​
in his dream.
Tobi opened his eyes to a vast garden that crumbled around him.
The edges of the world frayed like burning paper, dissolving into flickering points of light that danced and vanished into nothingness. The ground trembled beneath him.
His hearing came and went in distorted waves with sounds arriving in fragments.
He has seen this before.
Now for grounding. He thought to himself.
"Clarity," he whispered in repetition.
He looked down. His hands; translucent, ghostly, overlapped the smaller frame of his younger self. When he tried to grasp the sleeve of his shirt, his fingers passed straight through in slow, ethereal motion.
"Clarity," he repeated, more urgently this time. With each repetition, his ghostly form grew slightly more solid. He felt his ghostly fingers press against something. But the body he inhabited, the body of the boy he used to be, still moved on its own, refusing to obey him completely.
"This body… it’s mine, but I still can’t control it," he muttered. His gaze shifted forward, toward the center of the collapsing garden.
There stood a golden figure. Tall. Radiant. Features barely discernible beneath the blinding light pouring off its form. Wherever it stood, the world disintegrated faster. Flowers, grass, the sky, all crumbled into glittering star-dust that blew away into the void. The light seemed to press against his eyes.
Tobi’s younger body began walking toward the entity on its own. Its mouth moved, speaking words he couldn’t hear.
He strained with everything he had. pushed his consciousness forward, forced the boy’s lips to move. His ghostly self stretched thin, like a hand trying to push through cloth. No sound came.
Not this time. Don’t waste energy on that, he told himself, forcing his focus back onto the golden figure.
He stared hard, reading lips, straining to catch any fragment of meaning amid the chaos. The figure’s hazy face seemed… wet. Distorted.
Is it crying?
The disintegration accelerated violently. The garden shattered with a crack like breaking ice and vanished in huge chunks. A wave of pressure pushed against his chest. Darkness rushed in from every side.
"Damn. Time’s almost up again," Tobi thought, his ethereal chest tightened.
He tried to lunge forward, but his ghostly self was trapped inside the younger body, unable to break free. The world blackened. His frustration boiled over into raw desperation.
As the darkness swallowed him almost completely, something brushed against his forehead; faint, yet impossibly clear.
"Eternal Dao Heart..."
The words echoed like a grand bell, deep and resonant, cutting through the void. The encroaching darkness paused for a single heartbeat.
The words vibrated in his chest.
"Eternal Dao Heart..." Tobi repeated as let out a wild, triumphant laugh even as the blackness finally consumed him.
###
Tobi jolted awake with a sharp gasp, his eyes snapped open to the familiar white ceiling of his bedroom. The fan spun lazily overhead, sending cool drafts across his sweat-dampened skin. Outside, rain pattered steadily against the window, a soft, rhythmic sound that grounded him back in reality.
For a long moment, he simply lay there, chest rising and falling heavily. Then a slow, genuine smile crept across his face.
“Eternal Dao Heart…” he whispered, the words tasting strange yet powerful on his tongue.
He pushed the blanket aside and sat up on the edge of the bed, heart still racing with residual excitement. After months of the same frustrating dream always slipping away before he could grasp anything meaningful, he had finally pulled something back.
“Finally,” He muttered, stretching his arms overhead with a satisfied groan. “I actually got something this time. Even if it’s just some weird cryptic phrase I don’t understand… it’s still something. it also shows that constant grounding works in the dream world, which means with time I'll be able to get to the bottom of this nonsense."
I'll research the phrase after school. He noted to himself.
A sudden cold chill prickled across his forehead, sharp and fleeting, like ice pressed directly against his skin. He reached up instinctively, fingers brushing the spot. The sensation faded almost immediately, leaving only a faint tingle.
What the—?
Before he could dwell on it, a soft knock sounded at the door.
Tobi glanced at his phone on the bedside table. The screen lit up at his tap: 7:30 AM.
“Shit,” he hissed, scrambling off the bed and grabbing his school bag from the chair.
