I see her face on every crack Every crevices Every little girl and boy.

I hear her voice in the laughs of a child And the cry’s of a bird.

I watch her in my dreams every night. Her screams And pleas And cry’s And I watch her die Over and over.

On the streets In my car At home She haunts me. Not just in my dreams anymore, She haunts me.

Because even when day wakes She crawls out from the deepest holes of my heart, And tears my mind apart.

I can’t hear a child cry Or the ice cream truck, Because I remember her. My daughter. And the dreams will never let me forget.

I’ve stopped sleeping. I don’t want to see her I don’t want to remember, But she won’t let me go. No No No, I just want to let go.

Maria was at the stage of her life where waking up was a pleasure. She woke up at the time was her please and bladder and hunger permitting was not compelled to prematurely abandon her bed sheets. To day had the added benefit of sunlight coming through the window and landing in a square shape around her pillow.

The silence that had reined was usurped by the high pitched wail of the cat, which had spent most of the night sleeping near Maria’s feet. The old animal, which could always be described as bedraggled however long she spent washing herself, walked up Maria’’s body. She came to rest on Maria’s chest, sat on her back legs and start to caterwaul. Maria had spent a long time trying to work out what this particular cry meant. She suspected it simply meant “here I am, pay me attention.”

After a few dozen howls Maria started to pet the cat, paying particular attention to the chin and behind the ears. After a few more meows, Maria sat up a little, looked the cat in the eye and said “meow” in the authority tone of a retired librarian.

Normally this was enough to stop the old beast stop complaining and setting down to a good sleep and pur. But today was different. Maria was staring directly at the animals face when it said “home.”it had to move its mouth in impossible way to make the sound, which was spoken in an obviously female voice and in tones that sounded to deep coming from such a small creature.

Maria stop. She stopped stroking the cat and for a moment stopped breathing. She had to be sensible she thought, she had the impossible.

“Alexa, repeat”

The speakers did nothing. Maria reached out over her own shoulder to reach her phone. It took her a moment or two to find the device as she didn’t turn her head away from the cat at any time.there was nothing on the phone that would explain the house.

The cat started to pur again, and jumped of the bed abs walked out of the room, her tail swishing in the air behind her.

A few hours later Maria was down stairs. She was sat at the wooden table in her kitchen, which some had designed to make sure it looked like and ancient family heirloom. The table had in built draws, one of which was open now, as Maria tried to pick a microphone. The table was spotless and only marred by a single dinner mat which her MAC sat on.

She did not have a busy day today. A little work editing the blog and a little recording. Then she would pick a meal, based more on what she would enjoy cooking rather than eating. Right now any third party watch would see her short thick fingers flying across the keyboard. Her hair was tidied back tightly into a pony tail. Every now again she would stop typing. She would bite her slight chapped lower lip and would use three fingers on hand to turn the ring on the other. She was so caught up in her work that she didn’t notice the cat leaping up on the table, something she was banned from doing. Maria did not notice the approach of the animal, which was old and fat enough to lumber rather than walk. The cat only got really angry though when Maria did not notice that she had slopped her tail over the top of the screen. When this failed to get a response the cat start to cry. A deep bell cry.

“I am sorry lovely” said Maria, tearing her eyes from her screen and petting the animal. The crying stop, the creature jumped on Maria and

“Take me home.”

This time Maria couldn’t she her cats mouth, but there was no doubt in her mind that the words had come from the cat. They had start a moment after she had stoped purring and the sound came from the cats mouth.

I didn’t really want to say it, but Jules looked much better before he cut his hair. And it’s not just because the idiot didn’t actually bother with a mirror, or because he wouldn’t let his mother fix the mess he’d made of it.

He looks uncomfortable when people comment on it, and yet whenever he sees his reflection he smiles.

The nightmare comes to mind sometimes — that morning when he woke me by thrashing around like one possessed. But the worst part about Jules and his strange actions these days is that he never says anything about why he acts that way.

Even when I ask.

“𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥?”

“𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺?”

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨?”

There is never an answer.

Until there is.

“They kidnapped me,” he says out of nowhere, flinging daggers around the room with what I can only assume is telekinesis. It’s ridiculous, it’s stupid, it’s an incredibly illogical thing to do, but he’s doing it.

