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Within Dreams—Chapter 9
Rea gingerly traced her fingers over her swollen left eye. The resulting pain made her wince and she dropped her hand down to her lap. Here she was, hours after the fight with Vitriol and her eye was still throbbing with pain and so swollen she was unable to open it.
She looked at the six children, all stretched on the floor of the room sleeping. Poor kids, she thought. They shouldn't be dragged into this. It's not fair. It made her feel terrible, knowing that every moment these children were in this world they were in danger and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
They look so different when they're asleep, she thought. They look so
innocent…and vulnerable. She swept her eyes across the room, looking
at each of the children in turn, taking in how peaceful and tranquil they
looked—all except for Kari. The young
girl's eyes were open and she was staring up at the ceiling, lying unmoving on
the ground.
"Kari?" Rea whispered, tiptoeing across the room to where the girl was laying.
Kari sat up on her elbows and looked at Rea. It was apparent to Rea that Kari was tired, as the girl's eyelids were drooping, but she also appeared to be quite alert.
"Yes?" Kari answered.
"What's wrong?"
Kari hesitated, wondering if it would be better to leave the question that had been on her lips all night unasked, but quickly decided to get it over with: "back when you and Vitriol were fighting…how did you know her?"
"I don't," Rea quickly replied. Too quickly.
"But you did know her. I remember it. You knew her name, first thing. How?"
Rea gritted her teeth. Kari had a point and there was no way of denying it. The best reply Rea was willing to offer was silence.
Kari waited for an answer, but received none. So she continued: "I know this is going to sound stupid, but there was something…something in her eyes that I've seen in yours. I can't understand it, but I saw it there in her eyes."
"It was nothing," Rea harshly answered. "You were mistaken."
"No. I don't think so," Kari firmly replied. "I know that look. I've seen it in Matt and TK's eyes. And in my and Tai's eyes."
Rea was getting uncomfortable. She did not want her secret to get out. She did not want them to know that her own sister was fighting against them. She didn't want to face the fact herself. And yet Kari was figuring it out as she watched.
"Rea…are you and Vitriol…sisters?"
"No. Vitriol is not my sister," Rea answered. It was true, partially. Her real name wasn't Vitriol. It was actually Nema. But Nema was dead. Oh, maybe it wasn't physical. But Nema was not existent anymore. In her place was Vitriol.
"Are you sure?"
Rea nodded and
answered: "Nema is my sister." She
paused, then corrected herself: "was my sister."
"Was?" Kari loudly repeated. "Was?" she once again repeated, whispering
once again.
"Yes. Was. She's gone and she's not coming back."
Kari's face fell and she gently inquired: "w-what happened to her?"
"I'd…rather not talk about it right now," Rea haltingly answered. There was a long silence before she broke it with: "Kari? What's it like to sleep?"
"What do you mean? You've never gone to sleep before?"
"Yeah. What's it like?"
Kari smiled slightly and said: "I can't really explain it. It's something you have to experience yourself." She yawned. "I'm tired right now," she added.
"Then go to sleep."
Rea backed away from Kari as the girl lay back down on the floor and closed her eyes. She was sleeping in under a minute.
I wish I could sleep, Rea thought, looking once again at
the children in front of her. I wish
I could sleep….
~*~
Joe hadn't dared to move from the rooftop since his encounter with Nocuous. His left cheek had two red slits on it, from the slashes he received from the knife. And there was no way he was going to be able to sleep. He was too shaken up and too afraid.
He'd laid on that rooftop, staring up at the sky, watching as it first lightened, then darkened to a deep navy blue, then a black. He'd watched as the sun had traveled across the sky. He'd watched as the stars came out. But he hadn't moved from that rooftop.
My family must be worried sick, he realized, only now thinking of it. I should go back. But something inside of him was making it impossible to return back to his family's apartment.
He remembered for the first time since Nocuous confronted him about the cell phone calls he had made. The cell phone calls that went unanswered.
Something's wrong. I've got to find my friends. It's unlikely they'd all be out of town at the same time. Something is wrong.
Finally, Joe was able to get to his feet. He moved quietly, afraid that Nocuous would appear out of nowhere if he made a noise. He climbed down the fire escape, pausing by his window to look inside. He realized that this could well be the last time he ever saw that room. At this revelation, he felt like going inside and talking with his family. But he couldn't. They would not allow him to leave again and he had to leave.
He shook his head and quickly climbed the rest of the way down. Then he ran toward his friend's homes.
~*~
Mrs. Kamiya had not eaten in twenty-four hours. She was no longer allowed to stay in the same room as her children after what had happened to Tai.
She remembered how after what seemed like an eternity a nurse had entered the room and been shocked at the blood on Tai's sheets. And then she'd been ushered out of the room, although she fought against it.
They think I did it, she miserably thought. They think I hurt Taichi. I'm his mother. And they think I hurt him. Their own mother not allowed to see them.
It hurt. It hurt bad.