The door opened quietly. His mother stepped in, her nightdress swaying gently. A warm, sweet aroma, something like vanilla and milk followed her into the room. She glanced at his rumpled bed, then at his half-dressed state, and offered a faint, knowing smile.
Tobi returned it with a helpless grin, pausing his frantic movements.
“Are you still having those dreams?” she asked, concern softening her voice.
“It’s nothing serious,” he cleared his throat and deflected quickly. “Is Tonia ready?” he looked at her seriously.
She studied him for a beat longer, lips parting as if to say more, but then she closed her mouth and shook her head slightly.
“Get ready for school. Don’t keep your sister waiting,” She said, turning to leave and pulling the door shut behind her with a soft click.
Tobi stared at the closed door, fingers absently drifting back to his forehead. He pressed harder this time.
Nothing. He exhaled slowly, trying to push down the unease settling in his chest.
###
Tobi walked into the dining area. His footsteps tapped on the tile floor. The smell of yam porridge and strong coffee thick in the air. His family was already seated.
His thirteen-year-old sister, Tonia, looked up immediately, eyes sharp. “Are you still having those weird dreams again?”
Of course she goes straight for it. annoying little brat. Tobi glanced at her and ruffled her hair as he passed. She swatted his hand away with an annoyed squeak.
“Don’t talk with food in your mouth,” He said, dropping into his seat. The porridge’s steam carried a nutty scent.
“Good morning, sir,” He added toward his father.
The man didn’t look up from his phone, only gave a slight nod while sipping his coffee.
Tonia made a dramatic hissing sound.
Hmm? Tobi raised an eyebrow at her pout.
Their mother sighed. “You’ve been acting strange for weeks now, Tobi. You even missed school event yesterday. Everyone was there.”
“I had my reasons,” Tobi replied quietly, poking at his porridge.
“It’s those stupid dreams again, isn’t it?” Tonia cut in, voice dripping with annoyance. “You’re too old for imaginary friends, you know. And you’re the oldest! Act like it.”
Tobi’s fork stopped mid-air. His gaze met hers with a slight frown. this girl... what's up with her.
The room went quiet as their father slowly set down his cup.
“Tobi.”
Tobi lifted his head.
“You’ve been acting off lately,” His father said, voice low and even. The air in the room grew heavy. Even Tonia suddenly became very interested in her food.
Ha... i must have done something wrong unknowingly again? Tobi exhaled through his nose but said nothing.
“Are you unwell?” His father asked, still not meeting his eyes.
“No, sir.”
“Good. You’re not a child anymore. You know what your actions mean in this house.” His father paused. “You missed your sister’s event.”
Guilt twisted sharply in Tobi’s gut. the porridge turned to ash in his mouth. It was yesterday? and i... He turned to Tonia, who was now aggressively stirring her porridge without eating, lips pushed out.
“Tonia… I’m really sorry,” He said softly. i really messed up, the hell. He thought internally.
She didn’t look at him.
He continued, “After school today, I’ll take you to Sweet Sensation. You can get whatever you want.”
Tonia’s head snapped up, eyes lighting up. “For real?!”
“Seriously,” Tobi said, managing a small smile.
“You promised! No going back!” She pointed her spoon at him like a weapon.
He nodded.
His father glanced at them once, then returned to his phone.
The clinking of spoons filled the awkward silence. Tobi looked at his mother, who was eating slowly, Her expression tired.
“When are you going to the hospital?” he asked.
She looked at him in surprised. Her hands paused over her plate; then she forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I insist,” Tobi said, voice firm. “I want to go with you this Saturday.”
His mother studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
The tension in the room eased slightly as everyone focused back on their plates. But the weight of unspoken words still lingered.
###
The rain hammered down relentlessly as Tobi stepped out of the compound gate, umbrella tilted against the wind. Cold droplets sneaked past his raincoat collar, tracing icy lines down his neck. He brushed his boot against a piece of soggy trash and muttered a curse.
