• What is life…. Why do we need it….for what purpose? Questions many have wondered about but was to frightened to find out, but what if you had no choice other then to reach for these questions? To be thrown in the pot of despair with no way out. That is where I am now stuck forever trapped with in these questions. You must be confused and not understand what I mean; I’ll try to say it clearer… I am stuck in those questions. I can’t get out because of a curse that was put on me by a vindictive and evil witch, that felt I was to curious for my own good. She took away my solid body and tossed me into questions that are on some ones mind at all times. Its hard really, to flight through so many minds, more over I’m surprised that I have not gone crazy yet. I suppose the reason is that there is hope in this hopeless place of the mind realm. If some one would speak these questions aloud, all of them, I will be seen for the first time in many years. Every time some one has that thought of one of my questions, hope rises in my chest only to fall into the pit of my stomach as they shake their head and throw the question out of their mind. That’s when I feel like I will crack only to see that I can not be broken. If only some one somewhere would just ask the questions, I would be their slave if need be but anything is better then being here. I can’t eat sleep, nothing I’ am a true ghost in dreams and nightmares as I fly from one mind to the other. If only I could get some one to ask the questions…but how? Wait…maybe just maybe I have an idea of getting out of here but would it work? Probably not but this is better then doing nothing, its more then only hoping some one will release me from my prison. As I go through minds I keep an eye out for any mind that I could use. None so far I’m beginning to feel that this plan will never work, but then in the distance there is a light and I enter a world of dreams that seems so different from the others. It is not just what is wanted and wished for but something more like a valuable something that had been lost but now has been found. I float down to the hard ground of this person’s dreams. I look about me to see if I can find out what the dream was about. Suddenly there is a sound and whirling around I see a boy, no older the 16 standing on the other side of the clearing. He looks slightly stunned as he looks at me, I see his eyes lingers slightly on my body before moving to my face. I smile, this must be the dreamer that has gotten my attention. Curiosity spreads across his face as he takes a step closer,
    “Who are you?” he speaks like all people speak in a dream, a type of whisper that can be heard clear yet seem so feeble. I c**k my head and smile again, no need to speak yet I want him to get use to me in his dreams before we talk. I step back as he gets closer and finally I turn and run through the bushes.
    “wait!” he shouts, but I am already running freely now he follows trying to catch up with me as I go deeper and deeper…
    *enter Dante*
    He awoke to feel that he had been sweating while he slept, he turned over in bed and tried to go back to sleep. He closed his eyes in hope of seeing that girl again. Who was she anyway? He had never seen her before in his life and now all of a sudden she pops up in one of his dreams. Feeling that he would not get to sleep again, he decides to get up. With a glance at his clock he sees that its 6 o’clock in the morning. He sighs and stands up and walks to the bathroom across from his room. He washes his face and looks up into the mirror and there he freezes. The girl was behind him, he turns quickly and sees nothing he looks back in the mirror and sees only his face. He sighs and runs his hand through his dark brown hair and reaches for his tooth brush. When he’s done in the bathroom, he goes back into his room and digs through piles of clothes to find something clean. He should really try to clean this up but he never feels like it later on. He finally finds a t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans and slips them on. He stands in front of the full body mirror looking at his reflection. He’s not what you might call gorgeous but he’s not exactly average either. With a full head of dark brown curls and piercing blue eyes he’s pretty attractive, his build isn’t skinny but it isn’t ripped either. He’s pretty tall around 5’11, pretty close to average, at least to him. He combs his fingers through his hair before grabbing his bag and sets out for the kitchen. His mom is surprised to see him up and about but she says nothing and continues to fix breakfast as he sits slumped on the table. He closes his eyes and wills sleep to come but it doesn’t and before he knows it he’s on the bus to school. When he gets to the front entrance he meets up with his friend Jace and they enter the school together.
    “Hey man, are you listening?”
    “What?”
    “You weren’t listening were you?” Jace shook his head and walked away, Dante tailing behind. The day was pretty uneventful, although he wouldn’t know if it was or not his mind was still on the girl in his dream. He just couldn’t get her out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried. Finally the school day ended and every one could go home. He was happy it was the last day of school if it wasn’t then there was no one he could do any work the way he is right now. He caught up with Jace and made plans to meet up later next week and departed to get on the bus. He sat down and looked out the window; there was a shift in the seat. Looking over he saw his girlfriend Jamie sitting next to him smiling.
