The House of Angels

Infinite dreams

Dr Michael Johnson was waiting for Charlie to start their weekly session.

He lit a cigarette and ran a hand through his thick brown hair, closing his eyes.

He hadn't slept all night because of his younger brother's bachelor party and he wasn't sure he remembered well what had happened.

He recalled being approached by a curvy brunette, bringing her home, and having problems getting rid of her that morning. He sighed, watching some of the kids playing in the rear garden which the only window of his office overlooked.

His office door opened and someone stepped in.

"I thought you knew how to knock, Ch-" he turned around only to see Daniel standing in front of him.

"Hey, Daniel. I wasn't expexting you." He smiled, taking a long drag.

"Hey, Doc. What's up?" He said smugly, throwing himself lazily on the couch, a foot on the coffee table in front of him.

"Nothing new. Waiting for Charlie." Michael said sitting on his armchair.

"Yeah, he told me I could steal ten minutes of your precious time, Doc. That ok?" He said, litghting a cig as well.

"Anything for you, Daniel."

"Tell me about Moon."

Michael's eyes suddenly landed on him.

"What about her?" He asked, a questioning frown on his face.

"Well, you're a shrink. I want to know what's going on with her." Daniel leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, looking into his eyes with a serious face.

"I can't tell you about another patient, Daniel. You know that." Michael let out a little puff.

"Do I look like I give a f**k, Mike?" Daniel let out a dry chuckle, his eyes promised nothing good.

"Why are you asking me that?" Michael sighed.

"I have my reasons." He said curtly.

"Well, even if I wanted to help you, I wouldn't be able to. I've talked to her twice. The first time she just snapped at me and ran away. The second time wasn't any better. She wouldn't answer most of the questions and I can only guess reading her file." Michael said, rummaging through the messy pile of papers on his desk. "Ain't you gonna tell me why you care so much?" He asked, with a sigh.

"Well, she... let's say she does stupid random s**t that puts her in danger... and I think she walks in her sleep and goes around doing creepy things. Can it help you guess? Or am I supposed to do your job as well?" Daniel scowled, throwing his cig in the asher.

"What do you mean? Should I be worried? You have to tell me, Daniel." Michael stood up and started pacing around the room.

"Hey, chill out, dude. You think I'm gonna tell you? Do I look that naive?" Daniel scoffed, crossing his legs and arms.

Michael sighed, he knew Daniel wasn't going to tell him anything, but he felt like it was his duty to protect his patients, and although Moon wasn't the most easygoing among them, she still was his responsability.

"I hope you're looking out for her, at least. You'd let me know if there was something going on, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, sure, doc. You know me." Daniel's cheeky smile didn't look reassuring at all. "In the meantime, you can help by doing your f*****g job and give me a call as soon as you find out something." Daniel said, standing up and dusting off his clothes, ready to leave.

"Calm down, Daniel, you know I like your style, but enough is enough." Michael shoved him playfully.

"Hey, f**k off jerk." Daniel chuckled, shoving him back. "Oh, hey, almost forgot. Here's a little present, try it, it's new." He added, handing him a small packet full of weed, which Michael immediately opened to pull out a small flower.

"Mh, it smells better than the last one, you know."

