Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 11 - Taniel

Going to Edie's had become a familiar part of his day now. Drinking the tea, the weird questions, drawing things he didn't remember ever thinking. But after the dream he had about Twitch? Nothing seemed normal.

Some small part of this dream needed to escape him. At the same time, he was terrified that Edie wouldn't believe him, or fear him. She was the last lifeline he had. Sure, he had Scooter. But he would laugh Taniel out of the apartment if he knew. Or worse, he'd be just as afraid of Taniel as he was himself.

No. He couldn't tell him.

He couldn't afford for these dreams to come true.

He didn't drink the tea that day. Instead, he let the raw emotion carry the paintbrush. He left Twitch out of the painting, yet the painting was still disturbing. It was undeniably Taniel's hand, holding a knife from his childhood—a knife from his own kitchen.

Edie came up behind him in that quiet way of hers. "Are you okay?"Taniel nodded. But they both knew he wasn't. If seeing the girl in the market meant anything, these dreams were going to start coming true.

She handed him a water. He followed her to the living room, plopping down in an old armchair that smelled faintly of must.

"I had this dream where I killed my best friend."

"Try not to get distressed. Art is just art, dreams are just dreams. Usually they are just ways for emotions to express themselves. Except when it's not."

Not helpful, Edie. "What do you mean?"

"Oh," she said casually, "When I was growing up there were stories of people who could see the future in their dreams." Her eyes lit up when she said it, as if she thought it sounded fantastic.

His dreams were nothing but. Could his mess of a childhood have ruined him? Years of starvation and beatings and stealing destroyed his dreams?

When he didn't say anything, she continued. "The gift was revered, and very rare. I wouldn't worry too much about it." She looked at him as though he should be worried.

His eyebrows pinched together. "Edie, why did you leave?"

"Ah well, perfect things won't always stay perfect. And trust me, there are most evil things out there then the Underground or the Officials."

He couldn't imagine.

"You finished with your coffee? Let's go work on your technique. We need to be able to see some of these." And just like that, she had closed the door to more questions as his list kept growing.

****

When Taniel got back to the loft, Scooter was waiting for him outside the door.

"Ready to go?"

"Go where, exactly?" Taniel eyed Scooter's empty backpack and the empty bags behind him.

"We have more raiding to do. We've been here for at least a week now and have close to nothing besides our beds."

"Wouldn't it be awesome if we could just pay for all the things we need?" Taniel asked dryly.

Scooter walked past him, brushing his shoulder. "Not all of us were made for the working life. I am no sucker."

Sucker. That is definitely what Taniel was following Scooter down the stairs and to another apartment. He felt dirty, but he couldn't exactly argue against it. The buildings they targeted were empty, and he wasn't exactly making enough to shop in the Market. Even if they wanted to, the Underground was probably on high alert for them.

"Let me help with those," Taniel said, as he grabbed some of the bags from Scooter's arms.