The boys stayed where they were, trying to search the dark for any movement. Stryker looked back at the light switch, remembering when he had simply flicked it on the last time they were trying to see. He met Jack's eye, then turned back and grabbed the switch, ignoring his hand's shaking as he flipped it on.
Jack jumped back when the workshop became visible, waiting for something horrible to pop out. Stryker hid his worry better, stiffening so much it looked like defiance. After a moment he let the switch go and slowly started into the room, looking around as Jack nervously followed him.
"Any of this ever happen before?" he asked Jack quietly.
"Nothing's the same as it was," Jack squeaked. "It's like it's a new dream..."
"Well, maybe we can do something to make it bet-"
He froze so quickly Jack knocked into him. There was a shadowed figure in front of them, thin, tall, and coming closer. He stumbled back, knocking into Jack, then was forced to stop.
"Stryker?" Jack hissed, staring at the creature. "Who's that?"
His question was answered as the shadows seemed to lift from the person, revealing a woman in a black dress that reached the floor. Her hair was the color of ravens, a slight blue tint to it, and was shaved on the left side, leaving tuffs of hair that created a vinelike design. Her thin, reptilian eyes were sapphires, creased from the weight of her jagged brow. Her pointed, pale head tilted as she studied Stryker dangerously, as if she were deciding if he was prey.
"Hello, Sebastian," she hummed, her thin lips curling as she spoke.
If any other had said Stryker's real name, Jack would have fallen down laughing. But the hateful, seething way this woman spoke it made his stomach clench tightly and his throat dry. Stryker did something he'd never done before.
He whimpered.
"Don't you want to know why I'm here?" the woman asked, stepping towards them. "It's been so long since we've seen each other."
"St-Stay away from me," Stryker croaked, genuine fear in his eyes. Jack saw this and looked behind them, searching for something to help.
"Is that any way to speak to your mother?"
Her words almost stopped Jack cold, but the tremble that ran through Stryker forced him to retreat and subtly put his hand on the workbench beside him.
"You're...not my mother..." Stryker stammered, backing away, not even aware that Jack wasn't behind him. "You...you left me with Chase..."
"It was for your best interest," the woman...his mother, assured him. "You and I both know that I wasn't fit for motherhood as most were."
Stryker was unable to move again, and suddenly he and his mother were inches apart. Jack disregarded sneakiness and hurriedly shoved objects around, searching for anything that could get the woman away. She reached up and ran a black nail down Stryker's cheek, satisfied by the jolting response he gave her. She leaned down to his ear as Jack picked up a crowbar.
"You have your father's eyes," she hissed, giving him a cold peck on the cheek. "You've always had your father's eyes."
Jack shouted as he swung the crowbar and wacked her in the face. The woman vanished in a puff of smoke and Stryker gasped, as if able to breathe for the first time. Jack dropped the bar and grabbed his arm before he collapsed on the floor, swallowing and shaking uncontrollably.
"That was your mom?" Jack asked, sinking down beside him.
A strangled noise came from Stryker's throat and he nodded. They were silent for a moment, then Stryker sniffed and stood.
"We should keep going," he said softly. "We still need to find a way to wake up."
"Stryker...that was one of your nightmares," Jack said, staring at the floor. "Why is one of your nightmares in mine?"
Stryker ran a hand through his hair and sighed through clenched teeth.
"I have no idea," he muttered. "I honestly have no idea."
Jack nodded, then stood and looked at the stairs. He looked at Stryker, then they both started over and headed for the kitchen.