Chapter 13: Within Dreams

As the music coming from the radio continued to play gently in the background, mixing with the soft nighttime sounds, Father Nightroad and I remained in the confines of the courtyard for several more hours. Enjoying the other's companionship. Sitting on the stone bench beneath of the palm tree, we were able to find a never ending supply of topics that we could discuss. We even managed to think of a few activities that we could do with one another. So as I pointed up at the dark sky that was above us, my reborn eyes now much more adept to seeing within the darkness than they had once been, I traced out the shape of one of the many constellations with my finger, saying as I did so. "Father Nightroad, I've got a question."

His eyes followed after my finger as I played connect the dots with the stars. "What might that be, Jonah?"

Moving from one constellation to the next, I continued. "Well I'm curious. I know that I haven't always been a Methuselah. So why all of the sudden? Why now?" I could feel as Abel began looking at me.

For a moment, he just sat pensive and lost deep within his thoughts, then from the growing silence, I heard him speak. "The only thing that I can think of is that the Bacillus in your blood has been, up until recently, dormant." He began to use his own fingers to quickly point out the constellations that I had missed, he whispered. "But the instant that you died, they must have activated...trying to save their host, along with themselves in the process."

I nod my head as I watched his swift yet precise hand movements. "Is that something that happens a lot?"

Abel laughed quietly, the sound wholeheartedly capturing his full amusement that he had found in the question that I had asked. "No. Actually it isn't."

About to turn to look at him, I was forced to stop when I noticed that the world around us began to spin rapidly out of control. Eventually everything started to wash away from our surroundings. Nothing around us was clear enough to see and when the world finally stopped moving, I could instantly see that we were no longer sitting in the courtyard. It was still nighttime and we were still outside, but a few minute details had been changed in the most slight of ways. The stars up above us seemed to be brighter and the twin moons appeared to be closer. Looking around, I took a single step and heard the clack of a heel striking against a hard surface. Glancing down, I saw that I was no longer wearing the white shirt and long pajama pants. I now wore a light pink sleeveless dress that came down to just above my knees, the dress itself was made out of lace, the top layer of which had been decorated with intricate patterns sewn into the material. As I leaned forward, I saw that I was also now wearing a pair of Mary Jane's that matched the color of the dress, and lifting my foot up off the ground, I noticed that the shoes had a small heel that looked to be only an inch in height. On my legs I had on a pair of white stockings that rose up to my shins. Confused by what I was seeings, I slowly set my foot back down against the brick tile that I was standing on.

In my own thoughts, I reeled about trying to think of an explanation that would make the most sense to me. "What is all of this?! Is this...is this the Orders doing?!" Casting around, I made an effort to look for Abel, who had disappeared from my side. When I finally found him, I felt all of my worry fall away as relief came flooding through my consciousness. He was standing off in the distance beneath the illumination cast by some string lights. From where I stood, I couldn't tell if he were troubled by what had just happened or not. I didn't know if he had even noticed it to begin with. But with my sights set on Father Nightroad, I began walking towards him. The sounds of my heels audible with every step that I took and when I was close enough for him to hear me, I whispered out his name. "Father Nightroad?"

At the mention of his name, he turned to gaze at me. He looked no different than he had before the scenery had been changed around us, but as his winter blue eyes laid upon my figure, the breath within my lungs got caught inside of my chest. Instead of his carefree smile and his eyes which were normally filled with jubilance, I was now greeted by a crooked little smile and his eyes now contained desire. When he spoke, his voice came out as a soft breath. "Jonah."

As he whispered my name, I could feel my face steadily growing hot. My heart racing. "Father Nightroad?"

He chuckled once, the sound was soft, but it wasn't the one that he usually had. Without another word, he started to approach me. His blue eyes looking at me and only me.

Frozen in place by the fear caused from my lack of understanding all that was going on, I simply stood still. Watching as Abel continuously drew himself closer to where I was.

