7. The haze breaks

The place Echo brings me to looks like an oversized forest. As soon as I take his hand and step forward, a fresh breeze caresses my face, and the world around us transforms. Suddenly, we're in a place filled with towering trees, the forest floor beneath our feet, and the sounds of birds singing high in the canopy.

"Woah," I mutter as Echo pulls me along. He holds my hand tightly, as if worried I might let go and run away. His hand is almost as warm as the suddenly humid air. "What just happened?"

"We ran away, just like you wanted," he says, smiling at me.

That's when I notice his entire outfit has changed. The polo shirt and slacks are gone. Now, his chest is bare except for a fang-shaped necklace, and he's wearing Hawaiian-style shorts. His feet are bare, and so are mine. I stomp my feet into the moist forest floor, but as soon as I realize it, my first instinct is to freeze and scream because of all the potential dangers. We are in what seems to be a tropical jungle, casually walking barefoot on ground that could be teeming with all sorts of dangers. Snakes, venomous frogs, spiders... Damn.

But then another thought soothes me. We're in a dream. I can't be harmed here, not with Echo by my side. That's probably why there aren't any sharp twigs or dry leaves stabbing my feet. Instead, there's just softness and the gentle rustling of moss underfoot. It feels like walking on a cloud-like carpet, cool with dew.

It feels amazing. Nothing like what I could ever experience in real life, I'm sure of it.

"Did… Did I create all this?" I whisper in awe, taking in my surroundings. This place doesn't resemble any memory of mine; it's too surreal, too breathtaking. No, this must be a world born from imagination.

I extend my free arm and run my fingers along the bark of a massive tree. The trunk is so wide that at least three people my size could fit inside if it were hollow. And its height? This tree could easily rival the tallest skyscrapers on Earth. All the trees here are like this, forming an immense forest with thousands of thin rays of sunlight filtering through their broad mistless canopies. Among the branches, nestled between the beams of light, are tiny twinkling lights, resembling stars scattered across the leaves. Some of these sparkles are lower, though fewer in number. I can't quite tell what they are, but they remain still, unconnected by anything. They simply… exist.

If this was my creation, then I must commend myself for my imagination, because wow, I thought I'd lost the ability to create after everything that's happened. But Echo quickly corrects me.

"No, it wasn't you," he says as we match our steps. No longer pulling me along, he walks beside me. In the dappled sunlight, he looks like a wood elf, his skin moonlight pale, and his eyes shimmering. "It was me, actually."

I bite my lip in surprise. "I thought we were in my head," I recall his earlier words. "Shouldn't I be the only one who can manipulate things here? In this dream?"

The humid air makes me sweat. With each step, a thin layer of moisture forms on my back and chest. I place my palm on my chest and feel the heat of my skin. I'm wearing only a bikini top with a thin, see-through shawl tied around my neck and waist, draping over my hips. I bite my lip harder but stay silent about my attire. I'm not exactly covered, but I'm not naked either. Besides, if Echo chose this outfit for me, he's got a good eye.

I look sexy as hell.

"Oh, Claire," he says, shaking his head, his hair falling perfectly across his forehead despite the humid air, as if held in place by some magical force. "If there's one thing you need to know about mysticism, it's that not everything is as literal as you think."

My eyebrows knit together. "Wait, what? What does that mean?"

Echo smiles and steps closer to a large tree, brushing his hand against the bark. "Words, numbers, facts, and all tangible things are the currency of your world, not mine. Here, we operate with intention," he says, his eyes shifting from metallic blue to deep aquamarine in the forest's green light.

I hold his gaze, letting his words sink in. Even as I start nodding, pretending to understand, I'm more confused than ever. Mentally kicking myself for faking it, I realize how important this information might be. I shouldn't just "fake it till I make it" right now. I might need this knowledge in the future, especially since I really like this dreamscape. I want to come back here. I want to truly understand it.

"So, you're telling me that I… what? Intended to give you control?" I finally ask, cocking a brow and trying not to look at the way his breathing makes his chest rise and fall. Even in my peripheral vision, I notice his small, dusty pink nipples and fitness model abs. It's distracting, making my own breathing harder than it already is.

"That's exactly what I'm telling you," he responds. "And it's not the first time, either. Think about how you fell asleep tonight. Don't you remember calling out to me for help? Feeling that strange force taking over?"

If I was confused before, now I'm outright stumbling over the soft forest floor. A spinning headache washes over me as I try to remember the incident he's talking about. I search through my memory like I'm sifting through a fog. It's harder than before, taking a few quiet seconds, accompanied only by the high-pitched singing of birds hidden high in the trees.