"And it gets even better when you smoke it." Daniel smirked, blew him a kiss and walked out of the room.

~~~

Josh was sitting at a table in the corner of the diner, waiting for Moon until the end of her shift.

Daniel and he had agreed to keep a close eye on her, at least until they'd find a final solution. They were going to personally escort her wherever she needed to go.

When the door opened his eyes snapped up to see Daniel taking off his shades and looking around the place.

It didn't take long before he spotted his best friend and joined him at the table.

"Hey, D." Josh greeted him lazily.

"Hey, man." He greeted back, pulling out his keys and wallet before placing them on the table along with his shades and phone.

"I was waiting for you. What are you having?"

"Mh. Let's start with a coffee. Where's Moon?" He asked, glancing at the menu.

"She's right there." Josh said nodding toward Moon.

"That skirt is too f*****g tight and short." Daniel sighed, shaking his head.

"Danny." Josh put down the menu and looked at his friend, seriously. "Shall we talk about what happened yesterday on my bed?"

Daniel looked away, stroking his neck sheepishly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Come on, man. You know. We were there with her, you were acting like a horny dog. Where are we going?" Josh sighed, his gaze moved toward Moon who was attending the tables, unaware of the hungry looks male customers were sending her way.

Daniel was right after all, that skirt showed all her good "qualities". He was pissed off and felt the urge to rip their eyes off.

"I don't know man. I was so hot and bothered. I can't resist her. Hell, I can't even think properly when she's near." Daniel put his hands on his face and groaned in frustration.

"Yeah, I can relate. But that is wrong. I don't want to do this. Not to her. Not with her." He sighed.

"Hey, what's with the long faces, handomes?" The cherishful voice of a short redhead waitress startled them. "Moon is busy, I can take your orders, ok?" She asked with a flirty smile, batting her lashes.

"We'll wait for her, thanks." Daniel said after a few seconds of confusion.

His tone admitted no reply, so the redhead sighed in defeat and stomped away with a frown.

"Look, J. I know, ok? Just-"

"Hey guys." Moon cut him off as she approached their table with a little block notes and a pen in her hands.

"Hey..." they greeted her.

"I'm sorry, busy day."

"Don't worry, babe." Josh smiled at her.

"That b***h was trying to steal my table." She scowled, sending nasty glares at her coworker.

"Well, she tried with the wrong table." Daniel said, staring at her longingly. He couldn't help it.

"Well, that's good to hear. So, what can I get you?" She didn't seem to notice the effect she had on him.

"Two black coffees to start, please. Oh, and a chocolate donut for me, I'm starving." Josh chuckled. Then he closed the menus and handed them to her with a sweet smile.

"Coming right up." She said, smiling as well and leaving them alone again.

"Let's talk about it when we're alone." Daniel said after Moon was far enough not to hear him.

"Ok, but don't think I'll forget."

~~~

'Infinite dreams, I can't deny them

Infinity is hard to comprehend

I couldn't hear those screams

Even in my wildest dreams

Suffocation, waking in a sweat

Scared to fall asleep again

In case the dream begins again

Someone chasing, I cannot move

Standing rigid, a nightmare's statue

What a dream, when will it end?

And will I transcend?

Restless sleep, the mind's in turmoil

One nightmare ends, another fertile

It's getting to me, so scared to sleep

But scared to wake now, in too deep

Even though its reached new heights

I rather like the restless nights

It makes me wonder, makes me think

There's more to this, I'm on the brink

It's not the fear of what's beyond

It's just that I might not respond

I have an interest, almost craving

But would I like to get too far in?

It can't be all coincidence

Too many things are evident

You tell me you're an unbeliever

Spiritualist? Well, me I'm neither

But wouldn't you like to know the truth?

Of what's out there, to have the proof?

And find out just which side you're on

Where would you end in Heaven or in Hell?

Help me to find my true self without seeing the future

Save me

Save me from torturing myself even within my dreams'

Iron Maiden - Infinite dreams

It was half past two when Moon finally left the diner with Josh and Daniel.

She was so tired and sweaty that she immediately ran inside her bathroom to shower and fainted on her bed right after.

When she woke up it was dark and she felt like she'd been hit by a train.

She reached for the lamp on the nightstand table and switched it on, looking for her phone.

It was past midnight. She groaned, to think she'd slept for ten hours and didn't rest at all.

She kept dreaming about Clay, her father, her stepmom. She needed to leave. She couldn't let them find her. Nightmares haunted her everytime she closed her eyes. she couldn't live like that anymore.

She noticed a small piece of paper near the lamp and took it to read it.

'You were so tired you wouldn't wake up for dinner, so I just let you be. Should you wake up hungry, Mrs Solonov left something for you to eat in the fridge. Sweet dreams, babe. Josh.'

She smiled.

Josh was really an angel and maybe the universe had sent him to make up for all the s**t she'd had to swallow during her life.

He always cared about her and he somehow knew always what to say or do to make her feel special.

She stirred and got up to go to the bathroom where she washed her face and brushed her teeth.

She was wearing only a camisole over her panties but it was late and there was nobody in the rear garden, so she just took a cig and walked out on the balcony to lit it.

The rear garden was lit by the moon and something in the view soothed her.

She let out a sigh and leaned on the railing, her mind wandering.

"You're awake..."

A husky, deep voice on her left startled her. She hastily turned around, only to find Daniel on his own balcony, smoking a blunt.

He was stunningly handsome with his shirtless chest raising and falling at a steady rhythm, his muscular legs hit by the moonlight, his sharp eyes pointed directly at her, his sinful lips curled up into a smug grin. He was openly checking her out.

"You scared me." She sighed, lighting her cig.

"Didn't mean to. Slept well?"

"Quite. What are you doing up?"

"I can't sleep. As always." He let out a puff of smoke, before leaning on the railing. "Want to come?" He asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Where?" She asked, confused.

"You seem interested in the view. I know a place with a better one." He shrugged, an half smile tugging his lips up.