The Boy and The Psycho

A Light Supper

I awake with a gasp of air, eyes wide, and sweat dripping down my forehead.

Five. He needs me.

In the dream:

I find myself in a dark, smog-filled area next to a building on the outskirts of town. I feel my body tighten as I look around for a source of direction or something to pinpoint my location. I read a sign: Calvin Ave.

All of a sudden, a grunt echos through the area, coming from the building. I rush over to a small entrance and I hide behind a row of crates. My eyes focus in on the scene and there he is... Five being pinned to the ground by Lila.

He needs my help.

Back to real life

I rush out of bed and slip on my shoes, not caring about the baggy sweatshirt draped down my body.

I rush out of the apartment and head to the industrial side of Dallas, searching for the building.

--------------------------------------------

I run through the now-familiar area and spot the building from my dream, right in front of me. I jog as quietly as I can and head inside.

"You've got a good nose," the Handler's voice echos through the building.

I quickly make my way to Five's side as my dream is now reversed. He is pinning Lila to the ground.

"Fiona," he gasps before turning back to the Handler.

"You know, planting her in a psych ward, taking advantage of our simpleton brother, that was smart," Five tells her.

"Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," she says.

"She's your--" I start.

"Daughter. Yes. And she's my only one, so I'd appreciate it if your loverboy didn't crush her windpipe.

I nudge Five and we look down at Lila gasping for air below Five's foot. He slowly lets her go and she rolls away, panting heavily.

"I am so going to enjoy killing you both someday," she says getting close to our faces.

I grab Five's hand and lean set my chin on his shoulder as best I could, smiling back at her.

"Lila, darling, would you give us a minute, please?" The Handler asks nicely.

"Yes, the grown-ups need to talk," Five smiles.

She rolls her eyes and turns around, walking away, knocking a hubcap off of the table as she leaves.

"What is it you want?" Five asks, turning back to the Handler.

"Do you like jazz, Five?"

"I'd rather lick a cheese grater."

"Aww. Jazz is like a beautiful woman, like you, Fiona. Complex, emotional, hard to please. She doesn't just give it to you... she makes you work for it," she explains as she walks behind us.

Five turns the two of us to face her, "I'm really hoping that you're going somewhere with this."

"Under my leadership, the Commission would sound more like... jazz," she comes in front of us and then starts making jazz sounds.

"And what about the board of directors?" Five asks.

"Well, that's where you two come in," she says, tapping our noses.

"Nope. No, it isn't," we both say simultaneously.

"In exchange for the assassination of the board, I'm willing to get you two and your family out of this timeline and back to 2019 where you belong," she explains.