Children of Morpheus

Chapter 5

    I was back in my old room where I had my first dream about the future. It haunted me like a ghost from the past, but in this case, a memory. A memory that I can't escape from. If I had told my dad about my dream that night, he would still be alive, isn't he? He will be in this house, sleeping in his room, if I only told him about my dream. 

    Lying in my bed as I stared blankly on the ceiling. I can still hear the honking noise, the blazing fire, and the scream echoing in my head. I tried everything to forget, but the more I tried, the more I remembered every detail involved in his death: the car swerving and hitting his head on the wheel. It swallowed me as if I were a food, chewing me into wallowing in pain and sadness that later will be my downfall.

    As quickly as closing my eyes and opening them, I was standing in the road where it all started. I'm dreaming, I kept telling that to myself as I gazed around me. Concentrate, Rafael, I don't wanna be here. . .

Then an earthquake shook the ground, one second after another as if it were loud and heavy footsteps walking on the land. And it is! The birds flew in the night sky and cawed down flying right to me. I screamed as I jumped and dodged on the road, landing on my knees that scraped it. The violet night turned into a red sky, and with that, the rain of blood started. The earthquake continued its cycle, then a silhouette of a giant with horns formed into view in my sight. Every part of my body froze in fear, I tried to scream but I can't. . . I can't find the power to cry. 

    This is just a dream, I'm more powerful in this place. I breathe in and out, to control my shaking blood as I closed my eyes. Then a deep tone voice recited a poem or I think it was a poem that I don't understand. It almost sounded like a whisper. I looked around me and saw someone crawled into a ball with his hands both in his ears, crying, yelling, and begging to stop. I moved closer to him.

    “Rafael?” The boy said, as I got nearer. He looked at me with his red blushing eyes with continuing water flow came pouring out. 

    “Sebastian,” I said. “What are you—” then I stopped. I don't know why.  

    Then something pulled me from behind that flew me across the road, and landed on my back that jerked me out of that nightmare. I woke up at the floor that snapped, again, as I grunt in pain.  

    It was morning already as I helplessly walked with an ache in front of the vanity mirror, I pulled my shirt and turned back. There was a huge bruise in my back that it hurts me every time when I twist my body. There was also a scrape in my knees, as it slowly bleeds down.

    “What happened to you?” Uncle Dean asked in an amused tone, while I walked down the stairs grunting and moaning. “Rough dreams?”

    "Yes.” I moaned and nodded.

    “Your knees are bleeding, Rafael. Did I told you that anything happens to you in a dream happens to you in real life?” He pointed out. “Let me guess what happened. You ran and fell down.” He said while beaming like the sun.

    “No! You failed to mention that. And it's actually more horrid than that, and the dream wasn't even mine, it was someone else's.” I sat across him and set my chin on the table. “I leaped to dodge those stupid crows that flew and dived right at me,” I told him.

    “There were crows?” He asked in a surprise yet alarming voice. “Do you know whose dream is it?”

    “Well, I saw Sebastian crying and rolled into a ball covering his ears and eyes. There was this voice that I can't understand a word on what it was saying. That voice was annoying. . . So, maybe it was his dream.” I said in a pissed mode.

    “What's the full name of this boy?” He questioned. 

    “Sebastian Clinton Tobit,” I answered. “Why'd you ask?”

    “Well, dreaming about crows attacking you is a bad omen. It means something terrible is about happen. But since it was a dream of a Tobit, it's okay.” He explained in a candid way. 

    “What did you mean it's okay?” I grilled.

    “He's a Tobit. I met his grandmother when I was your age. I saw her dreams, and it's the same dream that Sebastian is having. But there were no voices mumbling.” He stood and slide the pancakes to me. “Eat.”    

    “Okay, before I forgot to ask, what is that scissor that you used that glowed when you were fighting those howlers?” I asked as I took a big bite. “And, I will be out with my friends today,” I mumbled.

    “Those are called dream shears. It briefly opens a hole in the Dream Realm that allows us to siphon the energy from the realm and manifest it in this world. That's why I can shoot fire out of my palm and called out a spear or anything. But it's temporary, out of focus means everything you manifest will disappear.

There were two of these, the one that I have and the other one is your mother's. If I saw it, I'll give it to you and train you before something bad will happen.” He said straightly forward. “Just be back before sunset if you will go outside. Night time is a dangerous time.”

    I nodded.

    I walked down the woods beside our house to meet up with Emma at Sebastian's. His house is just across these woods, near the river. I remembered going through this same woods when we were young, we used to play a lot in this forest, we also built a treehouse near the unnamed crypt. This woodland was full of memories with the five of us goofing around. I know it was very dangerous, but that's the only place where we all can meet at the same time and play until our hearts bursts.

    Huge trees shaded the ground from the daylight with shadow play of the birds as it flew off from their nest, once I yelled. The eerie darkness that conquered this place struck with a howling wind that sounded like whispers. With feelings that you can't shake gained by the unseen horror. The crumpling leaves and twigs that cracked out every step I make.

