3N1Fp
“Angela Carter?” The young woman standing next to my table is staring expectantly at me.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppJFIq9z3c
I lean back in my chair, holding in another sigh. “Yes, that’s me,” I say, forcing a smile.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAnNmiLPZQ
“I knew it!” She smiles triumphantly. “I absolutely adore your book!”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuCzotR1te
“Thank you,” I say a bit awkwardly, still unused to all the praise. “I’m glad you like it.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzKEq1p1F9
“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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2X2UffLbD
I glance up at her. “I don’t have a pen on me.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4GRxxfDhs
“But-” she starts searching her pockets, -“you’re a writer!”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCqm61gIWk
I gesture at my laptop. “I don’t need a pen.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICmUn7pPLU
She passes me my book and a pen. “Are you writing a sequel?” she breathes.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmum6PSBlAm
I sign my name with looping letters on the title page. “Maybe.” I hand her back her book and pen.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DOrwPylb1
“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!”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybdpDYCsdm
I watch her leave the coffee shop. “I don’t understand why they’re always so excited,” I murmur to myself.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkias9EfO2
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHojbMgVeOt
“I will not let you-161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdNSS6rEAc
“You’re Angela Carter?”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1QTRb6sos
I stop typing again, brushing my locks aside. “Yes, I am.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQP4mwh9iF
He scoffs, looking me over. “You look nothing like the picture on the back of your novel.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjeKsDOwXh
“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.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ578QjGkfov
He frowns. “Your novel wasn’t any good, I don’t know why Bluebird Publishing published your book.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhPRo89UQF
“I’m sorry you didn’t like it. But don’t let me ruin your day.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGBMvZiIHz
He scoffs again. “Too late for that.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyI8F0zhxI
When I don’t answer him, he turns and stalks away.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefTMhocGQ9
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIRASptNJA
“I will not let you harm him!” She cried, even as tears poured down her cheeks. “I vow it.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqgRXwlgau
“Angela? Angela Carter?” A soft voice interrupts my latest flow of words. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YzzJONHYe
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Svjd8VZgN
“Angela Carter, it is I, Ellena.” 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oUEmxCWIh
I study her. “It’s a good costume. But I don’t think you’ve quite captured her correctly.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2itocw2WEu
“What do you mean?”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bw50kyTfJ
I hold in a chuckle. “Nothing, nothing. What do you need?”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyLWYJgTOK
“Angela Carter, I have come to beg for your help.”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENoI8Ptfam
My brow furrows in confusion. “What do you want my help with?”161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFhIsG3eSL
She opens her mouth to speak but glances over her shoulder. “Oh no,” she whispers, suddenly vanishing.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOtukAdw08
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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gGAnnNITQ
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTg8oNquLE
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. 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK3e9JFRfW
Does a lot of sugar and slack of sleep cause hallucinations?161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hfUByw4j0
I hit enter and wait a moment for it to load.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejog8F4NXb
Multiple sites pop up and I skim through them. Nothing that directly answers my questions.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMe2wCMN5G
I shrug, closing my laptop with a soft sigh.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4txnogMeF
"Angela Carter?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzFmTrbggZ
I jump violently, slamming my knee into the table and bitting back a scream. I spin around, clutching at my knee.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwIhkJk2LB
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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujjJ456ss0
"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibSLCHBot7
"It is I, Ellena of Spokeshore." Her voice is soft, tired almost. But what she just said... and how she looks....161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4MO9CJ8DE
"But- but..." I stare wide-eyed at her. "You...."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZGf1tLuI6
She sways again, elegantly reaching up to press a hand to her forehead. "You... You are Angela Carter..?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsovU8Gi7f
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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1GoekPLLe
Her magenta eyes gleam despite the dark spots below them. "I am Ellena of Spokeshore, Majika. I know who I am."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmVlJRfd4L
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." 161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9a4cl1gNA
Ellena laughs softly. "I am very real. But I'm afraid I am not with you."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2cifjBWdd
"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.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycuZbANdao
"I am not really here." Ellena closes her eyes. "I am using majik. To speak to you across realms."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiifA8lN4lT
I blink again. "What..?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYhe0AEBkt
Ellena opens her tired eyes, softly shaking her head. "I have appeared before you in this way... to.. beg for your help."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdXB2XE8fr
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."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhxhEWic1k
"Realm." She starts trembling slightly. "I am nearly out... of time. Please, Angela. Help. We need your help. Please..."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaqjUMtGD5
She looks like she's about to collapse. I step forward to catch her just as her knees give way and she crumbles.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEWK6vQQTv
Only she doesn't crumble into my arms. I blink, finding her on the floor under my arms.161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEXAZxk0n1
"Um..." My breathing quickens as I look down at her. My eyes widen farther when I realize she's visibly flickering. "Ellena..?"161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEzl943Csw
She sighs. "I will... I will use my.... majik. To bring..... you... Cross realms."161Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsLvYZIcnU
"Wha-" My question is ripped from my lips as I suddenly tip forward, plummeting into the floor.
