The Wonders of Hopes and Dreams By: Solinel FeatherHeart

002

Lykas watches as his brother paces across the scratched wooden floor of the kitchen. By now the dirty rays of sunlight are seeping through the cracked blinds, coating the floorboards in a dusty color of orange. Spread across the kitchen table is the payment that he was given, the Vistix coins all sectioned in different clusters.

"I still can't believe this is happening." Rykis finally says, his hair is still messy from the very short nap Lykas convinced him to take after the girl he laid with left. Lykas smiles softly in a gesture to ease his older brothers mind. "Listen, I'll be okay. I won't get myself into too much trouble. I am Bosses best worker so. . I'm not too worried about this."

Rykis finally stops pacing, his daker silver eyes clouded with a whole storm of emotions. "Lykas, you can be KILLED!" He says, his voice turning distressed. "You don't know what Boss is getting you into. And I don't want you to find out." His finger toys with one of the smaller Vistix coins, Lykas's eyes fall to the tip of his finger. He can't meet his brother's eyes, he can feel his worry.

Rykis sighs, "Okay, I'm sorry. Just get some rest too. I'm going to go try to sleep more. When Nomi wakes up make sure she's take care of." Lykas nods his agreement, "Of course I will."

"I know, I know." Rykis dismisses himself to his room. Once Lykas hears his door close, he gathers the Vistix coins and he places them in the foggy glass jar they all use to hold the money each of them earns. He places the jar on the counter, his eyes staring down at it blankly. "System, how long until the moon is at its brightest this month?"

He calls out, soon hearing the automated voice respond. "Searching. . . The moon will be at its brightest peak in approximately 3 weeks." Lykas nods to himself. At least he has some time to prepare for whatever The Viper wants. He walks down to his room, which is located in the attic of their house. He pulls the ladder that leads up to it down before climbing up.

He keeps the ladder stretched out after he enters his room. Lykas walks over to his desk, the lamp placed in the corner of it turns on as it senses him getting closer to it. He pulls his chair from underneath the desk and seats himself. He searches through the rickety drawers for the binder that he keeps his art in. He decides to spend the next few hours drawing his heart away.

He feels his mind wander as he does, he draws the things he sees in his dreams. As he does, his eyebrows furrow in concentration. Each of the faces of the monsters and nightmares flow through his body and transfer to the paper.

"Lykas?" The soft spoken voice of his little sister breaks him from his thoughts. He looks towards the entrance to his room to see only her big brown eyes staring back at him. "Is everything okay? I heard Rykis yelling. . and he sounded really worried." Lykas closes the binder, not wanting her to see what he sees every night in his dreams. "Rykis is just worried about me. But yes, he's okay. Did you sleep well?"

Nomi pulls her smaller figure into his room and she walks up to him with a small smile across her lips. "I did! How was work?" The question stabs through his heart. "That's good Nom Nom. Work was okay, I got paid extra luckily. So, we can get your birthday present!" Nomi's eyes light up in excitement. "I can?" Lykas feels a genuine smile dominating his face. "You know it, go wash up. I'll make you breakfast when you're done."

He ruffles her hair, earning innocent joyous giggles that warm his heart. She pulls him into a tight hug before running off to the bathroom.

Lykas's eyes fall to the closed binder once his little sister is out of sight. He quickly picks it up and shoves it back into one of the drawers of his desk. An exhausted sigh can't help but flow from him, he rests his head in his hands as he leans forward in his chair. I have to save her, before she gets old enough to have to work this stupid job. He promises himself.