Dream Weaver ✓

Chapter 10

Sean's eyebrows shot up in frustration as he bellowed, "What the hell is she even talking about?" He turned towards Olivia, seeking answers.

Olivia's eyes grew to the size of saucers as she tried to process Sean's question. "How can I know?" she asked, her voice shaking. "She has a habit of speaking in cryptic verse whenever this occurs."

A deep crease formed across Sean's forehead as he asked, "This has happened before?"

"Yes!" Olivia exclaimed, smacking Sean's shoulder. "You left me to fend for myself the first time it happened."

"I'm sorry," Sean apologized, his cheeks flushing a deep red. "I thought it was just a silly joke."

As Sean continued speaking, Olivia's attention was drawn away from him by a mesmerizing sight. The coin that Emily had been clutching moments before slipped from her fingers and plummeted toward the ground, as if in slow motion. But just before it reached the floor, it disappeared into nothingness, as if consumed by an invisible force. Emily herself was suddenly overcome by an eerie tremble, her limbs twitching uncontrollably as she crumpled to the ground like a discarded rag doll.

Olivia's hand tightened around the latch as she cried out, "We need to head inside! She needs our help!"

But Sean was quick to step in, placing a firm hand on her shoulder and pulling her back. "We need to make sure first that she isn't possessed," he warned, his tone firm but gentle.

Olivia was beyond reason, her hand wildly lashing out and striking Sean several times against his chest. "Let me! She's our friend!" she cried, tears streaming down her face.

With a gentle touch, he placed his fingers against Olivia's cheek and whispered, "Olivia, calm down. I can't risk letting her hurt you."

Her sobs grew louder as she choked out, "She's my friend." Her body was wracked with emotion, torn between the desperate need to help her friend and the fear of the unknown.

Sean gracefully inclined his head and, with gentle care, led Olivia toward the plush sofa in the entryway. He stood to watch over her, allowing her a moment to gather her composure before he approached the door that stood guard against Emily's tormented spirit. He lingered for a moment, gazing at Olivia with a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. Olivia's eyes were fixed on him, trying to decipher the source of this unexpected warmth.

With a concerned frown etched upon her face, Olivia whispered a cautious warning, "Be careful." She then added in a hushed tone, "And make sure you don't hurt her, either."

Sean offered her a mischievous wink, a playful gleam in his eye, before declaring confidently, "I'll come back." He then turned his gaze towards Olivia, his expression suddenly serious. "Promise me, if I ever get possessed, you'll put me out of my misery."

Olivia's frown deepened as she shook her head, her voice resolute, "I won't ever kill you. No matter what."

He lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug, the casual gesture conveying a lack of interest or concern. "Whatever," he said, the word falling from his lips like a stone from a cliff. With a tilt of his head, he cast a glance toward the door, then turned to go. "I'll see you on the other side," he called over his shoulder, his steps confident and unhurried as he walked away.

***

Olivia was a bundle of nerves, her patience worn thin as she approached the thirty-minute mark of Sean's absence. She was like a coiled spring, unable to sit still in the face of uncertainty. With each passing moment, her anxiety grew, fueling an urge to act. In a fit of restlessness, she rose to her feet and approached the small window. Pressing her face to the glass, she peered into the world inside, searching for any sign of Sean or Emily. But all she was met with was an eerie stillness, devoid of life or movement.

She stood with her arm suspended in mid-air, her fingers wrapped tightly around the latch. She was hesitant to proceed, so she stuffed her hands into her pockets to avoid the inevitable - venturing into the living room. Her mind was grappling with the fear of what horrors might await her. Her chest rose as she took a deep, steadying breath, holding it for a moment before finally releasing it with a sigh. She couldn't stay rooted in place forever, steeling herself for the unknown.

Olivia's hand shot out to grab the doorknob, and she stepped inside the living room with a sense of reckless abandon. The air was thick with anticipation as she scanned the room, searching for any sign of Sean or Emily. Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest, a wild and frantic rhythm that mirrored the turmoil of her thoughts. With each step she took, she felt her breath quicken, and she drew in a deep, steadying breath, holding it for a moment before exhaling slowly.

With a sudden clatter, a glass shattered on the kitchen floor. Olivia's heart leaped into her throat as she felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Despite the scare, she steeled herself and cautiously approached the kitchen entrance, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, she counted silently to ten, gathering her courage to face whatever lay waiting beyond the threshold.

As Olivia approached the kitchen with a sense of urgency, she found Sean and Emily in a curious pose. Sean's eyes were shut tight, and his head was tilted back in a trance-like state, while Emily sat directly in front of him, her arms stretched outwards. It was then that Olivia noticed that Sean's hands were buried deep in Emily's. The pair were so deeply engrossed in their world that they failed to notice Olivia's presence in the room.

The kitchen was a symphony of sound as raindrops beat against the windowpane like a percussion section. Olivia's lips were drawn tight as she crouched down, taking in the sight of Sean, who was lost in the same reverie as Emily. She tentatively reached out, her hand hovering over his shoulder, before finally making contact. Despite her touch, Sean remained still and unresponsive, like a statue carved from stone. It was then that Olivia spotted the trail of blood trickling down from Sean's nostrils.

Olivia's hand firmly gripped Sean's shoulder, jostling him out of his thoughts. She leaned in, desperation etched across her face as she implored him with her eyes, her voice low and urgent. "Sean," she breathed, shaking him gently. The lines of her body language screamed at the mounting frustration and worry that seemed to bubble up inside of her. "Please," she implored, her fingers tightening their hold, "answer me."

Olivia struggled to banish the echoes of his voice from her mind, every word a sharpened blade that twisted in her gut. She tried to shake off the feeling, but the memories clung like cobwebs, resistant to being swept away. She couldn't bring herself to end his life - not when the consequences of such drastic action were so uncertain. Emily's fate hung in the balance, a delicate thread that could snap with a single, decisive cut. As she grappled with the weight of her decision, Olivia felt her anxiety mount. Her nails dug into the tender flesh of her palms as she searched for a way out, a glimmer of hope that would spare them both. But no matter how hard she tried, no solution presented itself.

After ten minutes of contemplation, a sudden spark of inspiration illuminated her mind. She lowered herself into a seated position, her hand grazing Sean's shoulder as she made contact. With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes and whispered, "I'll meet you in the realm of our dreams."