Vision And A Dream

SAELYNA

He means it. It's written in his eyes, I can almost feel it. They're alive. They survived Halden.

I press my hands together and bring them to my mouth. My breath feels hot on my palm as I exhale deeply, but I don't allow the relief and excitement get too far. Mother used to say Varga exists to puncture holes in man's balloons.

'Do you know where that is, exactly?' I ask.

He shakes his head. 'I told you, it was all blurry. It must be a town, one close to Halden, maybe. Which one do you think it is?'

I shake my head. 'I don't know any towns near Halden, and all we've heard about is Tussel.'

I pause, chewing on my lower lip thoughtfully. 'Are they in some kind of trouble?'

'No, they were not. Just in a room.'

'Like a cell?'

It's his turn to pause, and I suddenly fear for the worst. 'Could be. I mean…it was all blurry! Couldn't see much, but I saw a window.'

He looks up at me, his brows furrowing together as he does. 'What are you thinking?'

I run a hand through my hair