Dreamscape: Saving Alex (16 page)

Arrow stomped on the table, quieting the room.
“You all know what we’ve been up against these past five years. It’s not
getting better. In fact, even as we speak, Berkos is making final plans to
stomp out the rebellion. Why do you think the Golden Hero is here now? It’s
time, men. Time to finalize our plans and strike before he does. Let’s take
back Lockhorn for our queen.”

“But what about King Helio?” the server piped up,
“We heard news...”

Arrow’s eyes
darkened. “
You’ve heard correctly. We won’t be able to save King Helio.
He’s gone. But his kingdom is not, and the queen is not. We can still rescue
Queen Elin and reinstate the order they created.”

The air thickened as everyone shared glances of
stunned silence. I wondered about the shift, and saw the man in the corner
narrow his gaze on me.

“We’re not doing this alone anymore. We have our
hero to lead the way. With her guidance, we maneuvered through Baron Marix’s
manor and successfully retrieved his list of spies. Her information saved us
from capture, and I have no doubt that had I gone alone, I would not be here.”
His voice quieted. “She risked her life for me and our cause, and she’ll do it
for you as well. The scrolls told the truth. Our Golden Hero is here, and so is
the time to act.”

Every mug in the room spilled, clinking in
agreement while I tried to make sense of his words. He promised what I wasn’t
sure I could give, the very thing I’d warned him about. My stomach soured, and
I regretted that second bowl. If this continued much longer, I was going to be
sick.

Arrow raised his hand for silence and continued
before I had the chance to move.

“Berkos knows of us. He knows we broke into Marix’s
manor, and he has already taken revenge on some of the smaller villages on the
outskirts of the forest. We saw the plumes of smoke on our way here. There’s no
way of knowing where he’ll attack next. The only thing we’re sure of is that he
will.”

“What do you want us to do?” asked the man in the
corner, taking a moment to blow another ring of smoke.

“Thank you, Cale. We need to regroup and get ready
for attack. Time’s running out, and if we want to save the queen, we need to
move now. We’re here to get all those who are ready and willing to fight. We’ll
reconvene with the rest of the army at the Grove and make our final plans.”
Arrow held his hand out to me.

I shook my head, but he curled his fingers towards
me, beckoning me to join him. Everyone followed his gaze. What could I do? I
couldn’t say no. I didn’t have time to think things through. Arrow reached down
and grabbed my hand, pulling me up beside him.

I straightened my shirt and looked around the
room. His arm slipped to my waist as he pulled me closer to him, and the
jumbled nerves I’d fought before tumbled out of me. I was a mess. Hardly able
to stand on my own, let alone do what he suggested.

“Meet Alex, our Golden Hero!” He lifted my arm
into the air. The room broke into resounding cheers.

“What does she have to say about all this?” Cale
asked, inhaling smoke, once the cheers wound down.

They looked at me, their eyes hungry for
confirmation. I looked at Cale, then back to Arrow. What could I say? Did I
dare argue with Arrow’s declaration or share my fears?

“Tell them how you’ve done this before.” Arrow
nudged me. “Tell them about the insider information you have, the layout of the
castle where they’re keeping the queen, the traps. Tell them.”

“Well yes, it’s true, but...” I stammered, balling
my hands into fists.

“You know the king’s castle?” someone yelled out
from the crowd.

“Well, yes—”

“And you made it through Marix’s manor?” Boris
asked from up front.

“Yes, we made it out, but…” I said, trying to find
the right words to minimize my expertise.

“You are the hero,” the server exclaimed,
refilling the mugs around the room. “Another round of drinks on the house!”

The cheers cut off the arguments resting on the
tip of my tongue.

“Let her speak,” Cale said.

Finally, someone who shared my hesitation. “Yes,”
I said, “I know these things, but that doesn’t mean I can lead you to the
queen.” I met the old man’s eyes.

Arrow pulled me back as the grumbles began. “She’s
a bit hesitant, but make no mistake. She’s the one the scroll talked about. She
knows what we have to do. Tell them.”

My eyes pleaded with Arrow. I looked back to the
crowd. How could I lie to them?

“If you can do it, you have my sword,” Boris said.
“Since they took my wife and my farm, my life doesn’t mean much anymore. I’m
ready.”

