The Dream Dancer of Birdswitch

By PS Aurora

In a town plagued by a mysterious onslaught of nightmares, no one's dreams are safe anymore. But things change suddenly when a strange, orphaned young girl, known only as Dream Dancer, walks out of the forest and into the lives of a kindly older couple.

But the cruel Old Spirit, the bringer of night terror resents Dream Dancer's intervention and traps her in a Labyrinth of terror, deception, and dangerous creatures. 

To escape and to save Birdswitch Forest, Dream Dancer must find the truth about the Old Spirit within the nightmare...

And she must remember the truth about herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: PS Aurora
• Release date: May 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386288626

PS Aurora

PS Aurora is a fantasy and sci-fi writer as well as a musician and a nurse. She enjoys reading, gardening, and roller derby. She lives with her life partner, her wild-thing little daughter, her two dogs, and the gracious owner of the residency: the cat.

Book preview

The Dream Dancer Of Birdswitch

By

PS Aurora

Chapter 1

When Dream Dancer first came to the sleepy little town of Birdswitch, no one knew she was special; no one knew that she would someday change Birdswitch irreversibly. They did know, however, that she was unusual – anyone with eyes could see that! Merely the way she arrived was plenty to satiate the gossip coffers of bored little old ladies, and idle gentlemen for months – maybe years if they were particularly dry.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry had been sitting on their porch one lovely summer morning, watching birds flit back and forth from tree, to bird feeder, and then back again to tree. Their little home lay on the outskirts of town and within the outer reaches of Birdswitch forest, and so they were often treated to wildlife scenes such as these. And because they happened to be out on this fine day, sitting in their wicker rockers, and watching their bird friends, they were the first to meet Dream Dancer.

Robert! exclaimed Mrs. Henry, squinting her eyes behind thick glasses and leaning forward. Do you see that?

Mr. Henry, being somewhat nearsighted, frowned. Is the squirrel in the feeder again?

No, no! There – to the left of the big old tree with the tire swing!

Ah – Oh dear. He had seen it. It was a she, in fact, and a naked she at that. She was young – about 6 years old by the look of her – and had tan skin and long, black hair.

While Mr. Henry cleaned his glasses, thinking that undoubtedly a smudge must have been responsible for this apparition, Mrs. Henry had already gotten up from her chair and stepped off of the porch. She shuffled over to the girl, limping slightly on her bad knee, and knelt in front of her.

Hello.

Hi.

And who are you?

I’m Dream Dancer.

That’s an unusual name – Dream Dancer...

That’s what they call me.

Who? Your parents?

What are those?

What?

Parents.

Aren’t you cold? What are you doing here?

People here are nice – they plant pretty gardens.

Mrs. Henry had stared nonplussed. Well, yes. I guess we do.

I’m here because nice people deserve nice dreams.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry hadn’t been able to make any more sense out of the strange young girl that day, so they had shrugged their shoulders, clothed her, and taken her into town where after thorough investigation, by the sleepy local sheriff and his young deputy, it was determined that Dream Dancer was no one from nowhere and had no family.

By the end of the day, everyone in town had heard about the girl and the strange method and circumstance surrounding her arrival. A meeting was promptly arranged in the town hall (which was also the church), to discuss the matter of her lodging.

Who will take care of this strange girl? Called the mayor, who also happened to own the only local grocery shop.

Mr. Perkins raised his hand. I can’t – My dogs are touchy ’round kids.

Betty Lacross raised her hand. I can’t either; my husband don’t want a kid, although I wouldn’t mind myself. To which her husband replied, Don’t be talking for me!

Why do you want her?

No, but you make me sound cross!

After an hour or so