Purple Heather

Mathias stood, eyes closed, feeling the cool breeze pass around him and through his hair, his open hoodie fluttered behind him. Mathias couldn't remember where he was, which for some reason didn't bother him. The wind was strong, yet calming, bringing sweet scents of honey and rich pine. He could almost hear the sound of beautiful birdsong in the distance. Mathias found himself melting into this feeling of inner tranquility. It was too peaceful.

No. Something is wrong.

Mathias took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly as he opened his eyes. He let out a gasp, stumbling backwards. He found himself on top of a small hill, in front of him was a massive field of pink-purple flowers. The flowers grew in patches, multiple small buds blooming from long stems. Eyes wide and jaw parted he turned, and raised a hand to clover his surprise from the sight of even more of these purple flowers surrounding him, stretching for what seemed like miles.

Man, I have GOT to stop drinking. Where the hell am I this time?

Mathias spun around again, hair blown into his face, desperately attempting to find something to give him a clue about his location. He ran his hand up his hair, pushing it back out of his eyes. Suddenly, he stopped, sight locked on the bottom of a hill where tall pine trees stood. As if acting as a barrier between the purple flowers and the pine forest, a stretch of yellow and white daisies danced in the wind. However, what stood out the most to Mathias was a familiar pale blond figure, wearing a light blue button up shirt tucked into black slacks. The man was sitting among the daisies, a small brown and white bird stood on his outstretched hand.

"Lukas." With a smile forming, Mathias let out a breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding onto. He and Lukas had been seeing each other for about five months now, and Mathias had never been so invested in a relationship before. But why were they here? Mathias vaguely remembered going out to celebrate Alfred and Matthew's twenty-first birthday the night before, and he was known to sleep walk when he was drunk, often waking up in odd locations, but why was Lukas here? Mathias watched as another small bird landed on Lukas' shoulder, and... Lukas was smiling. Mathias' breath caught in his throat once more at the sight. Lukas rarely smiled, usually only happening in response to Mathias or his brother Emil, and it was beautiful.

Mathias took a step towards the daisies, desire to hold Lukas in his arms driving him forward without a second thought. He barely noticed the wind picking up speed until it disturbed a large flock of birds causing them to erupt from the pines behind Lukas. Mathias snapped out of his trance, noticing the sudden lack of daylight as thick gray clouds quickly rolled in, thunder roaring in the distance. Mathias returned his gaze towards Lukas, who seemed unaware of the impending storm.

"Lukas!" Mathias called out, but he was still too far into the flower fields to be heard. Drops of rain began to fall, quickly turning the ground beneath his feet into mud. Mathias glanced up at the sky, then covered his eyes with a hand to block the rain as he turned his attention to Lukas. Why wasn't he reacting? Mathias surged forward towards Lukas, calling out his name repeatedly, only to be drowned out by the force of the wind. Suddenly, a sharp flash of light followed immediately by a large clasp of thunder, which seized the fields with Thor's might, causing Mathias to slip and fall in the mud with a screech of panic. When he gathered his senses once more, he stood, trying to rub out the pain in his back, and glanced up to Lukas, still sitting neatly surrounded by the daisies. However, a loud crack tore Mathias' attention from Lukas as one of the pines caught fire, apparently struck by the bolt of lightning moments before. Branches shook and began to tumble from their mother tree, down to the ground below, barely missing Lukas. Then, another crack. The whole tree was falling. Lukas wasn't moving. No. No.

"NO!" Mathias screamed at the top of his lungs, racing towards Lukas. But he was too late. The tree and its branches swallowed Lukas whole. "LUKAS! NO!"

"NO!"

"NO!" Mathias gasped for breath, bolting up straight in his bed, arm extended in attempt to reach Lukas.. Beads of sweat rolling down his neck and back. The image of Lukas disappearing under the flaming branches still haunted his vision, and left him shaking. Grip still tight on his sheets, Mathias ran a hand through his hair and attempted to bring his breathing back to normal. It was just a dream, but the knot in Mathias' stomach refused to unravel.

It was just a dream, Mathias. Lukas is safe.