Seven

*

I find myself in a familiar place, yet one that seems entirely new at the same time. The land was vast and snowy, guarded by trees around the perimeter.

A sensation comes to me that I've only felt once before. Wind picks up, and I feel a chill run through me. Once again, a name calls me from the distance.

I remember this place. The same thing happened in a separate dream, but it was summer last time.

The voice gets clearer and closer to me. I don't see anything nearby, but can still hear them. Suddenly, I start to sink into the snow, then into the ground. I try to yell but my lungs were giving out. My throat feels dry and cold, and nothing seems to be coming out. I try to claw my way out of the sinking dirt but nothing seems to work. I cry for help but I sink lower, and eventually get completely engulfed.

The world turns dark, and I feel suffocated by the earth around me. Instead of feeling comforted and warm, I felt claustrophobic and terrified. This was nothing like the last dream. Tears stream down my face as I sit here, wondering if I'll even survive. It all started to seem hopeless.

Suddenly, a hand breaks through the ground in front of my face, shining the world's light back into the dark hellscape that I was encapsulated in. The hand beckons me to grab it. I wriggle and try to get my own hand free, eventually breaking it off from my dirt prison. The earth that surrounded my arm crumbled away, and I was able to grab onto this mysterious hand. As soon as it comes in contact with my own, the hand fills me with an intense warmth, much like the one I've felt previously. But it didn't grasp me as fully, since my body was still submerged in the ground.

The hand starts to pull me with all of its might, trying its best to get me out. At first, it seemed to be only hurting me, bumping my head against rocks and dirt. But after pulling with even more determination, I feel my body start to break free. Another hand pops in and I grab onto that with my free one. My body still felt stuck, but was getting looser by the second. With as much strength as they could possible muster, the unknown person rips me out from the ground, and I shoot into the air. I float down slowly, feeling liberated.

The hole in the ground immediately closes up beneath me. And, when I finally land on the ground, I see a blurry figure in front of me. The only thing revealed was their arms and hands. I couldn't manage make out any of their other features.

They speak, but all I can make sense of is them saying my name pleadingly. They take hold of my hands and seem to be frantic about something. But I couldn't understand anything.

At the same time, their presence felt comfortable and warm. They release one hand but lead me to following them with the other. I walk with them, wanting to figure out what was happening.

The scenery changes. The sun shone bright and I could see the person's jean-clad legs. I still had no inkling as to who this could be, but followed along despite that.

They take a seat in green grass, patting the ground next to them. They put their arm around me and speak softly. The voice sounds kind, but still completely unintelligible. I sigh, feeling let down that I couldn't understand them. They rub my back gently and I feel a bit better.

They point to something in front of us. A river comes into view. I feel a pang of happiness course through me, but don't recognize this river at all in my conscious mind. Realizing that I still was confused and somewhat dazed, they start to lead me elsewhere.

As they drag me behind them, they start to become clearer and clearer. The mist around them clears, starting from the bottom of their torso and making its way up to their head. From behind, I see a somewhat slender guy with dark brown hair. They say something else, and I immediately recognize them: "We're almost there, I hope this works."

I stop and say, "Austin?" He freezes in his tracks and turns around, looking elated.

"You can hear me? Dylan, thank god," he smiles, pulling me in for a hug.

"You saved me."

"Of course I did."

The wind directs itself away and I feel that familiar warmth one more time.

Without another thought in my mind, I kiss him. I hug him as tightly as possible and kiss him with all of my might. When I pull away he gives me the biggest, brightest smile I've ever seen.

"I love you," he says.

I try to say the same back to him, but everything drifts away before I can.

*