a dream within a dream?

Promise to never let go

       "What do you think you're doing brat!" The man yelled, rushing around the front counter to get to him.

Taehyung dropped the can of spray paint on the floor in a panic. The paint can made a loud clatter on the ground and rolled somewhere down the aisle.

       Shit! This was bad!

       "So you're the one that's been stealing from my store, I've finally caught you, you little shit! I'm calling the police!" The clerk yelled, wagging his finger at him angrily, his face red with anger.

The man was in front of him, Taehyung averted his eyes to the ground, hoping the baseball cap he was wearing would be enough to keep his face hidden.

       "I was going to pay for it, I swear! Please don't call—" Taehyung begged.

       "Yeah? And I bet you were going to pay for everything else you stole too huh? Tsk— save it for the police!" The man turned away reaching over the counter and pulling out a receiver.

Taehyung took that as an opportunity to grab what else he could, and stuff it into his bag.

       "Stop!" the man yelled, turning around frantically and lunging at him. The phone receiver clattered onto the floor and the clerk grabbed him by his hoodie.

       "112 What is your emergency?" The emergency operator spoke from the other end of the phone. It was on the ground between the clerk and him.

        "You no good thief! I won't let you get away this time!" The clerk, shook him by his collar, grabbing hold of his backpack.

Taehyung struggled to get free of the man's grip, he could hear the operator speak again from the receiver of the phone.

       "Hello? 112 what is your eme—" then suddenly the call cut into static, a few beeps connected the line again and someone else spoke; "--run," the stranger on the line said, their voice fuzzy and unclear, unlike the operator who had just been speaking.

The voice was different... the clerk didn't seem to notice. He was still trying to snatch the backpack from him.

         "Run!" The stranger yelled clearly this time, his voice booming from the receiver, almost impossibly loud, then there was a click and the phone played a dial tone.

The voice echoed through his head, and a chill ran down his spine. Taehyung was confused, were they talking to him? How could that be?

       "Let me go!" Taehyung yelled fighting out of his grip, the man stumbled over.

Finally, he freed himself from the old clerk's hands and dashed towards the exit. Tripping over his feet as he rushed towards the door. The small bell rang violently as he pushed the door out of his way, and ran down the street.

Taehyung ran as fast as he could, he could hear the bell again, and the man yelled after him from the door of his shop.

       "Someone stop him! Thief!"

Taehyung looked back frantically, he expected to see someone running after him, but the clerk just stayed at the door of his shop leaning on the door, breathing heavily, and yelling after him.

       He was going to get away...

Taehyung turned back around, and before he could see in front of him, his body hit something solid. He lost his footing, falling back onto his butt his baseball cap falling off his head on the sidewalk beside him. The impact itself winded him, he looked up and found a man standing over him.