He’s careful enough to keep them far enough from the two of us, but I can’t help being worried.

“Uh… who?”

“The Fara.” His words — two terrifying words, coming after that statement — are accompanied by a shrug. “Like, a… month? A month of torture, I suppose. I don’t really know, I was pretty out of it…”

“I’m sorry, can you… a month. Of torture. And you just didn’t tell anyone?”

“Why would I?”

“Because it’s a stupid idea 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰?”

Jules laughs, incredibly enough. An actual, honest-to-God laugh.

“That’s not the main thing.”

“Nightmares.”

“Yeah, nightmares… look, you… I thought you were, like, some sort of restraints… again. And I was trapped, and I thought I was back there.

The nightmare itself was pretty… eh, it could have been worse, I suppose, but when I woke up I was half-convinced that everything had really happened… like then and there. See?”

“So you cut your hair?”

“Oh, yeah, they’d use my hair as a sort of garrote. I… that was part of the dream, probably. It blurs together sometimes.”

𝘏𝘦’𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥.

I’m not sure what I can say to any of that.

Most of the weapons drop when his head does, but one changes course and flies straight at us both. I put my arm between it and Jules, since I’m the one who wouldn’t get hurt, but it stops just centimetres away.

“Jules?”

“Sorry,” he whispers, not looking up. “I shouldn’t have tried to do that.”

“Tried… what?”

He doesn’t say anything.

Or look at me.

I take the opportunity to move the dagger, and Jules doesn’t move to stop me. When it’s safely out of sight, he looks up for a moment.

His eyes are shining with tears.

The storm crashed against her window as she slept. She couldn’t hear the storm only the screams and sound of metal screeching against metal. She felt as though she had been thrust back into the war! She swung her hands trying to fight back with her sword, but she couldn’t hit anything. She didn’t hear someone run into her room and when they gently wrapped their arms around her she desperately tried to fight back! She couldn’t get her hands free so she bit into their shoulder as hard as she could! The person flinched, but didn’t let go. “It’s okay. Your safe,” they whispered. She finally woke up, but she was to tired from all the struggling to do anything and fell back asleep.

 The next morning she woke up her throat sore from screaming and and her jaws hurt from biting. She couldn’t remember hardly anything. She got up from her bed and got ready for the big breakfast. As she was on her way she passed Cealy.
 “You don’t look so good,” commented Cealy.
 “I had a rough night.”
 “Your not the only one. I saw one of the others looking as bad as you. Actually I think they were a little worse. It looked like their shoulder was hurting them. Now that I think about it they asked if I had seen you and if you were okay.”
 “Who was this?”
 “Surprisingly it was N….”
 “Come one we’re gonna be late!” Selene hurried them along and soon they were sitting down to eat.

[S.C, Bloodlines. CH 4]

In an instant, Amelya was back at the house. The red haired girl from earlier was staring daggers. She was at their house, the girl she’d seen at the mall. Then they were just chatting it up on the couch.

Seconds later she was in the mountains. The girl who kissed her hung on her every word as she explained how she got their. Her twin brother seemed unamused by his twins closeness.

As they kissed and the brother rushed them. She was back in reality. Cleo was just looking at the pile of other clothes that Amelya was thinking about buying.

“Her mom wiped my memory….” Amelya remembered all the previous nights events. “Lexi is going down. I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind” “I would much rather go down” Cleo winked with a giggle. “As fun as that sounds. She needs to know I’m not gonna just be kicked out of your life” Amelya gave Cleo a nudge out of the way and was soon angrily rushing out the store.

Well trying to. In her heist to go find Lexi, she’d forgotten about her cloths. Which were in fact not hers.

After a long chat with security and Cleo working a bit of her vampire compelling. They were ready to leave the mall.

“Slow down convict!” Cleo called after Amelya. “No. I’m telling her off double now” “It’s fine boo. She’s not worth it.” Cleo cooed cutely, trying to persuade her otherwise.

Instead of wasting more time, she took off running. Pushing through a large crowd of mall goer’s.

“Come on Amelya!” Cleo shouted out, but Amelya knew two things. She couldn’t catch what she couldn’t see and there was no chance she’d use her speed with all these ppl around.

