“Denny! Denny get up!” his mothers whisper was near hysterical as she shook him violently awake.

“Wha-wha? Mom is-” he tried to ask with his broken morning voice. Charlotte Johnny quickly silenced him. Placing her hand over his mouth.

“Somethings happened Denny. Something.. Something we- just don’t know yet. Okay?”

Denver struggled to sit up, the sleep in his eyes blurred his vision, and he was unable to get his hands free from the blanket. Panic rose up from his stomach he did his best to fight it back.

Blinking rapidly trying to clear his sight, he was struck nearly blind again by what he saw.

His mother was hysterical. Her eyes were glowing a bright gold, the sight was beautiful and terrifyingly alien.

“Mom, whats going on? Mom, your pinning me!” he said doing his best to stay calm, though the urge to scream was growing greater the longer he was trapped.

He needed to get this situation under control and try to guide her through what ever was happening.

Shades words from the night before, kept repeating in his head as he tried not to look at the blinding gold light that shone from his mothers eyes.

This is what he meant about an aura, it must be.

Keva didn’t have an aura that he could see.

His mother on the other hand had one that nearly blinded him this close.

“Mom, your eyes. What do you see?” he asked “can you explain whats happening?”

“I see.. I see death Denny.” A sob escaped her as she said it. “And it’s coming! We have to go! We have to run! They’re chasing her... I don’t think they are going to stop.” she was beginning to sway on her feet as she spoke, her voice lowering pitch.

Denver’s pulse began to slow as well as his mother seemed to lose some of her hysterical energy.

She moved from him and stood she began to muss with her hair which had been dishevelled like she had just woken up.

Denver stood slowly from the bed slowly, arms finally free from the heavy the heavy quilt.

“We gotta go Denny, we gotta get dressed and go.” she said looking around at his room.

“Mom what happened? Was it the field? Mom your nose!.” he said pointing at the blood running down her nose.

The golden light was finally dimming, he could almost see her eyes again.

As the light dimmed blood began to trickled from her nose, small amounts at first, growing to near gushing in a matter of moments.

Denver looked on in horror, shocked by the image of his mother’s horrifying visage.

His voice was gone, fear had him, controlled him at this moment.

His mother, was the only family he had left, and he knew deep in his heart that something very bad was happening.

“It’s happening Denny!” her voice cracked as she said it. She was rubbing at her head still, Standing in the centre of his bedroom.

“Mom.. Mom! Hey!” he said grabbing her by the shoulders. “Mom whatever is happening you need to stop. Your here mom, your here in Denny’s room. Come back mom, you have to come back!”

Charlotte screamed and fell to her knees. He gripped her into a tight hug trying to cushionn her fall.

Wincing from the scream he buried his head into her neck doing his best not to cry as the helplessness of the situation threatened to overwhelm him.

She began to shake in his arms as more blood ran from her nose. The brightness of her golden eyes was just a soft glow now.

Denver whispered to his mother placing his forehead to hers holding her tight. “Come back mommy, come back.”

“I see Denny.. I see” she said

Wetness poured down his cheeks as he held his mother.

“Den- Denny! I’m soaring. I never knew I could fly.. always wanted to..”

“mom?” he said giving her limp body a gentle nudge. Her eyes were only had a faint glow of gold along the outside of her iris. It was so faintly visible you wouldn’t notice unless you were this close. Her face was still, traces of a smile clung to her lips.

Denver gently wiped away some of the fresh blood coming from her nose as he cradled her. His tears flowed freely as he wept for his mother there on his bedroom floor.

Marvin passed the steaming cup of coffee to Denver placing a large hand on his shoulder.

“If you need to talk Denny, my door is always open.” he said in his gravely voice

“we’re always here for you. Maybe you come to our place today? Could have a sleepover you and Trevor, like when you were kids?.”

Denver just nodded. He knew Marvin was trying to help, but Denny just felt hollow.

“Her eyes were glowing Marvin, it was so bright. She said she could fly?” he said turning to look up at the giant man. “I don’t walk the same dream as you two. I- I don’t understand why she died Marvin.. I thought.. I thought this was supposed to be a gift.”

Marvin pulled out a chair and took a seat at the table with Denver.