    “So.. mister man how’s it going?” she smiled again and inched closer to him until her hand was place over his. Jamie was beautiful, and he never stopped telling her that, with her glossy blonde hair and leafy green eyes, he had always felt so lucky. Now that he sat there staring at her smiling face something seemed different about her, her hair wasn’t as shiny as he remembered it and her smile didn’t seem so perfect.
    “Hey you in there?” she asked tapping his forehead with a knuckle; he managed a weak smile, and said hi. They talked for the rest of the bus ride before his stop came up. He got up after a parting kiss from Jamie and went straight to his room, he flopped on the bed, and feel into the sleep that had alluded him.
    *dream world*
    I sat waiting, who knows how long it will be before the boy comes back but I held on and was able to stay here instead of drifting away like usual. I sat near a sparkling pond of aqua water as I waited. I dipped my fingers in the water and felt something for the first time. It was a shock at first and I did not know what it was at first but then I began to laugh. I was feeling the cooling water against my skin, I could feel! This made my plan become even more important and I swore I would go through with it, just then the boy returned and stood on the other side of the pond staring at me. I laughed and reached my hand out; he seemed to be in a trance as he walked closer to the edge of the pond. I got up and walked to the opposite edge of the pond. He stopped and shook his head and looked at me confusion clear on his face. I dipped my foot in the water making a shiver go up my spine as I slid slowly into the cool water. I treaded over to where he stood and got out of the pond water rolling off of me and my hair sticking to my face. He stepped back unsure, but I walked closer to him. I stopped a few feet away; he didn’t move, from the looks of it he wasn’t breathing either.
    “Who are you?” he asked for the second time, this time I spoke:
    “hello, it’s nice to meet you I have no name you may call me what ever you like” he seemed taken aback by the fact that I spoke but something in his eyes changed and he no longer looked so confused.
    “You don’t have a name?”
    “Yes that is correct” I said sitting down and dipping my feet in the pond. After a minute of hesitation he sat down next to me and cocked his head to the side.
    “Why are you here?” he asked, I stared at him from the corner of my eye, I couldn’t tell him much now but over time but….
    “I need your help in something” he turned his body to fully face me,
    “Like what?” I shook my head and turned away from his eyes, they were a piercing blue color almost the color of the pond.
    “I can’t say right now but in time you’ll know” he turned away and stared at the water of the pond as ripples spread across the surface from my feet. We sat in silence as I let my feet float in the water he finally spoke:
    “Will you be in other dreams of mine?” I turned to look at him
    “Yes I will be” he seemed to consider this and bowed his head, some people think that when in a dream you can’t think clearly or feel anything but there are people that can. I reached over and touched his arm, this made him jump. I shook my head and got on my knees my hand still on his arm. He followed my every move, as I edged closer to him; he began to move back from me. Finally he fell into the pond I watched as he struggled as the water engulfed him.
    *with Dante*
    He woke with a start as he gasped for air; he pulled the covers off that he had wrapped around him as he slept. He sat up in bed and stayed still to regain his breathe. He reached up and touched his arm where the girl had touched him. It was so strange when she touched his arm he could feel the warmth in her hand and feel how soft it was. And when he fell in the pond the water was so real it was so cold. He shook his head and laid back down, he wasn’t sleeping but he was thinking. The girl had said she had no name and that he could name her whatever he wanted. What would he name her if she did reappear in his dreams? Before he could think anymore about it there was a knock at the door. He told who ever to come in and Jamie walked in. she seemed to look a little angry and he didn’t know why until he remembered that they had a date, he had completely forgot and as she yelled at him all he could do was apologize. Finally Jamie calmed down and sat next to him on the bed, she placed her hand on his arm.
    “Well as long as you don’t do it again I guess we’re ok” he nodded his head but he wasn’t really listening, he was concentrating on Jamie’s hand on his arm. Her hand was soft and warm but the feeling was different from when the girl in his dream had touched his arm.
