Yoi was fast asleep in her old room, hugging James' squid plushie close to her.
Clancy was downstairs pacing back and forth, muttering to herself.

There was a sudden flash of golden light, filling the house with a brief glow, and Cassia's limp body appeared on the floor in the living room after it receded.

Clancy ran from the kitchen to the living room, then stopped in shock. "Cassia?!"

Yoi woke with a start at Clancy's yell, and walked downstairs toward the noise, but she too stopped in shock. But only for a brief instance, then she ran to Cassia and knelt beside her. "C-cassia?" she whispered.

With no response, she tried again, this time shaking her shoulder as well. "C-cassia! P-please w-wake u-up..."

Yoi looked up at Clancy with fear in her eyes. "W-why w-won't s-she w-wake u-up?"

Clancy withheld a sigh, hiding her fear from Yoi. "I don't know... But what I do know is we need to get her to a bed, the master bedroom would fit her best."

Yoi nodded shakily. "O-ok C-clancy."

Clancy and Yoi carried Cassia to the master bedroom and put her on the bed, then Clancy turned to Yoi. "You coming or do you want to stay with her for a bit?"

Yoi dragged the chair in the corner to next to the bed and climbed into it. "I-I'm s-staying." she said quietly.

Clancy hesitated for a brief moment, then walked over and hugged Yoi. "Don't stay up too long." She turned to go, and walked down the hall to her room slowly.

Yoi let out a sigh of fear and looked at Cassia. "P-please w-wake u-up..." she whispered quietly.

   [The wrinkles took an HOUR xD]

Cassia's limp body didn't react​ except for a brief flicker of her eyelids, indicating she was dreaming again.

- in the dream -

A young girl, almost 4 years old, sat on the floor of her room, playing with her Minecraft figurines. She had almost the complete selection, all she was missing was the Herobrine and Ender Dragon figurines.

Her dad came into the room and scooped her up, causing her to shriek with laughter. "Daddy stop!" she managed to get out between bursts of laughter.

He pretended to growl at her. "I'm going to eat you up!" He carried her around the room, letting her 'fly' Superman style.

The sound of the doorbell rang throughout the house, causing her dad to pause and look in the downstairs direction. He put Cassia on his shoulder and walked downstairs, and opened the door.

The man standing there wore a light blue shirt and dark blue pants. But his eyes... They glowed a dim white. "I bring a gift for her birthday." He said in a voice with a hint of a steely edge.

Her dad glared at him, then put Cassia down. "Go find mommy ok? I'll be with you in a little bit."

Cassia gave him a toothy grin. "Ok dad!" She ran off toward the back of the house, where her mom could normally be found with the plant garden.

Several minutes passed before a muted thud is heard, causing Cassia's mom to drop the plant she was holding and rush out, only to find her husband knocked out on the floor, the other man nowhere in sight.

She quickly called the hospital, and they arrived quickly and took him away. Cassia walked up to her mom, who was frozen in the doorway, and tugged at her jeans. "Momma?"

She broke free from the shock and looked down at Cassia. "Yes dear?" she asked, her voice full of pain, but struggling to hide it from her daughter.

"Daddy is just sleeping right?"

She swallowed, her throat suddenly tight with unshed tears. "Yes baby,he's just sleeping. He'll be back in time for your birthday, don't you worry."

"Ok!" Cassia cheered. She ran back upstairs with her famous cry of "Adventure waits for no one!" and immediately back down on her floor, where she promptly started a war between the creeper and ocelot figurines.

- back in the waking world -

Her breaths shallow and short, Cassia shifted the tiniest bit, causing Yoi to look up sharply, hope in her eyes. "C-cassia?"

She didn't respond, once again lost to the world of dreams. In her mind, the dream suddenly shifted.

- in the next dream -

It was Saturday, the day of Cassia's 4th birthday party. The table was set, the presents all laid out, and Cassia standing at the front door with her cat plushie, a gift from her dad, held in her arms.

Her mom came up behind her silently. "Dear, why don't you come to the backyard? All your friends are waiting for you to start the party games." she said in a light tone, hiding her worry.

Cassia looked at her with wide eyes. "What about Daddy? You said he'd be awake in time for my birthday party."

Her mom gave her a weak smile. "Go play with your friends and I'll see what's holding him up ok?"

Cassia glanced at the front door again, then back at her mom. "Kitty promise?" she asked, referring to the special promise she and her mom shared.

"Kitty promise. Don't worry baby, I'll see what the hold up is."

Cassia gave her a toothy grin. "Ok!" She ran off toward the backyard, and the party games began.

Less than ten minutes later the sound of Cassia's​ mom yelling is heard in the backyard.

"What the hell do you mean, missing?!"

- back in the waking world -

Cassia shot bolt upright with a gasp, her wide-eyed gaze fixed on the opposite wall. "Dad!"

_______________________________________

A/N

Hey it's ya boi Cassia!

So if I'm going to be honest here, I didn't plan half this chapter, it kinda wrote itself 😂 It certainly took an interesting turn, don't you all agree?

Anyways! Can any of y'all guess who Cassia's parents are? Or how the figurines are important? Or what the gift was?

I want to hear what y'all think!

Until next time,
~©@$$/@