He could hear the coroners coming down the stairs and his hear started beating hard in his chest.

He had to take a deep breath and try to stop it he was so worried it would burst.

Marvin reached across the table and grabbed his hand, Denver’s hand nearly disappeared in the man’s giant one.

“Don’t look Denny. Stay here with me now.” he said squeezing his hand to keep his attention.

“Your mother loved you, loved you more than anything on this earth. Don’t you ever forget that.” Marvin spoke slowly and deliberately never taking his eyes from him.

Denver had always been jealous of Trevor for having a dad, but the fact that Marvin was just so damn good to the community.. made that envy even worse.

“Listen there is something I have to tell you, I’m going to make a public announcement tomorrow. I- I feel like you should hear it first though considering what has happened. I’m not going to leave you in the dark Denny, I wouldn’t want that and I feel like you wouldn’t either. So Maybe once were done here you and I will pack up a few things and head to my house and get you set up. Yeah?”

“yea, sure.” he said trying to stop his mind from taking what he said and running with it.

“Listen I gotta go talk to these guys, sit drink your coffee, there was nothing you or anyone could do Denny, there is something very strange going on. I’ll tell you more later.” he said as he moved his massive frame from the tiny dining table.

Marvin pulled his truck up the driveway and threw it in park, the first thing Denver noticed other than the Ghostkeeper’s impeccable lawn was a teenage boy with a Star Wars T-shirt and long black hair done in a ponytail run out of the beautiful dark mahogany front door.

Trevor was the same age as Denver, and Keva the trio had been friends since kindergarten.

The look on his friends face told the story.

No sooner did Denver leave the half-tonne did Trevor wrap him up in a giant hug.

“I’m so sorry Denny, We got snacks and Keva and Brian are going to come over tonight are on their way here for some game.” he said releasing him and giving him a bit of space. “we’ll kill some goblins, maybe fight a dragon or something, who knows what Bri-guy has in store for us. It won’t fix anything but maybe it might help a bit yea?.” Denver smiled at his friend. “Thanks man, that’s.. I think exactly what I need right now.”

he said as Marvin grabbed his bag from the back of the truck. He hoped it wouldn’t be weird with Keva and him. They hadn’t spoken since the night before.

So much had happened in such a short amount of time that Denver was left feeling numb.

He couldn’t stop thinking about his mother’s glowing eyes.

How alien it looked.. how alien she looked. He wanted to remember and forget at the same time, the eyes were so bright it was hard to recall anything else. For now that’s all he could think of

The sharp sound of the doorbell broke Denver from his thoughts.

“That’s Brian and Keva, this is going to be awesome! Were gonna get epic level this time just wait and see Denny.” said Trevor putting the large stack of Dungeon and dragons books on the table before heading up the basement stairs to get the door.

Marvin had left right after he dropped Denver off to meet up with the rest of the council.

Trevor had been his usual understanding self, going about prepping the game table.

The large folding table was large enough to sit eight people easy, so the four of them had plenty of room for books, binders, and all of the delicious junk food they would consume amidst the usual chaos of their campaign.

Keva sat next to Denver on the one side of the table leaving Trevor on the other and Brian at the head, his Dungeon master screen blocked view of his dice rolls and gave him a quick view list of the saving throws for various situations.

Denver couldn’t help but notice Trevor’s continuous glances in His and Keva’s direction.

It made Denver uncomfortable, he knew Trevor had crushed on her for years.

He wanted to put his arm around her, kiss her.. just be close to her in some way, but the idea of hurting their friend made him recoil into his usual stiff self. Keva for her part -being a mind reader and all- was very respectful of Denver’s emotional vulnerabilities. Her usual screw that we are what we are attitude was softened today, he briefly wondered if it was as hard for her as it was for him to hide what ever they were from Trevor.

The nudge under the table caused him to look his left at the pink haired beauty beside him.

She made a face, and smiled at him. He smiled back shyly.

“The goblin chief bangs his giant club to the ground and the cavern begins to tremble.” said Brian

the ginger haired teen at the head of the table. Waving his arms in the air he nearly shouted “Reflex saves” before cackling like a mad man.

“oh boy.” said Keva “8.”