    “Hey are you listening?” Jamie asked waving a hand in front of his face. He looked up and she smiled at him as he blushed a little in embarrassment.
    “it’s alright, but look lets get something straight as long as you are going out with me, don’t stand me up again, or I’ll ruin you” she said her voice filled with a cold cheer. He looked up at her and for the first time saw who she really was, she was pretty but she was also very shallow. She loved to party and drink and she had cheated on him once or twice before, but he had looked past all that because she was so pretty and she had made him more then just an outcast. Now that he sees her he can’t stand the sight of her, the beauty that he had come accustomed to now seemed so fake, her eyes no longer bright and captivating but cold and hard. She was still smiling as he thought this and he sat up and scooted away from her. Her smile dropped, her eyes showed confusion that mingled with anger. He looked away, would he be able to do this? Why was he doing this any way?
    “I think we should see other people” he said it quietly but he knew she heard because she took in a sharp gasp of air.
    “Your breaking up with me” it was more of a statement but he answered her any way. She shot up from the bed and looked at him, fury taking over her face.
    “How dare you!” she screamed not caring if any one heard her or not, he bowed his head again and said nothing.
    “You can’t dump me! I made you who you are, if any one should do the dumping its me!” she began to pace the room shouting insults. He didn’t try to calm her, she had a right to be mad at him, but he didn’t expect her to say what she did next.
    “Well fine just so you know I was going to dump you tonight anyway, Jace and I have been seeing each other behind your back!” This got his attention and fury knotted in his stomach. His girlfriend and his best friend had been seeing each other behind his back, he felt a sharp pain in his back and he now understood the saying being stabbed in the back by someone you cared for. Jamie hadn’t left but still she shouted more insults and ridicule at him, his anger grew and finally he snapped. He grabbed Jamie’s wrist and shouted for her to shut up. Her mouth fell open but there was no sound as he dragged her to the front door. He shoved her out and told her to go screw her self and slammed the door in her face. He stomped into the den and flopped down silently fuming over the whole situation. His mother came in, it was obvious she had a lot of questions but the look on Dante’s face made her hold her tongue. When he finally calmed down, his mother bombarded him with questions; he explained what happened leaving the girl from the dream out of it. His mom sat back, anger and confusion on her face.
    “I just don’t get it Jamie seemed like such a nice girl” she shook her head and went in the kitchen murmuring to herself. Dante slumped down in the coach and grabbed the remote, some time watching TV might make him feel better. A little later Dante sighed and turned off the TV, he needed to know if all of this mess was true. He stood and walked to his room finding something to put on. He left the house and set out for Jace’s house, which was only a block from his. It was about 10 o’clock in the evening and knowing Jace he was still wide awake. He knocked on the door and Jace answered it, he looked surprised to see Dante but he covered it up as best as he could.
    “Hey man what’s up?” he tried to smile but something wasn’t right and Dante could sense it.
    “Nothing much just thought I drop by to see how my bud was doing” he said with as much cheer he could muster.
    “Oh, I’m not doing much just hanging out”
    “In that case you won’t mind if I come in” he hesitated but he kept up his smile and tried his best not to flinch when a voice came from behind him.
    “Jace? What’s taking so long I need more comforting” Dante’s eyes narrowed and he shoved the door aside to see Jamie standing behind Jace with one of his big shirts on. Dante clenched his jaw as Jace tried to explain and Jamie stood there with a smug look. His nails began to cut into his hands and his knuckles turned white. He looked at Jace and said:
    “I see you’re busy” with venom dripping from ever word, he turned and bolted for the door. He ran out the house and out to the night air running faster and faster. He could hear Jace yelling after him but if he had stayed there would have been nothing to stop him from bashing Jace’s face in. He ran and did not look where he was going and before he knew it a car screeched and everything went dark.
