6. Grace

The corridors of Ikmal in the dreamworld hummed with an eerie silence as Tix led me by the hand.

Each step echoed, melding with the distant whispers of the confined.

It was an otherworldly sound, a blend of hope and despair, but in that moment, my focus was solely on the alien beside me.

Tix's grip was reassuringly firm, and as he paused outside a particular cell.

"This is it," he murmured, coming to a stop outside a cell that looked exactly like the others.

"This is what?"

Tix pushed the door open, and we stepped into the cell.

An old prisoner was a tangle of limbs, tossing and turning under his threadbare blanket.

The room seemed darker somehow, suffused with a palpable dread.

Before I could inquire, the air vibrated with the distant sounds of fire.

The crackling of flames and, unsettlingly, the echoes of children's laughter slowly turning to screams.

The symphony of chaos made my skin prickle with unease.

"That," Tix whispered, gesturing towards the troubled dreamer, "is our way out."

I frowned, trying to process his words. "His nightmare? How does that work?"

Tix took a moment before answering, his gaze never leaving the cell. "Uhah's been here longer than most. No one really knows what he did to end up here. He never talks about it. I've seen his nightmare, the one that visits him every day, and it's not pleasant viewing."

"Why don't we just enter his dream? Learn whatever we need to know?"

Tix's grip tightened, his eyes dark with memories I could only guess at. "Entering someone's nightmares, especially one as dangerous as Uhah's, is not just a casual stroll. Nightmares have a way of ensnaring the dreamwalker. And there are defenses."

I watched Uhah, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, the subtle twitch of his fingers.

From the outside, it looked deceptively peaceful, nothing like the cacophony that resonated from his dreams.

"Defenses? Like traps?" I ventured, trying to grasp the complexity of dreamwalking.

"Exactly. Our minds naturally protect our subconscious. When an intruder, like a dreamwalker, tries to enter, the mind fights back. It can trap you, twist your perception, or worse. It can feel like sinking in quicksand, or the stifling aroma of decay, or the distant echoes of your own panicked screams."

I swallowed hard. "If we don't enter his dream, how do we find the way out?"

Tix turned to face me, the determination in his eyes unyielding. "We don't. This is the only way out of here. You can't go into his nightmare, not yet. It's too dangerous. You must train. I've been in many dreams, but nothing as potent as Uhah's. We need to be prepared to strengthen our abilities. Together, we stand a chance."

The realization of the magnitude of our task began to weigh on me.

My senses were heightened; every shadow, every whisper, seemed to bear significance.

The comforting touch of Tix's hand and the warmth of his presence were the only anchors grounding me in this surreal reality.

"What sort of training are we talking about?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Tix's lips curled into a hint of a smile. "Dreamwalking, navigating nightmares, building mental defenses, and, most importantly, understanding the bond between us. Our connection might be our greatest asset."

I took a deep breath. "When do we start?"

His smile widened, the mischief in his eyes unmistakable. "As soon as we can."

* * *

Tix broughtme back to the observation deck.

Flickers of dreamers snapped in and out of existence.

That always happened with greater frequency when nighttime was coming to an end.

Unable to hold back my curiosity any longer, I turned to Tix with a questioning look. "How did you come to know about this secret exit in the first place?"

Tix sighed, his face taking on a pensive expression. "It was years ago, not long after I'd been captured and brought here to Ikmal," he began, his voice soft. "I wasn't always this adept at navigating dreams. At the beginning, I was more like a lost child, stumbling upon others' dreams and occasionally helping them navigate their nightmares."

I could almost feel the weight of his memories, and the vision before me shifted momentarily to a younger, more vulnerable Tix, lost and scared in the dreamworld.

"I became close friends with a particular prisoner. He was much older, on the brink of death, haunted by terrifying nightmares. Despite his fragile state, he had an air of wisdom about him. The whiff of old books and wood smoke always seemed to follow him, even in this ethereal realm."

As he continued, I saw fleeting images — Tix, holding the hand of an elderly man, guiding him through a dense forest, the night alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant howls.

