He Who Weaves Dreams | #ONC2023

9

"This is just the beginning! The angel has spoken to me. We are being punished! Surrender yourselves to him if you want to be saved!" The preacher gave his usual lecture even though he was only called to lead a prayer for the soul of the deceased Cecile Montenegro. "Sacrifice that's what's important to you! Attend the services and cleanse your spirits!" His hands were trembling as he pointed at the gray sky.

A day after they learned about the bully's death, all the students were required to attend the group prayer for Cecile at the school's gymnasium. It was really early and most of the students, though freaked out and sorry for Cecile's death, would rather spend their time being productive or hanging out with their friends. Many of those present fiddled with their phones or chatted with the student beside them.

Tina was nowhere to be seen. Cecile's friends were still blaming her for the death of the tall girl. Yesterday, it was as if all eyes on the campus were glued on Tina. There were whispers all around her, quietly calling her a murderer.

But, how could that happen?

Was Cecile's death really caused by Tina's dream hopping?

"Let us all pray together," at last, the preacher said.

Claire bowed her head and repeated what the preacher dictated. Some of the students did, too.

When the group prayer was over and the students spilled out of the gymnasium, Claire noticed Geraldine stride from the outside and rushed toward her boyfriend, Hans Luke, only to strike his face with her manicured nails. The scratch immediately turned red.

"What the fuck?" the boy touched his aching face, looking at the girl like she just lost her mind.

"Fuck you!" spat Geraldine. She had been crying, tears flowing from her eyes and her nose filled with snot. "Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!" She kept on hitting Hans Luke's chest.

The boy looked honestly lost. "What the fuck have I done!"

One manicured finger pointed accusingly at him. "You dream hopped into Johnny's dream and killed him!"

"What?"

"You were so fucking jealous of him that you finally ended his life, you sick bastard!" Geraldine wiped the tears and snot on her face gracelessly using the back of her hand. "I love him! I told you. I love him, too. But I broke up with him because I wanted to be with you, you asshole!"

"What? Johnny? Is that what you call Arevalo? And he's dead?"

Hans Luke looked confused but his girlfriend was so sure of what she was accusing him of. She threatened, "Tonight, I'm gonna dream hop into your dream and ask you if you have anything to do with Johnny's death. And if you really killed him, you'll never wake up."

"You don't know how to kill someone in those dreams." The boy shook his head.

"Oh, but I do." Geraldine crossed her arms near her chest. "Tina told me. Dreams lie but dreamers don't. As long as you have the intent to hurt or kill, you'd be able to. That's how she killed Cecile."

Claire gasped and her eyes and Hans Luke's met. How could the girl announce such a dangerous piece of information in front of everyone? Some might use it to their advantage and hurt, or kill, someone.

"Baby--"

Geraldine brushed Hans Luke's hand away and exited the gymnasium.

Claire decided that Jonathan should know about this. He was the Dreamweaver but did he know that something this terrifying could occur because of the abilities he awakened from the dreamers? That they could be murderers?