John arrived at the office early, still feeling the lingering effects of the night before. The shadows of his encounter with Valerie clung to his mind, making him restless despite the bright morning sun that filtered through the office windows.
He hadn’t even had time to settle in at his desk when he heard the familiar sound of Michael’s heavy footsteps, accompanied by the soft rustle of wings. Michael didn’t come by John’s corner of the office often, preferring to work out of his spacious suite, but today was clearly an exception. John turned just in time to see his boss’s towering figure entering the room, casting a long shadow that contrasted with the light he emanated.
Michael’s presence was as commanding as ever. Broad-shouldered and easily over six and a half feet tall, his large, white angelic wings spread out behind him like a cape of feathers, catching the light that seemed to radiate from him naturally. His expression was a mix of curiosity and approval, his eyes gleaming like prisms reflecting sunlight.
“John,” Michael greeted, his voice deep and resonant. “I hear you pulled off something remarkable yesterday.”
John managed a small smile, though he could feel his stomach twisting. “Good morning, Michael. I wouldn’t say it was that remarkable. Dream Catcher actually reached out first.”
Michael raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp and assessing. “Doesn’t matter. Just getting her to agree to work with us is impressive. People have tried, and she’s not exactly… cooperative with most. Not to mention her reputation.”
John shrugged, trying to deflect the praise. “Well, it took a bit of convincing, but she’s on board.”
Michael’s wings shifted slightly, their brilliant feathers catching the light in rainbow hues. “I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. It’s not every day we get a supervillain to collaborate on a child’s dream—especially someone as infamous as Dream Catcher.” He let out a low chuckle. “That one’s got a talent for eluding the spotlight and staying out of reach, even for people with my… capabilities.”
John nodded, not sure how much he should say. “She does seem to work in her own way.”
“She certainly does,” Michael replied, looking amused. “But that’s why I’m impressed. Managing talent is one thing; managing someone who’s made an entire career out of bending reality is another.” He paused, folding his arms. “And I hear she asked for you to join her and Noah in the dream?”
John swallowed, a bit uneasy under Michael’s curious gaze. “Yes. I think she wants me there to guide Noah through it. Make him feel safe.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Michael gave him a knowing smile, his wings shifting slightly. “It’s wise of her to want that. The dream world can be disorienting, especially for someone so young. And you know him best.” He studied John thoughtfully. “Still, be careful. It’s easy to get… swept up in her world. I don’t need to remind you of her capabilities.”
John nodded, choosing his words carefully. “I’m aware. I won’t let it get in the way of the job.”
Michael gave him a satisfied nod. “Good. I just want to make sure you’re going into this with eyes open. She’s a powerful ally in the right context but unpredictable.” He looked out the window, his expression distant. “I had a run-in with her a few years back. She has her own code, but she doesn’t always share what that is.”
John raised an eyebrow, surprised. He hadn’t known Michael had encountered Valerie before. “She… didn’t try anything dangerous, did she?”
Michael smiled, though his gaze stayed guarded. “No, but I got the feeling that she saw the world in a way that was, well… unique. She doesn’t see boundaries the way most people do.” He looked back at John, his eyes serious. “But if you’ve earned her trust, that says something. Just don’t let her catch you off guard.”
“Understood,” John replied, feeling the weight of Michael’s warning. Valerie’s unpredictability had always been part of what had drawn him to her, but he knew it was also what made her dangerous. “I’ll keep it professional.”
Michael studied him for a moment longer, as if he sensed more beneath the surface, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he clapped John on the shoulder, his smile returning. “Good work, John. This is exactly why we have you on the team. There aren’t many who can make something like this happen, and I’m sure Noah will appreciate it more than you know.”
John felt a flicker of pride beneath his nerves. “Thank you. I hope so. He deserves it.”
Michael nodded, his wings shifting as he prepared to leave. “He does. And we’re lucky to have someone like you making these dreams come true. Just keep me updated, alright?”
“I will,” John promised. He watched as Michael turned, his presence filling the room with light as he left, the faint glow of his wings lingering in the air even after he was gone.
---
Once alone, John exhaled, the tension easing from his shoulders. Michael’s approval was a rare thing, and knowing he had his boss’s confidence gave him a sense of resolve. But the reminder of Valerie’s complexity lingered, and he found himself questioning how well he really knew her. Even after all these years, she remained an enigma—a force both beautiful and dark, someone he couldn’t quite pin down.
Turning to his computer, John tried to refocus on work, but his mind drifted back to their meeting in the park. She’d been just as mesmerizing as he remembered, her voice carrying the same hint of danger that had always drawn him in. And then, when she’d demanded that he join them… it had felt almost like a test.
He could see the wisdom in her request, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she had another reason for wanting him there. A part of him worried that, by agreeing, he was stepping back into a world he’d once left for good reason. Valerie had always had a way of making reality blur, twisting his perspective until he didn’t know where her dreamscape ended and his own thoughts began.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. This wasn’t the time to second-guess. He had agreed, and he would see it through—for Noah’s sake. The boy had a one-of-a-kind dream, and if Valerie could bring it to life, then he had to trust her enough to make it happen.
His phone buzzed, snapping him from his thoughts. A message notification appeared from an unknown number:
*“Meet me tonight, 8 p.m., same place.”*
John felt a chill as he read the message. It was from Valerie. Of course, she hadn’t put her name or left any other indication of identity, but he knew without a doubt that it was her. There was an edge to her instructions that brought him back to all the quiet rendezvous they’d shared back when things had been different, when he’d been young and too willing to follow her lead.
He put his phone away, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. There were still a few details to finalize for Noah’s wish, and he wanted everything to be in place. But as he worked, his thoughts kept circling back to the night ahead. The boundary between his professional responsibilities and his personal history was growing thinner, and he knew that, soon, he’d have to confront just how far he was willing to go for the sake of this dream.
And for the first time in years, John wondered if he was ready to face what Valerie’s world might reveal about his own.