breaking the glass on her goggles. Then she started crying hiding away her tears as they drop onto the strands of grass beneath her.

"Rachel!" Dreamfinder called out, ending his spell of laughter.

          He jumps down from the Dream Machine with Figment following him and rushes to Rachel's aid. His feet finally touches the ground after being pushed over a rail, falling down through the atmosphere, and receiving his share of perilous terror. Arriving at Rachel's side, the two of them sees her crying her tears, cringing in the fear that had built up inside during the fall, and her puppy-dog whimpering sounding in their ears. Dreamfinder's hand is placed onto Rachel's shoulder and then to her head for her comfort while Figment takes hold of Rachel's hand and pats it. Each time they did Rachel keeps clenching her body tighter with fear. She has experienced too much within the past five to ten minutes of unimaginable horror.

"Are you alright, Rachel?" Dreamfinder asked.

"I'm...I'm alright, I-" Rachel whined, "I-I-I need a moment to rejuvenate a bit."

"Take your time. Figment, watch over Rachel for a moment while I check for damages on the Dream Machine."

"Okay." Figment agreed.

          Dreamfinder leaves Rachel into Figment's hands and heads back for the Dream Machine. As he did, he recollects his hat that had been sitting by while everything else was happening waiting to be taken back again and placed onto Dreamfinder's head. The minutes have gone by as he searches for any casualties upon the gears, pistons, and pipes as well as the damages in the cabin rooms. Meanwhile Figment is keeping his eyes on Rachel figuring out ways to help her feel better from this traumatic moment. Nothing seems to work for Rachel continues to whimper. She can hardly move her body, her arms and legs at the very least. They trembled and twitched as every thought in her mind rushed with the recent memories of almost dying. Why did I think I could fall from the sky like that, she thought to herself. She thought of herself as a foolish woman for jumping off the Dream Machine. At the same time, she feels so foolish for confronting Dreamfinder and pushing him off the Dream Machine in the first place out of anger and selfishness. What she had done was wrong. She realizes that now. The question is will Dreamfinder ever forgive her for what she had done to him.

"Okay. Thankfully, the pipes, the gears and everything else operating the Dream Machine haven't taken any severe damage." Dreamfinder announced, "It's going to take some tweaking and some parts in need of replacing to restore this old lug to its former glory. The cabin, however, needs a little work in fixing and rearranging. But we can worry about that later. How is Rachel doing, Figment?"

"Not good, Dreamfinder." Figment replied, "She's still cringing and crying a little. I think I can actually see a tiny puddle of tears in the grass."

"Rachel? How are you doing, Rachel?"

          But Rachel only groaned. Considering how drastic the fall was without having any safety precautions, one could hardly blame her for feeling this way.

"This is bad." said Dreamfinder, "The cabin is too messed up to sleep in so we're going to need to find some help as far as shelter and fixing up the Dream Machine. But where can we find that kind of help around here?"

"I saw a couple of houses nearby during the fall. Maybe we can find help from someone there." Figment replied, "But can Rachel get up and walk?"

"Rachel? We're going to take a walk." Dreamfinder said calmly, "Can you move?"

"I...I c-can't feel my legs...or my spine...or anything." said Rachel in a weakened tone.

"Then I guess I'll have to carry you over to wherever we can get to. Figment, help her up onto my back."

"Righto!"

          Dreamfinder takes off his suit jacket and wraps it over Rachel. It should at least keep her warm from the cold night. He then grabs Rachel by the arms while having Figment lift her to onto his back. With Rachel safely secure, the Dreamfinder stands up holding onto to Rachel on his back with his hands under her legs for support. Figment will fly right behind them in case Rachel falls off. The Dreamfinder can feel the coldness of Rachel's body through his shirt and dress vest. That's definitely not a good sign. Perhaps the fall has scared Rachel to near death. That's an understatement Dreamfinder wishes doesn't come true.

"From now on, Figment," Dreamfinder started, "we only land the Dream Machine the 'fun way' when it really counts. Like when we have to abandon ship from treacherous peril."

"Yes, Dreamfinder." Figment groaned in guilt.

          The three friends have to leave the Dream Machine behind while they go find some assistance. Dreamfinder can hear Rachel moaning a little in his ear along the way. It breaks his heart terribly to hear and see her this way. In a sense, this is what she gets for putting him and Figment in a situation like that. But he chooses not to think that way. What good will it do for him here now? He did just bring her along on this adventure to find Spaceship Earth, or geodesic sphere as he calls it. All he could do now is keep walking and hum a little tune for her. Hopefully, the tune will brighten Rachel's spirits just a little bit.

          Figment watches Rachel closely telling Dreamfinder to lift her up a little when needed. He feels this is all his fault. He only wanted to have a good time with his friends. Falling down from the sky with his friends was supposed to be like jumping into a swimming pool of clouds. The poor little purple dragon had forgotten that even though they could imagine themselves flying whenever they wanted to, neither one of them [Rachel and Dreamfinder] have any wings to support them. Perhaps the dispute between the two of them was the only thing that probably wasn't much of Figment's fault, though. But he did bring up the idea of falling from the Dream Machine in the first place. This is something Figment is going to remember for a long time.

          The sun is nearly down as the night creeps over the sky bringing with it the colors pink and purple with white glistening stars. The wind is starting to pick up in the cool air. The floating rocks fly over the world leaving their original places behind to a new location. The lights in the city nearby are bright enough to be used as one giant lighthouse. The atmosphere outside the city, however, is getting too dark to see ahead of their surroundings. Figment, Rachel and Dreamfinder need to find shelter fast before they get stranded in the dark and will have to sleep outside for the night.

