Chapter 15: Inception-Dream Maker
Flashback
"Search for an anthill near your apartment; the closer, the better. Once you locate it, carefully dig up the ants within the hill and place them inside a glass bottle. If possible, add a locust tree leaf to the bottle. Then..."
At that moment, when Charlize heard this peculiar request, reminiscent of an elementary school student's nature observation experiment, she wondered whether Christian had ever been an elementary school teacher. Yet, given the peculiar nature of being possessed by a ghost, Charlize ultimately complied, even though finding the anthill took significant effort.
Thankfully, ants weren't repulsive creatures. If she needed termites, cockroaches, or desert marching ants...
*****
With these thoughts in mind, Charlize retrieved the prepared glass bottle. Inside, a handful of soil revealed numerous small ants moving in and out. Perhaps out of boredom, Charlize had placed a locust leaf and a few sugar cubes in the bottle, almost like keeping ants as pets. Now, the diligent ants appeared to have adapted to their transparent new habitat and were industriously carrying sugar cubes.
"Good" Christian nodded in satisfaction.
"Speaking of which, let's set the ants aside. Locust leaves are quite hard to find, aren't they?"
"Yes, incredibly hard," Charlize lamented, "Locust trees have their origins in China. I've seen them in Japan, but they're a rarity in Los Angeles. Maple leaves would be much easier to find."
"Regardless, you found them," Christian dismissed the blonde girl's complaint. Unscrewing the cap of the ant-containing bottle, he promptly placed Alexis' picture into the soil.
"What are you doing?" Charlize found Christian's actions incomprehensible.
"I haven't heard that ants can exorcise demons" she added.
"You haven't heard much," Christian replied with disdain for Charlize's skepticism, displaying a professional's sense of superiority when dealing with an amateur.
"Forget it," Christian decided not to complicate things further and explained instead.
"Nanke Yimeng is a tale from the Tang Dynasty in China. A man named Chun Yufen, who was intoxicated beneath an old locust tree, dreamt of visiting a kingdom called Dahuai Anguo. King Huai'an appointed him as governor, essentially. He lived a content life in this land. It was only thirty years later that he awoke, finding himself still under the locust tree. A massive ant nest was under that tree, everything was a dream."
"So, he just dreamt it?" Charlize couldn't grasp the concept of ghost hunting, or else she wouldn't be facing Christian's disdain now. Christian refrained from taunting her further and clarified, "The point is, this story isn't entirely fictional. It hides a magical method for casting spells."
"What? There are real spells in folklore?" Charlize found this idea hard to believe.
"Do you mean I can unlock a treasure trove by simply saying 'Open Sesame'?" she quipped.
"Maybe it works," Christian said with a blink. "The prerequisite is finding that treasure trove."
"Damn," Charlize couldn't help but curse. Christian continued with a serious tone, "I'm not joking. Many ancient legends and stories conceal unexpected truths. In ancient China, people believed that immortals had the power to make people dream. This is the first recorded instance of how they did it, except for Nanke Yimeng."
"Are you saying that, in the dream you mentioned, every ant is a person?"
"That's one way to interpret it," Christian affirmed. Seeing Charlize's understanding, she suddenly thought of a possibility, her face paling.
"Do I have to thank you for not having me catch termites, bees, or desert army ants?"
"You're welcome," Christian responded without hesitation.
"In theory, all animals with social structures would suffice, but in a society of large animals, aside from humans, there are too few individuals. You can't put a group of lions in a glass bottle, so insects are more suitable. Besides, ants are more manageable."
Christian's tone grew serious.
'Moreover, the old ghost only taught me this spell from Nanke Yimeng. I don't know if it will work with bees or termites.'
Christian kept his reservations hidden, tightly sealing the glass bottle again, placing it on Charlize's bedside, and started explaining, "Although I've used magic to seal Alexis as a ghost, knowing her real name, and having her voluntarily sign a contract, this seal isn't foolproof. Left unattended for a long time, Alexis might find a way to break free. So, as a precaution, we must take the final step."
Christian pointed at the glass bottle containing Alexis' picture and the ant nest. "We need to put Alexis into the dream, similar to the story I just told, where she will be trapped in it for many years, eventually passing away. This will cause her to naturally dissipate and no longer pose a threat. It's like a form of exorcism."
"Is it like a priest purifying ghosts and allowing them to enter heaven?" Charlize inquired.
"Almost, It's a concept similar to your familiarity with Christianity," Christian replied. "However, considering the belief that suicides cannot enter heaven, Alexis' soul can only go to hell."
"That seems to make sense," Charlize pondered for a moment. "But, what does it matter? Let God be with God and Satan with Satan."
"You're right," Christian agreed. "Even though you're saying all this, in the end, you have no real connection to it. Besides, I don't believe that heaven and hell are the ultimate destinations for souls. In any case, not many people in this world meet the criteria for entry, even if such places exist."
"But, Sally, you won't be left out," Christian reassured Charlize.
"Nanke Yimeng's dream-enlightening magic is quite advanced. Even with an anthill and locust leaves, it's challenging with my current power. That's why I devised this plan. The trap's purpose isn't just to seal Alexis but to create the foundation of a dream for her. When I cast the Nanke Yimeng spell, she will naturally lend me her power to continue the captivating dream she's in, without realizing it. Essentially, I want to use Alexis as a ghost's power to complete this initially challenging spell and have her get lost in her dream."
"Smart plan, but it sounds somewhat sinister to me," Charlize commented.
"That's because I lied to Alexis," Christian admitted. "I told her she was auditioning and would be the lead in James Cameron's version of 'Spider-Man.' What I refer to as the dreamland..."
"For an aspiring actress, what could be more enchanting than the dream of landing a role in a major production and becoming a star?" Christian justified. "As for winning awards or falling in love with a world-class heartthrob in the future, that's up to you, Sally."
"Me?" Charlize asked.
"Of course, it's up to you! Why do you think I placed this glass bottle by your bedside?" Christian stated.
"Just like I mentioned earlier, a ghost of Alexis's level is restless when not possessing someone or being active. How could she dream in such a state? Therefore, even though she's no longer attached to you, this dream still requires your contribution. You have to craft the dream, make it addictive for Alexis, and keep her living in it indefinitely. Eventually, her life will naturally come to an end in this dream, and her grievances will dissipate, leaving her to vanish into thin air."
"Let me dream for her?" Charlize glanced at the glass bottle on her bedside. "I think I'd only have nightmares"
"No, you won't," Christian disagreed. "You'll be responsible for creating the dreams. Alexis will be the one truly immersed in them. She'll share the dreams you create and live within them. She's the real dreamer, and you're the Dreamweaver."
----
References-
1. Inception - Movie by Christopher Nolan (2010)
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Dark_Symphony
Dark_Symphony Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone