Nightmarish Reality
Chapter 2 - The Plot Thickens
By Lady Strata

Sage spit out the sip of water he had just taken. He dropped his glass, and it shattered on the floor. But he didn't even notice as he whirled around and ran out of the kitchen.

Sage's heart was pounding wildly as he ran up the stairs. As he ran, he could hear doors flying open and running feet. As he got to the top of the stairs, he caught a brief glimpse of Mia running into Rowen's room.

"Rowen! Are you all right, man?" Kento was saying. Sage ran into the room to see the Warrior of Justice standing over Rowen, who was tossing in his bed, moaning.

"No...no..."

"What's he talking about?" Ryo asked, scratching his head.

Sage nudged Kento out of the way and bent over Rowen.

"Ro! Are you all right? What's happening?" He shook Rowen's shoulders. It's me, Sage! Rowen, say something!"

"If you hadn't been stupid enough to let yourself get attacked, you would have been here to defend them. I didn't kill your best friend, you did!"

"No, no I didn't! I swear I didn't!"

Rowen sobbed as he lay helpless on the ground. He knew in his heart that Cale was right. It was his fault that his friends were dead. All his fault...

"No...no..."

"Rowen!"

Someone was calling his name, but he didn't answer. He didn't even care. What did it matter? He was alone. Alone forever.

"Rowen, wake up!"

Something was shaking him. He felt a grip on his shoulders, and the voice kept calling. Funny, the voice sounded just like Sage's. But Sage was dead. So who could it be?

"ROWEN!"

Rowen screamed again. "Stop it, Sage, stop it! I'm sorry! I didn't mean for you to die! Just leave me alone!"

"Rowen, what are you talking about?"

Whoever had a grip on his shoulders shook him hard. Sage's voice called to him again.

"Rowen, snap out of it!"

Rowen's eyes flew open, and he sat straight up in bed. The first thing he saw was Sage's face, just inches from his own. Rowen screamed.

Ryo stood in Rowen and Sage's room with the others, staring at the scene before him. One minute Rowen had been screaming and thrashing around in his bed, and the next he had suddenly woken up and freaked out.

Ryo watched his friend. Rowen was covered with sweat and breathing hard. Sage had jumped back when Rowen had suddenly sat up and screamed right in his face. He was sitting on the floor, staring at Rowen.

Finally Mia spoke. "Rowen...what happened?"

Rowen looked around at the people in his room, his eyes wide with fear.

"What-what's going on? Where am I? Am I dead?"

Mia and Ryo exchanged concerned looks. "No, Rowen, you're here. In your room. And what do you mean are you dead?"

"You...you all died. I saw it."

"What?"

"It's true. It was all my fault."

Sage picked himself up off the floor and sat on the edge of Rowen's bed. "Rowen...we're all alive. You're alive, too. You must have been dreaming."

"No I wasn't! I know what I saw! It was real! It was!"

"Rowen, calm down," Mia said. "Everything's fine."

"Everything is NOT fine! You all died, and I couldn't do anything about it!"

"Rowen-"

"How did you survive? I saw Cale. He...he..."

"Okay, Ro, okay. Just take a deep breath and tell us what happened," Sage said, putting a hand on Rowen's shoulder.

Listening to his friend's advice, Rowen closed his eyes and took and deep, shaky breath. He opened his eyes and saw his friends around him, including White Blaze and Yuli. He took another deep breath and told them all about his dream.

When he was done, there was a heavy silence in the room. Yuli finally spoke.

"Don't worry, Rowen; it was just a nightmare. I have nightmares sometimes, too. But Mia always tells me they're not real. They can't hurt me."

"I'm not so sure about this dream, Yuli," Rowen said, staring at his folded hands resting in his lap.

Yuli's eyes grew wide and his face paled. "You mean you're all gonna die?" he asked in a small, frightened tone.

Mia put her arm around him. "No, Yuli, no one is going to die. Rowen just had a very bad dream. Why don't you let me put you back to bed?"

"But what about Rowen?"

"He'll be fine. Come on, Yuli."

After the two of them left the room, the heavy silence took place once again. This time, Cye broke it.

"How long have you been having this dream?"

"Why should it matter, Cye? It's just a dream, isn't it?"

"Just answer my question."

"Well...I think since last night."

"You think?"

"Well, last night was the first time I really remember having the dream. But..." He trailed off.

"But what?"

"It's just..." Rowen swallowed nervously. "It's just that I had bits and pieces of the dream before last night. Like, the night before last I only dreamt the part of the dream where Cale killed Sage." He looked up at all of them, his eyes wide. "And a few nights before, I only dreamt the part where I found your-your bodies." He sniffled, trying to forget the horrible memory.

"So last night was the first time you dreamt the entire dream?" Mia asked as she came back into the room.

"Yes."

"Yeah, but what does it mean? You know, what's gonna happen?" Kento said.