When he was directly in front of me, he gently slid his right hand across the left side of my face. His thumb caressing my cheek. There was a look on his face that I had never seen before. "Jonah, there's been something that I've been meaning to tell you. And to be honest, I'm not sure that I'll be able to restrain myself from saying it for much longer than I already have." He slid his hand from my cheek to the back of my neck and bending down low, he began to speak. As his lips moved, I could feel them gently brushing against my ears. "You can't possibly deny the fact that from the moment that you and I met, there's been an incredibly strong connection between us."

I could feel my eyes growing wide as I realized just how close Abel had gotten to me. My legs became weak beneath my body as he continued to whisper his breathy words that were meant for only me to hear.

"Please don't be nervous, Jonah." I could feel his lips turn up and forming into a simple smile, then with a soft exhale, I felt as his warm breath gently tickled the flesh on my neck. "I, at least, hope that you've felt the same connection that I have. Because if you have, then tell me, has it been just as unbearable for you as it has been for me?" Keeping his hand on the back of my neck, he finally pulled away, but his face was still incredibly close to my own.

As I swallowed nervously, I felt my cheeks burn brighter than they ever had and the look in Abel's eyes let me know that he could see the blush spreading across my face. When I had found my voice, I stammered. "Fa-Father Nightroad? Wh-what are you doing?"

He smiled the very smile that I was so used to seeing. Then in a matter of fact tone of voice, almost as if his intentions were already so blatantly obvious, he answered me. "I'm merely telling you all of the things that I've been dying to say to you for months." Brushing away a strand of hair from the side of my face with his free hand, he ventured forward. "Now Jonah...has there ever been anything that you've wished that you could have said to me, but didn't?"

Slowly, I nod my head once. My one simple reaction caused me to beg for an answer within my thoughts. "What am I doing? Why did I just nod my head when he asked me that? I've never had anything that I hadn't been able to say to Father Nightroad..." My eyes finally reduced back to their normal size and with a sigh, I asked myself just one more silent question. "Have I?"

Drawing himself just a small bit closer to me, I could feel the beat of my heart quicken. Yet Abel smiled and looking me in the eyes, he asked. His voice sounding hopeful. "And what might that have been? Hmm?"

I took a deep breath and without thinking about it too much, I began to speak aloud the words that had already began to fill my thoughts. "Father Nightroad, since I've met you...I feel as though I have found my true smile. I just feel so happy when I'm around you." My gaze softening, I tried to resist the urge to reach up and place my hand against his cheek. However, choosing to relent, I raised my arm up, trailing the tips of my fingers along the side of his face. At my touch, I could easily hear Abel sigh contently, and I could feel him begin to nestle his face closer into the palm of my hand. "Father, when I'm around you, my heart races uncontrollably fast at times...and I've never been able to fully understand why it happens...until now." Just as I mentioned it, my heart sped up.

Sensing it as it happened, using his free hand, Abel lightly rested it against the left side of my chest, feeling for the beating heart that resided within me. As he found it, he smiled and chuckled quietly. "And what is the conclusion that you've come to?"

With his hand on my chest, over top of my wildly thrumming heart, I attempted to look down. But sliding his hand up from my chest and along my neck, he stopped it just underneath of my chin, gently tilting my head back so that I'd be looking only at him. I took a deep breath and began to speak. "I want...I want to stay with you forever!" A fresh determination filled both my body and mind. "I don't care if I'm a Methuselah and that you're a Crusnik! Father Nightroad, I...I think that I've fallen in love with you." I could feel the blush returning to my face even through all of my joy.

He closed his eyes for a brief second, then as he gently tightened the grip of his right hand. As he continued to hold it against the back of my neck, he slowly brought his face closer to mine. Then opening his eyes again, he gave me a playful smile, whispering. "All you ever need to do is ask, and I promise that you shall receive..."

As his voice fell away and I watched as he moved himself closer, I shut my eyes. Trying to prepare myself for what was inevitably going to happen.

