Dream a little dream for me

Thanks everyone for your support. Here’s another sample from the book, the Battle. I hope that you all enjoy this piece! As well, support the content when it releases!

The Battle Sample by Michael Jamal Mitchell

In his dream, Jamal saw a disturbing vision—a throng of leaders rising from the shadows, each one stepping forward with an air of authority. They spoke passionately, calling people to follow them with promises of hope, guidance, and salvation. But as the people gathered, Jamal noticed a terrible danger: the ground beneath these leaders trembled and split, forming deep chasms. The people, blindly following, began to slide helplessly into the depths, where wolves and dark beasts prowled, waiting to devour.

Jamal tried to shout, to warn them, but his voice felt trapped in his throat, weighed down by an invisible force. Just as he was overwhelmed by helplessness, a warm, powerful light enveloped him, steadying his heart and filling him with strength. It was a voice, timeless and all-encompassing, resonating through his entire being. “Recover the lost,” it commanded gently but firmly. “Seek out the broken and make them whole.”

The scene shifted. Now, Jamal held broken vessels in his hands, their shards worn and scarred from years of neglect. As he examined them, Alicia appeared at his side, her hands moving with careful precision. Together, they began fitting the fragments back together, each piece aligning as though they were restoring not just pottery but something deeper—something sacred. With each vessel they mended, Jamal felt a growing sense of purpose, a calling to heal what had been forgotten or forsaken.

Once the vessels were restored, the world around them transformed, and they found themselves in lavish homes. The repaired pots were displayed proudly, set on pedestals in grand rooms, symbols of rebirth among wealth and opulence. The contrast was striking, but Jamal felt a satisfaction in seeing the broken things honored. He turned to speak to Alicia, but before the words could leave his lips, he was whisked away once more.

Suddenly, he was young again, racing down the long stretch of a football field. The crowd’s cheers echoed in his ears, their voices thunderous as he charged forward. The scoreboard loomed ahead, showing that his team was down by five points, and his body surged with adrenaline. Each step felt vital, every second crucial as he pushed himself to reach the end zone. But as he glanced at the opposing team, his heart seized in fear.

They weren’t ordinary players. Clad in shadows, their eyes glowed with malevolent hunger; these were demons, monstrous and relentless. They moved with unnatural speed, their forms twisted, their claws reaching to drag him down. But something stronger burned within him—a fierce, unbreakable light. He dodged and weaved through their attacks, his body moving as though driven by an unseen force, every stride a testament to his resolve.

Finally, with one final burst, Jamal crossed into the end zone. As he caught his breath, he found himself in the arms of Kady, her face soft with a mixture of warmth and sorrow. Her presence grounded him, a reminder of the life he had once known, the choices he had made, and the people who had shaped him.

The dream began to dissolve, but the voice returned, echoing with quiet strength in his heart. “Recover, restore, and bring light to those in darkness.” Jamal awoke in his bed, the opaque walls dimly illuminated under the moonlight. This was the first night since he returned to Elmwood that he lay in his childhood bed. Like years prior, his dreams were as vivid and unique as ever.