          Up ahead of Dreamfinder and Figment they see four houses. Three of which are out from the inside while the one house have its light on. The first lit house Figment and Dreamfinder carry Rachel to was the nearest to them. Dreamfinder has Figment knocking on the door and they wait for someone to come answer them. They can hear footsteps coming toward the door and a jiggle on the doorknob.

          The owner of the household answers the door and finds Figment flying and Dreamfinder holding Rachel behind him. To Dreamfinder and Figment, the man is about as average as anyone else, but to the man the Dreamfinder and Figment are among the most peculiar kind of people he had ever seen.

"Uhh...may I help you?" the homeowner said.

"Please, good sir." Dreamfinder began, "You wouldn't happen to have a room we can stay in for the night, would you? You see, my flying friend, this girl and I are traveling aviators and we have had a bit of an accident with our transportation as far as the landing is concerned. When we landed, Rachel here fainted from all of the trauma that had happened and our cabin area is too busted up to sleep in. It would be greatly appreciative if you will let us sleep here for the night. At least until Rachel is capable to walk again."

"Oh, of course! Come inside. It's not safe out there at this time of night. There are creatures out there that prowl through the night, but they won't bother us so long as we stay inside and keep the lights dim."

"What kind of creatures are they?" Figment asked.

"Oh pray you'll never find out." the man replied gravely. He then checks Rachel's temperature with the back of his hand and says, "Oh dear...yep, she's out pretty cold. She needs some warmth and fast! I'll have a heating pad ready in a moment."

"I should remind you, though. We don't have any money to pay for your generosity, but we're willing to-"

"Money? Since when does anyone have any money in this place anymore?" the homeowner asked, returning with the heating pad and placing it on Rachel's shoulder, "With the government collecting every cent in the city and our homes, hardly anyone in this world are able to buy enough food to feed themselves. Even the middle classes are getting screwed over to them. You'd have to be lucky and smart to find a place in the highest degree if you were to earn enough money to buy at least one meal a day."

"That's unfortunate. How long has it been this way?"

"Ten years. Ever since the current governor took place in office, Iyra City and everywhere else in Iyrilia have been running in ruin with the financial economy. The people have tried to impeach him for his injustice but the government rules always keeps blocking the way from succeeding, backfiring and counter suing anyone who attempted to get in his way for everything they have including their homes."

"That's terrible!" said Figment, "What does impeach mean?"

"It means to accuse, criticize or reprimand someone, Figment." Dreamfinder replied.

"Our city was once a grand city filled with diversified cultures, races and advanced innovation until the last governor we had in office had been assassinated. Thereby putting our greatest resources to shameful use. No one knows still who was responsible for the last governor's death. I would love to have known so I could give that guy or gal a piece of my mind!"

"We are so sorry this has happened. I wish there is something we can do about it."

"Bah, think nothing of it. You three are lucky to be only passing through. We all want to leave, too, but we wouldn't know where to go. Our place remains here in times so troubling or not. Anyway, the guest room is in the back of the house. You can put your girl friend in there, but there is only one bed. I have a sleeping bag one of you can use, though."

"That's very kind of you. Thank you. Figment, you wouldn't mind taking the sleeping bag, would you?"

"Not at all." said Figment, "It'll be like a sleepover with all of us together."

          The homeowner escorts his guests into the guest room where only one bed stood at the corner beside the one window and a pitcher of water with a bowl and towel stood on a nightstand stood next to the bed's left side. There are only two chairs nicely fabricated and a mirror. A small room it is, but quite cozy and charming in appearance.

"It's not much," said the homeowner, "but compared to how everyone else is sleeping in the city today, it's become like a four-star hotel."

"Thank you, Mr....uh..." Dreamfinder paused.

"Howard. Howard Fitz."

"Howard Fitz. Thank you."

"And we'll see what we can do about your airship tomorrow morning. Before the depression in the city began, I used to work in an aviator's garage fixing planes and jets for the military."

"Thank you again! I do hope you can do something about the Dream Machine. It's unlike any piece of flying innovation made by man."

"Try me." Howard chuckled.

"This is lovely!" Figment yawned, "I can't wait to get some...sleep."

"You just settle yourselves down and we'll do what we can tomorrow. The bathroom is down the hall and if you have any questions, just knock on my door softly. The business with the city has given me quite a headache."

"We'll be gentle." Dreamfinder assured, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Howard says one last time and leaves the room.

          While Figment sets up the sleeping bag Howard let him borrow for the night, Dreamfinder carefully puts Rachel to bed. He unties his bowtie, takes off his shoes and socks, his hat placed onto the nightstand, and his suit jacket and dress vest now hangs on the bed board. All that's left on him was just his white shirt and blue pants. By the time Dreamfinder was ready to hit the sack, Figment had already started sleeping. Living a day in terror really wears out a guy from their energy. Dreamfinder didn't bother pulling the covers over him in the bed. He wraps Rachel with those blankets and holds her close to him in his arms, making sure she will sleep safely and warm throughout the cold night.

          His sky blue eyes looked straight into her defeated face filling up with sympathy for her. He fondly feels her cheek again with his forehead gently pressing against her own. In his arms, Rachel could almost swear that whomever is holding her has got to have the warmest hugs she had ever felt. And finally, feeling the moment inside him Dreamfinder smiles softly and warmly. He places a gentle kiss softly on her Rachel's forehead and holds her closer to him. A feeling like this has never entered him before in his life. To watch a young woman sleep in his arms this way brings warmth into his heart. Could he really be in love with this girl? A twenty-one-year-old girl whom he had met just days ago? Love comes by in many imaginative and mysterious ways and Dreamfinder has found his way in between them.

"You saved my life. Thank you." Dreamfinder whispered softly. And with one last kiss on the forehead, he concluded, "Sweet dreams, my darling."