    *dream world*
    Something was not right, all the trees and plants were dying and the pond turned black I pulled back from the pond and looked around, everything was being destroyed. The sky began to darken and finally there was nothing. I floated in a pit of black, what had happened? I knew I needed to find that boy, if anything I knew he was in some type of danger. I floated further into his mind until I came to a wall, passed the wall I could see the boy laying there unmoving. I touched the wall only to yank my hand back as the wall burned it. Yes, something was wrong very wrong…
    *with Jace and Jamie*
    This wasn’t how he wanted to break the news that he and Jamie had been seeing each other. Now it was to late because he had ran out the house, he never knew Dante could run that fast. He was about to go after him when Jamie grabbed him, he looked over at her, she didn’t even seem worried.
    “Where are you going?” he looked at her like she had just grown two heads where did she think he was going? He pulled away from her and started towards the door.
    “Wait! If you leave it’s over between us” he stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. He couldn’t speak what had she said?
    “What?” he managed to choke out,
    “you heard me! Dante is just some pathetic loser that wants attention why do you think I decided to go with you instead?” a thought dawned on him and he sneered at Jamie, he had thought it was wrong when she started to come on to him but he had shook that feeling off. Now he realized just how vindictive and shallow she was. He shook his head in disgust and ran out the door. He ran down the street with Jamie shouting behind him, he turned the corner and saw flashing lights. As he got closer he saw that it was an ambulance and he saw some one being loaded in the back. He knew who it was and he rushed to find Dante’s parents…
    *in Dante’s mind*
    I floated closer to the wall there must be a way to get to him but how? I could see him passed the wall and as time passed he seemed to get transparent, something was very wrong and I needed to get through this door. I placed my hands on the wall as pain shot through my arms, yet I kept pressure on the wall. It wasn’t as solid as I thought and slowly and painfully I pushed through. I reached the other side my hands were badly burned and I felt like collapsing, but I kept on going. I reached his form and kneeled down to examine him. He seemed fine but when I reached out a hand to touch him my hand went through him like air. I pulled my hand away, what was going on? I clenched my hands together, sending pain up my arms but yet I didn’t unclench them.
    “No!” I shouted as I felt tears fall from my eyes, he was my only way out and now it looked like there was no way. I laid next to him and closed my eyes tightly, if his mind was going then I would go with it I couldn’t stand to have been so close only to have my hopes dashed. Not again….
    *at the hospital*
    Everyone gathered around Dante after he got out of surgery. He was covered in bandages and no one spoke, the room was silent other then the beeping on the machines keeping Dante alive. Jace was the last one to come into the room and when he did he instantly regretted it. It was his fault that Dante ended up like this; no it wasn’t just him Jamie played a big part in it to. Now Jamie was putting on her sweet act as she pretended to cry next to his bed side. At that moment all he wanted to do was shake Jamie and throw himself out the window for what he did. He had went behind his best friend’s back and got with Jamie and now he was dying and he just couldn’t take it. He rushed out the room and slumped against the wall and slid down it. His head was bent and some one had asked him if he was ok but at the moment his mind was in turmoil.
    *Dante’s mind*
    I laid there not moving, I began to fill cold and began to shake. Even with the cold I did not get up and move away I had wished to disappear so many times and now it seemed that I will. Not knowing what else to do I began to speak to the boy, my eyes still closed and tears escaping from them still.
    “It was nice to meet you, I wish that I could have at least learned your name” I brought my hand up and wiped away tears.
    “Now that I’m sure it is too late I will tell you why I’m here” I explained everything from the curse to why I came here. When I finished I opened eyes and turned my head to look at the boy, something seemed different. I sat up and looked at his face; it was still pale but not as transparent. What was going on? I reached over and touched his arm, this time my hand touched skin. I smiled through my tears, maybe there was hope after all, but how would I get him out of this state. I shook his shoulder but nothing happened. I placed my ear against his chest and heard a slight heart beat. I decided to revive him by using CPR, I’ve seen others use it even in their dreams. I pushed down on his chest with my hands, then I brought his head up and gave him mouth to mouth. I don’t know if it was working but I didn’t stop. As I pressed my hands against his chest I could feel the warmth start to return. Once again I pressed my lips against his to push air to his lungs; I felt something and was pinned down by arms around me. I pushed back to see the boys eyes open slowly and he looked at me with those piercing blue eyes.
    “Hi” he said in a raspy whisper, I smiled and smoothed his hair and pushed it out of his eyes.