I could almost feel the cool breeze on my face, hear the soft whispers of reassurance between them.

"He knew he was nearing his end. And he trusted me, Grace. One night, as we sat by a dreamy campfire, the warmth of the flames tickling my skin, the burning cedar filling the air, he shared a secret."

Tix paused, taking a deep breath as though the weight of the memory was hard to bear. "He told me that when Ikmal was constructed, a secret exit was embedded within its foundations. An exit not on any official blueprint. Only those deeply involved in the construction knew of its existence."

I blinked, trying to grasp the magnitude of what he was saying. "Why would they build a secret exit in a prison?"

Tix's lips twisted into a rueful smile. "For emergencies, I suppose. Or perhaps a hidden way out for the privileged few. Corruption isn't exclusive to Earth, you know. Even in galaxies far away, power plays and secrets thrive."

My senses felt heightened as I processed this.

The sounds of the dreamworld around us seemed more intense; the distant chirping of imaginary birds, the soft rustle of non-existent trees, the tantalizing aroma of dream-born flowers.

"And Uhah? How does he fit into this?" I questioned, pulling myself back to the present.

Tix looked thoughtful. "For years, I carried the secret of that exit. It drove me insane, wandering the prison halls for hours, looking for it. I couldn't find it. I could spend a hundred years here and not find it. I gave up on it and thought I would never learn its location. Then, years later, I learned about Uhah. Rumors whispered that he wasn't always the frail prisoner he appears to be now. Once upon a time, he was an intern, a young apprentice working on Ikmal's construction. And if my friend was to be believed, then it's highly likely that Uhah knows about this exit."

A sense of excitement tingled at the base of my spine.

The idea of escape, of freedom, was a heady sensation.

I reached out, touching Tix's arm, feeling the solidity of his presence even in this dream realm.

"So," I began, my voice a mix of hope and determination, "if anyone holds the knowledge of that hidden exit…"

Tix finished my thought, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "It's him. He might be the only person at Ikmal — maybe the only person in the galaxy — that does know.

* * *

"Tix,"I began, hesitating slightly, "are we really going to stake our escape plan on the words of a prisoner? What if he was delusional? What if the pain, or his deteriorating health, or the despair of being trapped in this place, played tricks on his mind?"

He turned to me, those soulful eyes piercing into mine.

I felt an almost tangible warmth emanating from him and the soft whisper of sandalwood, his signature fragrance in this realm, wrapped around us. "I've thought about that, Grace, countless times. I trust him. There was something in his voice, in the way he looked at me, that convinced me he was telling the truth."

I frowned, the weight of our situation pressing on my senses.

The faint glow of the dreamworld dimmed slightly, casting shadows that danced around us, and I could hear the soft whispers of other dreamers in the distance.

"But, Tix," I continued, "you've been trying for so long to tap into Uhah's mind, to retrieve those plans. What if they don't exist? What if it's all a fabrication?"

Tix's fingers brushed against my cheek, a gentle touch that still managed to send shivers down my spine.

"It could be," he admitted. "Would you rather not even try? Uhah could have the plans locked away deep in his subconscious. Every time I try to reach out, I find barriers. Walls constructed from his fears, traumas, and memories."

"Why don't you just ask him directly? Instead of delving into his mind, why not confront him with your knowledge?" I questioned.

Tix hesitated, and I could feel a slight chill in the air, the dreamworld responding to his emotions. "Memories, especially those locked away, are delicate, Grace. Reminding someone of what they know, especially when it's something they've hidden deep within, can be perilous. They might alter it, warp its details, or even convince themselves they never knew such a thing to begin with. The mind is powerful and protective. It can change memories to shield its owner from trauma or danger."

I absorbed his words, the seriousness of our endeavor weighing on me.

I felt a cool breeze brush past us, a fleeting memory from my past. "So, what you're saying is, we can't risk confronting Uhah directly. We need to tread carefully to navigate his mind's maze without alerting him to our presence."

Tix nodded. "Exactly. We need to be stealthy. We need to work together and combine our dreamwalking abilities to find and extract that memory. It's our only shot, Grace."