But the instant before his lips met mine, I heard the sound of someone knocking on a door. Throwing my eyes open, I bolted upright into a sitting position in my bed. From where I sat, I frantically glanced around my room. My eyes taking in the sights of all that was familiar to me. The mirror in the corner, which now stood busted and shattered, then shifting my gaze over, I looked towards the only window that was in my line of sight. Floor length blackout curtains had been hung up on the curtain rod and prevented the sunlight from entering into the room. Trying to calm my breathing, I looked down and saw that I was still wearing my white shirt, and yanking back the covers, found the long pajama pants. It took me a minute before I could fully convince myself that I was actually awake. So placing my hand, which was gently shaking, up to my forehead, I whispered as I fell back down onto my pillow. "It was just a dream."

As I took a deep breath, I heard the sound of knocking again. My heart skipping a beat when I heard Abel's voice coming from beyond the other side of the door. I quickly realized that he was standing out in the hall. "Jonah?"

Covering my mouth, I considered all of my options for what I could do. Gradually, I settled on what action it was that I should take and lowering my hand, I began to speak. My voice coming out as a tiny, restricted squeak. "Y-yes?" The moment that I had spoke, I knew that he hadn't been able to hear my debilitated words.

With a sigh, Abel quietly opened the door to my room and stuck his head through once the door had been opened far enough. When he saw me sitting on the bed, he smiled. "Good, you're awake. I wasn't sure if you had heard me or not." Opening the door the rest of the way, he stepped over the threshold and walked towards me, shutting the door behind him. The look in his eyes had gone back to normal, but when I didn't say anything, he asked. "Jonah? Are you okay? You look pale."

I quietly looked up at him as he stood next to the bed. My muscles visibly tensing up all through my body against my will. Without a word, I mentally tried to remind myself that what I was seeing now was real life. That I was no longer in the dream I'd been having.

Concerned, Abel knelt down on the floor. "You're not getting sick, are you?" Lifting his hand up, he gently placed it against my forehead, whispering to himself as he did so. "No...you don't feel feverish."

In my head, I chided myself. "Say something to him! It was just a dream! That's all it was! Do not make him worry anymore, Jonah!" As Abel laid his hand back down, resting it on top of the bed, he sighed. Obviously feeling unsure of what he should do. And watching him as he began to get to his feet, I thrust my arm out, placing my hand on his. "Father, wait."

He stared at me, with a mixture of surprise and curiosity on his face. But after a minute had gone by, the surprise fell away and he smiled. "Don't worry, Jonah. I'm not going anywhere." Getting to his feet, he sat down next to me and asked, his voice acting as a remedy for my frazzled mind. "You look anxious. Would you care to talk about it?"

I dropped my gaze, but with a nod that was hardly noticeable, I whispered. "I had a dream, Father...it was so real." Taking in a deep breath, I released it slowly. "I've never had a dream like it before...ever."

Abel smiled, tilting his head so that he could see my face. "What was it about? Although, if you don't feel comfortable talking about it, then you don't have to if you don't wish to." He chuckled quietly as I sat thinking.

Considering my options, I decided what would be safe to reveal to Father Nightroad. "Well...I was outside, it was dark...the moons were so close and the stars were bright." I raised my view back up, looking Abel squarely in the eyes. "I was alone, and I was wearing a pink lace dress with matching pink shoes." As I shut my eyes, I took in another deep breath. In my mind I thought back to seeing Abel and the way that he had greeted me. The way that he'd said my name was still reverberating within my head. Resonating within me even though I was awake. Feeling my heart as it began to flutter, I shook my head. "Maybe it's best if I don't tell him anymore..." Reopening my eyes, I whispered. "That's all that I remember." Looking at him, I saw that he was staring at me. His eyes opened wide. "Father Nightroad?"

Managing to gain back some of his composure, he smiled. "The thing about dreams, Jonah, is that that's all they really are. It was only a dream. No need to worry about it or try to think of any hidden meaning that it may have." He got to his feet and walked away. Keeping his back to me.

"I know, Father." Following his lead, I stood up and went to stand by Abel's side. "It just messed with me for a little while. That's all. So you were needing something?"

He glanced at me with a relieved smile. "Well if you'll think back to what I told you yesterday, you've got to go and have your measurements taken for your new uniform. It shouldn't take too long, but you will still need to go and clean yourself up just a little."