A distant siren wailed, growing louder. He paused, frowning. “What’s going on this early?”
He turned his head toward the sound, but before he could react, the gate creaked open behind him.
“Tobi!!!”
Tonia’s scream cut through the rain like shattered glass. He spun around.
A black vehicle that seemed to emerge from the adjacent street was sliding wildly on the flooded road, tires screaming, police lights flashing madly through the downpour. It was coming straight at him.
“Fuck!”
Adrenaline exploded through his veins. He tried to run, but his boots slipped on the wet concrete. In the same heartbeat, He saw Tonia frozen in place, eyes wide with terror, umbrella dangling uselessly from her hand.
“Tonia! Move!” he roared.
With every ounce of strength, He hurled his school bag at her. The heavy bag slammed into her chest, knocking her backward through the open gate. Safe.
The impact cost him precious seconds.
The world became violence and noise.
Metal slammed into his side with bone-crushing force. His body left the ground, the wind rushed past his ears as he flew, tumbling through the air like a broken doll. He hit the road hard, ribs cracking audibly. Pain, white-hot and blinding tore through him as the vehicle’s tires rolled over his legs.
“Ahhh!” He screamed until his throat tore.
The car’s engine changed pitch, a sickening whine before it lurched backward, reversing with a guttural roar, crushing his torso this time. Blood sprayed across the wet asphalt, mixing with rainwater. Bones splintered. Something inside him ruptured.
He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think past the agony.
Tonia’s screams pierced the chaos. “Tobi! Tobi!!” Her voice cut through the fog, but it felt like it came from miles away
His father’s panicked voice joined hers, but they sounded farther and farther away, as if sinking underwater.
Am I dying?
The thought cut through the haze.
He tried to move, but his body refused. His legs were mangled pulp. His chest felt caved in. Blood bubbled at his lips with every shallow, wet gasp. The rain painted pink puddles around him.
Tonia… is she okay? Did I save her?
Regret crashed over him heavier than the pain. He had missed her event yesterday. He’d been so obsessed with those stupid dreams. And now…
“I… I can’t die like this,” he thought desperately, tears mixing with rain and blood on his face. “Not yet. Please… I don’t want to die…”
The world narrowed to grey shadows and ringing silence. The rain’s roar faded. His sister’s screams became distant echoes.
Darkness rushed in from the edges of his vision, hungry and absolute.
No… not like this…
###
Tobi jolted upright with a raw, guttural scream.
“Ahhhh!”
His chest heaved violently, lungs burning as if they had forgotten how to pull in air. His hands flew across his body; shoulders, ribs, stomach, legs, pressing, clawing, searching for the mangled flesh and shattered bones he knew should be there.
Nothing.
No blood. No crushing weight. No torn skin or splintered legs.
He froze, fingers still digging hard into his own arms.
…No pain?
His breathing came in short, ragged bursts. Too fast and Too shallow. The memories slammed into him again: the screech of tires, the sickening crunch of bone, Tonia’s terrified scream, the wet sound of his own blood mixing with rainwater.
His whole body flinched at the phantom agony.
“Damn… I nearly gave up the ghost,” he whispered hoarsely, voice shaking.
“That would’ve been such a stupid fucking way to die.” he almost laughed but the laugh died in his throat.
He kept patting himself down, desperate for confirmation. His hands trembled. The relief was dizzying, but something felt deeply wrong. The pain had been so real. The helplessness. The regret.
How am I okay after all that?... so just like that i could have died that unexpectedly. he thought to himself in reflection.
A soft, melodic voice broke the silence beside him.
“Lumael, ia valet-esh?”
Tobi’s head turned toward the sound. A woman in neat, formal attire stood nearby, watching him with clear concern. Her clothes looked too elegant for any hospital he’d ever seen.
What language is that? he thought. Was I flown overseas for treatment?
