Dreamphage

Chapter 15: Ripped Pages

                  

Alex stumbled slightly as her feet hit the cobble stone street. Kyle let go of her hand as the other agents materialized around them.

They were in an old style city, like one from the 1800s. Buildings rose up around them and the air was misty and cool. There didn't appear to be anyone in sight and the shutters of the abandoned houses creaked ominously in the wind.

Madelyn led the way forward, holding her watch out in front of her.

"It says she should be right around here" Madelyn said, looking around the abandoned street.

The road stretched in front of them before disappearing into the fog in the distance. Alex glanced around but there was no sight of Sarah. If she really was so close they should be able to see her.

"Split up and check the buildings" Madelyn commanded.

She disappeared into one of the buildings with Lucifer and Kat trailing behind. Marcus and Juliet paired up and went into an old shop, leaving Alex and Kyle standing in the street. They stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment.

"Let's start looking" Alex said quickly, walking over to an abandoned house.

"Alex, wait" Kyle jogged up beside her and put his hand on her arm

"I'm sorry for just randomly showing up again" He began "I do really want to help, if you really don't want me here, I can leave. I know I'm not really part of this and I don't what to be in your way, but I can't just sit and doing nothing either. I don't want to make anything weird for you. If you really don't want me here, I'll go"

Alex turned away and walked into the house, Kyle following her. His eyes were sincere as he blinked at her through the gloom.

"Alex-"he began again.

"It's not that I don't want you here" Alex cut him off and turned to face him "Well, I don't...but I do." She sighed and ran her hands through her hair in frustration "It's just not safe. You can get hurt. I don't know what is going to happen. Thing are getting crazy and quick. You're a good person, Kyle, and brave and helpful and I like you, but I wouldn't be responsible for you getting hurt. I can't have anything happen to you. No matter how much I want you to stay, you can't"

"Something has already happened to me, Alex" Kyle replied "I'm stuck here, unable to wake up. Where can I go? I can handle myself, I won't get hurt. You can get hurt too. Some things are worth getting hurt for. If you want me to stay, that's all I need, I'm here"

Alex turned and began to climb up the stairs of the old house. The stairs were warped and the air in this house was dusty and thick. Alex climbed up into the shadows, thankful that the darkness hid the red flush to her cheeks. She paused halfway up the stairs and looked down a Kyle. His eyes were soft as he waited for her to speak. This was stupid. She shouldn't feel anything for him. He wasn't really real, not in the way she was. She didn't know him, not really. This couldn't happen.

"Kyle, you're not...." Alex took a deep breath "You're not really here. This isn't really you. It's just a part of your mind. The real you is at home asleep somewhere. When you wake up this won't mean anything to you. You won't believe it. This part of you, right here, it's not real. This...can't happen. You won't even remember me or any of this."

"Of course I'll remember" Kyle bounded up the steps to stand beside her "This isn't exactly a dream I can forget. It's pretty vivid and I've been out for god knows how long. I'm not going to forget this. And besides, these are kind of unusual circumstances. I'm a little bit more real here than I probably should be"