Nodding my head in understanding, I turned, making my way towards my closed bedroom door. As I took hold of the handle, I began to twist it open but before I could open it even a fraction of an inch, I felt a hand gently gripping onto my shoulder and pull me back, away from the door. Glancing back, I looked at Abel and asked. "Father?"

With an exasperated sigh, he whispered. "Jonah Turner, what do you think you're doing?"

Hesitant, I tried to think of what it was that I could have possibly done wrong. Finally I gave in and said. "I was just going to do as you'd asked me to do, and go on ahead to the women's washroom. Was there something that you'd told me that I may have missed?" As I asked my question, I watched Abel's face. Watching his emotions as they happened.

His hand never leaving my shoulder, he whispered. "Did I tell you something that you might have missed?" Letting out a long exhale, he shut his eyes. When he opened them again to look at me, they contained an immeasurable amount of sadness. "Jonah, need I remind you that you are a Methuselah? Why do you think we hung these curtains up?" He only moved his eyes to indicate to the blackout curtains. "The sun is out right now. Do you know what would happen to you if you were to allow the sun's light to touch your skin?"

I tried to speak, but I found that I couldn't.

Abel shook his head, his long silver-white hair swaying behind him as he moved. After a minute, he spoke again, his tone coming out a bit calmer than it had been before. "You need to exercise a little more caution. Here..." He removed his hand from my shoulder and grabbing hold of the left side of his overcoat, he started to shrug his way out of it. Once it was off, he held it out for me to take. "Wear this over top of your head. Make sure that you've got your arms covered up as well."

As I retrieved the overcoat from him, I did as I had been instructed. I draped it over my head and wrapped it around my arms. I turned to face Father Nightroad. Feeling slightly foolish because of how I looked, yet I was glad that he truly did care. "So. Am I ready to go now, Father?"

Giving me a quick glance over, he smiled when he felt satisfied by my appearance. "I believe that you are. Now I'll wait outside of the washroom for you to finish and..."

Hearing his words, I cut him off from speaking any further. "Wa-wait? You're going to wait for me? Why?" As I asked this, I felt my face growing warm beneath the shadow cast by the collar of Abel's overcoat, and I prayed that it shielded my face enough so that he wouldn't be able to see.

He blinked his winter blue eyes a few times, confused by my mild yet unwarranted outburst of emotions. "Um, yes? I'll need to escort you to where you'll be needed for your fitting. Jonah, are you okay with this?" He slowly started to reach a hand out towards me, worry buried deep within the recesses of his eyes.

Through my embarrassment, I resisted the urge to turn away from him. I had to remain strong. I had to not let that which hadn't even been real influence the way that I treated him. So peering out from under the article of clothing that Abel had given to me to borrow, I smiled brightly. "Of course I am, Father! I'm sorry if I'm acting a little weird today." With a giggle, I saw him begin to smile again.

"Don't worry about it." Taking a step forward, he placed his hand onto the handle and glancing down at me, he whispered. "That said, are you ready to go?"

I nod my head.

Grabbing onto the door knob, Abel rotated his wrist and pulled the door open. Crossing back over the threshold he walked out into the brightly lit hallway.

With my gaze down, I followed after him. Making sure to not allow the light to get into my now delicate eyes. And as I waited for Father Nightroad to join me and walk by my side, I said. "Last night was truly fun, Father. I honestly can't think of the last time I'd done anything like that." I sighed wistfully.

Next to me, Abel chuckled. "So, no boyfriend has ever danced with you like that, I take it?"

At first I had missed his words, but then as my eyes widened, I asked. "Boyfriend?!" Again I felt my face begin to radiate off immense levels of heat.

As I repeated the word, he quickly realized how what he had said must have sounded to me. And clearing his throat nervously, he hurried to say. "I-I meant before you joined the A.X." His voice trailed off and deciding to risk it, I peeked up at Abel's face from under my cover. All along the bridge of his nose, there was an unmistakable blush.

Smiling, I returned my gaze to where it had been originally. "I knew what you meant. I simply couldn't resist the urge to tease you a bit." I heard Abel sigh in relief. "But no. I've never had a boyfriend to go dancing with." The entrance into the washroom came into view and I readied myself to separate from Abel's side for the next few minutes, but before I made my temporary exit, I asked. "So what about you, Father? Do you normally dance with all of the girls within the A.X.?"

