Twenty or so odd years later...
John was dreaming, but he didn't know it. If someone had happened to observe him as he slept that night, they would have seen him tossing and turning, drenched in sweat. It was more than a dream. It was a nightmare. In his mind, John was running deep under the earth, a crude weapon in his hands. Something chased him. Or was he the one chasing something? He couldn't tell anymore, but either way he knew he had to keep running. Faster and faster. John didn't know where he was going. At one point he slipped and fell in something wet, losing his grip on the weapon he carried. He thought it was just water, but it was too thick for that. John didn't want to think about it. Screwing his eyes shut, he took several deep, shuddering breaths before scrambling to his feet. With a new determination, he snatched the weapon back up and continued running. Deeper and deeper. Anger flared within him. A seething, dark hatred that grew stronger with every hurried step he took. He passed people. People that he didn't know. Faceless, broken people. But he didn't care. They just made him angrier. So he kept going until he'd passed them all. At last, he could see what he was really after up ahead. A dark, crawling shape struggled along the passage way. It was hideous and disgusting, John felt a cruel flood of satisfaction as he brought the weapon down upon it. There was a sudden flash of light, temporarily blinding him. He blinked, trying to move back a little in case there was danger. But the weapon he held so tightly was lodged deep inside something and wouldn't budge. When he could see clearly again, John gasped in shock. What stared back at him with wide, disbelieving eyes was himself. He had just stabbed himself straight through the middle. Then his perspective changed. He saw through the eyes of the other him. John gaped at the thing protruding from his chest, his eyes slowly traveling along its length. Fear gripped his heart, he did not want to see what was on the other end, but it was like his head moved on its own. What stared down at him was not human. It looked like him, but then not like him at all. It's eyes blazed with fury and tortured pain. It's mouth twisted into a broken, lopsided grin. A sickening, metallic smell filled his senses and John blacked out.
John woke with a start, sitting bolt upright he gasped for breath. With his heart racing, he scrambled out of bed, his feet getting tangled in the sheets. He half-fell half-jumped to the floor only to promptly slip and land on his rear. Taking in deep gulps of air, like a fish out of water, he tried to calm his racing heart. John closed his eyes, leaning back against his makeshift bed. Another horrid dream, he thought. Will I never find peace? Running a hand through his hair in frustration, John quickly stood. He wasn't going to get anymore sleep that night anyway so he may as well make some tea.
John set some water to boil and waited. Leaning against the table, he considered the clock on the wall. The large, digital reading showed that it was 3:27 in the morning. He sighed, a long, heavy, world-weary sigh. Thoughts of the past drifted in and out of his head. Visions of desperation, fighting, and war. John shook them loose, however, covering them back up in the dark recesses of his mind when he noticed the water boiling merrily away. There was no use dwelling on things that had come and passed, he told himself firmly for the hundredth time. As he prepared his drink, John tried to focus his energy on what he was going to do in the future. Well, first of all it turned out that he would have to borrow some more tea soon. He barely had enough for one more cup. With another sigh, he sat down heavily to enjoy his hot beverage. John was just getting comfortable when his mind started wandering once more. It seemed he was cursed to forever live in the dark shadows of his past. So, instead of fighting it, John turned his thoughts away from the work he used to do and tried to focus on something happier. His mind went straight to Harry, his little sister. Not quite so little the last time he saw her. She had long since grown up and grown tired of all his mollycoddling. He smiled fondly as he recalled the days they spent in the city with their uncle. The days before he had gone to war.
*THUMP*
The sudden noise shocked John back to reality. The dull vibrations rattling his bones. Then everything was still again. Briefly he wondered what could have happened but quickly shook it off. It was none of his concern. These days he did his best to stay out of the affairs of Beans.
His mind slowly went back to wandering again. Unfortunately, it returned to less pleasant subjects. John recalled the last day he spent with his sister. And that night. That night they had argued. Of course, they had fought plenty of times through the years, but this had been different. Mostly because John had wanted that day to be perfect. Funny how even the best intentions can turn sour. John knew he was leaving that night, so he had planned a special day out for him and Harry. It had gone fine until they returned home that evening. Before John could tell her his plans, she had made her own announcement. One that John was less than happy about. She had wanted to go borrowing with friends. Now, this shouldn't have been a big deal, but Harry hadn't actually been borrowing without John or their uncle before. It was such a stupid argument. John had tried to stop her. Some things were said. Things that hurt both sides. And she'd left anyway. So he never got to tell her. Now that he thought about it, he should have waited. He should have said a proper goodbye. But he'd been so angry at the time. He left a note for her and that was it.
*THUMP*
This time the shock carried him to his feet. John waited and listened for a moment, but it was quiet once again. He shook his head as he slowly sat back down. If it happened again he would go investigate. He was just so tired right now. Maybe he could actually get some more sleep.
With a weary groan, John stood and walked to bed. Well, more like limped. It seemed his leg was bothering him more and more lately. He collapsed in the middle of the plush, homemade mattress and instantly slipped into unconsciousness. Thankfully, he had no more dreams.