Dream Me a Sonatine

7 - Little Flames in a Wine-Soaked World

Sooyoung felt as if she'd stepped into another world as she walked into the confectionary store. Sweet flavours pierced her nostrils and pastel shades coated the walls like liquid roses. This place always felt out of place in the dark streets of Paris and the sugar and cosiness always calmed her erratic thoughts. Perhaps she should've come back sooner.

She walked up to the counter, leaning on the edge as she waited for the girl behind it to notice her. The reddish-brown haired girl bobbed up and down like a robin as she looked around for her tongs, unaware that she already held them in one hand.

'Hi, Jiwoo.' The girl swung round, her eyes alight.

'Well, if it isn't the rollerblading swan princess,' grinned Jiwoo, stumbling slightly. The tip of her nose was as pink as a cherry. 'How may I assist thee, beautiful maiden?'

Sooyoung paused. 'Are you... drunk? At work? At 11am?!'

Jiwoo winked. 'I'm whateverrrr you want me to be, baby.' She giggled. 'Wow, drunk-me is flirty. Don't worry, I've flirted with eeeevery customer, you're not special... haha...ha...'

'Uh, I came because we talked on the phone last night,' said Sooyoung pointedly. 'Are you sober enough to remember our conversation?' Jiwoo's eyes focused slightly, a small crease appearing between her eyebrows.

'...are you serious, Jiwoo? You want to catch who did this?'

'Of course I do. Have you seen the newspapers recently? Death, death, death, everywhere you look. Someone has to stop this. Plus, don't you want to avenge your friend?'

'Ok. Say we catch them. Then what?'

'Um...'

'I remember, I remember,' slurred Jiwoo, but her expression had cleared somewhat. 'You mentioned something about your fishy friend.'

'Psychic friend,' corrected Sooyoung, rolling her eyes. 'She does her readings using fish. It's a... unique method, but seems effective.'

'Righty, then. Let's g— MY TONGS! THEY WERE IN MY HAND THE ENTIRE TIIIIIIIME!'

Sooyoung grabbed a glass and filled it with water. 'Sober up, drunken sailor. We've got a psychic to visit.'

***

'This creature is repulsive,' murmured Yerim. 'Jinsoul told me about them, but I've never witnessed... this.'

The purple-haired girl was currently bent over the feebly stirring Hyejoo, peering closely at the bloody wounds. Various books, papers, and cards were scattered around her, all depicting strange and enigmatic scenes. Hyunjin picked at the bandage on her arm and glanced at Vivi; she looked visibly uncomfortable.

'So, when you said demon...' started Vivi slowly.

'I meant it literally,' replied Yerim grimly. 'Her body and mind are being devoured by this creature. It did this to her.'

Hyunjin felt nauseous. Yerim had taken the entire night to explain what she knew, and it made sense, but it didn't. There was an entire other chapter in the book of strangeness that she hadn't known of. Her world was dreams, but it was so much more than dreams now. Yerim briefly mentioned psychics, ley lines, legends, and the supernatural, but Hyunjin reckoned she hadn't even scratched the surface of the truth.

'How did you know?' asked Hyunjin. 'That I'm a dreamer.'

Yerim looked up, her piercing eyes wary. Questions seemed to unnerve her, as if she was suspicious of their intentions. 'I can sort of sense it. Like energy. I'm no psychic, and I can't amplify energy, I just know it's there. Everyone carries an aura, but yours is different. Stronger.'