He gasped quietly. His words obviously becoming embarrassed, he whispered. "I would never dream of it, Jonah."

Closing my eyes, I stood outside of the closed washroom door, my hand on the handle. "So just me then?" As I said this, my face started to feel as though it had been set on fire. Then without looking at him, I twisted the door knob until it clicked open and standing in the doorway I said. "All right, Father. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be ready."

Out in the hallway, I heard Father Nightroad tell me. "I'll be waiting for you right here." I could hear a small smile through the sound of his voice.

Donning a smile all my own, I began to shut the door, saying the moment before it created a barrier between the two of us. "I know that you will." Locking the door, I turned around and gently pressed my back to the solid wood entry. Looking down, I took in the color of the white ceramic tiles that I now stood on. With a silent sigh, I slid Abel's overcoat back to the proper way that it should be worn, and spotting the slender coat rack that sat in the corner of the room, I decided to completely remove the coat from around my shoulders. Hanging it up on the coat rack, I walked over to one of the sinks and looked at the reflection that was cast back at me from within the mirror. It seemed to be keeping everything together a bit better than the last reflection of myself that I had seen. However, I was horrified to see that there were lightly colored pink blotches along the right side of my face. And I slowly realized that I was looking at the faded blood stains that had been left behind when I had covered my face while my hand had been bleeding. I quickly turned on the tap for the warm water and cupping my hands together, I let a pool form inside of my palms. As I took a deep breath, I bent forward and began to wash away the very last remnants of a painful past.

The water felt refreshing as it made contact with my skin. I thought about the idea of thoroughly dousing the water over myself for hours, but then I remembered that Abel was waiting for me outside in the hall. As I lowered my hands from my face and I looked back up into the mirror, as I watched as small beads of water dripped off of my skin. I thought back to my dream.

The very last thing that Abel had said to me before I had woken rose up to the surface of my mind. "All you ever need to do is ask, and I promise that you shall receive..." As his words washed over me, fresh and new again, I smiled meekly.

As the droplets of water continued to fall from my face, I whispered. My voice low enough so that it was impossible to be overheard. "What is going on with me?" Reaching over, I grabbed a small hand towel and gently dabbed it against my skin. "What I told Father Nightroad...it can't possibly be true, could it?" Standing in place, with the towel pressed to my lips, I silently asked myself the question that I secretly feared. "Am I in love with Father Nightroad?" Just thinking the thought caused my cheeks to flush brightly. Lowering the cloth from my face, I turned off the tap and walked away from the mirror without a parting glance at myself, and setting the damp towel into a hamper that was set between the sinks and the door, I looked over at the coat rack.

Abel's overcoat now seemed to call to me. Beckoning for me to take it back into my arms.

Walking over to it, I gently took the fabric in between my fingers, feeling the softness of it as I slowly ran the tips of my fingers along the hem. Then as I finally took the coat off of its rack, I brought the collar of the overcoat up to my nose, I began to sniff at the fabric.

Instantly I was taken back to the first night that I had met Abel, and as the subtle scent of his cologne made an everlasting impression within my memories, I remembered what he had said to me. "Yes...well..." He had sounded embarrassed, but it was apparent to me, that even back then, he had truly cared about me.

As I put the overcoat back on, making sure that all of my exposed skin was well covered, I couldn't stop myself from allowing my smile to grow exponentially broader upon my lips.

When I was ready to go and rejoin Abel out in the hallway, I paused and took a moment to gain back my lost composure, and once I felt as though I were well covered physically along with well recovered mentally, I unlocked the washroom's door and began to open it.

Through the opening of the door, I saw Abel standing with his back leaned up against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. And seeing the crack forming, he walked over closer, his tall frame shielding me further from the sun's harmful rays. He had a smile on his face and his winter blue eyes seemed to be shining. "So are we ready to go, Jonah?"

I nod my head, smiling. My ability to speak dissolving away at the sight of him.

He took a step away from the door, making room for me to stand by his side. "Well then. Let's go."