Elusive Enigma

I take the stairs two at at time, pushing past the other travelers on the steep path.  My breathing isn't labored, nor do my legs ache.  My mission thrusts me along in a desperate search.  The trail turns sharply and as I scan the trees, I see it.

A few yards ahead, the orb floats near an outcropping of rock.  Sprinting the last few feet, I dodge a fellow traveler and reach for it.  My fingers brush the silvery surface and an electrical shock knocks me to my back.  When I open my eyes, I am laying in a boat, gently rocking on a sea of black water.  I crawl to the bench, dazed.

Stars sparkle overhead, reflecting off the water's dark surface.  My hands instinctively grasp the oars and pull them toward me, casting me backwards.  Glancing over my shoulder I gasp at the sight of the castle perched on the banks of the black lake.  An aurora borealis of color illuminates the ebony behemoth and I know, deep in my soul, that my mission ends there.

In the same way that my legs tirelessly labored up the mountain, my arms now seem to belong to someone else, propelling me toward shore.  I glance every few moments at the castle as my excitement builds for the treasure I know that is hidden in its depths.

Hearing a murmur, I spin around to find I am not alone.  A woman rises up from the end of the boat.   As she stares at me, her hood casting a shadow over her face, the orb appears and I'm chilled to the bone.  She reaches one hand toward the portal.

"No!" I beg, "I'm so close!"  As she touches the orb, I throw myself at her and plunge overboard.  A tree breaks my fall and my spirit sinks.  All is lost.

"Honey, it's time to wake up.  You don't want to be late for school."

Grimacing, I tug at my tangle of sheets.  "Aw, Mom..."

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This is an elaboration of an actual dream I recall from my childhood.  I can still remember that crushing sadness from when the last orb appeared -- not wanting the dream to end.  Even though dreams are weird.

Linking up with Trifecta: 33-333 words inspired by the single word time (3a : an appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end <arrived ahead of time>
b : an opportune or suitable moment <decided it was time to retire> —often used in the phrase about time <about time for a change>)

Linking up with Write at the Merge this week - inspired by the pictures above.