Hunt

Chapter 35: A Reconciliation Between Opposites

I wait for her to speak first, like how these talks usually go. But when the seconds turn to minutes I begin to look around. Curiosity getting the better of me. Reyna wasn't where I envisioned she would be. In fact, I was all alone in the clearing where we usually have our talks. An unfamiliar path behind me that winds into the fog loomed ominously, as if taunting me to follow it. Beckoning me towards it.

Where is she? Could this be a trap?

Walking through the dream felt different this time around. Where my footsteps in the past tended to not make noise, I can hear the familiar crunching of my shoes on dirt and gravel now. Something about this dream felt more solid than those before. Less temporary. The path I follow is narrow, flanked by thick fog that is impossibly dense. They appeared to be more like walls than fog. Reaching my hand out it disappears entirely from view within the cool mist, pulling back reveals no apparent change, except for a chilled tingling in my fingers.

"Huh." I mumble to myself as the feeling passes. I continue walking down the path, winding left and right towards an ever growing brightness, a white wall that looms from the relative shade of the trail.

Shielding my eyes I push through the blinding light ahead of me, opening out into a clearing, a shockingly familiar space. I was just here... the top of the mountain. Warm sunlight shines down on me through pinholes in the clouds above. Narrowing my eyes against the sunlight I walk slowly further into the clearing, catching sight of a figure sitting near the edge. Staring out over the quiet word below. As my eyes adjust to the light it doesn't take long to recognize Reyna, who doesn't appear to notice my approach. Yet I still get the feeling she already knows I'm here. Why else would I be in this place? She's the only one that could bring me here, surely this was on purpose.

"Im really glad you shared this with me." Reyna says as I approach the edge of the clearing, not turning to look at me. "This view... Thank you for this Kyle."

Looking out over the world I can see every detail of the world below us. Nothing is out of place. Seattle in the distance shines vibrantly as sunlight reflects off the windows of buildings, the Space Needle a shining beacon against the serene skyline. A cargo ship lazily cruises across the deep blue water beyond. It's truly an amazing view, perfectly replicated in the dreamscape we're in.

"Why am I here?" I ask, passing a glance to the still seated Reyna.

Reyna turns, finally meeting my eyes. A deep melancholy in them, the usual shine replaced by dull sadness. "I... I don't know..." She wipes a tear that had formed away, "I guess I just wanted to see you again. Apologize again. For everything." She returns her gaze to the world ahead of us. "Before..."

I sit, waiting for the anger I've held towards her in my heart to return. But it fails to show itself, leaving an empty void where it typically sits burning a hole in my gut. Something about being here, on top of the mountain was keeping me calm. Was it the view or a part of the spell? Maybe I'm just getting tired of being angry.

"Reyna..." I speak softly, breaking the stillness between us. I can feel her turn to face me, but I keep my eyes ahead on the cargo ship in the distance. Something to keep my focus on, anything to keep me from looking at her.

"Is there anyway I can make amends?" She asks in a soft tone, mirroring my own, "No... I'm sorry. I shouldn't ask that if you."

I chew on my cheek, not wanting to respond. There was still a distinct divide in my heart, one I needed to confront at some point. Maybe it would be here and now... But I still held love for her. The girl from California who wants to travel the world and capture it with her camera. But I also wanted her dead, the beast that had threatened my life and that of my sister...