"Ahhhh" the boy screamed. He sat up as the sound echoed in the small house. He slept on blankets in a small area blocked off from the rest of the house only by a curtain. The rest of the space was empty, save a stool and bare bookcase. His face was wet with sweat and the covers hugged his body. A movement in the window caught his eye. He turned to look as light struck followed by the boom of thunder. He moved further under the blankets keeping only his eyes out.
The room quieted and the only sounds heard were of the falling rain and of the women walking in the room. She held a candle, illuminating the room. Her face was worn. Dark circles and bags hung under her eyes. Her black hair caused her face to look pale and unhealthy. As she walked her arms shook as she struggled to take each step. She sat on the stool next to the boy and stroked his hair. He was small for his age. His body was thin and his face looked like it hadn't been washed in days. His hair was the same color as the women and grew long to his ears.
He looked at her with care, with a need for comfort. His faced showed that he was worried, and even scared. She smiled and he weakly smiled back.
"Was it the dream again" she asked. It was barely above a whisper. The boy nodded. "With the girl" she continued.
His eyes focused down on the floor. "Yes, with the black hair" he answered before looking back at the women.
"Who else?", she pressed on.
"The boy, too, with blond hair and…" he said. The women looked away this time. She seemed to know what he would say.
"Yes" she said urging him to continue.
The boy looked out the window. He didn't seem like he wanted to say more. "There was another boy their too. He had dark hair. I had never seen him before" he finally said.
"What did he do?" she asked.
"He… He tried to stop her, the girl. She…He couldn't. She killed the blond boy. Like she always does" he said as he started to cry. The women hugged him closer. The light from the candle she was holding seemed to fade. Right before it went out the women sat him up again.
"Was that all" she asked. She had concern in her voice.
The boy shook his head. "She killed the other boy too. She scares me, mom" he told her.
"It's ok. It's just a dream" she told him as she set his head down on his pillow. "Go back to sleep" she said.
He held her hand as he shut his eyes. Lightning struck outside again and the light blew out. The boy's breathing steadied and his face relaxed as he fell back to sleep. When she was sure he was asleep, she got up to leave. She walked a few steps then stopped. She turned back to the boy and said, "One day, son, you will do great thing. I love you, Merlin". She turned again and walked out.