My Precious Flower

Chapter 15: Dream Talk

The two lingered around for a while until the unexpected fear of being kidnapped and the confrontation between Tobias and the two men in black began to fade. Then Tobias leaned down and gave Evita a kiss on the forehead after holding her close to him to soothe her. With a tender gesture, he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Don't be scared, my love. Everything is all good now," he said steadily. "They won't ever reach you again. Not in a million years."

Evita clung to him for a moment, grateful for the comfort he provided. The strength of his arms around her made her feel protected, and she allowed herself to take a deep breath, releasing the fear that gripped her.

When she finally pulled back slightly, Tobias looked into her eyes with concern. "Where were you planning to go, walking alone here?"

Evita managed a small smile, still shaken but feeling safer with him by her side. "Ermmm, I was just going to get something to eat and drink," she shyly explained. "There's a little inn not far from here."

"I'll go with you. Not going to allow anything to happen to you while you're in my sight," Tobias replied quite seriously.

He took her small hand in his and they walked together to the inn to chat for more. When they arrived at the cozy inn, the comforting scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meats filled the air, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Tobias and Evita found a quiet corner to sit in, away from the small crowd of other patrons. They ordered a few appetizers to share: crispy fried calamari, stuffed mushrooms, and a warm bowl of tomato bisque. For dessert, they each selected a small pastry as Tobias ordered for a rich chocolate tart, while Evita chose a delicate fruit tart with a light glaze. As they began eating, Tobias devoured his food with hearty bites, his hunger matching his large frame. But as he glanced across the table, he noticed Evita picking at her food, her moments slow and deliberate. She seemed lost in thought, her mind distant as she barely touched her meal.

Concerned, Tobias paused and put his fork down. "Evita," he said softly. "Is the food not what you like? Or is it something else that's bothering you?"

Evita was silent for a couple of seconds, not surely how she should start off by describing her dream of their past life selves. Taking a deep breath, she decided to share what had been on her mind. "I didn't know what had become of me a few days ago, but in one of those afternoons, I had a dream," she tried to explain, filled with apprehension, but steadiness. "It was a dream that not many people would randomly dream of as most forget what happens 90% of the time. But for me, it wasn't just any dream. It was a dream that felt too real. It was about you and a woman who resembled me so much in a past life."

She continued, but struggled to find her tongue. "But things were so tragic and you became severely broken."

Tobias, curious and wanting to know if it was the exact same woman he dreamt of as well asked, "And what was the woman's name?"

"Paulina," she replied.

Tobias nodded and said, "Go on, my dear. You can continue. What else happened?"

"First, you both were separated as young teens and you ran away from your foster parents' home to live with a pickpocketed thief raising orphan boys. Then, you both found each other again just before the woman was supposed to marry another man. You guys successfully fled together, but... it wasn't enough." Her voice started to crack as she said, "The woman died during childbirth. Both her and the baby were gone and a funeral was arranged for them."

Tobias's eyes grew dark, but sad at the same time upon hearing her tell the exact details of what drove him to become depressed and angry. It was as if those moments from the dream were resurfacing again.

"And after that," Evita continued as her eyes started to water a little, "you completely lost yourself. You took out your anger and grief on others, but mainly God. It was a lot for me to witness."

"It definitely was too much for you to see was it? But no need to say 'that woman', my love. We both know that Paulina was you," he responded firm but tenderly.

"I'm very sorry you had to see me lose myself. I became an unrestrained madman after your death, did I?" he asked.

"Yes, totally mad. I must admit my heart got heavy seeing you rage at the villagers and pound your fists at my grave as you swore at the heavens," Evita responded. Then she talked about how he behaved before he felt anger upon losing her. "When you first mourned for my death and the baby's, you became an alcoholic and starved yourself. You were also deluding yourself a lot, awaiting for our return from the dead."

The more she explained, the more it clearly matched up with what Tobias was dreaming. "Did I become very pale and gaunt? Like a terrifying corpse?"

"You surely were malnourished from drinking too much and barely eating. You lost the color in your cheeks and the optimism in your eyes disappeared. They were replaced with hate, pain, and coldness. You looked like you were about to start a war with the universe."

"So...I really did allow my emotions to get the best of me," he reflected on his behavior. "It makes me content to hear you imply that you prefer me strong like a knight of vigilance over weak like a famished soul with no family to look after."

Evita blushed a bit despite feeling melancholic about the dream. "Uhhh, yeah you can put it that way, Tobias. It just...pains me when someone doesn't take care of themselves."

"I thought that too about you, darling. On that note, I'm only thriving to get stronger everyday because I have something I need to protect, it's you. You're mine no matter what or who else chases you. For you, I'd forsake all perils and odds," he asserted with a determined look.

Their gazes locked, and in that moment, they both knew that what they had experienced was more than just a dream. It was a connection to a past they couldn't fully remember but were bound to nonetheless.

Tobias held her hands on his palm. "We've been through so much alone and together in that lifetime. But this time, things will be different. I won't let anything happen to you, my dear. Not again."

Evita squeezed his hand as a tear slipped down her cheek.

While Tobias and Evita were becoming more authentic and deep with one another in the inn, something far more malicious was being brought to light somewhere else. The two men who had tried to kidnap Evita earlier in the evening trudged through the halls of a grand manor, their footsteps echoing ominously against the polished marble floors. The manor, with its towering ceilings and opulent decor, exuded an air of old wealth and dark secrets. The walls were lined with oil paintings of stern-faced ancestors and candlelights were lit in some rooms, as if someone was performing a ritual. Taking a deep breath, one of them reached out and pushed open the heavy door. Inside, the room was richly decorated with dark wood paneling and green curtains with a fireplace in the middle. The centerpiece of the room was a grand desk made of mahogany, behind which sat a figure who was none other than Silas himself. He had been sitting, poring over some documents, but as the men entered, he sensed their presence without even looking up. Slowly, Silas turned his chair to face them, his expression instantly turning sour as he saw them.

"Well?" he finally spoke intimidatingly. "Speak up! I assume by the sorry state of you two that the task I entrusted to you was too much to handle?"