A/N:
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Everybody has a chapter they don't read out loud. This is hers. The last two weeks without him is purely a dark era to Ravenna, sulking in despair. She can literally feel Dream's younger sister laughing at her misery, thriving in it. 

Razor blades pierces Ravenna's chest at the memory of his voice, his eyes, his touch... but she is still here. She is alive and misses him in ways that not even words can understand. 

Ravenna retrieves a sketch from the safety of her bedside drawer. The drawing depicts her looking freer and happier than she recalls feeling. Dream has captured every detail with exquisite precision—the curve of her lips, the sparkle in her eyes, the tiny mole beneath her ear. Through his eyes, she feels like the most beautiful woman in the world. The drawing immortalizes a version of herself that she can never return to. She longs to be that joyful, carefree woman again, but she is not. Not anymore.

She rolls up the sketch and carefully tucks it into a box along with her other belongings. Most of her things are packed, ready for a move.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar dull feeling dominates her body. She tightly shut her eyes as her hand goes to her mouth before hurrying to the attached bathroom. Just as she reaches the sink, a thick rush of fluid fills her mouth and she spills out, falling to splash into the sink. She does this twice, A sharp winy stench filling the cool air. 

One second her breakfast is where it belongs. Then everything in her middle seems to go into reverse, and there is her breakfast in the sink. 

Panting for breath, Ravenna tries to recover from her nasty situation and washes her mouth, desperately trying to get rid of the acidic taste stuck in her mouth. 

Her gaze briefly meets her reflection of the mirror. The bags under her eye are more prominent than ever and she is having a hard time recognising the person looking back at her. She walks downstairs to the kitchen and grabs a glass of water before gulping it down. That is when she hears the doorbell ringing.

“What on devil's deal is going on?” Cedric’s voice is filled with concern as he walks in.

“Hello to you too, Ric.” Ravenna manages a small smile.

Cedric takes one look at her and winces. “Bullocks, you look like shit. Haven't you ever heard of skincare routine, eh?” He jokes, though his concern is genuine, and pulls her into a tight embrace. “Do you miss him?”

“It’s not the same without a future.” She shrugs as they move into the living room, which, like her bedroom, is almost empty.

“What are you talking about?” Cedric sits beside her on the sofa.

“I mean, a future together. Growing old together. Without that, love is just heartbreak.”

“Are you lying to me or lying to yourself?”

“I don’t know anymore.” Ravenna shakes her head and chuckles bitterly. “I’ve tried so damn hard to forget him. But I can’t stop thinking about him. Even though he’s not here, he’s everywhere. In my mind, my lungs, my very soul. It’s astonishing how someone can break your heart and you still love them with all those shattered pieces.”

Cedric rubs his forehead, distress clear on his face. “This isn’t fair.”

“No more talk about him.” Ravenna rubs her abdomen, trying to soothe the pain.

Observing her movements, Cedric asks. “Cramps again?”

“Yeah. I was having a lovely time throwing up into the bathroom sink before you showed up. That was gross.” She grimaces at the memory and pushes an envelope toward him. “I’ve got a gift for you.”

Cedric frowns, pulling out the documents. “What’s this?”

“You’re now the sole owner of our art gallery. I transferred my shares to you. My lawyer will send the original documents when they’re ready.”

“Are you losing it?!” Cedric’s eyes widen in shock.

“I’ve got savings to last me. I’m richer than you think. Besides, people like you better.” She nudges him lightly.

“What will you do next?”

“Go somewhere far. Somewhere I can escape his memory.”

“I ruined you, didn’t I?” Cedric’s voice trembles with guilt. “I was always envious of you. You had everything—the confidence, the money, the power. Mostly, you had someone who loved you. From the day I saw you two together, I knew he was the one for you. I was always blaming the universe for giving you all the good things. Then I met someone at a bar—white blond hair, golden eyes. They promised me anything if I helped break you apart. I was greedy and agreed.”

He continues, tears welling up. “I waited for the right moment, and it came with Thea’s accident. She was already in a bad state. I thought…”

Cedric recalls the night in excruciating detail. Standing outside Thea’s hospital room, he is tormented by his own choices. The sterile smell of the hospital, the beeping of the machines—it all feels like a grim symphony of despair. Dream stands beside him, a figure of calm amidst Cedric’s chaos.

“I talked to the doctors. There is no chance for her to survive. There's nothing more to do other than giving up.” Cedric’s voice, laden with a mixture of desperation and calculated cruelty, pleads, “I want you to do me a favor, Dream. End her suffering.”

