Did you have that dream again?


Title: Did you have that dream again?

Summary: Joe's perchance for horror movies disturbs Allison's otherwise dreamless sleep. Crossover with Dawn of the Dead (2004).

Prompt: 4: "Sunset"

Author: Sakura123 (weber_dubois22)

Rating: T

Characters: Allison Dubois, Michael, Joe Dubois

Chapters: 4/28

Word Count: 1,446

Written: 6/30th/09

Completed: 10/4/09

Disclaimer: Medium and all things related are property of Glenn Gordon Caron, CBS Paramount Television, Picturemaker Productions, and Grammnet Productions. Original storyline and characters are property of me, the author. Dawn of the dead and all things related are property of Paramount Pictures, George A. Romero and Zack Snyder.

Authors Note: Technically, this was the first idea that sprang to mind for a DOTD/Medium crossover, yet, somehow "Foresight" (found in the crossovers section for Dawn of the Dead) ended up being written and completed first. Inspiration comes from a nightmare, the title is a lyric from "O.R.T." from Silent Hill Origins, which I recommend you listen to when reading this.


Allison hadn't grown accustomed the moaning yet. She could imagine those things crowding around each other, wandering about aimlessly as they growled and wailed at anything that touched them. Her eyes wandered around the smooth ceiling above her while Marie slept peacefully next to her, curled in a ball underneath the covers. She wasn't quite sure how or why she was here. There was memory, but it was far out of her reach, buried by sadness and grief.

Slowly, Allison unwrapped her arm from around her daughter and slid from off the mattress. Her bare feet recoiled slightly from the cool hardwood floor, Allison could only wonder how the floor maintained such a temperature in the middle of a blistering summer. Moving around the bed, Allison proceeded out of the mock living quarters out into the wide walk space of the mall.

It was strange being inside a mall after closing hours, technically, it was the living example of places you didn't want to be in when all became dark. Every shadow, heightened by the setting sun, looked ready to crawl out of its hiding space and eat you alive, but only if you let your imagination to get the better of you. Considering their situation, Allison felt she was allowed to be a tad paranoid. Moving through the dark, Allison made a b-line for the rooftop door, which she noticed was slightly ajar.

Pushing the door open, she paused for a moment to allow her eyes to adjust to dim light above and her ears grow accustomed to the moaning above, which had grown louder for some reason. Allison proceeded cautiously up the stairs, hand sliding along the baluster as she ascended.

The need to run increased the closer she got to the rooftop entrance, swallowing her fear, Allison grabbed the edge of the door and peered through the crack. The first thing she noticed was the skyline; the emerging stars were shining amidst the blacker-than-night smoke that continued to rise into the sky like a omen. The second thing she noticed was the outline of a human body standing idly by the edge of the roof, seemingly unaffected by the ravenous cries below.

Sliding through the open door, Allison regarded the open space of the rooftop with suspicion, the thought of one of those things managing to find their way up onto the roof wasn't feeling like such a silly idea at the moment. Her slippers protected the soles of her feet from the sweltering surface of pebbles scattered across the roof, tucking her hair behind her ears, Allison dared to break the silence. "H-hello?" It was all she could think to say, at least if it was one of them they wouldn't bother to inquire why she attempted to talk, it would just rip her throat out.

Her fears were assuaged when the man turned to regard her. Allison breathed a sign of relief when she saw who it was. Michael smiled slightly when he saw her, gesturing towards himself with a awkward turn of his shoulder. Allison approached without hesitation, relieved to finally see a friendly face again. She watched him raise his arm and how she made herself comfortable against his side like it was second nature. "What are you doin' up here?" Michael asked, rubbing her arm in a comforting manner.

Allison smiled uneasily. "I could ask you the same thing." She paused, surveying the orange sunset with curiosity. Looking back to Michael, she continued. "I was just, wondering where everybody went. It gets lonely down there by yourself." There was a noncommittal grunt from Michael, of course he knew what she meant; despite being momentarily protected inside the fortified mall, the fear of one of those things getting inside was always present for them, especially for her. She had a daughter to look after.

"I was just watching the sunset," Michael mused, nostalgia thick in his voice. "The others are downstairs working on the buses. We should be outta here in no time." Allison nodded against his side, in taking the smell of the old spice deodorant he was wearing. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pressed a chaste kiss to his side through his shirt. She felt him flinch against her, obviously not expecting the public display of affection. "Allison…"

"That sound… it doesn't bother you?" Allison interjected. Michael paused. For the first time since he got up on the roof, he actually bothered to listen to the hungry moans below. He'd grown used to the sound to be honest; The first week in the mall, he couldn't stand it, he'd lost so much (or so little) so fast, that the mere thought that his family could be stuck out in the hellish world frightened him to no end. It still did, but after awhile, the moaning become background noise, especially after the others initiated their version of Hollywood Squares.

"Sometimes. Not really," He answered briefly, pulling away from her. Allison hugged herself, nodding. She watches Michael scratch the back of his neck, he always scratched when he was nervous. Michael makes her nervous, ever since she stepped foot inside the Crossroads Mall, Allison's had to reframe from calling him by the wrong name.

"What about you? The moans, do they bother you at all?" Michael asked, looking up from the ground.

"Yes," Allison's eyes were downcast, almost ashamed to admit it. The light of the sun was fading, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "I miss them, I miss them so much." This time she let her tears fall, there was no one to hide them from. Michael's arms were suddenly around her upper body, his cheek pressed against the top of her head while she buried her face in his chest. They were same height, she noted and it only seemed to make her cry harder. She could hear Michael whispering false reassurances, telling her it wasn't her fault they'd been killed. "There nothing you could've done," said.

But it was.

It always was.


Allison woke up a start, biting back a sob as relief already started to register in her system. She was back in the living room, unfocused eyes directed towards the TV. Beside her, she could hear Joe chewing loudly on something. Through the blur of sleep, she could faintly make out the outline two vehicles speeding through a blue city. Scrubbing her face with one hand, Allison reached out with the other and snatched the idle remote off the couch; With a press of a button the light of the TV died. "Hey!" The loud chewing stopped, she looked from behind her hand in time to catch Joe's annoyed look. "I was watching that, they just got out the mall," He whined.

"Well, I was sleeping!" Allison rebuked, tossing the cover away from her legs. "I told you not to watch those movies when I was sleeping. I have weird dreams."

"Did you just hear yourself? I remember no such thing," He protested, swallowing his popcorn. Allison started to climb across him, Joe was quick to move the bowl of popcorn from his lap and raise it over his head. Once she placed her feet on the floor he placed the bowl back onto his lap. "Well, I did," Allison yawned, ignoring his comment.

"Did you get eaten by zombies?" Joe joked, sitting the bowl aside. Allison snatched the pillow from behind him and prepared to attack him.


[End Prompt 4]