Teaching | Eddie Munson

The Dream

"

Vic? Vic, is that you?" A muffled voice echoed through the darkened corridors of the shopping mall, the sound reverberating off the cold, empty walls. Victoria's heart raced as she spun around, her breath quickening with panic. Despite the engulfing shadows, she recognized that voice immediately.

Billy.

"Billy! Where the hell are you? Talk to me!" she called out, her voice trembling as it cut through the oppressive silence. The mall, once a bustling with laughter and life, now felt like a tomb, its familiar stores swallowed by an overwhelming darkness. Dust floated in the faint beams of light filtering through shattered skylights, and the air was thick with the musty scent of forgotten memories, like something that hadn’t been touched in the longest time. Something buried deep in the darkest corners of one's memory.

She blinked furiously, willing her eyes to adjust. As she took cautious steps forward, dread wrapped around her, muffling even the sound of her footsteps on the cracked floor. Every shadow seemed to pulse with menace, and the eerie stillness made her skin prickle. Then, through the murky veil, something flickered. A haunting red glow, pulsating like a heartbeat, reminiscent of lightning caught in a strobe light, cutting through the gloom and illuminating a previously unseen door.

Victoria hesitated, instinct screaming at her to turn back. Yet the thought of Billy gave her the courage to move. “A magic door to a magic land.” She whispered to herself, her voice trembling in the stillness, a fragile attempt to reclaim her hope. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the air was thickening around her. The path before her narrowed, squeezing her chest with the weight of uncertainty. She clung to the hope that behind that door, Billy would be waiting for her.

Finally reaching the door, she paused, her hand hovering over the tarnished handle, which was cool to the touch. Doubts surged within her, what if this was all a trick?
But she shook the thoughts off.
This was Billy.
He had to be there.

With a deep breath, she turned the handle and pushed the door open, the creaking sound echoing like a ghostly whisper in the silence.

And then, there he was - Billy. Standing before her, grinning like an absolute idiot, his familiar smile cutting through the dimness like a beacon. It was the same smile that had once reassured her during countless childhood adventures, a promise of safety and unconditional support.

“Billy, what the fuck?” she exclaimed, disbelief flooding her voice as she rushed toward him, her footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. “I thought you were dead! You’re not even scratched, and you’re cheesing like you just found some damn treasure! What is all of this?”

“Hey, don’t act so surprised. I always said I’d find my way back to you, didn't I?” he laughed, arms outstretched, his smile unwavering but his eyes holding a glint of something darker, something that sent a shiver down her spine. “You should have known I’d never leave you.” Even though his words were carrying a promise, there was a hint of a warning in them.

“Yeah, well, it sure felt like you did.” she snapped, anger bubbling up alongside her relief. “I thought I lost you for good, you idiot!”

“Well, you came all this way. You could at least hug me.” he teased, but there was an edge to his voice, an unspoken tension that made her uneasy.

Victoria rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto her face. She stepped into his embrace, relief washing over her like a wave crashing against a rocky shore. He was warm and solid, and for a moment, all the fears that had plagued her melted away, replaced by the familiar scent of him - clean soap and a hint of the cologne he used to wear mixed with just a little of cigarette smoke, an ugly habit which Victoria tried to talk him out of, however unsuccessfully.

“I thought you died... I was sure you were dead, and I was so scared." she murmured, her voice thick with unshed tears. The weight of her worry spilled out as she clung to him. “What happened to you? I thought I’d never see you again.”

“I would have died if you hadn’t found me in time.” he replied softly, pulling her closer. The warmth of his body was comforting, but the lump in her throat reminded her of the gravity of what had transpired. She could feel the thudding of her heart against his chest, a frantic rhythm that echoed her spiraling thoughts. “You always come through for me, Vic. Just like old times.”

“I just... I was terrified. You were gone, and I didn’t know how to bring you back.” She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“I would have died if it wasn’t for you. If you hadn’t come in time, I would already be under the ground.” he added, his voice firm but laced with a strange intensity that sent chills down her spine as he was tightening his grip around her. “You always save me.”

“Billy, you’re hurting me! Billy!” she gasped, struggling against his tightening grip, which felt like iron bands around her. Panic surged as she tried to pull away, but his hold only seemed to strengthen, the warmth turning to a pressure that made her breath hitch in her throat. “You’re scaring me!”

“I died because of you, Vic. You came to find me, but it was too late, wasn’t it? You took your sweet time, probably having fun with your half-brain friends who don’t give a shit about you anymore, huh? Was it worth it?” His voice dripped with venom, each word hitting her like a slap. “Maybe you should have died! Maybe you should die!”

With a surge of adrenaline, Victoria pushed him away, scrambling backward as dread clawed at her insides, her pulse racing.

What she saw next nearly made her stomach turn.

Billy stood before her, just as he had moments before, but now a gaping hole was in his chest, blood seeping from his mouth like a dark stream. The playful grin was gone, replaced by an expression of profound disappointment that shattered her heart. His once-vibrant eyes now reflected a haunting emptiness, and she could barely breathe at the sight.

“You promised me... you were supposed to protect me no matter what. You promised to always be there for me, and you couldn’t even be at my funeral” he said, each word laced with hurt and betrayal, echoing in the space around them, echoing in her head. “You say it should have been you. Then why are you still alive? Your talking will not bring me back.”

His last two sentences hung heavy in the air, soft yet harsh, as he tilted his head, eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her skin crawl. The laughter that escaped him held no joy; it was a hollow sound, echoing the despair in his gaze.

“Billy, please,” she choked out, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t know. I thought you were lost forever. I never wanted this—never wanted to lose you.”

Suddenly, he lunged at her, fury igniting his features, and Victoria felt the world tilt beneath her, the shadows swallowing her whole as she braced for impact.