Eleonora woke with a start from a dream she already couldn't remember. It was funny how dreams worked, only letting you remember every once in a while. She wondered how many forgotten dreams she'd had. How many magical adventures of the imagination she'd been on. How many times she'd kissed a boy, or had a jarring nightmare. And all of this, all forgotten. Lost.

"God Eleonora, what is it with you and this sudden existential crisis?" she asked herself. Eleonora had always been a thinker. She aspired to someday be a scientist. She hadn't quite decided what she would study specifically, but she knew science was her calling. Of course, it didn't help that she was a girl. Even her own father told her how unrealistic her goals were. Everybody thought she was simply bold, and confident, as she never listened to what anybody said about her silly dreams. Truthfully, she had cried many times over what could never be. Or could be. Who knew?

Eleonora slipped out of bed, needing a breath of fresh air. Shadows covered the dimly lit hallway, triggering something in her mind, something she still couldn't quite recollect. It was still there though, begging to be released. A forgotten dream that wished to be opened and explored, but just couldn't get out of its shell. She slowed her thoughts, staggering up to the doorway. She quickly laced up her boots. She opened the door, attempting to be stealthy. She was suddenly hit by a pain incomparable to any other as a gust of bitter cold wind swept across her body. She slammed the door, gasping for breath. She ran upstairs and jumped into her bed, shoes and all. Her body shook under the warm covers, and her heart beat faster than a spooked horse. Thoughts awakened in her mind. A person in red flashed across her mind, leaving her with chills almost as strong as the cold. The hallway came to life in her head, the shadows forming into snowflakes on the walls, peeling off, surrounding her in a storm of black snow. A book. Dead flowers. Everything collided in her brain, a tidal wave inside her.

"Breathe." a voice whispered, resounding from within. She recognized it as her own, yet somehow it was not her. She listened, sucking in as much air as she could. Even though her mind still buzzed, she figured it best to go back to sleep. Eventually, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep, at least from what she remembered.