I returned home and shut my room door before calling the number Alvin used to contact me. He answered after the first ring, not to my surprise. This man was obsessed with power.

“Hello, Aliyah. How was your day?”

“Don’t talk to me as if we’re friends.”

Instead of a coherent response, he mocked me with a round of irritating chuckles. “Very well. Did you come in contact with the target? Elaborate.”

“There’s nothing to tell. No Dreamer was at the café, nor anywhere in the area. Your sources suck, Alvin.”

Despite his silence on the other end, I knew he was holding the phone close to his mouth because of the inconsistent breathing in my ear. He was more annoying than ever now that he had control over me.

“Aliyah, can I ask you something?” His tone was stern and deep.

“Y-yeah.”

“Are you lying to me?”

“N-no.”

“I see. Very well.”

After a pause, the sobbing of a girl replaced his voice. The was no doubt in my mind that the person was Valeria. She screamed and begged to be let go.

“Don’t hurt her,” I yelled into the phone. “She hasn’t done anything wrong to you.”

“But it’s possible you have. Lying doesn’t benefit any of us, now does it?”

“I’m not lying,” I insisted, matching his vocal intensity. He released a long breath before speaking again.

“We will see. I’ll send men to scout the location tomorrow. If there are any signs of a Dreamer, rest assured, you’ll be seeing my face soon. Goodnight, Aliyah.”

The call ended with Valeria crying in the background. Alvin could’ve been torturing her, and there was nothing I could do to stop him until Ray’s plan was properly set in motion.

Anger and hopelessness led to me throwing my phone on the bed and falling on top of it. My face became one with the pillow as it muffled my apprehensive shouts. It wasn’t until I heard the creaking sound of my door that I looked up and silenced my angst.

“Um, is everything okay in here?” Mya asked, closing the door behind her. “I heard you yelling a minute ago.”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Mya, listen, I need to ask something important of you, and I need you to promise that you’ll do it.”

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“Uh, what is it?”

I got off the bed and stepped closer to her. “I’m going somewhere tonight. A place Mom and Dad can’t know about.”

“And you need me to control their thoughts so they’ll let you out of the house without a hassle? Sure, no problem.”

“No. I don’t ever want you using that ability again. What I need is for you to look after Mom and Dad in case I don’t come back. You have to promise me, Mya.”

She frowned and backed away. “Don’t talk like that. You’re scaring me.”

“I’m sorry, but I need you to be here for Mom and Dad no matter what. You’re the glue that holds this family together. You don’t need an ability for that.”

“Okay, but what exactly is going on? Where are you going?”

“I can’t tell you that. Tonight, if Mom and Dad catch me leaving the house without permission, don’t use your ability to help me. Whatever punishment they give me if I return, I’ll handle it. It’s time I start taking responsibility for my actions, and I don’t want you giving me a get-out-of-jail-free card, understand?”

She crossed her arms and shook her head in disagreement. “No. Not unless you promise me you’re coming back.”

I gave her a small smile and nodded. I didn’t expect my gestures to convince her. They were only made to soften the blow that I might not be alive tomorrow.

We hugged before she left the room, and all I could think about was what I was getting myself into. There was no chance in hell of me surviving this, and I was very close to accepting that fact. So close that I stared at Noel's photo on my shelf and whispered the truth.

“I’ll be seeing you soon.”

☾☼☽

It was time to dance with the devil.

I treated my cuts and bruises before changing into a new outfit. When midnight approached, I looked out of the window and saw Ray’s minivan parked outside of my house.

“It’s now or never,” I voiced to myself, placing my foot on the windowsill. What stopped me from jumping out was the sound of my bedroom door opening behind me.

“Leaving?”

My mother’s voice made me turn around. I couldn’t believe that of all nights, this was the one when I’d forget to lock the door.

“Mom, I… Yeah, I’m leaving.”

“Is that so? Then why aren’t you using the front door?”

Her question threw me off. “Um, ‘cause you wouldn’t let me go out this late?”

“Yes, under normal circumstances. But I want you to know that you can use the front door tonight.”

Okay, either Mya was still using her ability, or some other Dreamer desired all parents to be fair. I was completely baffled.

“Mom, what? You’re cool with me leaving?”

“No. But according to your father and sister, you have a lot going on that you need to work out. If going out tonight is your way of fixing whatever issues you have, then I’ll allow it. But only this time, understand?”

I said nothing in response. I was too shocked to speak. The gradual spread of my lips into a smile was telling enough.

“I trust you,” she said, approaching me. “You’re a strong, independent young woman who looks after herself and other people. I’ll admit, there were times when I used your brother’s death as an excuse to be strict on you. That was my mistake, and I apologize.”

“It’s okay, Mom. I get it. Losing Noel hit all of us hard, especially you.” Tears began to break free from my eyes as well as hers. “It hurt you the most, and I never thought about how much it did until now. I’m so sorry, and I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for being here, Mom.”

We held each other close, the moment meaning more to me than I had time to express as the sound of my phone alerted me of a text message.

She separated our embrace and told me, “Go. But you better be back before morning, alright?”

Before I replied, Cinnamon rushed into the room and began wagging her tail. She was followed by my dad and Mya, who both stood near the doorway with smiles.

“I promise.” The words came with an air of confidence. All thanks to the support of my family. “I’m coming back.”