Every midnight, Christine experiences strange, vivid dreams-dreams that feel more like hidden messages than illusions. As she, Nathan, Mickey and Ford navigate the complexities of their friendships and unspoken emotions, they begin to realize that t...
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We were about to eat when Nathan returned and sat beside me, with Mickey on his right.
"That seat is mine," Ford said, standing up and switching seats with Mickey while glaring at Nathan. Mickey and I gulped nervously.
"Let's eat," I said, hoping to stop them from exchanging glares and focus on the meal instead.
Ford stood up to get some water but accidentally bumped into Nathan.
"Why are you blocking the way?" Ford snapped at Nathan.
"Me? You're the one barging in," Nathan retorted.
"You could've moved a little, right?" Ford said, annoyed.
I saw Nathan's fist clenching—he was getting irritated.
"We're at the dinner table," I reminded them. Ford eventually grabbed some water, and Nathan resumed eating.
***
<Forest>
Mickey left to look for food, leaving just the three of us.
"You didn’t have to push him," Ford said to Nathan.
"Why does it seem like it's my fault? He's the one being annoying," Nathan shot back.
"Did you really need to shove him?" Ford pressed.
"You keep repeating yourself," Nathan sighed.
"Because you don't have a valid reason for what you did," Ford countered.
"Whatever," Nathan muttered.
---
"Here, food’s ready," Mickey called out.
"Nathan, could you pass me the water?" I asked, but he didn’t respond or even acknowledge my request.
"Are you deaf?" Ford asked him.
"Then you get it yourself," Nathan snapped.
"Even Christine? You're being rude to her too?" Ford said.
"What did I even do?" Nathan retorted.
"Your attitude is too much. Just keep your distance from us, or better yet, don’t come along if you’re going to act like this," Ford said sternly.
"What exactly am I doing wrong?" Nathan shouted.
"It was just a simple request for water, and you couldn't even do that," Ford pointed out.
"You're crossing the line!" Nathan yelled before shoving Ford hard. Ford staggered backward, hitting a tree. Mickey quickly rushed to help him up.
"Just leave. We don’t need you!" Ford shouted.
---
<Back to the Real World>
Silence filled the room. It was so quiet it was deafening.
"Can someone say something?" Mickey said.
"Yeah, the silence is unbearable," I agreed.
"Nathan, Ford, at least try to smile," Mickey urged.
Ford gave a small smile.
"You too, Nathan," Mickey said.
"Don’t force him. He might hurt someone again," Ford muttered, causing Nathan to leave the room.
(Nathan P.O.V)
I went to Christine’s garden, where a hammock hung between two trees. I lay down, falling asleep. When I woke up, it was already nighttime. Someone was sitting beside me. When I turned to look, it was Mickey.
"Good evening. You slept for a long time," he said with a smile.
"You probably think I’m about to annoy you again... laugh softly Sorry for being so persistent. I didn’t know I was making you angry. I just hope you don’t let Ford get to you. He’s too kind to me, you know? He probably just wants you to open up to us. Honestly, we all do. We all want to get closer to you. Anyway, sorry if I’ve been annoying. I'll go ahead and eat now," Mickey said, then walked away.
---
<Forest>
(Ford P.O.V)
The eerie silence was broken when a black light suddenly appeared before us. From it emerged men dressed in black.
Startled, the four of us huddled together in fear. They outnumbered us.
"It’s been a while, hasn’t it, son?" the man in the center said, looking directly at Nathan.
(Christine P.O.V)
"It’s been a while, hasn’t it, son?" the man in the center said, staring at Nathan.
That voice! He’s the one who wielded the axe... the one who almost attacked Nathan!
"Didn’t I say I’d be back? Well, here I am," the man said, smirking at Nathan while the rest of us stood, confused and terrified.
"She’s the one who saved you, right?" he said, pointing at me.
Mickey gripped my arm tightly, while Ford instinctively held my wrist protectively.
"Oh, it’s been far too long... I was hoping we’d meet again under better circumstances." the man grinned at me.
"Oh, by the way, the others should show themselves now," he added.
As the rest of the figures stepped into view, my tears fell uncontrollably.
It was my mother and father.
By the looks on their faces, Nathan and Mickey were seeing their own parents, too.
"Mickey, my son!" cried two figures, their voices trembling.
"My son," said a tall man—Ford’s father, I presumed.
"Mom, Dad..." I whispered, stepping forward to embrace them, but before I could, they disappeared, along with Ford and Mickey’s parents.
"Come with us, my son," the man said to Nathan, extending his hand.
---
<BACK STORY>
•Ford His father accidentally killed an innocent mother and her daughter. To avoid imprisonment, he accepted an offer from Nathan’s father to live in the Dream World and serve as a werewolf guardian of GROWLF. He made the decision selfishly, leaving his family behind without considering the consequences.
•Mickey His family was in a car accident. His parents survived, but he didn’t. Desperate to bring him back, his parents traded their lives with Nathan’s father to resurrect Mickey.
•Christine Her parents sought a fortune teller to glimpse her future but disliked what they saw. To change her fate, they made a deal with Nathan’s father, exchanging their own lives so Christine could live longer. Before passing, they were given time to say goodbye to her.
•Nathan At 13, he was falsely accused of killing his own father because he was holding the knife that had been used. In truth, he had only pushed his father, who was pleading for forgiveness. Though the real killer stabbed him, Nathan blamed himself and internalized the guilt.
