The tragedy of Will Solace

Nightmare

No more dreamless nights on the road.

For the first time since he discovered the truth about the Greek gods, Will had a nightmare.

Will was used to nightmares. His dreams tended to be very vivid, filled with inexplicable creatures (well, no so inexplicable creatures anymore). He particularly hated dreams about snakes living under his bed, who whispered about getting revenge.

He was in the forest. What was he doing there? He couldn't understand. It was nighttime, but a red light kept everything illuminated. Was it fire? But it wasn't possible, everything felt cold.

He took a deep breath. All he could smell was the dirt at his feet. No smoke.

Suddenly, he heard a scream:

- Help! Medic!

For some reason, he knew that was him, which was absurd, because he was an 8-year-old, and 8-year-olds couldn't be medics.

But in his hands, he had a first aid bag. It was him.

Against his better judgment, he started running towards the voice. It was as if he was fully conscious in the dream, but couldn't control it.

Suddenly he heard another voice asking for help.

- We need a healer over here!

It was all the way on the other side. What could he do? He just followed the original voice. He would go back for them, he promised.

The same thing repeated itself over and over until all you could hear in the forest were the screams of people asking for help:

- Someone! We need someone here!

- It hurts! Please, it hurts!

- Don't go!

However, Will kept running towards the original voice, who just seemed to go further and further away. He was barefoot, and he realized his feet were bleeding, but for some reason, it didn't hurt. He could just feel the wet sensation of blood and dirt.

- Where are you?! I... I can't find you!

But people continued asking for help, over and over.

He screamed. Tears started running down his eyes.

His dream changed.

Now he was in a tent filled with people. Some were in beds, but they weren't enough. Some were laying on the floor. But the weirdest thing was that most of the people were faceless.

It was as if a sort of fog covered them. Will couldn't distinguish their features.

Except for one person: in the corner of the tent, he found Oscar.

Will ran up to him.

- Oscar!

But the boy wasn't moving. His eyes were closed.

- Help! Please, help me! - he begged - my friend needs help!

But no one was listening.

- Momma? Mom, where are you? - he whispered.

No response.

He tried to wake his friend by shaking his shoulders. His skin was cold. Was he asleep? He couldn't understand. He tried to see if he was wounded, but it was as if a fog covered his entire body.

- Dad? Can you hear me? Are you there?

But there was no response.

He had never felt so helpless in his life.

He woke up the next morning, shaking, tears still running down his eyes.