Eclipsed 32: The Execution

Blossom's POV

I searched the Dream Plains. I couldn't find them. I wanted to say goodbye to the friends I've made. Today was the last day of my life. Maybe they were having nightmares. I shuddered at the word.

"Blossom!"

I swiveled towards the familiar voice. It was Apollo.

"Apollo, Nightmare's going to-"

"I know. He told me. Don't worry, we'll have a plan in time."

"In time?!. He's killing me today!"

He stood there, horrified. "What do you mean? Did he change the date?"

I shook my head. "Oh no, he told you a fake one. Your plan must be all messed up. It's going to be as soon as I wake up."

"Oh, my god. I need to get moving. Try to sleep in. Fake sleep for a while, if you can. Stall for me."

"I'll try, but this is pointless."

"Blossom, you're not going to die today." He turned away.

"What are you-"

"I won't let you." I realized that he was crying. "I promise that."

I hesitated. "What if I do?"

"And why would that happen?"

"...Hypothetically speaking." I lied. The success chance was low.

"Then I want you to know these past few months with you have been the best of my life." He began to shimmer like sunlight reflecting on the bottom of a pool and dissolving into thin air.

"No, don't leave yet!" I cried desperately.

"Goodbye." He managed to say before vanishing, his voice hardly a whisper.

I sat in the empty prairie that was Apollo's dreamscape, listening to the whoosh of the wind brushing its way through the grass. "I don't want to be alone."

The world went dark and I found myself in my own dreamscape, except it wasn't. I call it my nightscape.

I was in a cold and dark cave. The only sound was the dripping water.

"Hello." It was the voice of Nightmare. I jumped and turned around, using my ruby to illuminate the small chamber. It was Apollo.

"I was still kinda tired when I woke up." He admitted sheepishly.

My suspicion of why he was here washed away. "I'm glad you came back." I looked around and stepped away from him. "Apollo, this is my nightmare landscape. It's not safe here."

"I'd do anything to spend more time with you."

There was a slight breeze. "Ooh, that means we're close to a way out of here! C'mon!"

We ran in that direction for quite a while. "I see it!" Finally we could get out of here. Then I noticed a figure at the entryway. "Run, it's Nightmare!" There was no way he was tampering with my final moments with Apollo.

"I already have."

His cruel whisper was right in my ear. I turned at him and screamed. Nightmare made stalagmites rise from the cave floor, trapping me. Apollo was too far ahead. I couldn't even see him.

But then, he came out of a shadow in my rocky prison. This wasn't Apollo. This was another cruel trick played on me. I wanted it to end.

I woke.

My eyes had flown open. I was relieved to be facing the wall on my minuscule cot. I lay still, only allowing rhythmic breaths. I had no idea how long Apollo needed, but I was going to stall as long as possible.

"It's not fooling me."

I jumped, startled at the sudden exclamation from Nightmare, who was apparently nearby. I turned and looked at him through the small barred window in the door. He was staring back at me.

"You honestly thought you could pretend to be asleep after the last thing I heard in your nightmare was 'I want to wake up'?"

"It was worth a try."

Nightmare smiled. "It's best if we just get it over with now."

I swallowed my fear. Nightmare came into the cell, and knocked me into a slumber.