    “Hi” I said he smiled for the first time since we’ve meet.
    “What happened to me?” he asked trying to sit up but I gently pushed him back down.
    “You almost disappeared and me with you that’s what happened” he flexed his fingers and looked up at me.
    “My name is Dante” I was confused for a second but then I realized what he was talking about . I laughed he heard me after all.
    “It’s nice to meet you Dante” he closed his eyes and sighed:
    “Your voice is so soothing” eyes still closed, he opened them when I placed a hand on his arm.
    “Your beautiful you know that?” I felt heat rise to my cheeks he laughed, I touched my cheek was I blushing? I shook my head; this was no time to deal with meaningless feelings and reactions. I had to know if he heard the rest of what I said:
    “Did you hear everything I told you” he looked at me and I could see in his eyes that the thought registered.
    “Yeah, I did” I sighed with relief I thought I would have to explain everything again and I didn’t want to do that.
    “What do I need to do to set you free?”
    “First you need to wake up, then I need you to repeat the questions that will set me free but it has to be out loud, can you do that?” he sat up and looked at me, I think he could see the desperation in my eyes and hear it in my voice.
    “This will set you free from the curse?”
    “Yes it will” I said hoping he would do it soon; I wanted to get out so badly.
    “Alright then I’ll help you but can I say something first” at that moment I wanted to shake him but I controlled myself, I needed to be patient. I nodded my head and let him gather his thoughts, which is weird when you are in the person’s mind as they do it.
    “I’ve decided on your name” I sat up straighter I had forgotten that I asked him to give me a name if he wanted to.
    “Luna” something in my head clicked and I hugged him, I sat back and he was smiling at me.
    “I’ll take it you like that name” I smiled too and nodded my head in agreement.
    “I guess I had better wake up now” my smile faltered a little but I didn’t know why. The next thing I know the dream world was back and Dante was gone, I placed my hand on the surface of the pond and waited….
    *with Dante*
    He opened his eyes to a bright light and white; he looked over and saw his mom sleeping in the chair near his bed. No one was awake and he took this time to speak the questions that he had promised Luna he would. He closed his eyes to see Luna smile and whisper:
    “Thank you” before she disappeared. He opened his eyes and looked around the room, he called out to his mom and she woke up to see him awake. She rushed to his side and began to cry, he tried to comfort her but he was in to much pain at the moment. Soon more people came in, including Jace that kept apologizing for everything. He would probably forgive Jace eventually but for now he just let everyone worry over him.
    *the beginning of school*
    Dante has had a full recovery and even forgave Jace, seeing as it was Jamie that was the real problem. He still had a limp but the doctor said that it would get better over time, he was happy to be walking. His happiness was slightly tainted though because after freeing Luna she has not reappeared in any of his dreams. In most of his dreams now he is searching for her but he’s not being able to find her. He sighed and pushed the thought of Luna out his mind, it was better to forget her, he would never see her again. Jace and him entered the classroom, only to see a whole bunch of guys around this one desk. Jace said they should check it out and as they pushed threw the crowd, he heard a voice that seemed familiar. When he got through he looked at what was so interesting. There was a girl sitting at a desk, you could call her pretty with dark brown hair that framed her face and captivating brown eyes. As soon as he saw her he knew who she was, he held back a smile when she noticed him standing there. One guy asked what her name was she said that her name was Luna, another asked who gave her that name she said some one special gave it to her, she looked at Dante when she said it. Another guy asked if she had a boyfriend …
    *with me (Luna)*
    I sat with all these boys around me asking questions about myself. I answered as honestly as possible, but some things I could not answer. At one point I noticed that Dante was standing in the crowd, I smiled a little more when I saw him. At one point one guy asked if I had a boyfriend. I laughed this was an interesting question but I answered it:
    “I suppose I do” I looked at Dante and saw that his face fell a little, the other guys seemed disappointed, but I kept my smile in place.
    “I mean if he’ll have me, that is” I looked at Dante, I think something clicked in his mind and his smile returned on his face. I stood up and walked up to him I touched his arm, my eyes never leaving his.
    “Hello Dante”……
    End.