Not that it would help much. She knew nothing about vampires, except that they were fast and ancient. Neither of which would help her in a fight. It was dumb. But her point needed to be made.

After a half an hour of hunting her down without any luck. Amelya found herself outside on a bench. Wondering why she’d even tried.

“Giving up now?” Cleo’s voice made her heart flutter a bit, but she didn’t turn. “Not having any luck” She shot back nonchalantly playing with her hair to hide her annoyance. “In Lexi’s defense. Her mother made the call. Figuring that two pairs out of one person could make for a lot of drama.” Cleo hopped up onto the back of the bench. Looking down with what could only be sympathetic yearning. “Whatever” Amelya went to stand quickly but only felt the restraint of Cleo’s arms wrapped around her back. “You smell so good” Cleo started, pulling her in closer. “Aren’t you worried we’ll be seen?” “I don’t care” She stuck her tongue out in a joking fashion. “And if anyone has anything to say, they can suck my butt”

They both laughed a bit, Amelya settled back into Cleo’s embrace. Feeling a chill as their skin touched.

“You mean my butt” Amelya giggled, fake pushing Cleo off her.

“Ahem” A gruff voice called from behind them. “I’m sorry Cleo, but the heads of house Emerald want to see you both.”

His features were so normal. Compared to the few vampires she’d met the other night. Like vampire gamer boy was in now.

“Great” Cleo sighed. “What’s wrong?” Amelya questioned. “I’m being a thorn in my clans side. I wasn’t supposed to come here. Especially not to come to you” Cleo buried her head in her hands for a second. “Whatever”.

Cleo looked from the boy back to Amelya. Eyes meeting each other’s for a second Cleo blew her a kiss.

“Yuck” Conner blurted out. “Is that why the clan elders are mad. Cuz your pairs a girl?” “Never yuck us again” Cleo raised a fist to him. “I promise you I’ll make you wish for a easy death.” “Not exactly how I meant it. Sorry. Just not used to it” Conner shrugged. “They are out at the elders chambers. Doesn’t look to good.”

“Yeah, mom was so pissed” Jayden leaped down from the roof, in a parkore fashion. Landing a few steps away from Amelya, eyes never leaving hers. “Quit it Jayden. We’ve already made the first contract as pairs. She’s mine” Cleo glared a him. “Kinda hot. Mad I missed it” He joked tossing up his hands in surrender. “Where’s your yuck now Conner?” Amelya said while Cleo chuckled a bit. “We need to downplay it in front of the elders. If not I’m sure we’ll get a tough sentence “ Jayden leaned against the wall, pulling a cig from his jacket pocket. “Hopefully they will see how your paired and will excuse your stupidity “ “He says that, but he seen me earlier and Gabe had to pull him away” Amelya ratted him out while grabbing Cleo by the arm. “What’s the punishment for disobedience??” “Dungeon, for a few days. Sometimes longer, without any blood.” “It’s called Drying out” Conner added in after Gabe. “That’s harsh” “Your worth it babe” Cleo let a cocky grin cross her lips, but inside she was quaking. She could already feel their unease, so far away. Once she was up close it would be so much worse.

Of course running of into the mountains had taken seconds. Yet it felt like forever, neither of their heads hung high anymore. Stepping up to the large building more and more memories pooled in.

All up to watching her brother drink a pool of blood that sat in the center of a huge hall. Possible the hall they were about to stand in.

Guards sat at the entrance doors. Amelya wasn’t sure why? What could kill them? What would they be afraid of? “Nothing” She thought to herself cowering behind the twins as they entered the large room of the ceremony.

“Ohhh she’s quite pretty” A woman’s voice called from the stage behind the pool of blood. Ten vampires sat on a line of podium above the blood pool. Something she’d missed during the ceremony.

“Do you know why you all were called here?” Lexi’s mother stood up, the second chair from the right. “Yes Mistress “ The twins called out in unison like army brats. “You were told to stay away from the human girl you both share a pair bond with” “That’s rubbish. No person has ever shared a pair bond before” The same woman from earlier was far right. A grey haired woman who didn’t look a day older then thirty. “Vivian. Do you accuse me of lies? Before our court?” Lexi’s mothers voice was sharp like a blade. “I’ll settle this” A younger faced man somewhere in the middle disappeared.