Finally, the haze breaks, and memories flood back. Real life seems like a distant, feverish hallucination, something that happened lifetimes ago. It's not pleasant to recall. Doing so intensifies the sinking feeling in my stomach, making me dizzy.

"Yeah," I reply at last. Placing a hand on my stomach, I start walking again. We're following a wide path where trees are sparse. For a while, all I could see was an endless forest. But now, there's a brighter area ahead, more lit by the sun than the canopy-covered forest floor. We're literally walking towards the light.

A memory hits me like a ton of bricks: contemplating death on the staircase to my apartment in the real world, thinking about walking towards the light. It's ironic, isn't it? The me from then would cry tears of happiness knowing such a magical thing as this dream awaited on my path. I thought I was done for. I thought there was no miracle for me to ever experience again.

But here I am, feeling moss under my toes, sweating in some Amazonian rainforest with a handsome man and magical lights above me. What the actual fuck?

"That was me, too," Echo says with a hint of pride. "You asked for help. You intended for me to come in and save you, and so I did."

"So, all of this," I wave a hand, gesturing to the lush greenery around us, "is because I let you in? Because I was desperate?"

"Do I detect a hint of aversion, darling?" he drawls, his voice darkening in that way that makes me wonder if he's joking or serious. Even the way he says ‘darling' could be taken both ways.

I bury my face in my hands, wiping sweat from my forehead with my wrist. Is there a rulebook on how not to piss off guardian spirits? Tips and tricks for dealing with them? Probably not.

"Don't tell me you don't get me this time around," I say, dropping my hands and turning to him. Echo's smile deepens, his eyes crinkling at the corners, reflecting a mischief that's both unsettling and compelling.

"Oh, I get you, Claire. More than you might be comfortable with." He steps closer, his presence enveloping me like the dense forest air. "But understanding and agreeing are two different things. Don't be so quick to judge. Just wait and see if you like me in charge."

I cringe at my next words even before they escape my mouth. The urge to say whatever comes to mind is too strong, but so is the embarrassment.

"In charge? Just how I like my men?" I ask, cheeks blazing.

"Exactly like that," he replies with a smirk, shutting me up.

He guides me along the path that opens into a sunlit clearing. The forest transitions into a vibrant meadow filled with wildflowers and the buzzing of... something. For a moment, I think it's the forest itself humming with life, brimming with power. Then, I notice the thing to our left, big and loud, so impossible to miss that I'm shocked I mistook it for the forest.

A waterfall. A magnificent, tall, crashing waterfall basking in the sunlight. It cascades into a pond below, large enough to swim in but cozy, not a fierce force of nature. The pond's water gently spills over, flowing into a calm river below.

I gasp, cupping my mouth, my chest swelling with pure awe.

"Tell me, Claire," Echo says, stepping into the sunlight by the pond. He turns to look at me, eyes glimmering and hair kissed by the gentle breeze from the waterfall. "Do you still regret me bringing you here?"

His smirk tells me he knows exactly how I feel, but I say it anyway.

"No," I mutter, my voice thin against the stretch in my lungs. "I don't regret it at all."

Echo's smirk softens into a gentle smile as he extends a hand toward me.

"Come on then," he beckons, his voice blending with the waterfall's roar. Without hesitation, I step forward to join him by the water. "This is all for you, after all."

The ground changes beneath my feet, from soft, mossy earth to cool, smooth stones polished by the water. I reach out my hand to Echo, and he grasps it, steadying me as we edge closer to the waterfall. The sound grows louder, drowning out the birdsongs of the forest. The mist settles on my skin, mingling with sweat, cooling and refreshing.

I always wanted to see one up close. As a child, I'd watch Animal Planet, hoping to catch a glimpse of wild animals drinking from waterfalls deep in the Amazon jungle. It was a harmless little dream I dreamt during long afternoons and even longer nights. I imagined a place where everyone was equal, where no amount of money or alcohol could turn people against each other. Just a jungle, pure animalistic danger, and the beauty of life.

But this…

"This is fucking amazing," I mumble, inhaling deeply. "Nothing like seeing it on TV."

I'm spilling my thoughts out loud, but I couldn't care less. This waterfall is like a magnet for my worries, sucking them out and crashing over the rocks below.

"Yeah? Do you feel better now?" Echo asks, stepping into the water. The sound is so loud I almost don't hear him, but then he places his hands on my hips, lifting me until my stomach is pressed against his chest. As he lowers me slowly, our skin brushing together, his voice comes through clearly. "Calmer?"

