Chapter Forty Five

Valerie Books' POV

"Oh boy, how did I sleep last night? Did I flop on my bed in a really bad position? My back is killing me! Oh boy!" I said as I let out a yawn. I tried doing some stretches to help ease the pain in my back but I couldn't raise my hands, I couldn't move my arms for that matter. "Hey? What gives?" I said as I opened my eyes.

As I opened them, I noticed that I was hanging in the air, above what seems to be a sea of lava. "Hey, why am I tied up in these gold--- Oohh, gold chains around me, Ms. Val likey gold chains."

"Oh Val, typical you, easily getting distracted as usual." A voice said as it let out a laugh. I couldn't tell who it was because the voice came in the dark corner of the room. I tried squinting, but I can't make a face on the person. It's so dark.

"Who are you? Why don't you take a little step towards the light, so I can at least see your face. Don't be like those guys who hang around in dark areas spying on girls, it's creepy and disgusting."

"As you wish." The person said and he took steps towards the light. I could tell her was taking steps towards the light because his shoes made this sound, the sound of power when the heels of one's shoes touch the hard floor.

"Does this make it better for you? Princess?"

My eyes widened as I saw him in the light. I don't believe what I'm seeing. "Hey! Yeah, it didn't do anything buddy. You're wearing a mask, so walking towards the light didn't do anything. I was hoping that I would get to know who you are if you take a step to be in the light but seeing you're wearing a mask, that didn't help. Why don't you take off that mask, so I can know who you are."

I didn't know he was wearing a mask, I was really hoping I get to know who he is. His voice sounds dreamy. Not like I'm starting to fall in love with him or anything, it's just that his voice is very deep. Or is that just because of the mask?

"No need for me to take off my mask Princess, you'll get to know me soon enough." The masked guy said as he walked back into the darkness.

"Oh brother, there you go again walking into the darkness. You know? You're starting to look like a creepy stalker, you know that? Why am I here anyway? And where is this place? This isn't my home."

"Don't worry Princess, in just a matter of time you'll return to your home, your real home. It's only a matter of time be---"

Before he could continue whatever it is that he is saying, I suddenly started talking, making him stop. "Hold that thought, I accidentally kicked my foot and now this chain is spinning. Hold on, just need to stop this chain from spinning so I can see you when you're talking. I don't want to be rude and all."

And the guy stopped talking, he waited for me to finish spinning. He's a polite guy for waiting, that's a plus one on the old Val pointing system.

"Okay, here we go, nearly there." I finally started slowing down. "Okay, continue whatever it is that you're talking about."

"Okay? Now, as I was saying, you'll return to your real home in just a matter of ti--."

Once again, the chains started spinning around. I butted once more, telling him what's happening to me. "Oh, sorry, it's just these chains. They seem to not want me to stop spinning. Hold that thought."

"Ah forget it. You'll know what I mean soon." The masked guy said as I heard him sit down. I could tell that he sat down because I heard these metal clanking in the dark. That could mean he sat down or, he accidentally tripped over a pile of metal.

As the chains kept spinning me around, I noticed this weird crystal ball of some sort. It was huge, it was around the size of our table at home. It had a picture inside of it, no, it's not a picture. It's a vision, I think? I don't know what they call those things they see inside the crystal balls. But what I saw in the crystal was a familiar sight. It was a vision of my house. I was started getting curious about why there's a vision of my house in the crystal ball.

"Hey? Mask guy? What's this crystal ball doing here and why does it have a vision of some sort of my house? Are you spying on me?"

"I'm checking up on you, Princess. To see if you are safe."

"Dude, are you hearing yourself? Are you hearing what you're saying? That sounds creepy on such a huge level."

"I'm keeping you, safe Princess, until the day you come back home."

"At first I thought you were a cool dude. But now, I'm seeing this weird crystal ball here with a vision of my house, you're looking like a creepy stalker. You know that?"

"Say what you want about me Princess, I'll still keep watching over you until the time comes where you'll come back home."

"Listen, I don't know what you're talking about buddy, but I'm already home."

The masked guy let out a laugh as he started walking towards the light. "Don't fool yourself, Princess, you do know that you belong inside a book, right?"

My eyes widened as I heard him say the words. "How did..."

"How did I know that you belong in a book? It's simple Princess." The masked guy then started taking off his mask in the light and I saw a familiar face. A face from my childhood. "I knew that you belong in a book because I also belong in a book, Princess. We both belong in the same book."

I can't believe it, and I don't understand it. How did he get out of the book? "Raymund?"

"Hello, Princess Val." He said as he smiled at me. The next thing I know, I woke up.

"A dream...?" I asked myself as I started sweating. "No, it can't be. He can't be out of the book, right...?"

No, no, no, no, no, no. Val, you were only dreaming, there is no way that Raymund could have gotten out of the book. It's just not possible. I saw the portal close when I walked pass through it. It was just a dream, don't stress yourself. You're not going back into that nightmare filled place, it was only a dream.

It was just a dream.

-End of Chapter-