“your a dick” said Trevor “13.”

“so much for epic level” said Denver laughing “1.”

“Rocks fall everybody dies!” shouted Brian laughing like a psychopath.

Trevor smashed the table in frustration, “Brian you sun of a bitch!” he said unable to hide his irritation.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Keva took that moment to swing her legs onto Denver’s lap saying “well it was fun while it lasted.”

the act was so casual that Denver didn’t even freeze up, he closed his eyes briefly enjoying the closeness of her as Trevor argued with Brian over what an epic level campaign meant.

“So how’d you like playing a summoner?” she said leaning forward in her chair so she was nearly on his lap.

Even doing so Denver had to lean into her to make out what she was saying over the shouting of their other two friends. “it was good while it lasted” he said smiling at their closeness. Finally.

“how was the Psion?.”

she made a face before answering. “It was good but limiting I feel.”

Denver nodded.

He wondered briefly if the more they learned about there abilities, the more they would change. They had all played Dungeons and dragons, and video games since they were kids.

Whats the fun in playing at being special when you really were?

The thought made him sad.

He hadn’t even thought about Shade or the Dream all day, he had finally got a starting point on his abilities. Glowing golden eyes flashed through his mind as the agonizing morning came to the forefront of his mind.

He winced. Keva mimicked his reaction.

“you guys alright?” Brian said giving them a funny look, and breaking off from the argument with Trevor.

Denver tensed, he had forgotten where they were, lost in the moment with Keva.

His thoughts went to Trevor and how he would take this, he couldn’t deal with that today.

“uh- yea sorry, just had to get my feet off the ground they fell asleep.” Keva lied quickly.

Denver was impressed and sorry she did, he knew she hated lying.

He gave her an appreciative smile before she took her legs off his lap and sat back in her chair.

“so now what?” she said addressing everyone.

Denver did his best to hide irritation with having to hide their new found intimacy. But losing his mother and possibly a friend as well, in one day was just too much to deal with.

“Re-roll new characters?” offered Brian.

“why?, so you can just kill us again?” Trevor said with a snort.

“yea, no kidding Brian. What was that 3 hours in?” Keva said grabbing a piece of jerky on the table.

The three friends broke out into a free fall of razzing as Denver sat quietly.

Sitting back in his chair opting to not partake in the razzing session.

He just enjoyed being there with them.

He sat there as the three threw verbal jab after verbal jab until finally speaking up.

“we can talk about what in the hell is going on out there?.”

his question was followed by an awkward silence.

“I know it’s all taboo, but a massive shared dream, and whatever else that has come with it is a pretty big deal.. isn’t it?” he asked.

As he did so he looked at each of his friends, forcing himself not to linger on Keva too long as he did so.

“Do you guys realize that it’s been 6 days since the flash happened?. We still don’t even know how the rest of the world is handling this shit ‘cause not only did the flash make it so we get strange ass shared dreams, but no internet and the odd power surge.. which frankly I really don’t get.”

Denver sighed heavily feeling as if a great weight was finally being lifted from his chest he looked at his friends. Keva was giving him a sympathetic look, and Trevor was looking down with his arms crossed. It was Brian however who was actually nodding in agreement.

“Finally! Someone said it!” he said giving the table a smack.

The hefty ginger pulled his seat closer to the table and sat up straight. “I don’t know about you guys, but wading through a valley of dead folk every night isn’t exactly what I would call normal. Trevor you know what I’m talking about. I seen you last night, you said you were looking for something.. did you find it?” he asked.

Denver’s interest peaked, he leaned in – elbows on the table. He had to stifle the rising giddiness he felt as he waited for Trevor’s response. He couldn’t believe it had actually worked. Denver was definitely not as direct as he would like to be. So whenever he found his courage and it didn’t blow up in his face he was seriously overjoyed. He felt Keva lean forward too.

“It’s kind of funny you know, whenever there isn’t anything going on people can’t wait to talk about none sense, but give them something that actually should be discussed and figured out there is nothing but silence.” said Keva looking at Trevor – who was looking away arms crossed.

“Because it’s too real.” said Denver a little bitterly, “Or maybe it’s like my Grandma always says, we really are too plugged in.”

His friends just nodded at that.

