Keep Dreaming Up Ways to Survive

Chapter 21

Dawson stepped out of his truck, helped Felix, and then started walking down the parking lot. Felix, of course, slowly followed behind him.

"Dawson, are you sure it's a good idea to practice here?" Felix asked cautiously.

"I'm %100 sure! The mall is a great place, so many people to possess." Dawson assured while opening the massive entrance of the mall.

"You might not want to say that too loudly; people might think your crazy... Also, I'm not seeing the "so many people" you were talking about." Felix rolled his eyes as he waved his arms around at the semi-empty mall.

It was 7 pm, meaning not many people were still at the mall, only stragglers and employees. Dawson and Felix found a bench in front of a small clothing store, which already had the gate down, meaning no one could get in.

"So what are we doing? Who are you going to-" Felix was interrupted by Dawson.

"Ok, so I know the owner. I'm gonna possess him; just don't let my head fall this time, please." Dawson directed.

"You got it, I guess?" Felix shrugged.

Dawson looked off into space for a second then his body went limp. Before he could fall, Felix caught him and put his head on his shoulder. Just as he did that, an old, short man came out from the back of the store. Felix was unsure if that was Dawson or just a man, so he didn't say anything.

"Felix!" The raspy voice from the old man called out.

"Dawson...?" Felix answered hesitantly.

"No, I'm another old man that knows your name!" The old man, Dawson, growled.

"Ok! Ok! Sorry... So what are you gonna do?" Felix asked.

"Well... This store has super nice clothes... And I'm kinda in need of some new ones..." Dawson smiled maliciously.

"Dawson... No... Don't steal..." Felix sighed.

"Don't act all surprised! Why did you think I brought a backpack?" Dawson laughed.

Felix glanced at the backpack Dawson's limp body was wearing.

"What is this? Your stealing bag? Do you steal a lot?" Felix huffed.

"How do you think I know the owner? Haha!" Dawson laughed again, turning around to view the merchandise.

Felix then sat on that bench for the next 5 minutes watching Dawson, in the old man's body, push clothes through the locked gate onto the ground.

"Are you done yet? You should possess other people!" Felix groaned in annoyance, "Also, the malls going to close soon!"

"Yeah, ok. Gimme a sec."

A "sec" passed, and Dawson's body came to life. His head lifted off Felix's shoulder, but it quickly fell back down. As that happened, the old man returned to his own body. The poor man looked around, confused and scared, then slowly waddled his way back to the back of the store.

"Jesus fucking Christ... My noggin is throbbing..." Dawson gritted through his teeth.

"Maybe you shouldn't do it for that long, and I timed it. It was around 6 minutes, so maybe the limit is 5 minutes-"

"How'd you time it...?"

"Huh?" Felix asked, confused.

"You don't have a phone. So how did you time it?" Dawson picked his head up from Felix's shoulder.

"I counted? You know, 1 Mississippi... 2 Mississippi?" Felix explained as if it was common knowledge.

Dawson stared at him, confused but also surprised that Felix was resourceful.

"I'm going to possess again; look for someone," Dawson announced, ignoring Felix.

"Hm... Oh, you see that baby over there?" Felix pointed down the mall's halls towards a baby in a stroller waiting on its mom to get off the phone.

"You really want me to possess a baby?" Dawson asked, astonished.

"Hey, you need to broaden your horizon! So go possess that baby- oh, that sounds horrible..." Felix mumbled, putting his head down in his hands.