    I slid down the steep edge of the forest and sighted a house with stone corners and chimney, with mostly plane brown wood and windows. Behind it, was the river that shimmered under the sun. The small stone fence trailed around, with vines of roses and wild plants slithered through. 

    I walked and pushed the tiny iron gates that gave a squeak. I followed the stone path with flower bushes trailed on both sides. I ringed as it echoed throughout the house. Footsteps followed next behind the door and swung open, revealing a woman with Hazel hair and a black coin as a pendant. 

    “Hello, is Sebastian there?” I started as she stared at me, smiling. 

    “Who was it, Hazel?” A woman's voice came out behind her, as she walks towards the door. Hazel moved aside. It was Barbara, her mother. “Rafael, come in.”

    I entered with my head tucked in with my shoulder, squeezing myself through the door. 

    “Rafael this is Hazel, I hired her to watch over Sebastian at home. Hazel, this is Rafael one of his friends.” She informed us as she walked upstairs and knocked at Sebastian's door.

    “Hi,” I greeted. “So, you're new here?” 

    “Yes,” then she smiled. “Excuse me, I need to wash the dishes. Nice to meet you.” She left.

    I sat on the sofa in silence. Then I suddenly bopped my head just to amuse myself. The footstep came knocking upstairs as Barbara appeared and took a turn. 

    “He's upstairs in his room,” she said as she walked gracefully down the steps. “I forgot to ask, when did you arrive at Silver Keyshade?” She inquired.

    “Just yesterday,” I answered. 

    She nodded.

    The steps shook as I hurried upstairs and turned to the corner. I knocked at the second door and a voice came out humming. The door swung open and Sebastian stood wearing a black zip-up jacket. 

    “Hey, long time no see!” He cheered and then hugged me. 

    “Ouch, my back,” I grumbled as I held my back from the pain of my bruise.

    “Oh, sorry. What happened?” 

    “Rough night, it's a long story.” I sighed. 

    “Oohh, who's the girl? Or it's a boy, which is it?” He said as he continued raising his eyebrows up and down with a grin. “Can I take a look?”

    “Ha-ha-ha, " I said with a sarcastic tone. “And, no. You are not allowed to see my back. Where are you going? You looked so dressed.” I stared at him head to shoe.

    “Got a job, and don't even ask how I got it.” He said in a low voice. He slouched on his bed and sat.

I followed him and laughed. I sat beside him giggling, he grunted and rolled behind me. Then I felt a sudden grip in both of my arms pulled and pressed together at my end. Then he pushed me down on the floor landing on my shoulder that made me scream in agony. He stepped on my back as I cried out more, but he gagged me with a handkerchief. . . I think. I think it's a handkerchief.

    “Don't scream, just answer my question. What are you? You were in my dream last night and when I touched you I saw a hideous monster. Even if you scream, I put a spell in this room to make it soundproof.” He grilled as he hardens his foot at my bruised back. “I'll remove this gagged in your mouth, and answer quickly the questions. And Don't try to deny anything, my visions don't lie. Tell the truth or else I'll kill you.” He removed the gagged in my mouth while I breathe harder, as I turned red and my eyes watered down.

    What is happening? The boy that I grew up with, tied me, gagged me, and now, trying to kill me! What is happening to my life? Did he just said, put a spell, is he a witch or faery? I'm dead. I'm a goner.

    “I'm Rafael Williams and I am one of the Children of Morpheus or the children of dreams. Kill me, just make it quick you stupid fairy.” 

    “Did you just called me a fairy?” 

    “Yeah, you are one right?” My breathing became weary as my shoulder began to bleed.

    “I'm a seer, not a fairy. And, what are the children of dreams?” He grilled down and hardened his pin over me.

    “Like me and anyone on my mother's side of the family. We have the ability to see the past, present, and future, and I can visit dreams of others. If you're going to kill me, just kill me. Because I don't know where they are!” I screamed as the pressure built up in my shoulder that made me bleed tons.  

    My breathing came aloud while I'm drenched in my own blood, sweat, and tears. This is it, my end. I'm gonna die in the hands of my friend.

    Then the door swung open as Emma appeared standing behind. Her eyes widen in surprise, she panicked. “Sebastian, stop!” She called out.

I sat on the floor while Sebastian sat on the bed. Emma continuously paced right to left, trying to control her anger. Her hair bounces, as always, on her shoulders. She wore a white top and ripped jeans with a bomber jacket with a yellow pendant―gift from her mom― hanging in her neck.     

    “What hell did you do, Sebastian?” She grilled at Sebastian with her eyes burst out in anger, glaring.    

    I hold my bleeding shoulder to put pressure. I closed my eyes, enduring the pain with my white shirt dyed with red blood and sweat. My heart dropped fast as everything came blurry. Then earshot began to fail as my head starts to tremble. I-I can't breathe. . .

    “Guys, I c-can't brea—”