The Force In Your Hands

Jeff

"What was that?" I asked Julia who could barely hold her tears back. All around us, it had become black again, only the point where we stood was lit up, but I couldn't find the light's source.
"It was the moment I had seen you for the last time. I wanted to show you what it's all about. Everywhere, power is the only reason. This Max as well, he just wanted my power, and when he didn't get it, he threatened to take you away from me. That's the reason why I disappeared. He didn't know where our apartment was, so he wouldn't find you and Jameös. He would've needed my help for that. I had to protect you," she explained while she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. I nodded, understanding, and looked past her into the darkness. How hard would it be, leaving the old life behind? Relinquishing the family, the husband and the child, which she both loved, and disappearing?
"And James, is he...?" I started and looked in Julia's eyes again.
"Do you mean, is he your father?" she finished my sentence and sadly smiled at me. I nodded carefully and doubted Julia had seen it, but she answered, "No. Not your biological father. But that's a different story. But he's Claire's husband."
"Hold up. You know Claire? How?" My eyes widened as Julia mentioned Claire.
"Yes. Claire was my best friend. We did everything together. And then I met your biological father. Claire didn't think he was the right choice and our contact suffered through it. Then I got pregnant with you and your father disappeared. He left me alone. And then, James came. James helped me out of my low. The contact with Claire got better again. But before it could be like before again, I had to disappear. Luckily, Claire and James agreed to raise you. My James... he's so responsible." Julia dreamily looked past me into the darkness, then she looked at me again, "Claire knows about everything. About you. About me. She took you and raised you because she knew that I can't come back."
"And what about my biological father? Who is he? Why did he leave?" I begged Julia for more answers. I wanted to know more than the few parts they had thrown at me by now. But instead of giving me an answer, Julia just shook her head and quietly said, "You'll find out about it some time else."
"And now they want my power?" I murmured, slightly offended, and crossed my arms in front of my chest. Julia ignored the gesture and answered in a serious voice, "Yes. But you must prevent them from getting it."
"And how do I do that?" I felt stupid that everybody always talked in riddles. Couldn't anybody at least for once come clear?
"You need to train and you need to study combat techniques. So you can use your power correctly. If anything should go wrong, I don't even want to think about it what could happen if you lost control over your power. It would be a disaster, it could end in a catastrophe. You're so powerful, and if you make even one small mistake, it could become really bad." Julia shook her head to get those thoughts off her mind. I was a bit scared about what she had just said. A disaster? A catastrophe? Was it really that bad?
"And where do I learn having the control over it?" In no case I wanted something to go wrong. I didn't want a catastrophe and I didn't want a disaster and I didn't want to be guilty.
"At Jeff's." Julia said this name as casually as I already knew that. Sadly, I didn't know because nobody told me anything. So I asked again, "Jeff?"
"Yes. Doesn't the name ring any bell? He already should've visited you twice. In your dreams." I thought about it, and then I remembered the man in the frock. He probably was that man in the frock.
"But I'm not gonna learn all of that in my dreams, am I?" I hoped not to because every time I had one of these dreams, I felt as if I hadn't slept at all and that stressed and exhausted me.
"No, you can't." I exhaled relieved. Maybe one day in my life I could wake up well rested again.
"And where can I find Jeff?"
"I don't know where he is. I would love to tell you more. But our time is over. I have to go now. Plus, there are people in the awake world already waiting for you," she smiled at me, waved, turned around and left.

"Luna... Luna... Luna..." I recognized a voice again, but again, I couldn't see anything. But this time I could match the voice to a person. Alex.
"Luna, what are you doing?" I opened my eyes and looked in his brown ones.
"Where am I?" I asked, sat up a bit because I was lying on the floor and held the back of my head which still hurt.
"In the middle of the sidewalk! Exactly where I found you. I wanted to ask you what you're doing here, but if not even you can tell me..." he said shocked, took my hand away from my head and looked at it.
"I was on my way to you and..." I breathed in sharply when Alex touched my head a bit too hard. He murmured a 'Sorry' and then let my head be my head. Apparently, he hadn't found anything that could bother him. Anyways he would already have said something.
"Yes, and I've been waiting for you for at least half an hour. But you didn't show up. So I went on my way to you to see what's up with you and then I found you here!" he said indignantly.
"Somebody... hit me... on my head. And then I passed out." I tried to get up but Alex had to support me. When I eventually stood on both legs, I nearly fainted once again until I found my balance and stood safely.
"Somebody... what!?!?!? Luna, you have to go to the police! That's criminal assault! That is not okay!"
"Alex... please take it easy... I'm not gonna go to the police. Nothing has happened and nothing was stolen from me either," I tried to calm Alex down which didn't really have any effect because he just got upset about my words even more. "Why?"
I sighed, "Can we go to your place? Then I'll explain everything." Now Alex sighed, but he nodded and we slowly made our way to his place. The whole time Alex didn't say a word which I was very thankful for.
When we reached his room, I started telling him everything slowly and stuttering. From time to time I got an understanding muttering or nodding from Alex to tell me I could move on. The rest of the time he was silent.
"And then she vanished all of a sudden?"
I stared at him, startled. I had told him so much, that couldn't possibly be the most important thing for him. "That's the first question you're asking me?"
"I'm sorry, but that's impossible!" he said.
"But I've seen it!" I answered like a stubborn child and bossily crossed my arms in front of my chest.
"Yeah, but usually..." Alex tried to start but I interrupted him, "Alex! I'm sure I know what I've seen."
"Okay, fine." Alex pouted. I ignored it. "Next thing I need to do is find this Jeff. That's highest priority."
"And where do you want to start?"
I smiled at Alex, "In my dreams."