Weapons

Chapter 11

The sun beats down on my face and body as I lay in an overgrown field. I extend my hand to the right and feel the tall, warmth-bringing grains. Am I dead? The field looks like the one in front of our old schoolhouse, only larger and a bit taller. I sit up from a laying a position.

The sky offers a beautiful baby blue hue, dotted with many white, fluffy clouds. I look a head to see there are trees at least a mile from where I am. How did I get here? The last thing I remember was Dr. Morbien escorting us out of our room. Don, where is Don?

Furthermore, I rise to my feet and survey the area, shielding my eyes with my hand like a soldier. The sun is so bright; it gives me a slight headache. Gazing past the meadow, I can see a tiny figure. As the figure moves, I realize that's a person. “Who are you” I yell.

I don't hear a response. “Where are we” I yell again. I feel a touch on my left shoulder come from behind me and turn to look. “Don,” I say, relieved as I hug him. “Where are we” I ask.

“We're still at the hospital. It appears we're in some sort of dream state,” he responds. “If we're dreaming, then how're we talking to each other,” I counter. “I'm not sure, I realize I woke up a few days before you did.” “What do you mean” I ask? “I've tried waking you up yesterday and the day before. I didn't know you were awake until I heard you yelling at someone,” he says.

I turn back to look at the person I just saw in the distance and find they're no longer there. “We're not alone,” I say to him. “I have seen no one else here, Willow,” he responds. “How do we wake up?” “I don't know,” he answers.

“I'm sorry, Don,” I apologize. “What are you sorry for,” he asks confused. “For everything that's happened to us, the life we have to live because of it, for what our parents did to you, for what the hospital did to you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry I can't make things different. Not only that, but I wish I could reverse it,” I answer.

“I forgive you; none of that was your fault. I don't criticize you for what's happened to me,” he responds. “Who do you blame” I ask? Don says nothing. He appears to be thinking of a way to change the subject.

“We need to find a place to sleep,” he continues. We tread through the tall grass. “You don't think it's odd that although we're dreaming we can still feel the warmth of the sun” I ask him. “It is odd, I woke up 3 days ago and haven't felt any hunger” he answers. “Why do you suppose that is” I ask?

“I think it could have something to do with medicine they gave us,” he replies. As we approach the tree line, I can see exquisite purple flowers along the edge. “What kind of flowers are those” Don asks. “They're called purple hyacinths,” I answer. “They're beautiful,” he says as he picks one and hands it to me.

Likewise, I pick one of the lovely purple stalks and hand it to him. I stick the flower behind my ear, and he sticks his in the pocket of his hospital gown. We stroll through the green trees, looking up to see the sunlight shining through. The leaves change to a lime green color as the sunlight hits them. I look back down and see 2 small shadows out of the corner of eye.

As I turn to look, they disappear. “We're not alone,” I say to Don with concern. As we stop, he looks around. “I don't see anyone, Willow,” he responds. “I just saw something,” I persist.

It's quiet; I don't hear any animals or any footsteps. Perhaps I'm imagining things. I could've sworn I saw someone in the field before Don showed up. There's no evidence of anyone else here. We continue to walk through the green woodland.

“It should get dark, although there's no sign of the sun setting soon” Don states. “What's do you mean” I ask. “The sun has been this bright for the past 11 hours,” he answers. Likewise, we hear the leaves move and trees shake. The ground beneath us shakes knocking us down.

“What's happening” I yell. “I don't know, take my hand” Don says as we stand to our feet. He runs with my hand in his. “We have to wake up” he yells. “How” I ask.

“We just have to wake up.” He stops, and turns to face me. His face turns pale, and his eyes turn dark. Don's lips turn purple. I'm scared; I panic.

Don turns into something I don't recognize as my brother. The sun is no longer shining, and it's cold suddenly. His face cracks like glass. The 2 shadows I saw before moved closely behind him. “WAKE UP” he screeches!

I jolt awake.