Dreamwalkers: The Blue Coat Connection

Section 1: The Recurring Dream For over a month, Daai had been having the same recurring dream every night. Each evening, she'd find herself standing at the entrance of her old family home in Anego. The heavy wooden gate, slightly open, seemed to invite her in, as if saying, "Come on in." She'd push the gate open, and it would creak loudly, echoing through the quiet courtyard. The scene was always the same: the traditional Bintonese architecture with its intricate designs, the curved roof tiles, the red lanterns swaying in the breeze, and the stone pathway leading to the main house. The air was filled with the nostalgic smell of home-cooked food mixed with the faint scent of blooming jasmine flowers, creating a comforting yet surreal vibe. Children's laughter would fill the courtyard, drawing her attention to her aunt, who sat on a wooden bench surrounded by her kids. The sight was both comforting and oddly unsettling. Daai's eyes would scan over the familiar faces of her aunt's daughter and son before settling on a third child, a boy who didn’t exist in real life. This boy, about eight years old, with dark, curious eyes and a mischievous grin, would be playing with a wooden toy soldier, completely immersed in his game. Every time, Daai would walk towards her aunt, the gravel crunching softly under her feet with each step. "Aunt, long time no see," she'd say, taking a seat beside her. Her aunt would smile warmly, her face bathed in the soft, golden glow of the afternoon light. "Yeah, it’s been a while," her aunt would reply, gently ruffling the hair of the mysterious third child. "You remember my kids, right?" Daai would nod, trying to hide her confusion. "Of course I do. I remember these two very well," she'd say, pointing to the daughter and son. "But who is this little boy?" she'd ask, gesturing towards the third child. Her aunt would laugh softly, a sound both familiar and unsettling. "This is Min. How could you forget him?" Daai's heart would skip a beat, a wave of unease washing over her. How could she forget someone who never existed? She forced a smile and nodded, watching the kids play. The daughter and familiar son would be busy with a lively game of tag, their laughter echoing joyfully through the courtyard, while the mysterious third child, Min, continued with his toy soldier, occasionally glancing up at Daai with a knowing smile that seemed to see right through her. The afternoon would drift by in a blur of small talk and kids' antics, the ordinary scene tinged with an underlying sense of unease. Min's presence kept Daai on edge, making her question her memory and the very nature of this strange reality that felt both familiar and foreign. Section 2: Awakening to Reality Daai jolted awake, heart racing. The dream clung to her mind like morning fog, every detail clear and vivid. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind replaying the strange, colorful images. The grey morning light peeked through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the walls. The contrast between the dream's bright colors and the dull morning light was startling. The dream world had been so vivid, bursting with life and color, while her room felt muted and lifeless in comparison. She could still see the vibrant landscapes, hear the sounds of exotic birds, and feel the warmth of the sun on her skin from the dream. In the dream, she had walked through a garden filled with flowers of every hue and size. The air had been thick with the scent of jasmine and roses, and a gentle breeze had rustled the leaves of ancient trees. Everything seemed hyper-real, more intense than her waking life. Yet, despite the beauty, there had been an underlying sense of something amiss, a tension she couldn't quite place. Now, as she lay in her bed, she felt a profound sense of loss. The dream had been so much more than a mere figment of her imagination; it felt like another reality, one that she was reluctant to leave behind. The soft, grey light of the morning seemed dull and uninspiring compared to the kaleidoscope of colors and emotions she had just experienced. Her mind drifted back to the figure she had seen in the dream, a mysterious person who seemed to know her deeply, despite being a stranger. Their words echoed in her mind, cryptic yet meaningful: "This world and yours are connected. The chaos you face is not natural; it is orchestrated." The sense of urgency in those words lingered, urging her to uncover the truth behind them. As she continued to stare at the ceiling, the dream's images began to fade, replaced by the mundane concerns of her daily life. Yet, the feeling of the dream remained, a lingering sense that something significant had just slipped through her fingers. She sighed, knowing that she had to get up and face the day, but also realizing that the dream had awakened something within her—a determination to seek out the deeper truths hidden beneath the surface of her everyday existence. She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes, trying to shake off the weird feeling that lingered like a phantom. The scent of jasmine and the sound of kids laughing still echoed in her head as if they were real. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand; it was just past 7 AM. Taking a deep breath, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, the cool floor grounding her in the present moment. In the kitchen, while making breakfast, she couldn't stop thinking about Min. It was strange, feeling like she knew him intimately but knowing he wasn't real. The dream had left an indelible mark on her thoughts. She poured a cup of tea and sat at the dining table, letting the steam warm her face and trying to make sense of her emotions. "Mom, do you remember Aunt's kids?" Daai asked her mom over the phone, trying to keep it casual despite the urgency she felt. "Of course I do. Aunt has two kids, a girl and a boy," her mom replied without missing a beat, her voice filled with certainty. Daai felt a chill run down her spine. "Are you sure she doesn't have a third kid?" she pressed, her voice trembling slightly. Her mom laughed softly. "What are you talking about? Aunt only has two kids. You must be mistaken or dreaming." Daai thanked her mom and hung up, feeling even more confused and unsettled. The dream felt so real, but it didn't match reality at all. Determined to make sense of her experience, she decided to start a dream journal. Grabbing a notebook, she began to write down every detail she could remember, describing the courtyard, her aunt, and especially Min, hoping to find some clarity through her words. She wrote for what felt like hours, each word bringing the dream back to life and making it feel even more tangible. As she described the scenes and emotions, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something important she was missing, something just out of reach. The more she wrote, the more she realized how deeply the dream had affected her, and she vowed to keep recording her dreams in the hope of uncovering the mystery behind them.