“Well regardless of that little tidbit of negative thinking.. it’s been 6 days, and I think people are just trying to deal with this shit as calmly and practically as possible.” said Brian

“I dunno guys, that dream is.. well it’s just so real. And the dead everywhere, they’re just so alien- but not alien- like I dunno about you guys but I feel like I know some of them.. you know?.” Another long silence passed after Brian spoke.

Denver wanted to see what they seen so badly. He wanted to know- to feel what his friends felt, so he could be there for them.

Keva placed a hand on his arm – having read his thoughts he guessed- and gave him a soft smile.

If their friends had thought their extra closeness odd, they hadn’t said anything yet.

It really wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things these days Denver guessed.

“Do you feel the pull?.” said Trevor flatly staring off into the corner of the basement where the washer and dryer was stacked atop one another.

“The pull- what pull Trevor?” asked Denver.

“yeah I feel it. I haven’t found where it is taking me yet, but I manage to get closer and closer each night. I dunno I want to go to it, but I’m scared.” Brian said dipping his head as he finished.

Trevor nodded looking at Brian.

“Yeah I was too. When you saw me the other night that’s where I was going.” he said.

“You found it didn’t you” said Keva leaning forward her elbows on the table.

“I did” he said letting out a long breath. He still sat arms crossed.

Denver was growing increasingly more concerned, this wasn’t how Trevor acted.

“What did you see Trev?” asked Denver “Did something happen?.”

“You found you.. didn’t you Trev.” said Keva.

Denver turned to her shocked by the statement.

“What do you mean Keva?” asked Brian obvious shock in his voice.

“She means the dead are us Brian” Trevor said.

Trevor’s usual lightheartedness was gone washed away by what ever he saw in the Dream.

Denver was at a loss for words, he felt bad for his friends, and for himself which he hated, it wasn’t about him.. but he wished he could help them some how.

A strange look crossed Brian’s face, after Trevor’s revelation. He sat in uncharacteristic silence.

They all did.

Sometime passed before someone finally spoke.

“So what were you?” Keva said she was sitting beside Denver still with her arms crossed and her eyes closed.

Something finally clicked for Denver, far too long for his liking.

“What were you Keva?” said Trevor “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

Her eyes snapped open she looked at him with shock on her face. He was definitely acting differently especially to her. Denver and Keva shared a look. The realization that he obviously noticed the way the two of them were acting towards each other.

Denver’s cheeks burned with embarrassment and more then a little guilt at even trying to hide their relationship.

“I.. I don’t know. It was unlike anything I have ever seen.” she said her voice unnaturally quiet “It had no eyes.. Like it was just blank. And teeth like fangs.. it was missing an arm.. but the one it still had was.. was- it had huge claws.” her voice was breaking as she struggled to finish describing what she saw.

Denver placed a hand on her leg not caring if Trevor had a problem with it or not.

Small tears began to run down her cheeks pulling her dark eye shadow with it.

“Fuck..” she said wiping at the running make up.

Brian passed a napkin to Denver who gave it to Keva.

“Good job Dick” said Brian glaring at Trevor as he sat back down.

“it’s okay, I asked him first.” she placed both of her hands over Denver’s as he gave her leg a gentle squeeze.

She smiled at him. “It’s okay, I’m okay Denny.” she said encouragingly.

Trevor said nothing. He just sat and watched the two of them.

Brian decided to break the silence.

“Okay so our pink haired friend and our emotionally stunted friend are obviously doing the whole girl/boy next door relationship thing during a crisis.. get over it Trevor.”

Brian finished by smacking the table to get everyone’s attention.

Trevor rubbed at his chin visually thinking about what he was going to say.

“Stop grand standing and spit it out.” Denver said taking the napkin from Keva.

“Well Trev she told us hers.. your turn.” he said turning to their friend.

Trevor took out his ponytail and rubbed out his long hair, he let out a deep sigh before speaking.

“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to get an attitude or anything. It’s just that this is all so crazy. Your other you Keva, did it have.. um like skin? Or was it something else?” he asked awkwardly.

Keva looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.

“Sure, yea it was skin, it was grey with what looked like hair on it’s back maybe bristles?. I dunno, I haven’t been back to the dream since I found it.”

she looked at Denver and gave him an awkward look, squeezing his hand again.