Appearing between the twins, his hand gripping Amelya’s throat a foot above the floor. Gasping and clawing at his hand both twins sprung in to action. Each grabbing an arm and flinging him into the air hissing as he laughed. Amelya coughed trying to suck in as much air as possible.

“That proves it” he laughed gliding back down to his seat. “How?” Another man spoke up from his left side. “I didn’t let go. Their combined strength due to their pair being in trouble allowed them to toss a five hundred year old vamp skyward.” He clapped. “She may join Emerald house. I’m sorry dear for the squeeze, it wasn’t personal “ “Is that how the whole council votes?” Lexi’s mother spoke again.

Cleo was mouth to mouth with Amelya as Jayden just held them both.

“Enough, let them go. She’ll have her ceremony in a days time from now” It was the grey haired woman from before. “We must burn down their house and plant two bodies, they won’t be returning to humanity” “Can she live with us?” Cleo looked out over the council as if trying to spot a certain person. “What about my friends?” She gasped.

Amelya was pushing Cleo away. “I have friends that I’ve known my entire life….. I don’t want them to think me dead”

“Guess then you have a choice to make. Your love pairs or your friends” a gavel dropped and that was all.

Amelya was carried out in Jayden’s arms, Cleo not letting go of her left hand. At the entrance the younger looking vampire stopped them.

“I want you to know, they both will protect you with your life. I’ve never been bested by a youngster before. Sorry it had to come to that” He sent his hand in their direction and Amelya shook it weakly. “You nearly offed her, yourself “ Cleo hissed.
“I look forward to your ceremony Amelya.” He smiled and bowed. “Please forgive my earlier behavior.”

Back at her house, Cleo laid next to her. While Jayden slumped over in her rocking chair. Amelya was out, but Cleo would be here when she rose. Nobody would hurt her, ever. Especially not Monticello.

I look at my blue hot dog, than look up at my blue haired companion. “Haha” look I joke, you look like my hot dog. We burst out into lafter as we sail apon our giant, flying hamster. The joke wasent even that funny, but everything was funny here. the way the cotton candy horizon, had a giant bubble in the place of the sun. the way there were big, white, feathers with the faces of Dolphins, jumping out of the grate, vast sea bellow us. I took a bight out of my hotdog and, ate it in thought. Of course i wasn’t a actually thinking, I just wanted to give off that impression so, flin would ask me what I was thinking about…it worked. “ so what’s on your mind” he asks me. “O nothing important just you” I turn from my hot dog to see his expression, he gives me that taunting, devilish smirk of his, that just seems to perfect with his, long blue hair, that only his olive skin could pull off. “ i was just thinking the same thing about you” I know what happens next. I let out a sigh and, take one last look at him. I close my eyes, he reaches for my face and, just before our lips collide. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP I rub the eyes boogers from my eyes. “Alas it was only a dream” I sigh.

Clark startled awake to his blaring alarm at 7:30am. He pulled back the covers and noticed that for the first time since the 6th grade, his sheets were wet.

While waiting for his toast in the kitchen, he pondered how many twenty year olds still had wet dreams. He was never very good at remembering his dreams. He couldn’t for the life of him remember what had led to such a sensual explosion.

He swiftly spread jam on the hot toast, threw on his parka, and weathered the walk from his apartment to Baron Hall.

8am Calculus with Mr. Leer was dry and draining as per usual. Clark grabbed a coffee in the library before heading to Animal Behavior in Maylor Hall. He looked forward to this one because he at least had a friend to talk to, Rachel. They shared a few classes this quarter. Clark entered the classroom early and sat in his usual mid-section seat. Rachel walked in a few minutes later. She waved and made her way to the seat next to him. As he took in her smile and met her eyes, Clark saw a few flickers. Him and Rachel in the car together. Rachel dancing in the passengers seat.

“Hey!” Rachel said, sitting next to him.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

“I was up until three finishing this research paper and I am so fucking tired.”

The professor, Dr. Wagner, entered and pulled down the projector screen.

“Three? Shit. Want some of my coffee?”

“Sure, thanks. Drip?” Clark handed it to her.

