places | dreamnotfound

chapter 5

TW - mention of death/ killing

"What did I do wrong?", Dream asked, while Niki led him away.

"YOU didn't do anything wrong it's just- ..." she stopped for a second, "a few months ago another person from Florida, also Miami, came to our village and he did something horrible." She started walking again, leading Dream to her house.

When Dream stepped in he relaxed a bit, this house was way nicer than the other one he first woke up in. While Dream was just standing in the entrance, Niki went to the other side of the room to something that looked like a kitchen.

"Hey, about this person?" Dream asked curiously and Niki turned around to Dream. " Yeah?"

"What did he do that your whole family hates me for it?"

"They don't hate you for it, they just were painfully reminded of something that happened when this person was here. He was in really bad condition, a broken arm and a stab wound, he couldn't exactly tell us where he got it, but we didn't care and just helped him. That was our big mistake..." she turned away, seemed to tear up.

Dream reached for Niki's shoulder and put a hand on it. " You don't need to tell me if you don't want to."

"No, it's fine" she whispered, turning around, a tear running down her face. " He killed my brother! "

"Oh god, that's horrible. Why would he do that?"

"We don't know. He always seemed so normal, a bit weird maybe, but we are all a bit aren't we?" she sobbed now. Dream didn't know what to do, so he just hugged her really tight.
"Please stop crying or I'll cry too" Dream said, meaning it but Niki started chuckling. He loosened his hug and she also let go.
"Thanks, I needed this" Niki said, smiling again.

"Should I leave ?" Dream asked all of a sudden.

"No, why ?"

"Because of everything that this other person put you through, and your family didn't really seemed like they wanted to have me here anymore."

"No, I want you to stay. I miss talking to people my age. Everyones either very young or very old."

"There is no one your age in this village?"

"Well, not anymore. My brother, he was 18, but he is no more, and he had a few male friends his age, but they all went on a mission to kill the person who killed him. "

" No girls your age? How old are you?"

" I am 20 and no, there is no girl around my age. There ones was, but she is dead to me" she looked like she was in pain.

Dream was about to ask another question, but she cut him off. " No more questions. I wanna know something about you."

" well um. My real name is Clay and I am from Florida. I am 22. And... I have no idea how I even got here." Niki stared at him, a question mark on her face. "Um, I- " Clay stopped. How am I supposed to explain this? I can't just tell her I stepped through a mirror!

"I woke up in the forest, on a ledge and had no idea where I were, so I just started walking. When I had a noise I maybe or maybe not got the creeps and started running, which then resulted in me falling down that cliff" he tried playing it funny, but Niki didn't look very happy.
" Then I woke up here and now I have no idea where I am."
He looked at Niki again and she seemed not present. She whispered something to herself, so Clay put his hand on her shoulder and shook her wake.

"What did you say?" they both said at the same time. Then they just stared at each other, but with a questioning look on their face. Niki answered first,
" Everything you just told me, reminded of the guy who killed my brother. He told exactly the same story that you just told me. He just was a bit older but much shorter and brunette."

A weird feeling grew in Dream's stomach. But he couldn't be right could he? I mean overall he was in a somewhat magical world, he got here over a fucking portal in his mirror. His MIRROR. So how high was the chance of it being him.

"Niki," Dream took all his strength, " what was the guy's name?"

"George."