Arrow jumped down and patted Boris on the back.
“Any others?”

“You have me too,” another voice piped up from the
crowd.

“I believe the scrolls. I’ll follow wherever she
leads,” said another.

One by one, they promised their allegiance. I
watched them turn from Arrow to me and shrank under the weight of their hope.
How could they blindly put their future in my hands? Didn’t they understand I
couldn’t even control my own life, let alone theirs?

Cale grumbled but took off his hat. “If what Arrow
says is true, you may be our only hope. If destiny’s on our side, I can’t argue
with that.”

My voice cracked. Their blind devotion angered me.
“Listen, I know the king’s castle, but there are dangers that I can’t begin to
imagine. I’ve seen it firsthand in the north, in Lindle. I saw some of the
demonstrations. Berkos knows who you are. I’ve already seen what his thugs do
to supporters of this cause. Whatever you’re planning, it won’t be a surprise.”

They looked at each other and smiled. I glanced at
Arrow, suddenly angry. Why didn’t they understand? Even if I knew a few tricks,
there were more dangers they weren’t aware of. Their efforts wouldn’t go
unnoticed.

“No, you don’t get it,” I yelled, angry at their
lack of concern. “He allows your rebellion. I’ve seen it myself. He knows about
all of this, all of you. He will be expecting it, waiting for you in ambush.
It’s more than the rebellion at stake. It’s your lives.”

Arrow walked over to me, smiling. “We know. We’re
hoping he feels that confidence.”

“I don’t understand,” I said. “If you know he’s
aware of you and what you have planned, why go through with it?”

“Goldy, this plan isn’t a spur-of-the-moment
decision. We’ve been building towards this for years,” he said, jumping back to
the top of the table beside me. “And we’re already at risk.”

“But—”

“We’ve deliberately let him believe that this is
all there is to the rebellion. If he’s too busy watching the fireworks, he’ll
miss the preparations for the real attack.”

“Then you know he knows?” I asked, confusion
clouding my mind.

“Yes, we’ve made it quite obvious,” he said.

“Then what do you need me for if you have a plan?”

“We have a plan, but with you, our success is
guaranteed,” he said, reaching for my hand.

“I can’t guarantee that for you. Just look at the
people who’ve already died,” I whispered, remembering the faces of the men
trapped in Marix’s manor.

His smile faded as he looked around the room, then
back to me. “We’re all aware of the price. That’s why we can’t give up now, or
ever. Their lives can’t be wasted.”

“What you’re asking me to do is crazy.”

“Maybe, but it’s our only hope. You’re our only
hope,” he said, squeezing my hand.

“There has to be another way,” I pleaded.

“But you’ve already said it, you know the way
through the castle. You can get us in unnoticed,” he said. “You’ve already done
it once.”

“Yes, but—” I pulled my hand back, aware that he
was no longer listening to my arguments. He had made up his mind.

“You know how to defeat the king.” His tone didn’t
allow for any disagreement.

I shot Arrow a harsh look. Was this why he’d
wanted to come here? “But what I know isn’t real,” I said through my teeth.

“It’s what we have to hope for. You can’t let us
down. We’ve been waiting for you.”

“I don’t know what you’ve heard or how to make you
understand, but I’m not your girl.” We stood in silence, staring each other
down.

“In the end of times, a Golden Hero will present
herself,” Cale recited from the bar, breaking the awkward moment. The
hoarseness of his voice added a level of authenticity to the ancient words.
“Brought from the darkness to the world of light, the Golden Hero will fight to
preserve humanity and restore freedom to the land. Place your trust in her in
the darkest of days. She may be your only hope.”

Wasn’t that what the back of the game said? I twisted
my hair, tucking it into my cap and looking from face to face as their hope and
faith weighed on my shoulders. Did they really believe this?

“You’re our only hope,” a young boy said from near
the front.

I looked behind him to the other people. Their solemnity
surprised me. The older men bowed their heads in respect. Others stood
tight-lipped.

I looked around uncomfortably. “Arrow,” I
whispered. “I can’t do this. You have to understand.”