The cool water swirls around us. I nod, unable to muster words as intense feelings wash over me.

"I don't know if calmer," I finally manage to say, my voice nearly lost beneath the waterfall's roar, "but definitely better."

Echo's hands are still wrapped around me, the see-through cloth on my upper body clinging to my skin under his touch. It drives me crazy, like my whole body's on fire in the best way.

"You like it? This place?" he keeps prodding, his face close to my ear. His scent mixes with the forest, the water, and my own desire.

"Yeah," I reply breathlessly, butterflies roaming free in my belly, making me curl my toes against the smooth, slippery rocks.

"Good," Echo whispers, his voice a low rumble over the waterfall's roar. His fingers trace a line down my spine, sending shivers that rival the water's chill.

Taking a deep breath, I gather my courage and follow him, feet slipping on the slick stones. As I draw closer, the waterfall's roar vibrates deep in my chest. If Camilla were here... She'd lose her mind. She'd probably abandon all fear straight away. She'd run into the water and squeal in the process. But she's not here. This moment is just for me and Echo, locked away in a place no one else can reach. Here, the world bends to our whims. It's my saving grace.

"Now imagine getting under that big waterfall, Claire." He gently turns me to face him, his hands steady on my waist. His eyes search mine, earnest and piercing. "All that water, falling onto your shoulders and washing all your problems away. Clashing with your skin. Rumbling against your bones."

"It would hurt," I say, licking sweet water from my lips. "This thing of having a waterfall fall on you is just a..."

"Fantasy," he finishes for me. "And isn't that what this world is about? Come on."

He lets go without warning, leaving me standing alone. I watch as he strides toward the waterfall, droplets catching the sunlight, turning into fleeting prisms. I hesitate, heart pounding.

"Don't just stand there, Claire!" he calls over his shoulder, his voice echoing against the water's roar. "This is a dream, make the most of it!"

"Wait for me!" I shout as the water gets deeper and Echo gets further away. He turns, that mischievous smile ever-present.

Oh, god…

"If I did, you'd never come, Claire!" he shouts back. Among the prisms, he looks like a merman who has never seen daylight. His alabaster skin shines. I can't help but want to lick it, to taste the sweet water glistening on his skin.

When I was a kid, dreams were my safe haven, my battlefield where fear didn't stand a chance. I could conquer anything, be anyone, without fear holding me back. Dreams were my escape, my domain where I was in control. But that was a long time ago. Back then, I was fierce and ready to take on anything, prepared to survive no matter what. Now, it feels like that fight has slipped through my fingers in both worlds.

"No hesitation, Claire!" Echo shouts once more, his voice barely audible over the thunderous roar. I catch his words only because I'm watching him. He's already at the edge, where the waterfall crashes into the pond, something that seems impossible given the force of the water. He manages to hold his ground, though, sends me one last look, winks, and vanishes behind the wall of water.

I'm left alone.

For a moment, the world seems to freeze. The waterfall's roar fills my ears, matching the frantic rhythm of my heart.

I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be without him.

Drawing a deep breath, I focus on the path ahead. The water around my legs pushes back with increasing force, but I press on. The cold seeps into my bones, each step more challenging than the last. My heart pounds louder, vying with the waterfall's roar, and a blend of fear and determination surges through me. Echo's smirk I saw just before he vanished fuels my resolve. No way I'll just give up now.

Finally, I reach the waterfall. I hesitate for a heartbeat, staring at the cascading water. Then, driven by this newfound grit, I push through the curtain.

Instantly, the world changes.

Behind the waterfall, it's quieter than I expected. There's no cave, no hidden treasure, just a shallow indent in the rock, like a ledge to stand on, and the muffled echo of the water. There's only a few feet of space between the cascading water and the stone. Yet, it's stunning. Light filters through the water, casting dancing shadows on the rock, and the stone glistens like polished metal. Even my skin looks ethereal, like I'm some ancient being hidden from the world.

Echo appears ethereal too, if not more so. Leaning against the rock, his head tilted, a slow smile spreads across his lips as he gazes at me. I watch him as I take a deep breath. The cool, damp air feels good as it stretches my chest.

There's wonder in his eyes, and I think in mine too. All the fear, the worry, the anxiety I felt earlier have been swallowed up by the waterfall. I feel free.

I reach out to touch the smooth, wet rock next to me and prop my tired body against it. That's when I realize just how little space there is here, and I bite my lip. Echo and I are cut off from the rest of the world right now.

"You made it," he says, amusement lacing his voice.

"Yes, I did," I reply.

And before I know it, his lips are on mine.