Children of Morpheus

Chapter 4

    The scenery faded as the car went speeding by. The engine rumbled as we drove away from Pearl Hollow and into our last resort, in my uncle's word, not mine—back to Silver Keyshade, where everything started to me. The dense forest in my side of the road washed away as the car fastens on the main road. The river on the other side of the car was glimmering under the sun that made its hue bolder and sparkling blue.  

    I never imagined going back home. I admit I missed the place, but I thought I will be staying forever at my uncle Dean's house. Then things changed and shifted into something else that is limit to my understanding. Thinking about my “childhood friends”, did they even missed me? I don't know, but I think I'm about to find out.

    We took a stop at Ekron's to eat breakfast since there was no time to make something edible after an attack. The bell rang behind us, as I took a deep breath. The air inside smelled exactly like freshly brewed coffee, as usual. The alternating red and white floor tiles shimmered under the natural light that the sun was giving through the large windows. We sat on the booth near the window at the corner on the end and pull down a small chain-like rope, and clicked the curtains to roll down slowly, shading us from the light.

    A waitress walked towards us with the menus stuck in her hands with a pen and paper. She smiled as she hands us the lists. Her red top and her skirt with white edges, and apron were neatly straight with a name tag pinned into her left chest. 

    “Good morning, may I take your order?” She said in a warm voice as she smiled widely.    

    “Just two coffees and two slices of pie, please,” I said and smiled back as I looked at Dean smiling a bit.

    “Anything else?” She asked as we shook our heads. She wrote down the order and moved to the counter. She dings the bell and yelled, “order!”

    She's new here, I said to myself. I know each faces here in this old town, and I never saw her before. She walked towards our booth and placed our orders on the table. 

    “Enjoy,” her last words as she turned back and assist the other customers. 

    The door rang behind me as a footstep came knocking on the tiled floors. I turned my head and saw a blonde woman wearing an all-white top and a red skirt. Amanda. She walked towards the door at the corner and came across our booth. She looked at us—but mostly me—and grinned as she came closer to talk to me.

    “Rafael, how are you? It's been so long.” She hugged me and smiled, showing her teeth. “I will tell Emma and Sebastian that you're here in town and to visit you from time to time in your house. But you are staying here, right?”  

    And there it was.

    “Yeah, we will be staying here. . . permanently.” I awkwardly said while nodding my head and trying to fake a smile. I looked at uncle Dean's face, apparently, he was chuckling. Well at least he tried to stop his smiling face, but he can't. He can't control it. “I forgot, Amanda, this is my Uncle De—”

    “I actually know  Dean Hollow the older brother of your mother. We met before at Candace's and Zane's wedding.” She squeezed in. “Okay. Your breakfasts are on the house and nice to see you again Rafael and you Dean. It's nice to see you up and running since—” she stopped with concern in her face and put on a smile.

    “Its okay, Amanda. See you later.” I said lastly with a smile.  

    It's okay. Everything is okay. Everyone loved dad. He is known to be the most generous and understanding man in this town. He was adored by everyone, and most of the town came into his funeral. I'm relieved that dad has so many good friends. He was adored by everyone.

    When we arrived at the front yard of the house, I remembered dad. Every corner of this house reminds me of him. The ache burst out, once again, from underneath. I took a deep breath and let it all out. And the good thing is that I got all my emotions controlled. 

    I opened the gate that gave a rustic screech like from the horror movies. The front yard was messy but still, a little cut here and a trim there, it will all go back the way it was. or i think it will all go back to the way it was.

    The house is now on my name and everything inside is mine. I wiggled the key to the front to open, and heard a click as I push open the door. Everything was exactly the same when I left. Slowly, I took a step inside and everything came running to me. I breathe in and out repeatedly as my eyes start to weep. 

    “Dad—I mean, uncle Dean, you settle in and I'll just take a stroll down the town.” I jolted out of the house and ran while wiping my tears from my eyes. 

    “Okay!” He yelled while I ran to the gate.   

    I know he understands why I'm crying. My dad died and everything in the house reminded me of him.

I gradually walked the road without knowing where I'll end up. I followed my ears on the thudding sound that I made in every step that I took. The overlapping grind of vehicles that passed through me is nothing, I felt nothing. I felt dead inside. I know this is inevitable, and I know I'm just delaying it. But I need to get pass through the pain, the hurt that I'm feeling right now, and everything. I need to be strong and brave for him and for mom.    

    I need to know why mom doing this. This is what he'll do, he will know why mom did it. But, why is she in my dreams? Why does she appear in my dream and not in Dean's? He said he never heard of someone like us talking to the dead, but he also said it enhances. Maybe, mine enhanced. That's why I can see her in my dreams. But that doesn't explain why she needs me to find the 5 keys and put it together?

