[center][h2]Lan[/h2][/center]
I hadn’t actually managed to pet the cat yet when Erina called the meeting to order, and I returned to my seat with a disappointed sigh; maybe after the meeting ended. Once again cross-legged in my chair, backpack in my lap, I sat in relative silence through the introductory section. When she shut off the lights and began an odd monologue, I simply sat, focused and listened. Tried to, at least. I always got a bit twitchy when I tried to sit still.

"Please close your eyes, and imagine yourself deep underground, in a cave that is eerily silent, except for the occasional sound of water dripping from stalactites hundreds of feet above you."

She instructed. Easy enough, an overactive imagination was vital to your sanity when you’ve got a power like mine. I felt an odd drifting sensation as I allowed myself to begin visualization of the described scene.

"The surroundings are almost entirely black, but the occasional blue glow from bioluminescent glow worms paints the ceiling in clusters like stars. The light they emanate seems to grow and fade in rhythm, and the whole room feel likes it's breathing,"

There was that drifting again; it was familiar, and yet distant. Like something I had felt before but a very very long time ago. And then, falling; my chair was gone. What the hell? I felt a pop -as if I was breaching the surface of some kind of bubble- and an unfamiliar feeling overtook me.

[center][h3]A fish out of water[/h3][/center]
It struck me as I stood up and went to check my shirt hadn’t torn in the fall; this was a dream, but… not a dream. I haven’t slept in about 15 years, not counting a couple hours for an appendectomy in middle school since that’s closer to an induced coma. The point is, I haven’t had a dream for almost two thirds of my life. How I was doing it now was beyond me.

"You are in a mental simulation. You must find your way out using any means at your disposal. There are ways that your abilities can both help and hurt your progress. Look for clues and help each other. Good luck." 

Well, that explained it. Crazy psychic hypnosis. For normal people this was probably weird but not that alien. For me it was honestly more on the frightening end of things. How was I supposed to escape from a fake dream when I’ve barely even had normal ones?

[color=990000]”Hello?”[/color] I shouted, wishing for a moment I had been gifted with echolocation rather than weaponized insomnia; be able to see and not so far out of my element. Just… needed to find someone real, try to center myself and keep calm. I’d been in way scarier situations than this, right?

 It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, and I was able to see a spot in the cave which was dimly lit by the pale blue light of glow worms. I saw a few other figures gathering there, most likely the other AA members.

"Is everyone okay?" came a familiar voice.

[color=990000]“Thalia? Is that you?”[/color] I asked; suddenly realizing just how cold the cave was. Stupid magic dream, why couldn’t I bring my jacket? Or at LEAST my backpack? No Lan, calm. This isn’t real, you’re not cold, it’s just your imagination acting up. Against your will.

I slapped myself on the cheeks a few times in an attempt to focus and shut down the internal monologue, wrapping my arms across my chest to try and stay warm as I attempted to make my way closer to the others. That’s when I heard it, a rumbling growl. It reminded me, vaguely, of the first time I’d gotten caught sneaking into a construction yard. The security guard had a big dog of some kind with him and it scared the hell out of me back then too. [color=990000]”I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’d rather get out of here BEFORE we find out what that noise is.”[/color] I said shakily, feeling my nerves creeping up on me.

Yeah, this was gonna be all kinds of [i]fun.[/i]