Well that was news he thought.

Trevor just stared at her a moment, opening and closing his mouth obviously at a loss for words.

Denver was too, this was big he couldn’t believe she never said anything before.

“When did you find yourself in the dream Keva?” he asked feeling a renewed energy with the recent revelation.

She seemed to almost shrink in on herself.

Denver recoiled a bit he had to watch himself, he knew he could get a tunnel vision sometimes.

“sorry” he said it was his turn to give the awkward smile.

“Mine wasn’t beastly” Trevor said cutting through the awkwardness.

The three sets of eyes fell back to Trevor.

“she had wings.. like an angel.” he finished looking back at the stacked washer and dryer.

Denver was at a loss, once again he wished he could walk their dream.

“Well that’s awkward.” Brian said sheepishly beginning to nervously drum his fingers on the table.

“You got one of the Angels?” said Keva with her face in her palm “And what Trevor.. Your eff’ing mad about it!?” she finished smacking the table.

“You’ve been over there all pouty because you got a pretty one? I apparently- for all I know.. because we don’t know anything- am a what.., monster on the inside.. and your a pretty angel?”

“Hey I don’t think that’s what this is all about..” offered Brian.

Keva began to say something but was cut off by Trevor who was looking very uncomfortable as well.

“It’s not because I got some some stupid angel Keva!” he began angrily “it’s because it was a girl.. Okay!, I mean what the heck am I supposed to do with that?” as he finished he put his face in his hands, shaking his head.

Denver was at a total loss for what to do or even think. Stuck in the middle of his three friends turmoil and he had nothing to say or do to make any of them feel better. This was a bad idea he thought to himself.

“No it wasn’t Denny, stop taking the blame for shit, and punishing yourself. This needs to be talked about, and who better to talk too than all of us?. And Trevor.. what the hell. Suck it up your an angel boo effing hoo that its a girl.” said Keva, throwing her hands in the air when she finished.

The boys just stared at her a minute while she calmed down.

“Denver didn’t say anything Keva” said Brian.

“Nope he didn’t.” agreed Trevor.

Keva let out a long breath.

“okay I think we gotta get off this topic of dream versions of us. I feel like it’s getting a tad touchy.” said Denver looking between Trevor and Keva’s heated glares at one another.

“Absolutely” agreed Brian “roll new characters?” he said smiling nervously at his friends.

“Oh do you?” said Trevor turning his glare to Denver. “Where even are you! In the dream Denny? I have never seen you in the field. Tell us Denny was Terrence lying about you having a different dream?”

Denver sat back and let out a deep sigh, rubbing his face roughly with his hands. He shook his head meeting Trevor’s glare. He had a right to be angry Denver felt. Seeing the hurt on his face.

Trevor wasn’t the type to cry when he was upset he got angry. Years of knowing one another made it so easy to sift through each others bull shit.

Denver felt Keva’s hand grip his again before he could say anything.

“Listen guys” she said addressing everyone again.

“Denver is the reason why I think the dream version of us matters.” Her eyes were resting on Brian when she spoke.

She turned back to Trevor whom was looking sullen again, arms crossed looking down at his character sheet. “Who knows what it means Trevor, I don’t, you don’t and Denver don’t.” She said.

“I’m sorry for getting angry, that wasn’t cool. I know you don’t know how to feel about the whole girl angel thing.. I knew the moment I seen you today. Because I read you mind. Just like I’m doing right now- Your thinking way too much about the gender of your um.. I dunno what to call it.”

“I think Dream You works for now? Kind of lame- sorry. But that should work for now?” Brian offered helpfully.

Keva smiled at Brian before thanking him and continuing.

“Listen your Dream you does matter. But I think your focusing on the wrong thing. If that winged thing was an angel.. than that could only mean that the monstrous creature I got was a demon.”

she stopped to wipe her tears with the napkin again.

“Which means I’m a mind reading Demon, your an elegant angel, and Denver is some fucking crazy godlike being that has his own fucking dimension.” she clapped her hands to her mouth as if trying to stop the words from escaping.

Denver closed his eyes than it felt as though his nerves were on fire.

