I sat in the lunchroom of the school, sighing. It had been a long day, chasing around children at an after school care. As I nibbled on some tree nuts, four lively children took the seats beside me. Their youthful energy was contagious, and they couldn't resist the curiosity sparked by my snack.
I reached into my bag and offered a sunflower seed to one of the kids. I watched as her face changed from curiousity to one of disgust. Wanting a redemption arc for my wonderful tree nuts, I persuaded the other three children to try an almond and a different type of seed. The kids, whose names were Angelica, Kieran, Cass, and another whose name eluded me, seemed to enjoy the snack, to my relief.
Soon after, a sense of unease began to gnaw at me. I excused myself and made my way to the restroom, but a peculiar sight caught my attention. The four children were lined up outside the restroom. Doubt plagued my thoughts, and I wondered if I had accidentally given them all food poisoning.
Unbeknownst to me, it turned out that these children were somehow connected to a larger narrative involving an ominous teacher. Gathering them in a room, I realised that this unexpected turn of events had been part of a preordained plan. Before we could fully grasp the circumstances that had led us to this room, we found ourselves engaged in a serious discussion about a matter I struggled to recall. Long story short, the teacher who we thought was evil was actually trying to help us, and explained to us that the four kids I had interacted with had special abilities that were coveted by many, and that they were in danger.
However. the gravity of the situation was momentarily forgotten when the teacher shared a collection of amusing pictures from their phone. Laughter filled the room as we indulged in this brief respite from the intensity that surrounded us.
To our surprise, a character from a video game, Haru, materialised in our midst. This unexpected addition added a touch of surrealism to our already peculiar circumstances. Suddenly, in the grip of my obsession with the musical Hamilton (at the time of my dream), I couldn't resist the urge to rap along to "Guns and Ships," along with a spectacular performance of "the room where it happens." As the words tumbled from my lips, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence, with bewildered gazes fixed upon me. In hindsight, my musical interlude was indeed an odd choice.
Soon after, our focus shifted as we were compelled to reach a safe haven—a Korean convenience store that promised refuge from the assailants outside whose aim was to capture the kids. Haru and I embarked on this perilous journey alongside an unimportant figure whose name eluded me. The responsibility of ensuring the children's safety fell to the teacher, who undertook the vital task of returning them to their homes.
As we sprinted toward the sanctuary, a relentless pursuit ensued. A hostile crowd brandishing nunchucks and knives chased after us, their intent menacingly clear. The path ahead was strewn with staircases, turning our escape into an exhausting, treacherous maze. Those who pursued us lunged forward, their hands outstretched, attempting to capture us. It became a harrowing dance of evasion, with each step carrying the risk of confrontation; whenever one was close to reaching us, I would kick them back down the staircase.
In the midst of the chaos, I found myself cornered between two menacing figures, who advanced towards me, knives brandished. Panic surged through me, my thoughts consumed by a sense of impending doom. Just as despair threatened to swallow me whole, a nunchuck found its mark, striking one of the assailants square in the face. Relief washed over me as I turned to face Haru, grateful for his timely intervention.
Our journey continued, with the relentless attackers employing nets in a desperate bid to ensnare us. Amongst the cat-and-mouse chase, a young woman emerged as the apparent leader of our pursuers. Though outnumbered, we persisted, maneuvering through the labyrinthine streets in an attempt to lose them. We were able to out-run most of the attackers, except one individual who shot out from the side and curled up into a ball in front of me while I was running, aiming to trip me. His excuse was "oh, I got a leg cramp..."234Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes04F6xzFt
After getting rid of him, we were free of pursuers. However, I could see Haru struggling with Fatigue. Giving him a thumbs up sign, I left him behind. (Don't worry, he was a good sport about it. He'll survive... probably.)
I caught up with the unimportant individual who had joined us earlier. Wanting to show off, I challenged him to a race towards our destination. Apparently, we weren't free of attackers just yet, and yet another man lept in front of me to block my way. Using the momentum I had gained, I swiftly kicked him out of my way and kept running. The thrill of the moment coursed through me as I triumphantly overcame the obstacle in my path. Man, beating up people is fun (don't quote me on that).
Finally, we reached the safe haven, the convenience store which also happened to be the teacher's home (unfortunately I forgot who won the race between the unnamed guy and me). Reunited with everyone, including the children, we found solace within the walls of this newfound sanctuary. Laughter and playfulness filled the air as we embraced the much-needed joy of the present moment.
In the ensuing tranquility, my attention turned to Haru, wondering about his plans for the day. He expressed a desire to embark on a bike ride, inviting me to join him. However, as the discussion evolved, a unanimous decision was reached, and we went our separate ways once it was safe to go out once more.
As my dream began to fade, I caught sight of familiar faces as my surroundings transformed. Waving and exchanging greetings, I joined my friends... and then I woke up.
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