Nocturn's Dream
Danny sank to the ground, and curled into himself. His head hurt and he couldn't breathe. Sam's soft hands gently pulled at his arms, trying to get him to uncover his head.
"Danny, it's okay. I'm real, I promise." She murmured softly with a begging edge.
"I can't. I can't. I can't know that." He rocked, squeezing his head. "There's no way to know!"
"Danny, please, look at me."
He didn't respond. He rocked back and forth, a hiccuping sob spilled out of him. Something was wrong, off, different. He could feel it.
"You can feel me, right? And the sidewalk under you, and the sun, and the breeze. You hear the car? You're here, Danny, and it's all real. I'm real." She rubbed his arm as she spoke.
He listened, slowing his breathing to match the pace of her hand.
"Sam, it was so real. The dreams were so real. I can't… I can't tell anymore!" He looked up at her, pleading.
"Nocturne is gone, Danny. We beat him, and if he comes back we can beat him again."
He whacked her hand away. He knew his sudden anger was unreasonable, but he didn't stop.
"How am I supposed to know if we actually beat him, huh?! That's what he does. He tricks you into thinking you're safe and happy, so you don't ever wake up! What if that had all been a dream, that me waking up to you guys saving me was a dream?!" He stood suddenly, towering over her and glaring. "There's no way to know! I can't know if you're real!"
She looked up at him, blinking in surprise at his outburst. Her large violet eyes contrasted beautifully with the rich grass beneath them. He deflated, plopping back down.
Ripping out a handful of grass, he mumbled, "I'm scared, Sam. I can't- I don't want to do this anymore."
"Do what, Danny?" She placed a firm, grounding hand on his shoulder.
The feeling of something being wrong twisted his gut again, but he shoved the feeling aside, focusing on the warmth of her hand.
"Question everything." Tears welled up in his eyes. "But I feel stuck. If-if I'm right and everything is wrong, then there's no way I should let it go. But if I'm wrong and everything is all right I'm driving myself mad for no reason."
She grabbed the sides of his head and forced him to look at her. Their noses were a hair apart as she gazed steadily into eyes. Heat rose into his cheeks.
"Tell me that I'm not real. Tell me that this," she grabbed his hand an put it against her chest, over her heart beat, "isn't real. Tell me that this," she suddenly pinched the top of his hand and he hissed in pain, "isn't real. Go on, Danny, tell me."
Danny couldn't say anything. He sniffed, tears spilling over. "I'm sorry."
She smiled, pulling away. "Don't apologize, you've been through a lot, and you're tired."
He huffed, smiling through the waterworks.
Standing up, she offered him a hand, "let's get down, before your parents yell at us for climbing on top of the ops center again."
He took her hand, nodding.
"And maybe you can try to get some sleep; you look like you need it, Ghost Boy." She squeezed his hand, pushing his uneasiness further away.
At his sad smile, she bumped his arm, "hey, I mean it. I promise I'm real. I'm Sam and not anyone or anything else."
He nodded, squeezing her hand back. "Yeah, I know. You're real. You're Sam."
