Sorry for the absence people. Hurricane Mathew blew through recently and most of my town was out of power and trees were all in the road. This chapter is shortish, but we're getting into some longer parts coming soon! I'm going to try to update once or twice a week. Enjoy!
Mira gave a short and sudden scream when she woke up from her nightmare. She choked off the sound abruptly, feeling tears slide down her cheeks. She wasn't sure if she could take much more of this...
Suddenly, her bedroom door banged open to reveal Dan standing there, in an old T-shirt and shorts, breathing hard, his whole body tense. "Mira, are you okay?! What's-," his voice dropped off, then went weird. "Are you...crying? Is everything okay?"
Mira hastily wiped the tears off her face. "I'm fine Dan." her voice cracked.
Dan hesitated then came in and sat on the end of her bed, leaving the door open. The room was completely dark except for the faint light of the half-moon through the window.
"C'mon Mira, talk to me. Something's obviously wrong."
Mira hesitated, then got an idea. "I'll tell you what's wrong with me if you return the favor. Tell me why you were so upset this morning."
Dan winced. "Okay, that's fair." he sighed "I broke up with Runo."
"Why?" Mira asked, surprised.
"I didn't want her to get hurt from all of this. Like the next time I disappear again, or if Spectra or someone else kidnaps her. I couldn't take putting her in danger, the stress from it. She's better off without me."
"Are you okay with that?'
"I'll be fine." he said, but he looked so miserable at the same time, it was hard to believe. Mira's heart clenched. They were both quiet for awhile, lost in there own thoughts. After a moment, Dan spoke. "So, I said what's been bothering me; now it's your turn."
"It's..nothing really. Just this nightmare I keep having." she said hesitantly, and Dan gestured for her to go on. "I'll be back on Vestal, in this park I used to go top when I was younger. And my brother Keith will be there with me. We'll just be talking and then suddenly this mist will appear, and Keith'll start to walk toward it. No matter how loud I call to him he doesn't seem to hear me. And I can't follow him, it's like I'm stuck. Normally, that's where the dream ends, but the last two times someone else starts to come out of the mist, and oh, Dan, it's-" her voice cut off abruptly.
"Who is it Mira?"
But she just shook her head, her hair rustling on the pillow. She couldn't tell him, not now.
Dan was quiet, then said "Mira, when we get back to New Vestroya, I'll help you look for Keith. I promise."
Mira's eyes burned from tears again. No one, not even Ace, not even her own damned father had ever offered or tried to help her find Keith after he disappeared. The offer may have come too little, too late, but still, someone said it, and it made her happy that it was Dan. She reached out and squeezed his hand. "Thank-you Dan."
"No problem." he smiled and squeezed her hand back, then let go and stood up. "Try to sleep now, okay? You need some rest." he patted her leg and walked to the door. "Goodnight Mira." he closed the door quietly behind him.
"Goodnight Dan," Mira whispered.