Bridge of Dreams

Chapter 8

Sometimes the hated voices whispered in Lee’s ear.

You need to get back to your sister. There’s danger coming.

All you need to do is cross over to one of Belladonna’s landscapes. We’ll help you.

You need to get home before it’s too late.

Sometimes the hated voices scratched against his mind.

Belladonna needs you. You have to reach her.

Your mother is in danger.

Don’t you want to go home?

His answers—whispered or screamed or trapped in his mind—were the same.

I don’t have a sister.

My mother is gone.

I have no home.

I don’t know Belladonna.

Every time he denied knowing her, he felt the last little heart thread that connected him to Glorianna thin a little more. The day would come when he denied knowing her one time too many and that thread would break completely—and he would never be able to find his way back home.

When the soft persuasion didn’t work, they began using the needle that poured fire into his brain and sent his body into thrashing, screaming panic. They laughed as they strapped his head down, forced his eyes open, and put in the drops of poison that clouded his eyes a little more each day until he couldn’t see his tormentors, couldn’t see anything.

Here in the city of Vision, you can find only what you can see. What do you think a blind man can find here, Bridge?

Nothing. No one. How many times had he said to Nadia, “I don’t want to see her!” when she suggested he go to the Island in the Mist to visit Glorianna? Now he couldn’t see her.

Now he pushed her away with all the strength and love in him. To save her from her enemies.

The words they whispered changed, became as painful as the needle and the drops they put in his eyes.

You want to be hurt, want to be punished for not loving your sister enough. That’s why you ended up with us. That’s why we punish you. It’s what you want.

You can’t escape us. We’re always with you, always watching. If you try to go home, we’ll be close enough to grab you, go with you.

There is no one you can trust because you’re surrounded by people loyal to us. No escape, Bridge. We’re always with you because you want us with you, want us to punish you for not loving your sister enough.

The words they whispered became as painful as the needle because, after a while, they became true.