Lost in the Dream

Slim Chances Are Still Chances

Gideon

The world may be collapsing but the only that matters to me is that he's alive.

°°°

I glanced outside the glass wall. It's a typical sunny day but my heart can't find peace. I don't know why I keep glancing at my watch. I've never been this restless since the day Mom was taken away from us.

It's only 9 in the morning. I want to call Koa but he must be in his class at this hour.

We were playing hide and seek when she disappeared. Since then Koa spent his life looking for those who took her away from us.

I wanted him to give up.

I can't bear another loss. He's the only one I have left and there's no way in hell I'm letting anyone take him from me.

I just served coffee to a customer when someone caught my attention. The watch on the table got my attention.

I ran after the man but when I got out of the Café he's no longer there. I heave a sigh as I stare at the watch. It's kind of weird though. I haven't seen anything like this. The owner must be a wealthy man.

I don't have an interest in precious things. The last we have something precious in our possession, it led us to misfortunes.

"I guess I need to keep you until the owner takes you back."

After my shift, I walk straight to the bus station.

But something is bothering me. It feels like it happened before.

Is it Deja vu?

I tapped my pocket to fish my phone but the watch of the strange customer is the only thing there.

I stare at it again and as I scan it; I accidentally pushed the crown.

It was like I was absorbed in another dimension because the next thing I know is that I'm standing in the old building where Mom left us a decade ago.

Three familiar faces appeared in front of me. I don't know where they came from but my feet act of their own volition.

I started cursing as I run away.

Where is Koa? They can't find him. They must not find him!

Someone pulled me and I almost throw a fit but it was Koa to my surprise. My mind swirls in confusion.

What the heck is going on?

"We need to leave this place," I whisper yell.

"They're here for me," he said calmly.

"Of course, they are genius!" I said in exasperation.

Their footsteps are now near us so we both run.

I glanced at Koa and a strange scene flash before my eyes.

We saw three pairs of black shoes before we hear someone speak. We both fell into silence when we slowly look up at the people in front of us with the one in the middle pointing his g*n at Koa's head.

"You got nowhere to go, boy." The man in the middle with his deep croaky voice said. His voice alone is scary as the sound of metal being dragged into the pavement.

In a blink of an eye, Koa collapsed on my lap. My tears fall on his face as I stare at the whole on his forehead.

I almost had a heart attack after that. I pushed Koa away from me.

"You have to run, Koa! Go!" I exclaimed between my hard breathing.

"Are you stupid?! I'm not leaving you here!" Koa argued.

I want to hit him right now but I'm afraid I don't have time for that.

"I need to distract them. If they catch you they'll definitely kill you! You need to save yourself!"

"Shut up, Giddy! I'm not losing you like I lose Mom!"

If you don't want to you should've listened to me.

I didn't tell him that, though. I guess there's no point in fighting with him.

I need to get him out of this place and until then I can't let anything bad happen to him.

I took his hand as we run side by side. I can still hear their footsteps and this time, they're getting closer.

We run and run until we reached the spot where we used to hide from them. I pulled him to the side and make sure we don't make any sound.

If my premonitions are true, they'll catch us here. I glanced at the watch I'm still holding.

My chances were slim but I can't let them stop me.

It's either escape or death.

I'm not ready for him to die.

We saw three pairs of black shoes before we hear someone speak. We both fell into silence when we slowly look up at the people in front of us with the one in the middle pointing his g*n at Koa's head.

I cursed again and again.

"You got nowhere to go, boy." The man in the middle with his deep croaky voice said. His voice alone is scary as the sound of metal being dragged into the pavement.

I rotate the crown and in a blink of an eye, I'm back to the Café. I immediately searched for the wall clock. It says 9:05 in the morning.

Did I just dream? I went to the staff room and take out my phone.

I walk back and forth as I wait for him to pick me up.

"Where are you?"

"Seriously, Giddy? I have a class right now. You want them to confiscate my phone?"

I took a sigh of relief. Silent tears roll down my face.

"Take care, man. Study well, alright? You know how much I love you, right?"

"You're being weird, Giddy." Koa said after a moment of pause, "See you later."

"Gideon! You need to clean the tables! What are you doing there?" Our manager shouts, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Coming!" I shouted back.

The headline from a newspaper I found on the table caught my attention.

THE HEAD OF SYNDICATE WAS KILLED IN A RAID LAST NIGHT IN APARTMENT 404.

It's the same syndicate who are after us. If the leader is gone and others were already imprisoned, I saved Koa, right?