Obsessive Reality

Chapter 19: Betrayel

I clambered over to Triston’s bed. Staring at his chest rising and falling, I’m appalled that he isn’t awake. How can someone sleep through those nightmares? Suddenly, I hand reaches up and grabs my face. “What are you doing here?” Triston’s sleep filled voice asks. I looked into his half closed eyes and see the same shining green. Nothing’s different. Then how... Did he not have the dreams? But we’re connected! We’re in this together!

“Um, I uh... couldn’t sleep.” I say. It’s not a lie! The memory of Michelle’s death floats into my head. My eyes widen at the vivid images. Squeezing my face I try to make the memories go away. The pain of the person in the first dream, Michelle’s sudden fear, re-living my own terror. I want it all to go away!

Triston’s eyes shoot open in realization. “You mean you...? How? I didn’t dream anything! Wha-?”

I shook my head. Not that it made much of a difference, considering the tremors already running through my body and making me quake. “I don’t know!” I cry. This isn’t supposed to happen! Triston and I are connected in the dreams and visions. The mind links and the feelings.  If we’re not connected in those ways, then are we connected at all?

I fall beside him and fight the urge to cry. I don’t know where the tears are coming from. Maybe the sudden realization that I might have to fight the apocalypse with ought him is just too much to handle (I can’t imagine why?).

“Hey! It’s okay.” Triston whispers. But I can hear the unease in his voice. He’s afraid too. Why is he afraid! If we’re suddenly not connected in our dreams, that must mean he doesn’t have to go too battle!

Something in my mind clicks and I remember the first dream. A guy in pain, about to die, in our battle, Triston’s sudden disconnection from the dreams... The oracle that brought us together through the visions knows Triston will die. And in order to fulfill the prophecies, he must go into battle. So the oracle stopped the dreams so that Triston won’t back away from the fight and we’ll still be able to defeat the Worshipers of Eagon because the prophecy will still be in play!

My heart stops and time slows. The words are out of my mouth faster than the speed of light. “You can’t fight in the battle!” Triston’s face is full of puzzlement. “      In my dreams, that you didn’t have, I was a guy. I had just been injured by something in the middle of a battle. One can only assume it was our coming fight. Anyway, I fell to my knees and someone called my name but I couldn’t make out the speaker or the name. Then I had the sensation of close death.” My breath caught and I snuck a glance at Triston. He was staring at me with such intensity that I thought I might spontaneously combust from the heat.

“Go on.” He said through gritted teeth. Whether his anger’s from my previous statement or this new found information I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fact that people are going to die in this fight against who knows what!

I picked my speech up again and said my previous thought about the oracle. Watching his facial expression switch through a million emotions. Remembrance, pain, fear, shock, knowing, and finally horror. This is what I must have looked like when we found out Michelle was murdered in place of me.

“So... You think I’m going to die?” Triston asked. His eyes were sad. He wasn’t even 14 yet! I can understand the sadness.

“I don’t know. Maybe. That’s why you can’t fight. Anna and I can lead the ‘army’ by ourselves. If you don’t fight, then you won’t have the chance to die in this battle.” I say, hoping that Triston isn’t as stubborn as usual and just goes with the idea. Too bad not all wishes come true.

“No. I’m part of the prophecy. You know I have to go and fulfill it in order to take down the Worshipers of Eagon. There are probably hundreds of guys in their cult. Your dream could have been about one of them.” Triston said in a dismissive way. But I wasn’t going down with ought a fight. I will not let the first boy to steal my heart die.