Chapter 2
The warm coffee flowed though her veins, awaking her scenes. Tally felt her brain becoming alert, her thoughts becoming crisper. She focused on the moonlight image, trying to trace back where she had first seen it, trying to make some sense of her dreams. Her mind took her back to a dream that she had just a few short days ago.
The evergreens were white with a fluffy topping. Their rich scent filling the air, the icy wind blowing Tally's hair every which way. Farther down the path, young Uglies were playing with the white fluff, Boys shaping it into spheres and tossing them around, making small sculptures, the little girls throwing handfuls into the air and dancing in it. She felt a warm hand rest on her shoulder. She turned to see David looking into her eyes. His lopsided smile stretching across his face, Tally couldn't help but smile back. "Welcome to The real Smoke" David had told her as more of the sparkling fluff started to fall lightly around them. The Uglies ahead of them started to scatter to hurry home for supper. David offered his arm as he and Tally continued down the glistening path.
Those few words stuck her as she remembered the dream. She didn't know if she should tell David. It seemed to her that he knew something about the coating that she didn't. She knew she must ask him. Being the adventurous person she is, she could resist telling David of her find. She set the coffee on the side table and jumped up and practically ran down the hall. She flew through David's door and went and kneeled down beside David's bed. She shook his shoulder lightly. "David? David, wake up" She whispered. David's hand tried to push Tally's arm away, Sighing, Tally flicked her wrist for the lights to turn on. He tried to cover his eyes with the warm blue blanket, but Tally was too quick. She grabbed the corner and wrestled with David until he gave in and woke up.
"Tally, what do you think you're doing? Its 4 am" She said groggily. "Please don't tell me it's another mission" He sighed
"No, nothing like that, it's the dreams I have been having. I think there is a message in them" Tally answered.
"Tally, why haven't you told me about this? you seem quite worried" David replied with gentleness in his voice.
"I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to worry you or Shay. But I think I may have found a connection between some of them" Tally sighed
"Connection? But how does that involve me?" David asked with a puzzled look
"Well..." Tally started to feel shy. "A few nights ago, you said something in one of my dreams that might give me a clue" Tally said quietly as she bowed her head. "It's about The Smoke" She barely whispered.
David's eyes went wide at the sound of "The Smoke", He wished he could just move on from what had happened. He didn't want to stir up memories of The Smoke, but deep down he knew he had to help Tally find the meaning of her dreams. He gently pulled Tally's head up and looked deep into her dark eyes.
"What do you need to know about The Smoke" David asked in a strong yet gentle voice.