Dream’s eyes, usually so composed, flicker with an inner storm. “You are asking me to—”

“Yes. End her life. There’s no hope for her. The machines are all that’s keeping her alive. If you truly love Ravenna, pull her out of this nightmare before it consumes her completely.”

Dream’s face is a tapestry of sorrow and resolve. He looks at Cedric, who is trying to use Ravenna’s suffering as leverage. “It’s not that simple—”

“Do it for her. She’s waiting in agony, with no end in sight. If you truly love Ravenna, you can’t risk her life again,” Cedric’s voice is a raw whisper, pushing Dream’s moral boundaries.

Dream’s expression softens with deep sadness, the weight of his decision pressing heavily upon him. “I do not wish to take Thea’s life, but if it will save Ravenna from this torment…”

Cedric nods, his plan taking shape. “Do it.”

In the realm of Fiddler’s Green, Thea finds herself in a place of surreal beauty. The lush landscape is bathed in a golden glow, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of a gentle breeze. Thea’s confusion quickly turns to awe as she takes in the otherworldly scene. “Where the bloody hell am I?”

“You are in my realm. The dreaming.” A familiar voice booms in her head. 

Thea raises her eyebrows in confusion. “Who are you?” 

“You are in the presence of the Lord of Dreams and Nightmares, Thea Edwards.” Lucienne speaks and Thea spins on her heels to face the Lord of Dreams and Nightmares standing with his grace right next to the librarian. 

“Morpheus?” Thea gasps in disbelief. “So it is true. My daughter is dating an Endless. Cedric wasn't bluffing, eh?” 

Dream raises an eyebrow with a questioning look on his face. "You believed him?” 

“I do now.” 

“What makes you believe this isn't another dream of yours?” 

Thea huffs. “I am old enough to find the difference between a dream and the reality, young man.” 

“I have no doubts.” Dream smiles with amusement. 

“Does Rav know?” 

“She does.” 

“Good. What am I here? The last thing I remember is-” Her eyes grow wide when the realisation hits her hard. “Bloody hell.” 

“Your life is at stake in the waking world and Ravenna is in pain. I cannot see her suffering anymore. There must be an end. I do not wish to take your life. But I am willing to be selfish enough when it comes to her.” Dream speaks. His eyes are sad, displaying a gut-wreaking emotion that one will rarely experience. “You can stay here if you like. My raven was once a mortal.” 

“You love her, don't you?” 

“With my all and more.” 

“That is all I want to hear. To know that she's in good hands. Keep her safe at all costs.” Thea says and sighs dreamily. “Oh dear, I can finally see Derek once again. I cannot wait to tell him everything and fall in his embrace. I am ready.” 

“I am sorry.” He speaks to the woman who nods at him. Finally he lifts his hand and her body begins to fade into specks of dust that are pulling into the palm of his hand. 

During the process, he feels his eyes water but a new sense of determination encourages him. He is doing this for her.

Back in the reality, Ravenna's head pounds with the volume of new information rushing in. There is every chance Cedric is bullshitting her, but her gut tells her he isn't. She brushes the tears from her cheeks, but they fall too fast for her to make much of a dent. “No.”

"It is I who asked Dream to take away Thea's misery. I made him believe it was the only way to make you feel better. So he did it for you." Cedric confesses, his face is a mask of agony, tears streaming down his face.

“My mother considered you as her son! She loved you!” Ravenna pushes him square in the chest of her so-called best friend. Betrayal, disbelief and disappointment clouding her emotions. “How could you do this to me?!” 

Cedric says, his voice groggy from crying. “I'm sorry, Rav. I truly am sorry.” 

“You got what you needed. Power, confidence, money, hopefully love one day as well and add anything else you desire. With the cost of losing your own family!” Ravenna snaps at him, anger taking the best of her. “I never want to see your face again. You disgust me. Get out!” 

Cedric looks pained, eyes sparkling with fresh tears. “Rav—”

“Out!” Ravenna points towards the front door with a glare. 

“I hope you find the heart to forgive me one day, Rav. I'm looking forward to that day.” He murmurs before getting up and walking out the house. 

Ravenna sighs with distress, running her hand through her hair. She has to find Dream again and plead for his forgiveness. But how? 

That is when she remembers something that might help her visit the dreaming. She stumbles back into her room and begins searching through the stuff in the box to find the precious one thing that was gifted by her lover. The ring. 

Once she finds it, she holds it up with victory. The silver band glistens in the air, blinking at her with pride as she slides it into her ring finger. She then twirls it thrice, clockwise as Dream advised her to and waits for the magic to happen. And it does when the ring slowly turns into sand and starts to circle her before finally consuming her body and teleporting her away to the destination. The dreaming.