The woman tilted her head slightly. “Drem-um ia senset-esh? Ia valet-esh?”
Tobi swallowed, trying to keep his voice steady. “Can you understand me? I need to speak to a doctor… or my guardian. Anyone in charge.”
The woman froze completely. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, her lips trembled, then she spun and bolted out of the room without another word.
“Eh? Wait—”
Tobi sat there, dumbfounded, staring at the empty doorway.
“Why is she acting like that…? And why does she feel so familiar?”
He forced himself to breathe slower. The room finally came into focus.
It wasn’t a hospital.
The walls featured sharp geometric patterns and angled surfaces that looked far too deliberate to be decorative. A thin ray of pale sunlight sliced across the floor from the open doorway. The air felt unnaturally still, pressing against his ears. There were no monitors, no IV stands, no sterile smell of disinfectant.
“This isn’t a health center… or even a normal resting room,” he muttered.
He pushed himself up on shaky legs and began walking slowly around the space, studying everything. Strange. Too clean. Too precise. have i been out cold for too long?
A soft scuffling sound came from the doorway.
Tobi turned.
A large turtle wearing ornate, armored plating walked in with surprising dignity. Sitting atop its shell was a rabbit dressed in formal attire, complete with a tiny tailored coat and sash staring directly at him with sharp, intelligent eyes.
Tobi blinked hard.
“Ha... What is this?”
A weak, disbelieving chuckle escaped him. Both creatures looked oddly familiar, like half-remembered faces from a dream he couldn’t quite place.
“It’s official,” he muttered, rubbing his temple. “I have serious brain damage. That’s the only explanation for this constant déjà vu bullshit.”
Still half-amused, half-disturbed. he walked slowly towards the creatures, stopped in front of them, bending slightly as he observed them.
The rabbit seemed to be making weird gestures with its paw towards Tobi while squeaking, while the turtle simply watched in silence.
"so weird... is this a normal animal behavior? why do they seem more intelligent than usual. " He thought as he observed them closely.
Who brought me here, and where did that lady run off to? he thought as he got up, moving about in the room.
His eyes caught something as he turned toward a tall silver mirror mounted on the far wall.
He stopped dead.
The reflection staring back at him was not his own.
Purple hair framed a youthful face. Purple eyelashes. Striking purple irises that widened in shock as he stepped closer. He raised a trembling hand to his cheek. The reflection copied the motion perfectly.
His heart slammed against his ribs. His eyes blurred.
“This… This isn’t me!”
The words came out choked. His brain struggled to process what he was seeing. He stumbled backward, his boots clicked on the floor with each step, breath coming faster, pulse roaring in his ears.
“What the hell is going on?!”
Step. Step.
Footsteps approached from the hallway.
Tobi whipped around, heart hammering. A tall man entered the room.
Sharp, structured clothing. Layered sashes and belts that clearly signaled rank and authority. Cold blue hair. Matching blue eyes. His face showed no emotion whatsoever.
Tobi felt an instinctive pressure settle over him. This man also felt eerily familiar, in the same unsettling way as the woman and the animals.
He forced his legs to move, taking two bold steps forward.
“Are you in charge here?” Tobi asked, trying to sound calmer than he felt. “I need to know who brought me here and what’s going on.”
The man said nothing.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
Tobi opened his mouth to speak again —
Without warning, an invisible force slammed into him.
His body lifted clean off the ground. His stomach dropped violently as he floated helplessly in mid-air, limbs locked in place. He couldn’t twitch a finger. Couldn’t even turn his head properly. He felt overwhelming pressure on his chest.
“What the fuck?!”
Terror flooded him. He strained with every muscle, but his body refused to obey. He concentrated on his fingers, trying to curl it but to no avail. How… How is he doing this?! He felt skin crawled.
The blue-haired man glanced at him once, then turned and walked out of the room.
Tobi floated after him against his will, heart pounding wildly, mind screaming in confusion and fear.
This isn’t real. But his heart kept pounding.