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Chapter 1
It was the dead of night and as usual, Alex woke up in a cold sweat, panting like he had just run a mile. It was that dream again. He'd been having the same one for as long as he could remember. At first they were few and far between. But now it was happening almost every night, and it was starting to drag.
He swung his legs over the side of his bed and sat there, face in his hands. He tried to remember what was in it. There was . . .a woman? Yeah, there was definatly a woman, with a robe and staff and pretty features. And creatures! Huge things, that spikey black fur, gapping jaws, yellow eyes and the proportions of hyenas. He had no idea what they were, and he didn't want to find out. He ran a hand through his hair distractedly, blowing out his cheeks.
He fell back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. Maybe it was imagination. He had always had an overactive imagination, but he'd never be able to dream something so odd. Well, now that he was awake there would be no chance of getting back to sleep. He stood and opened his wardrobe, looking in the mirror that hung on the inside of the door. Staring back was a slender kid of fifteen, with untidy brown hair with the back brushing the top of his sleep-shirt collar.
To him, the reflection was nothing more then a coloured blur since he didn't have his glasses on. He heaved a sigh and closed the closet, going back to his bed. He glanced at his digital clock: 12:30. He scratched the back of his head looked out his second storey window. There was the small backyard with a shed and well-kept garden, all bathed in silver moonlight. Out beyond the fence was a winding paved path that led to a field and playground, along with a baseball diamond.
He yawned. Maybe he would try and get back to sleep. He didn't have anything better to do. He climbed back into bed and drew the covers over himself. He thought about the dream, already the details were leaking through his ears. He shook his head, pushed the dream to the back of his mind and turned over onto his stomach. It was a pretty good dream, no denying that. But something about it made him feel uneasy, a deep sense of foreboding. It was probably nothing. After all, it was just a dream.
Right?
Alex woke up to a cold, wet March morning. The sky was a depressing grey and little drizzle pattered against his window. Subconsiously, he dressed into his usual garb: A blue hoody sweater and a pair of black canvas cargo pants. He pushed his glasses onto his nose.
He padded down stairs in his sock feet and met with the aroma of cooking breakfast. His mother was in the kitchen, frying eggs and bacon in a pan and his little sister sitting on the living room couch, wathcing Saturday morning cartoons. Judging by the absence of the car in the driveway, he guessed his father had already gone to work.
Alex went into the kitchen, deftly catching a piece of toast that had just shot from the toaster. He peeked his mother on the cheek. "Mornin', mum." he said pleasently, carefully fishing a piece of bacon from the pan and dropped it into his mouth, also taking a crunch of toast. "Morning Alex." she replied with a smile.
Alex was very fond of his mother, since she was such a nice and understanding person. "What're your plans for today?" she asked, taking a seat at the kitchen table. She was a slim woman, with dark brown hair and streaked with grey. For a woman of forty-four, she was very good looking.
"Well, now that you've asked, I dunno." he replied with a one-shouldered shrug. "I suppose I'll find Emma and Seth and go from there."
He contemplated telling her about the dream, but she often worried about him. She'd probably end up thinking he was clinicly insane or something.
"Well, while you're out, would you mind stopping at Ms. Rain's bookstore?" she asked kindly, as if it was more of a suggestion then an order. "She called yesterday and told me one of my order's as in." Alex's mother was writer, so he figured it was probably a book about the subect. "Sure," he answered. "I mean, it'll give me something to do." He was reluctant to go to the bookstore. Not because he didn't like to read. On the contrary, he loved it. Didn't think there was anything better then curling up with a good book. It was just Ms. Rain was kinda creepy.
Taking another piece of bacon from the pan, he gave his mother a hug, went into the hallway for his sneakers and coat. Within a few moments, he was out the door.
Emma and Seth were Alex's two best friends since forever.
With his hands in his coat pockets, he strolled the busy streets of Constellation City. Even in wet and windy March, the city was still bustling and vibrant with activity, people going baout their buisness.
He spotted both Emma and Seth walking together a little farther ahead and Alex sprinted to catch up. He fell into step silently, next to Emma. She was about the same height as he was, give or take a few inches and had dark brown hair that verged on black. She also wore glasses, though hers was more thin and stream-lined then Alex's. Behind her glasses and pair of blue eyes sparkled.
Seth, who was beside Emma on the other side, was tallen then both of them by a head, his own topped with a mat of curly red hair and grey ears like a thunderstorm.
"So what're we doing?" Alex asked to break the silence. Emma and Seth jumped. They had known Alex all their lives, since they were all the same age, but still had never gotten used to his habit of appearing out nowhere, as if by magic. "No idea," replied Seth after gathering himself. "Got any suggestions?"
Alex chewed his tongue lightly and ran a hand through his hair, both gestures showed he was thinking. "Mum asked me to get a book for her from Ms. Rain's shop," he said. "You wouldn't mind coming, would you?"
Emma groaned. "But Ms. Rain gives me the creeps."
"Oh, c'mon. Please?" pleaded Alex. "You might find something you like."
Emma and Seth looked at each other, then back at Alex's pleading and hopeful eyes. Seth sighed and held up his hands. "Alright, we'll come."
"Score!" Alex said triumphantly, pumping his fist in a punching motion and grinning.
The three of them set off for the bookstore, the March rain and wind blowing through their hair.
 Pamplemousse Grenouille · Wed Jan 17, 2007 @ 02:41am · 4 Comments |
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