A sense of determination welled up within me.

The thought of escaping Ikmal, of being free from this prison, propelled me forward. "Alright," I said firmly, "let's do this. Together."

As I spoke those words, the dreamworld around us brightened, the shadows receding, and I could hear the distant sound of birds chirping, a harmonious reminder of hope and freedom.

Tix smiled a genuine, heartwarming smile that lit up his face. "That's the spirit. We can do this, Grace. We just need to trust each other and be patient."

With one final glance at the dreamy horizon, we returned to reality, finding ourselves back in the confinements of Tix's cell at Ikmal.

* * *

The first lightof morning filtered through the tiny gaps around the cell door, casting an ethereal glow over everything.

In this muted luminance, the harshness of Ikmal seemed distant, almost unreal.

We both knew that the coming hours would thrust us back into its cold reality.

We were lying side by side, with Tix's arm comfortably around my shoulders.

The smell of the prison mingled with the warmth of his body, created an oddly comforting aroma.

I could hear the distant hum of the prison coming to life, the quiet murmurs of inmates waking, the clinking of chains, and the footsteps of the guards.

Tix shifted, propping himself up on one elbow to face me.

His eyes were earnest, filled with a determination that was both inspiring and a little intimidating. "Grace," he began, his voice low and gentle, "do you want to try it? To escape from this hellhole?"

I swallowed hard, tasting the bittersweet mix of hope and fear. "Tix," I replied, taking a deep breath, "I'm with you on this. But… there's a condition."

His brow furrowed in confusion.

"I don't want to be claimed by any other aliens. If they do, they'll ensure I don't get a wink of sleep. That means no dreamworld. No chance of escape."

Understanding dawned on his face.

He nodded, his hand coming up to brush a strand of hair behind my ear.

The simple gesture, paired with the soft texture of his skin, sent shivers down my spine. "I'll enter the pits," he promised, determination shining in his eyes. "I'll claim you every day."

"The pits are so unpredictable," I argued. "It's dangerous."

Tix smirked, and for a moment, that old playful glint returned to his eyes. "What if we can tilt the odds in our favor? Every day, we could infiltrate the minds of my opponents. Figure out their strategies, their weaknesses."

I blinked, surprised by the audacity of the plan. "You mean cheat?"

He grinned cheekily. "Let's call it a… strategic advantage."

A chuckle escaped my lips, the sound echoing softly in the silence of the cell. "All right," I agreed, laughing softly, "a ‘strategic advantage' it is."

Tix's smile widened, and I could feel the excitement building between us.

It was like a palpable energy, tinged with the sweetness of optimism. "And there's more," he continued. "Uhah, naps every afternoon at two, right on schedule. We could use that time to our advantage too. Dive deeper into his subconscious."

The prospect of spending more time in the dreamworld, working together with Tix, felt both thrilling and daunting.

I knew we had to seize every opportunity, no matter how slim the chances.

"Can you take a nap around the same time in the Prize Pool?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yes. Yes, I think so. Some of the other Prizes take a beauty sleep around that time."

Our hands intertwined, fingers lacing together in a tight grip.

The warmth of his touch sent tingles of anticipation up my arm. "Together," he whispered, his breath warm against my cheek, "we can do this."

A surge of emotion welled up within me, a mixture of hope, determination, and the budding feelings I was developing for this enigmatic alien. "Together," I echoed, smiling up at him.

The world outside the cell might have been filled with uncertainty and danger, but in that moment, lying beside Tix with our fingers entwined, I felt invincible.

Every sensation — the cool touch of the floor beneath me, the distant sounds of the prison, the faint aroma lingering in the air.

We shared a smile, an unspoken promise passing between us.

A pledge to work tirelessly, to put our combined skills to the test, and to unravel the mysteries of the dreamworld in search of that elusive secret exit.

If it existed, we were determined to find it and make our escape from the confines of Ikmal.

Promises in the real world might be fragile, easily broken by circumstance or change of heart.

At that moment, our vow felt unbreakable, as solid and real as the walls of our prison.

And with that shared conviction, we faced the dawning day, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.