“Yeah, medium roast I think-“

“Good afternoon, let’s go ahead and get started.” Dr. Wagner stared with a furrowed brow at her laptop and back at the projector screen.

Rachel sipped the coffee and turned her attention to Wagner vs. PowerPoint.

Clark watched Rachel discreetly, taking her natural resting face in. His dream last night definitely involved Rachel, and it was definitely exciting. But how was that possible? He’d been solely seeing guys since he fingered Katrina Turk in the 9th grade. He tried to imagine what it would feel like to hit every base with Rachel.

Clark’s internal monologue went into hyper speed. He analyzed every inch of Rachel, his identity shaken to its core. He Googled dream analysis. He took four online quizzes to confirm his sexuality. Three said he was gay. One said he was pansexual. But the majority said gay. So gay, right? He was obsessive. He feared Rachel crawling into his dreams again tonight and confusing his fragile identity further.

He woke the next morning relieved to have no recollection of his dreams and no wet sheets. He used his free morning to utilize a campus resource: his Psych 101 teacher from freshman year, Mr. Thibaut. Clark’s shoe squeaks reverberated in the quiet hallway, until he stopped at Mr. Thibaut’s office door. He softly knocked and entered.

“Hi Professor Thibaut…” Clark started, poking his head in gently.

Mr. Thibaut looked up from his computer and smiled, “Hi! It’s nice to see you again.”

“Hi, thank you. I was wondering…If you have time, can I ask you some questions about the psychology behind dreams?”

Mr. Thibaut nodded and checked his wall clock, “I’m free for a bit. I’m not an expert on dream analysis, but I’ll try my best. How can I help?”

“Okay, how do I explain this. What are possible reasons…or I guess why might someone see someone in an intimate way in a dream? Sorry. This-“

“-Don’t apologize. You had an intimate dream?”

“Yes,” Clark’s gaze followed Mr. Thibaut as he slowly walked toward Clark with a softness in his eyes. Mr. Thibaut nodded with understanding. He raised his hand to Clark’s cheek. Clark closed his eyes and leaned into the gentle caress.

BAH-BAH-BAH-BAH

Clark’s alarm wailed and he flinched awake, his hand was inside his boxers mid-pump. He internally cursed his alarm for waking him prematurely. He relaxed a bit and closed his eyes. He pictured Mr. Thibaut lifting him onto the office desk, dragging his thick thumb down Clark’s lips all the way to his jeans zipper. Clark’s toes curled and he sunk into bed with ecstasy and relief. With Rachel far from his thoughts, Clark focused on falling back asleep to get a few more moments with the professor before heading to class.

Wake up Wake up My heart is racing my back creaks My body aches and groans A chill runs through my bones The sheets of my bed drenched in sweat The sound of my mom’s voice proving that this Is reality.

I find myself standing outside of school How did I get here when did I arrive It’s all just a blur,exhausted from the night before.

The day becomes a haze I want to sleep My body craves it but I’m scared of what I’ll see Im scared that I’ll find me I’m scared of what I’ll do to me.

It’s lunch the tables are filled with chatting teens I don’t remember making my way there but my legs feel like their on fire as if I walked a mile.

I sit amongst my friends letting their laughter keep me awake, it’s pitiful I can tell their worried Who wouldn’t I look like death itself I use to dream of sweet things Like fluffy marshmallow clouds And of mountain of sweets Now I only dream of it.

My head pounds my ears ring Please just stop looking at me Whisper in my ear get louder It’s hard to understand Just shut up Shut up SHUT UP!

Everything goes quiet Only the sound of a pencil made me realize I was standing in class The teacher looked furious I don’t blame them Who would ,as they see it a troublemaking teen Just told them to shut up.

It’s the end of the day the hours pass by when You’re in a daze, while others are heading to their homes, I’m stuck here in the principal office with my mom She’s talking to me but it’s all muffled I can tell she’s angry My eyelids feel heavy I just want sleep to comfort me To wrap me in it’s embrace Just a small rest.

I can’t move why can’t I move My chest feels heavy it’s hard to breathe I need to scream I want to scream but I can’t. When did I fall asleep I let my guard down I mustn’t open my eyes I know it’s here I know it’s waiting Standing right over me.

It’s getting harder to keep my eyes closed It’s getting closer every night Watching and waiting For the time I open my eyes I have to wake up Wake up WAKE UP!

