Incandescence
Elizabeth knew she should be sleeping, but no amount of changing positions or shifting the fluffy covers helped her eyes droop.
It was useless.
Swinging her legs over the side of the large frame, her toes flexed in soft carpet as she straightened the lace-covered nightgown. Moving as quickly as she dared in the dark, unfamiliar terrain, Elizabeth made her way to the window to look at the stars.
The full moon was especially bright, illuminating the sprawling gardens of her grandmother’s mansion. The fountains were bathed in silver light that mesmerized the small girl, at least until she noticed movement down in the garden.
Elizabeth gasped. Over the tall hedges, she could make out a pair of antlers moving down the path. Craning her neck, she tried to get a better look at the deer, but as the horns rounded a bend and came into view, it revealed not a majestic stag, but a girl with a pair of antlers protruding from her head. Elizabeth could only gape at the bizarre sight as the strange combination exited the garden paths and disappeared into the nearby forest.
Elizabeth had been told before that her curiosity would get her into trouble one day, but the chance for adventure called louder than any warnings. She stumbled out of the dark bedroom, stubbing her toe in the rush to get down the hallway, nearly tripping down the stairs on her way to the back door, and flung it open.
The summer night air was warm as Elizabeth ran along the paths, the gravel stinging her bare feet. Before long, she arrived at the place where the girl had disappeared into the forest. Her grandmother’s cautions against going into the woods at night rang in her ears. Elizabeth barely paused to consider them, spurred on by the excitement of discovery.
Large trees loomed over her, leaving barely enough light to see her path. She kept trekking deeper, eventually getting so far into the forest that she could no longer see the top of the mansion through the treetops. Elizabeth kept every sense sharp as she tried to spot some sign of the girl she had seen earlier, but without success.
Just as she was about to give up, she suddenly began to hear beautiful music and ringing laughter. There, between the thick tree trunks, was a warm, golden glow, flickering like a campfire. Curious, Elizabeth made her way towards it. She entered the clearing to a fantastical scene. Rubbing her eyes to make sure that she wasn’t hallucinating, Elizabeth stared wide-eyed at what lay in front of her.
A bonfire blazed in the center of the clearing and around it danced creatures with pointy ears poking out of loose hair draped with flowers. Some sprouted dragonfly wings from their backs while others had horns. Several towered over Elizabeth while others barely reached her waist. All of them danced with effortless movements, yet followed no pattern. Glowing orbs floated aimlessly, brushing tree branches, which immediately sprouted exotic flowers upon contact. Elizabeth spotted the antlered girl dancing with a small man with a toadstool hat.
The motions were hypnotic. Elizabeth didn’t realize she had taken a step forward until her bare foot landed directly onto the sharp point of a broken branch, drawing blood. A cry of pain left her lips, echoing in sudden silence. The music had stopped and the creatures had paused their dancing.
Straightening up at the attention, though wincing as she put pressure on her injured foot, Elizabeth gave a hopefully friendly wave.
Their undivided attention made her skin prickle. Something uneasy nestled in the pit of her stomach, and Elizabeth swallowed nervously at the stretching silence. Desperate to break it in some way, she cleared her throat.
“Hello?” She tried. “Can you understand me?”
More silence. Elizabeth fidgeted. Her hands felt clammy and her unease was quickly mounting. She glanced around for a way to leave when suddenly one of the creatures nearest to her smiled. She couldn’t help but notice with some amount of apprehension that the corner of their eyes did not crinkle. The music began again and the group began to dance once more. A few of them walked over to her, grabbing her hands and pulling Elizabeth towards the fire.
“I don’t think I can join you,” Elizabeth protested. She was suddenly all too aware that their grins revealed sharpened teeth. Elizabeth tried gently tugging her hands away, but long nails dug into her flesh. Her breath quickened.
“I really should be going,” Elizabeth pleaded, but they kept pulling her towards the dancing ring. The growing anxiety in her chest reached a climax. All she knew was the primal urge to flee.
Elizabeth yanked her arms free. Holding back tears as the nails drew blood, she sprinted into the forest, not caring for direction. Fear drove her forward through the pain in her still bleeding foot. Behind her, she could hear the thundering of many footsteps steadily getting louder.
Elizabeth kept running until her foot caught on a root and she went down to the forest floor hard. A snarl echoed in the small clearing. Emerging from behind a tree, she could make out a pair of glowing eyes and sharp teeth. They lunged towards her and—
Elizabeth shot up out of her covers, a scream caught in her throat and gasping for breath.
Morning light streamed in from the window. She could faintly hear the sound of birds chirping and her mother’s voice rising up from the kitchen.
It was just a dream she repeated, trying to make herself believe.
She climbed out of bed, pretending she didn’t feel the pain in her foot. She ignored the stinging of her arms as she passed the window. She disregarded the dirt on her nightdress as she looked out towards the forest.
It was just a dream she repeated, not acknowledging the flash of horns at the edge of the woods.
It had to be a dream.