He could feel their eyes on him.

It needed to come out he thought to himself trying collect himself.

“what?” was the only thing said.

He opened his eyes to Keva with her face in her hands, turning to look at Trevor who was glaring at him again and Brian who looked as if he was gong to crawl under a rock.

“What’s she talking about Denny?” Trevor asked.

Denver could tell he was trying to soften his expression- it just wasn’t working.

At least he clung to my thing and left the mind reading comment alone. He was happy about that at least.

“Well I dunno really what I am guys. I’m still figuring it out really.. just like you guys.” he said scratching his chin as he thought about how best to tell them of the corridor.

“I’m sorry Denny,” said Keva sheepishly.

“It’s okay Keva. This is all just so crazy, I mean I have no idea what you guys are going through. I wish I did, I truly do.”

Denver explained his experiences in the dream to his friends, they listened asking the odd question here and there but for the most part they just listened- Denver was grateful for that.

Brian had gotten really excited when he spoke about Shade. Giving him a high five for giving him a body. Trevor however didn’t say a whole lot, he just sat there with a weird expression on his face.

Denver began to worry about him, and how he was taking all of this.

“can you manifest the Dream stone in the real world?” asked Brian he seemed to be less nervous now.

Denver shook his head. “No, but Shade had said I could. I just had to learn to bridge the two realities in order to manifest anything.”

Brian whistled “and how you do that?” he asked getting noticeably more excited.

Denver couldn’t help but laugh.

“I have no idea.” he said shrugging.

Brian snorted. “have you thought about meditation?” he said his eyes were shining with excitement as he spoke.

Denver smiled at his friend, this was what Brian lived for. He was all in-Denver could see that plain as day now.

“Your finding your dream you tonight aren’t you Bri.” Keva said before Denver could respond.

The three of them laughed, Trevor didn’t- Denver was beginning to worry about him.

His friend was pulling his long black hair back into a ponytail when they heard Marvin’s truck pull the driveway.

“Dad’s home.” Trevor said “we should call it there guys.”

“wait” said Keva before anyone could move. “what can you do Trev?”

Trevor paused half out of his seat with a confused expression on his face.

“what do you mean?” he asked and than continued to rise.

“Well she can read minds and Denny can do weird dream stuff or whatever. What power did you get?.”

said Brian rising himself, and beginning to collect his dice and books.

“Oh.” said Trevor “um I’m not really sure. I feel really good though. Even if my face doesn’t show it. I’m sorry about that guys, I dunno this is all so weird. I didn’t think about super powers though I’ll definitely be on the look out.” he said shrugging.

“Ooh a mystery.” Brian said rubbing his hands together malevolently.

“Odd.” said Denver causing Brian to pause his building nerdgasm.

“Keva didn’t you say you knew your power right away, and how to use it?.”

“Yeah, I did.” she said placing her character sheet in his binder. “It was so weird, because it wasn’t weird at all. It was like nothing changed but it obviously did. Its hard to explain.”

“Shade mentioned something last night.” Denver cut in drawing their attention.

“He said that their are levels of power- more or less, and that we supposedly have aura’s that show it. Weaker- um what did he call it..” Denver struggled to remember.

“Lei Link I think he said?.” offered Keva helpfully.

“Thanks, Keva.” he replied smiling at her. “Yea the Lei Link is different for all of us. My mo-my mom she had a glow in her eyes that was so bright it.. I felt like I was going to go blind from it.” he said his throat caught when he spoke about his mother. He had managed to keep his mind from her during these last hours.

He felt Keva grab his hand and squeeze. He could feel wetness leak down his cheek as he stood there.

“That kind of adds something new to this you know-” Trevor started to say before Marvin’s booming voice cut through there conversation.

“Boys! Keva!, time to call it a night.” he called down to them.

“we’ll talk some more tomorrow.” Trevor said taking his books to a large shelf on the other side of the room.

The others agreed as they finished packing up their own things.

Keva left with Brian, after giving Denver an awkward kiss goodbye.

His cheeks burned as he closed the door behind them. Turning to find Trevor looking at him with an odd expression again.

“c’mon, Dad wants to talk to you.” he said nodding in the direction of the living room.