But he didn’t, and in a voice louder than any of
my protests, he raised my hand and, for a final time, proclaimed me their
savior. One look at him, and I knew he wasn’t listening to my refusals.

Tears stung my eyes. My mind spun. There didn’t
seem to be enough air to breathe. Didn’t they understand that blonde hair did not
qualify me to be a hero? It had to be a mistake. I was a sophomore in high
school, not a hero.

Fear gripped me. Without a thought, I spun around
towards the door and ran.

“Alex!” Arrow yelled.

I didn’t turn back or stop. I ran until my chest
burned, and then slumped over to catch my breath.

“Alex!” I turned and saw Arrow catching up to me.

I took a deep breath and jogged forward, away from
him.

“Stop! We need to talk about this,” he said,
grabbing my hand.

“Let me go,” I begged, leaning forward.

“No. I won’t let you go until you talk to me.
Why’d you leave like that?”

I stared at him, the confusion in his dark eyes
partially hidden by the hair sliding down his forehead. “What did you expect me
to do? You practically told them I would defeat the king by myself!” I yelled.

“With our help.”

I shot him that look again. “Do you think that
makes it better? I don’t know how to fight. I know how to win a game, not kill
an evil king. Those are two
very
different things, and you know it. You
can’t just sign me up for your rebellion without asking. All I care about right
now is getting home and getting out of this game.”

“Isn’t that all life is, though, a game? Aren’t we
all just trying to find a way through?”

“Yes, this is just a game. One that I desperately
need to get out of.”

“This may just be a game to you, but it’s our
lives. Don’t let the fear of being the hero keep you from doing what’s right.”

“But this isn’t real. None of this is real.”

“What’s more real than the things you can touch
and feel?” He reached out and pressed his lips to my hand. “The things that
touch you.”

“But—”

“Stop fighting and listen. Not to me, but to
yourself. You know you want to do what’s right.”

“Arrow, there’s more to it than that. You can’t
put your hope in me.” I turned around so he wouldn’t see the tears streaking my
cheeks.

“We already do. I don’t understand why you can’t.”
He grabbed my wrists and turned me back around. “Look at what you’ve already
done. You’re more than just a hero.”

“Let me go. It was one thing going along to get
your papers, but this—” I said, pointing to the tavern. “This is too much. Did
you see that little boy? I can’t be responsible for his life. What if I get him
killed? I didn’t ask for any of this. I’m tired of people expecting me to do
things without asking.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want to go home. I’m sorry for ever giving you
the idea that I could do more. But them?” I pointed back to the tavern. “They
need a real hero. That’s you, or your men. At some point, I have to stop
pretending before someone gets hurt. I’m not a hero. This is nothing more than
a costume. I won’t let that boy, or any of them, put their faith in an
imitation, not when they need something more.”

“You’re more than you realize.”

“I’m nothing here. This isn’t real. You’re not
real,” I screamed, pushing him away. “I can’t pretend anymore.”

His eyes hardened. “I had hoped I’d mean more to
you by now. I can understand you’re afraid, but I don’t understand how you can
be so self-absorbed. You can’t just push us away, telling me that we’re a game.
What do you think happens when you’re not here? Do you think we disappear?”

“I-I don’t know!”

“Let me tell you—we don’t. This isn’t a game. This
is a fight to reclaim our kingdom. I can’t tell you why you were sent as our
hero. And honestly, if you can’t find a way to put someone ahead of yourself, I
don’t know what good you’d be. I’m done wasting my time. If you want to go
home, then go.”

“Now you’re not being fair. You’re twisting my
words to make me look bad.”

“Goldy, I don’t need to twist anything to do
that.”

I slapped him, then balled my fist to my mouth,
cringing as I waited for his reaction.

He rubbed his cheek and turned back to me with a
spiteful grin. I held my breath as he came closer. “Did that feel
real
enough for you? What about this?” He reached behind me and pulled me near.

My protests stopped as his lips covered mine.
Everything gave way to his demanding kiss. My knees weakened, and I fell
further into his arms. I grabbed his sleeves, pulling him closer, feeling my
greed resurface. And then he pulled back and unhooked my hands from his
sleeves.

“Was that real enough for you?” He wiped his mouth
with the back of his hand and retreated into the dusty town.