After leaving 'Bouncy land', we went to a nearby family restaurant.
I was looking at the menu trying to decide what to eat. I saw Arun in my vision struggling to keep his eyes open.
He was more tired than the both of us and still managed to play hard.
Myra noticed it but ignored him and started a topic I wanted to discuss.
"Your body is leaking a lot of energy. You need to control it soon."
I had only started to notice this change in my body today.
"I tried today, but failed to do it for a long period of time. I also can't do it unless I focus really hard."
"How do you two do it constantly?"
Arun became interested in the conversation and jolted himself awake.
"For me, I can't control it that well either, so I keep using it as much as I can in daily life." This was Arun's reply.
"I constantly use it to enhance my body functions and movements. Right now I'm very tired and drained so I can't show you."
"I have been practising for years now, I can control it very well." was what Myra told me.
She pointed her index finger at a glass of water and it got slowly attracted towards her.
"I only used as much as was needed to do that. My body still leaks out the nightmare's energy, but it is not very noticable."
She then glared at me.
"Your body also doesn't leak out a lot of energy. You should be safe unless one is very close to you."
I got a little happy when I heard that. Then I remembered the figure of that scary man.
I told them and they listened quietly.
Myra spoke first.
"If you ever see him again, run back to the cafe immediately. He might be from the nightcrawlers or some other organisation."
Wait… there are other organisations?
Watching my confused face, Arun explained it to me.
"The nightcrawlers are the only official organisation tasked with dealing with nightmares. Ours is not official like many other organisations."
"The nightcrawlers won't harm you until you seem like a target who might lose control. But you should tread with caution."
It took me two weeks to find out that I have joined a criminal organisation.
"Are the nightcrawlers aware of us?" I asked with a heavy tone.
"They know about our organisation, but not the members. It means that if you get caught, we will go down with you."
Things have become much more complicated. It means that my safety was never guaranteed no matter what choice I made.
—x—
I was sitting on the passenger side again and Arun was sleeping in the back seat.
Myra was driving the car in silence. I didn't want to talk as I was still thinking about the matters we discussed today.
She took one glance at my face. Noticing my discomfort she spoke softly after looking back to the road.
"I'm sorry."
I looked at her face. I could see a hint of guilt. She continued.
"If I was more cautious that day, you might be living a normal life."
"You may have gotten the strength to leave your work and mend your relationships with your family. You wouldn't be stuck in such a tight spot."
This woman is very rude.
It is true that a lot of blame goes on her, but the way she acts all guilty makes me annoyed.
Wait…
"How do you know about my family situation?"
Without looking away from the road she apologetically replied.
"When I was in your dreams, I saw your childhood home. I made certain guesses and assumptions about your past, relating them to your present circumstances."
"I don't know everything about you, but I'm sorry to pry into your secrets."
I remained silent for a while to get my thoughts together.
Should I tell her it's fine, maybe I should blame her for everything. I couldn't decide between those options, so I ultimately decided to let my mouth do whatever it wants.
"You're annoying."
She looked shaken for a bit, but soon regained her composure. She prepared herself for what I was about to say next.
"The way you act so apologetic and like a failed hero, it is truly disgusting."
"Honestly I couldn't care less about what mistakes you made, so you might as well drop the act."
She looked at me accidentally and immediately got her eyes back on the road. Fortunately we were at a red light.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I don't need sympathy. If you feel bad then help me adjust. No more no less."
She was taken aback for a moment until she saw the signal become green.
"Okay." she said without any change in her expression.
We continued without any further conversation.
—x—
When we reached my stop, I got out of the car and stretched my back.
"Well, see you tomorrow."
I was about to leave when I was stopped.
"Wait, wait. Let me use your toilet."
Arun got out of the car with a sigh.
I nodded towards Myra to say goodbye to her.
Then Arun followed me to my building.
"When we all first joined, we blamed her pretty hard."
He said without me asking. So he was listening in on us.
"It took us some time to warm up to her. But well, we still have some distance between us."
"I will suggest that you become her friend."
"Why?"
It was a genuine question from me.
"Because the other two still hate her."
"I was the second to join after her, so I have seen everything go down."
On the stairs, in a low voice he told me the history of our organisation's members.
Aside from me there were three others here because she failed. Arun was the first one. Second was Daisy.
He didn't give me any details about the third one, but it seems like he's alive.
"She is not a bad person, but she's the type to find fault within herself. That is why I want you to at least not hate her"
I remained silent for a while. Deep down, I still blame her, but I don't hate her. It doesn't mean I want to be her friend though.
"I'll try."
I gave a vague response and Arun left after patting my back.
I saw their car leave from my window and pulled the curtains. Then I prepared to go to sleep.
I laid in my bed for 1 hour, I was tired from the activities of today, but I just couldn't manage to fall asleep.
Something was bothering me. I didn't feel the same satisfaction I felt just yesterday.
I felt like things would go wrong soon.
I had to light up an incense to forcefully sleep.
The incense weakened my mind and my connection with the nightmare. It took away my caution and drifted me to sleep.
If not for its scent numbing my senses, I would have noticed someone peering into my apartment from that same window.