First of all, sorry for the delay you all. I had a busy week back. But, ah, here we are, at last! The next chapter! Let us go forth, and see one that will certainly give a few of you a small light of happiness.
Dan was lying in his bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. To his right, Drago and Apollonir were snoring on his nightstand and normally he'd be snoring right along with them as soon as his head hit the pillow but not tonight. Tonight his mind was on other things, mainly about the next day. They had gotten in touch with Alice to see if she had wanted to come back to New Vestroia with them and she had said yes and was planning on arriving the following morning using the card Masquerade had used to teleport himself around. Dan was a littler stressed at the thought of all of them returning to New Vestroia, but that wasn't the only thing that bothered him. His thought's kept straying to Mira...
After everyone had sat down at dinner, Mira reappeared, white faced and looking like she had seen a ghost. Dan had asked her what was wrong, but she said she was fine. An obvious lie but Dan let it drop. She was quiet all through dinner and hardly ate.
What was wrong with her? Dan thought.
Suddenly he heard a scream, short and sudden, come down the hall. From Mira's room. Dan bolted upright and rushed out his door.
-x-
Mira lay twisted and tangled in her bed sheets, her breathing fast and erratic. Her throat hurt from the scream that had just came out of burned her eyes and trailed down her cheeks, the salty taste touching her lips. She started shaking as spasms rocked her body, sobs ripping their way out of her chest. Her nightmare, and the fear from it still fresh her mind. She heard the bedroom door open and Dan's voice ask "Mira. Mira, hey, what's wrong? Was it another bad dream?"
"I-I'm fine D-Dan." she choked out unconvincingly, tears still falling down her face.
Mira heard the door close and thought Dan had left when she felt the bed springs creak and two arms wrap around her. Dan pulled her against him and whispered softly "Shh...Mira's it's okay. It's alright. Your nightmare wasn't real, shh it's okay." he started rubbing her back turned her face against his chest and gradually her breathing slowed, her tears trickling to a stop. The front of Dan's shirt was damp from where her tears had soaked into it.
"Feel better?" he asked worriedly.
"A little." she said in a slightly rasping voice.
"Do you...want to talk about it?"
"I don't know." she bit her lip.
"It might help."
Mira was quiet for a moment. This nightmare had been like a combination of the last two. She'd be in the park with Keith, and then the mist would come and he'd disappear, only to see him reappear as Spectra. Then suddenly Dan was in front of her, trying to protect her. Spectra had smirked and a red and black beast would rise up behind him, only it wasn't Helios, it was Drago. Dan's face had twisted in pain and fear. Drago attacked Dan, blasting him with a stream of flames. That's when Mira woke up.
"I think," she said hesitantly "I'd rather not."
"Want to talk about something else then?" he asked.
"Like what?" she whispered.
I don't know. Anything." he whispered back.
Mira didn't really have anything to say. Really, she was just fine the way she was with Dan holding her, comforting her. It made everything seem okay even when it really wasn't. She remembered what Spectra had told her earlier, what she had to do the next day. She felt her chest tighten with anxiety. Her face must've given away some of what she was feeling, because Dan looked at her and said "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Just stay here with me." she said desperately, feeling panic trying to claw it's way through her. If Dan left, then the dream might come back. Plus, she didn't know if she'd ever be with him like this again.
I need him.
Dan hesitated then sighed. "Okay. Scootch over though, I'm freezing."
Mira moved back slightly while Dan slid under the covers. She snuggled back up against him while he put one arm around her. "Goodnight Dan."
"Goodnight Mira." he yawned and closed his eyes, falling asleep almost immediately. Mira took a bit longer but finally went under, lulled by Dan's breathing and the warmth of him beside her.
And...dere we go. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Again, sorry for the long gap. Random thought, but you should all listen to Diablo by Simon Curtis. And It Has Begun by Starset. Amazing songs. Also, has anyone noticed the eater egg in the chapter titles? It's been in most of them, except maybe the first five chapters. Comment if you know what it is.