Salem Street

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Strange things had been happening on Salem Street at night. Wolves howling, doors creaking and banging, baby strollers unattended on the street, and empty swings swaying. It was as though an ominous entity was present yet no one could fathom so life went on as usual.

Anisa decided to drive into town to get away from the stillness. She drove for minutes with no particular destination. She just let the wheel lead. She finally slowed into a street that looked eerily quiet with mild fog wafting through the air. It looked like a place time had forgotten except for the resounding beat coming from a building that appeared to be a bar.

As she drew closer, neon lights revealed the name ‘Meard Rehctac Bar.’

“What a strange name,” she thought.

She pulled over and went in. Inside was cozy and had the smell of freshly brewed ale. The thick air mixed with a feeling of nostalgia made her cringe. She knew that smell from years ago when her grandfather would concoct his drink in their basement. The bar had only a couple of people minding their business in different corners. In the far end was a girl cloaked in the shadows. Anisa could see her thick lashes through her hooded face. Instantly, she felt drawn to this enigmatic figure so she approached her.

“Welcome wanderer. The one who doesn't dream. Ever wondered why?” The girl parted her lips before taking off her hood to reveal a large set of eyes, a head full of thick black hair, and red round lips.

Unsure of herself, Anisa nodded.

“I'll trade the answers you seek for the coin.” The girl’s eyes firmly pierced Anisa.

Without any hesitation, Anisa reached for the pendant around her neck And handed it over to the girl.

Like a lost jewel, she marveled over the silver coin before she faced Anisa again. “You are a vortex. The link between waking and dreaming. You were made to stop dreaming to protect them from us. Not anymore.” She flipped the coin in her hand and started to laugh hysterically.

Anisa didn't remember driving back home and getting in bed but she woke up sweating profusely. “Was it a dream?” She searched her neck to find that her pendant was gone.

It had been ages since she had a dream. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to dream. The last dream she had was when she was only ten years old.

Anisa closed Her eyes to reminisce. When she was only a child playing on the swing in their backyard. Anisa saw a disheveled woman who appeared from nowhere. She was shabbily dressed in a black see-through dress and she wore a silver coin on her neck.

“You need to stop dreaming Anisa. It is the only way to seal the link and save us from them.” She suddenly grabbed Anisa’s arm. Anisa felt so much fear surge through her hand to her entire body. She began to wriggle from the clutch of the stranger. However, the sad look in the woman’s pale eyes made her steady. “Keep the key safe with you.” She then yanked the coin from her neck and locked it in Anisa’s palm. Softly, she placed her hand on Anisa’s eyes.

When Anisa opened her eyes, she was in her bedroom. She tried to make sense of the dream while feeling something cold in her hand. When she looked, Anisa saw the same coin that the mystery woman had given to her.

Anisa never spoke of that day to anyone but she kept the coin safe with her. She wasn't sure if it was the mystery or the woman’s pleading eyes but that was the last time she ever let herself dream.

Anisa was starting to feel puzzled about her childhood dream and what she had just experienced. The one thing in common between the two mysteries was the symbolic coin. Now that she thought hard about it, the coin had a strange inscription on it. Something much like the made-up texts her grandfather would write in the past.

The man was a mystic who loved unconventional things. He created his letters and words that he taught Anisa for fun. Anisa loved every bit of adventure she had with the old man. She closed her eyes to reflect some more. Soon, the darkness in her eyes was replaced by a panoramic scene.

Anisa found herself standing in the middle of what looked like a boundary between two different worlds. In front of her was a gate barricading a sun-kissed city that looked like something out of a fantasy. Towering buildings, talking creatures, beautiful upside-down buildings that defied gravity, fire dancing in the rain, and impossible phenomena that only happened in dreams.

Behind her was a ruined and chaotic world surrounded by burning embers. Darkness loomed over the clouds. There were hundreds of people on horses with spears and swords threatening the crossover to the other side.

Suddenly, Anisa saw the girl from the bar. She approached the gates with the key in her hand. She then looked at Anisa and smiled sinisterly.

“Anisa. You were supposed to keep the key safe. They are going to hurt us. They are going to destroy the beauty of the dreaming. Don't let them.” The woman from Anisa’s childhood dream suddenly appeared behind the gate.

Then she heard her grandpa’s voice. “The letter, Anisa.”

“This is a dream.” Anisa closed her eyes.

“Of course, it is your dream and I caught it.” The girl charged.

Anisa pinched herself. When she opened her eyes, she was back in her bedroom. Quickly, she reached for her bedside drawer and retrieved the letter her grandfather had left her. Anisa was so heartbroken that she never got herself to read it after her grandpa passed.

Anisa held her mouth when she began to read the content of the letter. Her grandpa wrote the letter in his made-up text. Anisa was amazed that she could still read it.

“Dear Anisa,

This is not the time to riddle words in mystery. Like me, you are a vortex. Your dreams can be a link to realms of this world. When strange things start happening in Salem, then your dreams have been hijacked. You already know by now that dreaming is a realm that exists in its own plane. There are people in this world who want nothing but to destroy beautiful dreams. They are the dreamcatchers. You must never let them hijack your dream, Anisa. You must keep the coin safe.”

Anisa closed the letter and sat in silence. She felt like she had betrayed the dreaming by giving away the coin. The dreamcatchers now had the key to beautiful dreams. She never had an inkling of what she truly was. If only she knew, she would have done anything to protect her dreams and the dreaming. She felt anger within her and blood rushed through her veins.

She jumped out of bed and drove straight to the bar. She hoped that by some miracle she would find the girl there. She paused for a second and looked at the name again. She read it backwards this time. Behold, Dream Catcher Bar.

She barged in to find the girl in the same corner as before, this time, she looked like she was in a state of trance. The silver coin hung loosely around her neck. Anisa ran across the table and yanked the coin off her neck.

The girl opened her eyes. “I see you've found your truth as I've told you. You now know who you are. But let me tell you vortex, you can't get rid of us that easily. We will always keep lurking.” she eyed Anisa.

“And I will never go down without a fight, Dreamcatcher. “Anisa hissed and stormed out of the bar. She now knew how much responsibility she carried on her shoulders and she was ready by all means to protect the dreaming.