"I guess the dream is what's going to happen."

"So we're all gonna die? Just like that?"

"Look, everybody, calm down," Mia interrupted. "Why don't we all get some sleep and continue this discussion in the morning?"

Everyone nodded, and one by one, they walked out of the room, until only Sage and Rowen were left.

Sage shut the door behind them and sat down on his own bed. His stared at Rowen with his one visible eye.

"Rowen...why didn't you tell me something was wrong?"

"I-I just wasn't ready to tell you. That's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Well...no."

"Then what?"

"Sage-you're my best friend. And I didn't want to tell you about my dream because I thought you would make a big deal over it. Start saying it foretold the future or something. I didn't want to worry everybody over a silly dream."

Sage shook his head. "Rowen...this is a big deal. You're worried over this. I'm worried over this. Everybody's worried over this. Your dream obviously means something."

"My nightmare," Rowen said bitterly.

"Exactly. This isn't the first time you've made noises in your sleep. I've heard you. You kept saying, 'No...no...'just like you were now."

"I have?"

"Yes, you have." Sage yawned and look at his bedside clock. "Look, it's late. We should get some sleep."

"So you can all grill me about this in the morning."

"Stop being so bitter, Rowen. This isn't just your problem any more. Go to sleep." Sage got under the covers on his bed and turned over, trying to fall asleep.

"See, I told you you'd make a big deal over this."

"I am NOT making a big deal over this."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes you are."

Sage sighed. "Look, this is stupid. Let's just go to bed."

Rowen staying sitting up in his bed, glaring across the room at Sage. "Asshole," he muttered under his breath. Then he lay back down and closed his eyes.

At nine o' clock the next morning, Kento staggered into the kitchen. He took a seat at the kitchen table and turned to Cye.

"Food."

"In a minute, Kento," Cye said wearily.

Suddenly, Kento sat straight up in his chair.

"Oh man, cartoons! I almost forgot!"

He stood up and ran out of the room.

Cye smiled thinly and followed his best friend out of the kitchen.

When he found Kento, he was sprawled on his stomach on the floor in front of the TV, staring intently at the screen.

"Kento-"

"Sshhh! Dragon Ball Z is on!"

Cye gave him a weird look.

"Kento-"

"Oh, goody! Sailor Moon is on next! Man, Sailor Jupiter is a babe!"

Cye rolled his eyes.

Back in the kitchen, Mia held a jug of orange juice out to Sage.

"Want some?"

"No," he snapped. Mia looked at him, surprised.

"Sorry, Mia. I'm just worried about Rowen."

"We all are," Cye said as he came back and took his seat at the table.

"Well, after you guys left, we had this stupid fight over his nightmare. He said he didn't tell me about earlier because he thought I would make too big of a deal over it; and he was right. I ended up giving him this lecture. I've been beating myself up over it all night."

"Sage, you were tired. Don't worry about it," Mia said reassuringly.

"But I feel so guilty. If he was awake, I would apologize to him"

"You know Rowen," Ryo broke in. "He won't be up till two."

Sage sighed. "I've got a lot of waiting to do," he said.

"ANUBIS!"

"Yes, Master Talpa?"

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes. Everything is exactly as you ordered."

"Good. Bring Dais to me."

Anubis bowed his head. "As you wish, Master Talpa."

A minute later, Dais came in.

"You asked for me, master?"

"Yes. I want you to pay a little visit to Rowen of the Strata. You know what to do."

Dais bowed low. "Yes, Master Talpa."

Talpa laughed evilly.

"This way, we will have one less Ronin Warrior to deal with! When we go into battle, the Ronins will be weak! They will still be mourning the loss of their comrade, and their minds will not be on the battle! At last, we shall defeat them!"

His evil, haunting laugh echoed throughout his castle, and even his Warlords shivered.

Meanwhile, at Mia's mansion, Rowen slept peacefully in his room. His slow, even breathing was the only sound in the room.

He was completely unaware of the Warlord standing over his bed.

Dais stood over Rowen, an evil smile on his face. He watched the bearer of Strata silently, thinking of his evil mission from Talpa.

Rowen mumbled something in his sleep, and rolled over onto his back.

Dais smirked. "Pathetic Ronin," he hissed. "Your time is over." He held his sword over Rowen, preparing to plunge it into his heart.

Sage came back up the stairs and headed down the hall to his room. If Rowen was awake, which he probably wouldn't be, Sage would apologize to him right then and there.

He stopped short when he saw Dais, his sword directly over Rowen's heart.

"NO!" Sage shouted, and ran across the room, hoping, praying that he wouldn't be too late.

A WORD FROM THE LADY
Heart pounding, eh? Sorry for leaving you with another cliffhanger, I know how much you all hate 'em. I know the title of this chapter is kinda stupid, but I suck at thinking up chapter titles. Send me any flames, death threats, comments, suggestions, questions, etc. Just don't sue me, please.