Word Count: 1640

~Luella

A lay back, letting the sun dance across my face.

This is the life I should be living. No wonder Thought loves to retreat to his own personal simulation to enjoy benefits like this. I sit in front of an earth made pool, staring into its emerald green, turquoise blue surface, enjoying the way is beckons me in, even though I know its depths are deeper than I can see, and the water is surely cold.

That's how much Thought's abilities have influenced me. It's gotten to the point where I haven't considered the fact that I'm actually in a dream over the past few days. I've simply enjoyed my time with Thought...at a distance.

It hasn't been easy, but I've been able to manage it...that feeling. I'm not sure if the mate bond would be so strong in real life, where my physical body can keep my in check, but in here, everything is controlled by my kind. And sometimes my mind isn't all that rational.

"I think it's time," I hear Thought say from behind me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I watch him walk down the patio of the small hut we have been residing in for the past week. The tropical air has made his hair curlier than usual, but has ultimately brightened those silvery eyes, making him appear more likely. He settles beside me on my short towel, the trees above us cascading a dappled effect of light upon him.

"You sure it's going to be safe?" I say, knowing exactly what he means. We have been mulling over when the best time would be for us to return back to the waking world. I'm not sure I'm even ready yet...I quite like this world.

"I can keep you safe," he assured me, "No one is going to touch you until we can find a cure for this curse."

Honestly, I don't have any doubt in that.

"Okay, we will go back. Will a week still have passed in the real world?" I ask him. The life I left behind isn't too busy, thankfully. Although, Fate surely must be wondering where I've gone, and so would Revel. Not to mention, Della, who hopefully hasn't come to visit to see my unconscious body.

Thought leans back, bracing himself on his elbows as he joins me in admiring the large pool of natural water in front of us. "I've tried to keep this simulation as close to the time in the waking world as possible in order to not confuse you, so yes, a week will have passed."

"I wonder what could have changed," I breathe.

"I wouldn't worry about that," he tells me, although I can hear the wariness in his voice. He has an entire territory to govern, with people calling for his presence. I, however, only have a few pesky immortals I've been trying to avoid and a sister to attend to. "Shall we find out?"

I look at him, feigning a look of disappointment. "Now? Honestly I've been enjoying this quiet oasis."

Together, we have managed to chase away all the problems that come with reality. It felt like we were building upon or relationship, slowly but surely. I've been apprehensive, though, still not completely trusting him. He's done all this for me, but still, I can't help but feel like giving myself completely over to him as a mate isn't the best idea.

"Me too, but the real-world calls," he reminds me, getting to his feet. I follow him, straighten out to clasp his hands.

I nod at him. "Alright. Wake me up then."

"See you soon," he breathes, before everything goes black.

...

I wake up suddenly and violently.

The moment I open my eyes, I'm hit with bright light that forces me to shield my eyes. Accept I can't, because I'm paralysed. Every inch of my body doesn't respond, except my head, which I raise to look around me. Mortified, realise that I'm not actually in my room. In fact, this one is completely unfamiliar, and awfully sterile. It's just me on a bed, a toilet in the corner and a basin. That's it.

Looking down, I realise the reason I haven't been able to move is due to the thick, black bands that are buckled down over my ankles, my stomach and my wrists. No matter how much I yank, they don't budge. Fear blooms rapidly throughout me.

"Hello?" I yell, my voice strangled. Beside me, is an IV drip connected to my arm. My heart rate accelerates. Where is Thought? "Hey, can someone tell me what is going on?"

Someone passes by my window, glancing in before they enter.

"You've woken," they say, closing the door tightly behind me. I've never seen this person before, as they approach me, wearing slacks and a light blue dress shirt. They look as clinical as the room around me, with their slicked back brown hair and perfectly shaven face. Immediately I flinch away from him, as he sits at the end of the bed.

"What is this place? Why am I tied down? Where am-"

"It's okay, I'll explain everything," he tells me firmly, placing his hand up to cut me off. His voice is soft, with no accent at all. That means he's from Fate's territory, like me. I just be close to home...the moment they untie me, I'm escaping this hell.

"Who the hell are you?" I bite through clenched teeth. I'm beginning to panic, with each pull of these binds.

Until he unlocks these, there's no way in getting out. How could I go from the perfect dream like state to complete reality this insane? I mean, how did I even get here? A dark thoughts creep into to my mind, as I consider this a fault of Thought. Did he trick me in the dream world only to have me wake up in a cell, where I can't contact him again...

"I'm your doctor. You can call me Ethan," he introduces, the smile on his face appearing genuine, but I see right through it. He's here to do a job, yet he seems convinced that he's doing the right thing...like he actually assumed I should be here.

"Well Ethan, can you tell me why I need a doctor?" I question. "I'm perfectly healthy...I'm immortal!"

"Yes, you are perfectly heathy, which is why this is so puzzling, considering what happened," he tells me, his thick brows furrowing.

"Ethan, what happened?"

I watch him swallow, clearly uncomfortable that he has to admit to me what he does. "You tried to end your life. You've been unconscious for over a week."

Blinking a few times, I wrap my head around that. He's got it all wrong...I've been with Thought in the dream state, not reacting to anything in my normal body since. I just have been found and brought here, and considering my great health, they probably assumed either an unknown medical condition, or I ended my own life. I feel immense relief as I realise that he's got it all wrong.

"Oh, no this is a mistake. I was...elsewhere," I tell him, realising how strange it would sound if I told him about Thought's plan for me. Plus, I don't want just anyone to know.

"Your sister brought you in. She found you in your bed, cold as ice, almost dead. She told us you've been struggling with mental health problems, but you don't have to worry anymore. We are here to help," Ethan tells me warmly, but it casts my blood cold for many reasons.

It seems that here, they are convinced my condition is worse than it is. If so, how am I going to successfully convincing them I'm okay? All I can think of that means the most to me is how terrified Della must have been when she found me. I need to get it her and explain everything.

"I thought I was when I told her all that, but turns out I'm not," I say, recalling the hallucinations Thought causes me. "Turns out I'm Thought's mate, and he caused all of that."

Ethan looks sad.

"Right. So, we are planning to keep you in here for another few weeks to see how you go," he tells me softly, as if he is stepping on eggshells around me. He doesn't believe me..."You will be consulted so we can find the right therapist for you, then in another week we will talk about options."

"This is all wrong. I'm not lying at all, you can call him yourself," I tell him desperately. Ethan flinches as I yank at my binds again. Of course he wouldn't believe me. He thinks I'm insane, and now I'm babbling about being a mate to a pure blood immortal. No wonder he's not letting me go...

"I'm not going to contact him, Luella," Ethan tells me sympathetically. I have to clench my teeth to stop myself from protesting as he pats my leg in a friendly, although patronising manner. You're safe."

I can feel myself beginning to panic. "Ethan, get me the hell out of here."

"If you calm down, I'll get your sister," he offers, backing up a few steps to indicate he's about to leave. "It traumatized her, so I think you owe her to stay here."

I struggle. "Let me out!"

Ethan doesn't reply, quickly leaving the room, the door clicking behind him, sealing my fate.

Thought, where are you?

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