Defying Equilibrium: Book II

Chapter 18: Dreams and liars

"Can't sleep either, Oscar?"

Oscar blinked, his focus returning to the words coming from Dare. They were lying down beside each other next to the fire, trying to get some sleep. Neither could sleep, however, despite their tiredness. Right now, Oscar was was so preoccupied that he had only heard about half of what his friend had said.

"Nah, not really. You?"

Dare smiled, lying on his back and staring at the sky. "Same. My mind's running in circles, I can't settle down. Late night talking, just like old times, eh? Like we used to, before all of this. Do you remember?"

Of course he did, how could he not? When Dare's brothers became too much to deal with, or there wasn't enough food for seven people in his house, he would often stay the night at the Escalante's. There were no parents, Louise would cook for the three of them, and they would stay up all night talking and planning their futures. They were some of the best memories that Oscar had. How could he possibly forget?

"Anyway, what's on your mind?"

"It's nothing. I think I'm just a bit overwhelmed, you know?" Oscar returned his friend's smile with a weary one of his own.

"Well that's bull," snorted Dare. "After knowing you this long, I can always tell when you're lying. Call it a sixth sense." He smirked. "What's really bothering you?"

"I was thinking about Silas," he admitted with a sigh. Dare was right, there was no point lying now. Every time he thought of Silas, he couldn't help feeling guilty. "I can't stop replaying it in my head. I don't know whether leaving him there was the right thing to do or not. I mean, will we ever know?" What killed him most was the not knowing. Not knowing if Silas was even alive or not.

"Regardless of what was best for him, it's what what he wanted," Dare replied. "There was no way we could have convinced him otherwise. It's his fault if he wants to risk his life like that." It was a surprisingly callous thing for Dare to say, but then he softened. "Look, the kid's made of tough stuff. I think we should just trust in his sense of self-preservation if nothing else."

Dare yawned. "Regardless, lying awake and worrying over it won't make a difference. Try and get some sleep, Oscar." He rolled over and closed his eyes again.

Oscar thought about what Dare had said for a while. "Dare?" He asked. "What about you? What was keeping you awake?"

Dare pretended that he was already asleep. It wasn't a question that he wanted to answer.

The dream unfolded around Oscar. It was the same as the other times that Silas had walked his dreams, the same valley, the same cabin with a line of smoke rising form the stone chimney. His dreamscape was as familiar to him as his home, every tree and blade of grass exactly as he had remembered it.

Except that this time, something felt off. He couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was, it was just an undefinable feeling that something was a little off-kilter. The colours seemed a little washed-out, there was a slight chill in the air. Something felt...diluted.

Silas appeared in the same place that he always did, sitting on the large rock below the small, leafy tree. It was where he appeared at the beginning of every dream. Normally though, he had on the serene, condescending look that he always wore, as if Oscar was beneath even his contempt. But today, Oscar glimpsed a look of anxiety and weariness on the boy's face, before the mask of composure slid over his features.

"You're alive," Oscar smiled. "I was beginning to worry."

He rolled his eyes. "Of course I am, half-wit. You think I would give up my one chance of escape just to die here? I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't already have a plan in place." His face may not have betrayed any emotion, but he couldn't hide the dark circles beneath his eyes.