Chapter Text
It was nighttime. All of the stars floating above the Glen St. Mary were shining with new hope for the world and many righteous people who tried their best to protect it. Almost everyone at the Ingleside was ready to sleep. Except for one girl. Rilla Blythe stared at Rainbow Valley through the window of her room, desperately trying to convince herself that this wonderful place she knew stayed the same. Maybe, at some point it really was the same - despite the darkness, she could still see the beauty of it. The laugh and the joy of her siblings and the Merediths, of people so dear to her heart echoed through her mind. The nostalgia nearly began to overwhelm her.
But then - something seemed to be wrong - her mind couldn't really verify what it was yet. And it wasn't only the war, endlessly haunting her mind as well as the many minds of other women and men. This time, while looking at the magnificent valley, she felt like something seemed odd and kind of magical in a way. Was it because of this whole week she has spent with Walter? Or was it something else?
"Oh, I wish I could describe things at least as well as Walter or Miss Oliver does!" - she thought with annoyance, closing her eyes. She was just overthinking again - as Susan would say.
She then glanced at the still opened diary, her last entry was still incompleted and looked far more messier than usual.
It was about a certain dream she had a day earlier. It was quite simple, yet it managed to disturb her more than any nightmare could.
The memories hit her instantly - she was in a void, of some sort, which deafened her own words and made her completely unable to move. Then, there was a voice. A voice that made her freeze each time she heard it. For a moment, she thought she saw something red, in the shape of a heart shining for a while, until it vanished. She remembered standing while hopelessly staring at a strange being as it was created. Her eyes did nothing except examining the humanoid vessel and the features it was given. Rilla tried now to recall its name, but the letters chaotically floating in her head didn't end up forming anything familiar. The last thing she could remember was when the “wonderful creation” got discarded (though she felt like she did too) - no less than a second passed and they were both falling into the never-ending emptiness that grew darker, yet darker every time you'd look around
At first, Rilla hesitated with sharing this dream to anyone, but when she thought of Walter, her dearest, lovely brother, whose feet could possibly never have a chance to step into Rainbow Valley ever again, she decided to tell him about it a day before he planned to leave. He didn't say much, but listened intently.
"I Wonder.. whose voice could it be?" - Walter said, staring at the Tree Lovers. After all, it wasn't the voice of The Piper, was it?
"I... I don't know, It sounded almost inhuman, like some sort of a god-like being. And that vessel? When I woke up I didn't think too much of it, but.. it really could've been everybody. It could've been you, mom, dad, Jem, Shirley, Di, Una.. maybe even Ken " - a soft, pinkish blush appeared on her face - "And.. it all felt just.. too real. I have had many dreams, but this? " - she sighed, lowering her head - "You know, maybe I shouldn't bother you that much, after all, it's only a dream, you're going to leave soon and-". She felt Walter gently put his hand on her shoulder.
"I understand you fully, Rilla-my-Rilla. I often happen to think a lot of my dreams, too. You shouldn't feel ashamed of it." - his mouth formed into a gentle smile.
His little sister lifted up her head, trying to smile in return. At this moment she wished she could stay here forever.
Rilla snapped back into reality. She rebuked herself quietly for surrendering to her thoughts instead of going to sleep, although the vision of even squinting her eyes for this whole night seemed hard. After being done with everything for her sleep, dressed in her favorite, soft pajamas mom had bought her not long ago, she quickly checked up on Jims and seeing that everything was alright, collapsed onto the bed.
The thought of Walter leaving the next day spiralled through her mind. The girl's hands moved nervously, grasping her hat of that beautiful shade of green she promised mom she'll wear for another 3 years.
How is she going to just.. enjoy life? Who will understand her just as much as he did? Oh, how much she desired to go with him and wield a weapon by his side! Perhaps then they both would prove to themselves and the world that they're brave enough. Maybe she'd even impress Kenneth and.. she'd say something to him without lisping awkwardly.
"That in itself would be a success" - she thought, her eyelids feeling a bit heavy. Maybe Walter could be more confident and say (which only Rilla knew at that time) what Una Meredith had meant to him ever since they were just children. Perhaps he could show her all of his scrapped love letters and poems he had secretly written for her. Maybe then Una would feel truly happy and loved.
Eventually, Rilla drifted away in her slumber, not any less surreal than before.
She was falling, again. This time, the void resembled a late evening sky, a similar one she saw when she was on a dance with Kenneth. That dreadful voice was no longer heard, much to her delight. She landed on something hard and cold, only to find out that she can't feel any pain. To her surprise, she could move. Her eyes looked around what appeared to be some kind of shelter. It was dark and stuffy in here, but you could still make out most of the objects.
Rilla saw someone standing in front of her, banging with their full might at what appeared to be a door, but to no avail. Suddenly, they collapsed to their knees, breathing so heavily that it reached the girl's ears. Their head turned around, only to be greeted by a nervous smile of someone that looked quite familiar..
"My.. creator?"- they said, tilting their head a little bit to the side.