Snippet #2313892

As Jamie's eyes became adjusted to the light, he saw that there were more than just two people who belonged to the voices he'd heard earlier. There were six other people here with him, each in their own beds. Many of them were older than him, there appeared to only be one child younger than him, but he was dressed oddly. The only one who appeared like he was even remotely from the same time period as Jamie was a Marine. Jamie of course wasn't completely up to date on the uniforms of the military, but it seemed modern. The other boy, who was younger than him was wearing a uniform too, like a Boy Scout from the 40's. The Ancient Chinese Princess was still there, and there were two other women. One looked like she was wearing a Victorian Era clothing, and the other was dressed like something out of a music video, her jacket shimmered and changed colors in the light.

Just as Jamie was getting used to the light, and his present company, the other boy spoke up, answering the Princess's question. "I am not a dream spirit. I am a real person. I did not bring you here, something else did. Although I cannot imagine what..." he said, trailing off, lost in thought for a brief moment, and unable to finish speaking until... "Ah... of course. Are you all wishers as well?" He asked, as if it were a very simple question, but Jamie did a double take. Wishers? Was he referring to... that dream? Jamie tried to remember, but all he could recall of his dream was that a woman had told him she would help him, that all he needed to do was to say what he wanted and she would grant him his wish. She'd mentioned a consequence, was this it? Was the price to be paid having to be away from his parents and friends? If so, he wouldn't have wished at all. Anything was better than being away from his parents, even if it meant being picked on for the rest of his life. People could change, the conditions of a goddess wouldn't. Jamie felt his heart skip a beat, and a lump formed in his throat. He'd remembered. She'd told him herself, "After your year of living with your wish, you will come to me. You will live with me in my garden. That is the price to be paid." She'd said, in her voice chiming like a bell.

Finally speaking up, and in a voice barely a whisper, Jamie spoke "So this is it, isn't it. Our time is up." He said. He looked around, still completely shocked that this was all really happening. Jamie had just thought it was a dream, that the changes he'd made were all his own doing. That being social, being outgoing, and joining theater was something he'd done with his own power. He had been wrong. One year... one year wasn't enough. "I wish I'd never made that wish. I wish I'd manned up on my own..." Jamie whispered, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "My mom... my poor mom... She must be heart-broken." Jamie whispered. They were stuck here. There was no way to get back. Even if they could, Jamie didn't even know where here was, they could be anywhere.