Part 35: Scariest Book

I sat down in one of his chairs torn down by my depression. My inner thoughts were not helping as they made everything feel even more doomed than before. I couldn’t grasp with the truth of my situation.

What was I going to do? I hadn’t slept in a while and my brain was already feeling worse off than before. I didn’t even get to start executing my plan and already it turned out to be a failure. Just like everyone told me I was.

Wata came over and placed a chair next to mine to sit with me. He had the book in his hand.

“Ararima, there is something you should know. I didn’t really figure out what I had done until the signs started to show. I was constantly being stalked by a strange figure. I never got to meet them. They just magically teleported me here while I was asleep. I don’t know how it happened. I suspected many things but never could come up with an answer.”

My tears dried up as I decided to ask more about his story as I was curious about it.

“What was it like the first time you came here?”

“I remember waking up in a place that looked different than I was used. Like it was a curved hallway which I later learned was connected to a secret place that leads you into Tartropolatté. It’s called, The Candy Room.”

“Candy Room?”

“Yes. It was found again in that dangerous area but we do not suggest entering that place. It is a really scary room that takes people who are dreaming and sends them into a candy shop from the 80s. There are no windows, only one door. I barely know any survivors that make it out of there. We’ve seen it time and time again. Paralyzed bodies oozing with some sort of pink frosting sitting outside of that place. They are still alive but not themselves.”

“What happened to them?”

“Horrible things. This book details information that some Bibbly Bubbles found at the site. It was written by a 45 year-old man named William Peterson who we assumed was being chased and dropped it after getting caught. Inside the book, this man claimed to witness what is called The Funhouse Room. Inside it is pretty dark but he was able to spot a massive indoor gingerbread castle. He didn’t make it in too far but I can tell you it wasn’t all that great either.”

“I’m confused. You said they are dreaming but dreams aren’t supposed to be real. I still can’t figure out if what I’m seeing is also real even though I pinched myself. What if that cherry she gave me is making me hallucinate?”

“I do know one thing that can help you see clearly so that you can determine what’s real. I say this because those rooms can mess with your mind.”

He stood up and walked over to one of his dressers and grabbed a red watch. He sat back down and turned it on.

“Time. As long as there is a consecutive pattern which can be observed and measured where you are, you can keep a record of what is real. We all keep these magical watches on in this cafe in case you didn’t notice. Candiere even has one underneath her gloves. They are specially made with the inclusion of an internal camera so that the user can keep track of what happens at a certain time. Do you want one?”

“Yes please.”

When he gave it to me, I saw the orange glowing numbers read as followed:

8:54 PM

This place was a lot more real than I expected it to be. I had no choice but to suspect that there was still some way to escape. Maybe I was right about the door being the key since it led to somewhere else. However, it could be possible that the door to Dream Academy High had to be somewhere else. Was it inside The Funhouse Room? Or The Candy Room?

As I was fascinated at this technology which could potentially be used to help me gather more evidence to prove this place was real, Wata issued a warning.

“Make sure to hide that watch underneath your sleeve or somewhere where no one but you can see it. The Traveller does not know we created these magical watches by using that mysterious orange gem Candiere has. If he figures out that anyone of us have been using them, he stated something along the lines of letting this world experience never-ending torment. I don’t want to find out what that means. Simply put, make sure to remember two things. Turn it off in the day. Turn it on at night. You got it?”

“Mhm. Got it.”

Well that was worrying to hear. Especially the likeliness of the fact that dreaming meant someone could get sent away to The Candy Room. Although with the magical watch now being useful, I could make sure I didn’t get easily lost. That was left up to chance, but I hoped to be prepared for it.

As Wata and I switched places to wash up and change our clothes inside of his bathroom which was right next to his bedroom, I began to feel the urge that there was one way to help everyone. If I could make it happen, I was going to put all of my energy into it.

“Wata, can I ask you one last question before I go to sleep?” I asked while coming out of the bathroom in pajamas decorated with images of blueberry muffins on them.

“What would that be?”

“Can you all come with me to The Funhouse Room? I think I know a way I can get all of us out of this place. I had planned out this map of our school and I think I’ve finally figured out where we have to go in order to escape. If I can bring everyone out at night, we can play The Traveller at its own game.”

Wata patted his covers once again offering me to come and lay on the bed. It made me slightly nervous.

“We can, but you need a good night’s rest first. If you want, I can sleep in the chair. Don’t worry my bed is clean. You look a lot more tired than I am anyways.”

I sighed and finally gave in as I snugged underneath the cozy puffy blanket. It felt so good to the point where I didn’t even feel like moving.

So soft…

Tomorrow was going to be a big day.