A chill runs though my bones My body groans and aches My back creaks and my heart is racing The couch cushion is drenched in sweat The feeling of my mom’s hand on mine proving That I’m alive.

The sky is red. Black clouds. The cars in the road are moving as slow as a snail. Nobody is driving the cars. The cars crash into each other and explode easily. As if they were grenades. In the center of the city is a massive tower, about the size of 5 Empire State Buildings. It controls all the decisions made by government. The decisions made in real life. All the misfortunes. All the treasures. It decides my death tomorrow.

I glance around uneasily, looking for any signs that suggest they followed me here. For a split second I think I see a smudge of darkness, a pocket in this world where the edges are slightly blurred and warped, but in an instant, it’s gone. I blink several times, hoping that my dry eyeballs simply need lubrication to make the figure appear clearer. But when my eyes finally settles on the spot, I see that there is nothing there. Nothing at all.

“Er….sir? I said that will be $57.55”, a voice says sternly, breaking the concentration I have worked so hard to build. I shake my head to clear that strange feeling that sits on my shoulders. The feeling that I’m being watched.

The cashier in front of me, a teenage girl with purple hair that looks terrible when paired with the red polo shirt of her uniform, looks at me with a scowl. I glance at her apologetically and then at the plastic bag she’s prepared. It’s filled with flashlights, nightlights, a new Bluetooth speaker, and a bag of coffee beans. All the necessary ingredients to prevent a good nights sleep.

I quickly fish the cash out of my pocket, handing her a fifty and two fives.

Once the transaction is complete, I grip the plastic bag tightly and walk quickly out of the store. As I walk along the crowded streets, my gaze combing through the crowds of people, that familiar unease settles in my bones. I feel beads of sweat collect at the nape of my neck and along my hairline, my nerves set on overdrive.

I reach my free hand out and pinch at the tender flesh of my forearm. Immediately, a sharp pain blooms at the site.

Okay, that’s a good sign I guess. It must mean I’m awake. All of this is real.

I pick up my pace, walking faster through the busy streets, eager to get to my apartment.

I’m just about to turn the corner towards my street, when I bump into a tall figure. I hit them with so much force that I am about to drop the bag in my hand and have to stumble back a little to catch my footing.

“Oh…I’m so sorry man I wasn’t watching where-“, but the words freeze in my throat as my eyes drag upward to take in his features. The dark trenchcoat he is wearing is long and heavy, showing a peek of a white dress shirt at the collar. His hair, equally as dark, is neat and sleek, pulled away from his face.

His face.

Something about his face brings a chill to my spine. It’s blank, emotionless, more a mask that anything else. Carved into his right cheek, just beneath those pale ice chip eyes, is a symbol. A snakelike serpent coiled in a circle, the end of its tail in its mouth. It is surrounding by a sliver of a waning moon that’s set deep into his skin.

The cuts are still red and though not pooling with blood, it is evident that they are new.

A sound escapes my throat, somewhere between a gasp and a shriek.

Oh no Oh gods no They’ve found me. They’ve somehow managed to lift from the confines of my mind and enter the real world. My body had just recovered from the effects of their last visit. The visit that had been in my dreams.

I remember bits and pieces of it - their bloodied scars, their beady, soulless eyes and the feel of those ice cold fingers around my throat.

I reach out a shaking hand and shove the figure hard in the chest. He doesn’t move at all, but only stares at me, confused.

I squeeze my eyes shut again, trying to determine if the figure in front of me is real or not.

When I open my eyes I see that his eyes are actually blue, not icy white. The blank expression is gone, instead, his face is pulled into a look of confusion and worry. The symbol on his cheek is missing, replaced with smooth, unblemished flesh.

“Hey, it’s all my fault. I’m so sorry. Are you alright?”, the man asks, his eyes full of regret.

I mumble something to him, though I am unsure what.

When he has slipped behind the corner, I pinch my skin worriedly. The pain returns sharply and for the hundredth time today, I am reminded that I am not dreaming. That this is all real, and perhaps they did exactly what I feared they’d do. They’ve found a way to find me, even here, away from the dreamscape. It seems as though whether I am awake or asleep, they still manage to find me.