You came to on soft, warm grass. The air smelled of apple trees, and the sun poured onto your face - gentle, almost innocent. Somewhere nearby, a stream was babbling, birds were singing. And everything would have been fine ... if you didn’t remember that a second ago you were standing in the middle of a ruined city.

“Welcome to a safe place.” The voice sounded right above you, warm, enveloping.

Dream stood before you. In golden armor, shining so brightly that it was difficult to look straight. His smile was perfect, almost... carved from marble. He handed you an apple - perfect, without a single flaw, as if woven from light.

“Nothing threatens you here.” — He sat down next to you, his eyes shining softly.

“Everything you saw... was a nightmare. Darkness created by my brother. Nightmare cannot be trusted. He only destroys."

The words sounded convincing... too convincing. But something else stirred in your head - a quiet, ingratiating voice, as if spoken directly into your thoughts:

"Don't eat."

You looked around - there was no one around. Only golden fields, brighter than the sun. But the voice continued:

"This is not paradise. This is a cage. Everything he shows you is an illusion. He feeds you light until you stop being yourself."

"You hear him, right?" — Dream smiled a little wider, but his gaze became colder. — "He is trying to sow doubts. But I only want you to be happy."

The voice in your head became more insistent:

"If you stay, you will forget your name. You will forget that you were able to doubt at all. Choose me - and I will get you out of here."

Two worlds began to creep apart right before your eyes: a golden garden with the aroma of apples - and a dark, viscous wasteland, where in the distance you could see the silhouette of Nightmare, holding out his hand to you.

"Well," Dream leaned closer, handing you an apple, — "will you choose the light?"

"Or freedom?" — Nightmare whispered in your head.