Chapter Four

I felt uneasy. I was standing in front of the mirror. I was fixing my tie. I really hated this. Family dinners with the Franks were always something I dreaded. The fact that they always try to set me up with Tracy was one thing, but my visions of the dark creature were getting out of hand as well. I get them in the bathroom, in the game room, when I am trying to have my alone time, which puts me out of the mood immediately. I want to find out who she is, but something in me was also saying to stay away.

Just when I finished fiddling with my outfit, I heard crashing down stairs. I jumped and my instincts took over. I rush down the stairs, my mom was on the ground, a broken vase was on the floor next to her. A blue fire ball was floating in front of Mr. Frank. The guy looked shocked. His eyes where white and his mouth was open. Sil was knocked out cold next to my dad. Mrs. Frank and Tracy were side by side passed out on the couch. I was paralyzed. I felt my hesitation. I didn’t know what to do.

Without knowing it, my feet moved to the fire ball. I swatted it like a fly. Blue flame gushed to my hand. It sent out pain running straight up my whole right arm. I knew I was going to die when it reaches my heart. The fire ball was stuck to my hand I didn’t make any movement to shake it away. How can I be so calm when there’s a blue fire ball stuck to my hand and is sending a painful sensation all over? I closed my eyes and I thought of nothing. The pain was crawling slowly up my neck and down to my chest. I didn’t think about the pain. I didn’t think. Period. Then I felt the pain slowly fade. I opened my eyes and I was seated on the dining table, everyone chatting happily away. I blinked three times to make sure that this was real and not the blue fire ball thingy.

“Hey, are you ok?” Tracy asks, touching my hand lightly causing me to jump and hit my knee on the table.

“Whoa, kinda jumpy there buddy. Is it because of Tracy?” Mr. Frank teased.

I managed to give an awkward smile while Tracy blushed and covered her face with her hand.

“Dad, please. Stop."

“Ian just looked a little fazed out, I think I startled him a bit.” Tracy said shyly, going back to her dinner.

I didn’t say anything for the rest of the night nor did I contribute to the lively chatter that went on.

I was back in the garden like place. Daylight was in front of me again but the place wasn’t bright. It was night time and Daylight was facing a bon fire. Her kopesh was beside her and her sakaba was next to it.

“You tried to go without permission.” I sighed.

I really hated this dream.

“Focus, Ian. After you left things changed here. A battle was taken place.” She looked sad. I didn’t move knowing there were bodies everywhere.

“Relax, the bodies aren’t here. But I suggest that you don’t try to run away.” Her expression blank as she stoked the fire.

“Also, it’s not night time, Ian. It’s just…no sun rises when a battle happens.” She poked a stick deeper in the fire.

“So, you’re saying a battle happened here because I woke up?” my anger was boiling up again. Doesn’t she get that this is creepy as hell? Blaming me for something that happens in a damn dream.

“Who are you anyway?” I asked trying to make my voice leveled. Daylight picked her kopesh up and leaned against it. She hoisted herself. Then she bent down and picked the sakaba up.

“You might not know it but you and your sister are in terrible danger.” She said.

The fire illuminated half of her face making it look like she wanted to kill me. Her eyes burned with furry.

“So, why should I trust you?” I asked taking a step back. My foot stepped on a pebble. I almost lost my footing.

“Because I’m all you’ve got.” She said. I really wanted to wake up.

“What was the ball of fire doing in my house?” I accidentally blurted out.

“Did you touch it?” anxiousness slipped through her voice.

“What if I did?”

“Then you have lesser time then I thought."

“I did.” I said blankly, wanting to see where this conversation will go. Maybe she can answer me by speaking a bit more.

“Fine. I’ll send her in."

“Send who in? Hold up. This isn’t supposed to be how things go. This is my dream.”

“Be prepared, Ian.” then everything went black.