    That's the million-dollar question: why does she need me to find the 5 keys? Even my uncle doesn't know anything about these things. Or he's just lying, he doesn't want to tell me the truth. I was struck by my own realization. Self-answer always works for me, I don't know why, but it works. and that's the important thing.    

    Then someone clasped my left shoulder, which made me squeezed down in pain and let out a soft cry. I whirled down to see who did that agonizing grip. It was from Emma. Emma Ekron. 

    “Ohh, sorry. Did that hurt? I don't know that I'm that strong.” She apologized, as she raised both of her hands on me, trying to support me as I stood up, holding my shoulder. “Are you okay? I felt something is troubling you. Don't be sad!”

    “H-how did you know that―” I stop and slowly, I took a step back. “How d-did you know what I'm feeling?” I don't know if she is one of them. . . one of the creatures that tried to kill us. Am I paranoid?

    “Ummm, on your postures and looks. You know I'm an observer.” She replied. “Why you look so scared?”  

    “Nothing, I'm a bit jumpy nowadays,” I replied with a small grin. “I need to get home, my uncle is waiting for me. Let's meet tomorrow?” I suggested. 

    She nodded. “Sure, see you tomorrow. Same place, same time!” 

    I went on ahead and ran down the alley in the park. The sun was beaming rays that excite the heat across the road. My body flared warm like a kettle heating, with water droplets sliding down in my skin. I began grunting as I speed my way into the road, while my lungs start to get heavy. My leg was in pain from the gash of that monster, but I just sucked it up.

    The quickest way to the house or any of the founder's house was through the forest. Mine is near the edge of the forests and Sebastian's is near the Keyshade river, where I supposed to meet Emma for tomorrow.

    The green and fresh bounty of nature blanketed the yellow light of the sun as it deprived the brown timbers. The chirps flew away as they flapped threw the woods and the silhouettes of bird shook and darted tree by tree. I sauntered through the dense woodland with crumpled dried leaves and twigs carpeted the ground. 

    The door swung by, then I gazed my eyes around the room. “Uncle?” I called out from the empty room. “Uncle!” 

    Nothing. . . not a sound broke off.

    “Dean!” I shouted, wishing to get any signs from him. “Dean!” My head began to spin, with an alarm that shook my mind. It felt like I was carrying a bag of stone in my body, it's getting harder to breathe every second.  

    “I'm here,” then a voice broke through the silence and snapped me out, which made my head jerked. “What's wrong?”

    I squatted with hands wiping my tears. I was relieved. My heartbeat drove crazy as if it were a wild solo drum play. I was drenched in my own sweat from distress that I'm in. “Where have you been?” My sound snapped.

    He didn't answer.

    “Come, it's time to tell you what attacked us.” He moved towards me and rubbed my head then passed by. He walked towards the couch as I followed and sat across him. “Those creatures are called the Howlers. They travel and hunts in packs. But beware, because they're not the only one.” He said in tone like story telling in a campfire. Like it was just a joke.

    “What do you mean? There's more?” I was shocked at that moment. I was speechless, not only the first creature is scary and deadly, and he's telling there is more? What if they are scarier than the last? I can't live like this. I can't do this kind of living!

    “Children of nature are deadlier and cunning than the Howlers.”

    “What are those?” I asked, not interested in knowing what they are, but I need to learn. I need to survive if my life will be always in danger's heart.

    “They are also known as fae folks or faeries.” He said with a straight face. 

    “W-wait. . . what! Faeries?” I yelled. I can't believe this, now they're after us? “I thought fairies are supposed to be nice or something. And now, they're bad?” I said in surprise with my mouth dropped open.  

    “Some of them are, but do not be mistaken. They are tricky creatures that can either kill or harm you or make you lose your mind. They come in many forms and sizes. And all of them are dangerous. So don't ever meddle with them.” He warned. 

    “Anyway, what do those creatures need from us?” I inquired. “They must have needed something, right?”

    “The keys.” He quickly said. “I thought they will never find us in Pearl Hollow, but they must have followed you, somehow. So I need to tell you the truth about the history of the keys.

    There was a god who fell in love with a mortal. The mortal betrayed him and met the queen of the faes and fell for her, then married her. One night where the moon is full, the queen was killed, then he blamed the mortals. The faeries mourned and believed him, so they followed him to conquer the land. But we stopped him. We, the children of dreams or the children of Morpheus drained his power and locked him in a place where we are more powerful—the Dream Realm.”  

    “And that is why they need to find the keys. They need it to free him.” I said in a low tone. “But where are the keys?”

    “As I said before, I don't know.” He stared at me straight as I breathe and lied back.