Dionte

It's late afternoon when the three gather as usual in Chantel's living room, their meeting place. He notices the slight shifting in his seat as Jun-Seo tells his story, and though Chantel seems eager to share her piece, she doesn't interrupt him. Maybe he's still worried about her response to all of this.

"Um, so that's it. That's the reason I'm involved with this curse."

"Wow, I greeted Heather every morning when I passed by your house on my way to work. She always gave me the stank eye and would rarely ever respond. I never would've imagined it was because of my race and not me personally." Chantel shakes her head at this, leaning back in her seat with crossed arms. "She has gotten some nerve to nest up and spy on us from her window. You're supposed to obey your parents, but not when they're leading you in the wrong direction. And hey, if she ever tries grounding you for dropping by, just let me talk to your Dad like last time, okay?"

"T-That means you aren't upset?" he quietly confirms, a flicker in his large brown eyes. "Can I still come to visit?"

"Jun, you're always welcome at my house! You shouldn't even have to ask that. It would be hypocritical of me to hold a grudge against you, and I'm guilty of hurting them too..." her voice trails off, but the remorse is quickly replaced by her contagious smile. "You can even join Tiara and me when we go to the hospital next week."

This offer has a grin tug at his lips to mirror her own, and he takes a sip of his drink in satisfaction. Thank God it worked out for the both of them. With this resolved, they need to discuss their next course of action. Tonight, the seventh dream state will be the most serious yet, but before he can say anything, Jun-Seo hops on his feet.

"Oh, I completely forgot to mention that I saw Kaylen!"

The bombshell has them exchange glances, immediately grabbing their attention.

"Wait, what do you mean by you saw her?"

He was with the kid practically the whole time minus the last fifteen minutes or so. Did something unexpected take place during that short window he was away?

"I was hiding like you told me to wait for the nightmare to end. Just sitting there, lost in my memories and guilt, and said an audible apology. Moments later, I felt this kind of cold sensation" --the boy reflectively brushes his right hand-- "and her warm eyes staring back into mine. I know it wasn't some illusion or hallucination, but her. I don't know how, but it was."

A silence falls, with his strained words lingering in the air, clearly desperate for them not to doubt him. Actually, what he's saying confirms the exact issue I've been debating. It has the pieces aligned that were so scattered before.

The woman frowns slightly, running her fingers through her now damp bangs. "Look, I'm not saying you're lying or anything, but are you sure it wasn't just your narcolepsy playing mind tricks? It could've felt real though it wasn't."

"No, I think he really saw her," Dionte counters, their heads turning to the therapist. "I noticed the monologues of the twins that flow through the special dreams. Originally, I took it as the thoughts that consumed them while first casting this curse. But that deduction doesn't make sense because they're speaking in the present tense. The girls even commented back directly to Chantel during her dream, which now has me convinced that they're seeing everything."

Jun-Seo pats the dog curled up at his feet before he proceeds to question, "So they're experiencing the dream state too?"

"Yes, even if they're invisible to our sight. Well, usually, but Kaylen somehow made contact with you briefly as it was ending." The male pulls out a small notepad that comes in handy to write down his theories. "I think the twins are always around and simply choose to not make themselves known."

It would all connect, and the twins have remained unconscious since December 1st. While in a comatose state, the two can witness the terror these nightmares bring to their enemies. However, he can't say for certain that this extends to normal dreams or only the special cases.

"Wow, I never thought about that." Chantel nods, not wearing the same weary expression as before. "So Kaylen actually reached out to him."

"It seems like it, but I won't go as far as foolishly suggesting that he's free because of this."

He turns to the boy still ruffling the fluffy hair of his golden retriever, a bit shaky now.

"I did that for Chantel only to get her hopes up to be crushed," he mumbles, a tightness in his chest recalling his previous assumptions.

"Dionte..."

"Even if Kaylen has had a change of heart, it most likely is impossible for you to be removed from the dreams early. You should still prepare to face the dangers until New Year's Day."

It's unfortunate, but the cruel reality we have to accept. As great as it is that they're coming to terms with their past, it won't alter what already has been set in stone.

"We're still a trio, so don't you worry. We'll face those monsters together, or rather run from them," Chantel half-jokes with a lopsided grin, receiving a light laugh from the younger one.

"And despite the circumstances, Kaylen has accepted your apology, or she wouldn't have revealed herself to you. That's what you wanted above all else, right?"

Jun-Seo nods to this, the stiffness the kid had slowly eases. Perhaps with this weight lifted off his shoulders, tiredness kicks in as a yawn escapes him. Online homework needs to be completed as well to have them see the boy and his pet out the door.

With that, the male stretches his legs, taking his empty cup to the kitchen sink. Chantel accompanies him, her violet eyes holding a sparkle of admiration that sends his heart racing.

"I said it before, but I'm grateful that you're here. First helping me, and second, Jun, I just know it was for His purpose that you were pulled into the dreams with us. Maybe you'll reason with Pravati and the others too."

"That's hard to imagine, and they outright rejected our cooperation," he counters, and it'll be more of a challenge to connect with them. That doesn't mean that I plan to shy away from the task, no matter the difficulty. "And as I responded before, what I'm doing is nothing commendable. I just spoke what was on my heart at the time, and the rest was up to you two."

It's as simple as that. They're supposed to look out for one another in their spiritual walk when people are stumbling. Though I can't deny hearing her praise is still a good feeling. To be given a divine mission to guide total strangers back to God is something worthwhile, once in their shoes far from Him.

"You're acting as a leader. You listen to our burdens and take charge through this, but how are you holding up?"

The vocalized concern has him pause in the kitchen's doorway, a frown planted on her face.

"I promise I'm managing my sleep schedule, even with the replacement of homemade coffee over Yum Yum Cafe's."

"Deeper than that. I get you don't have any connections to the twins, but what about being homesick? If you're set on staying until this is over--which I can guess that you are--then you're stuck here until January. What about your parents, friends, or a beautiful girlfriend you've left behind?"

He chuckles, quick to wave off the last mention as he retakes a seat in the living room. "I don't have anyone like that waiting for me back home. As for my parents, I still chat with them often and plan to tell them everything eventually. My few friends congratulated me on taking on what is believed to be a normal vacation. They were insisting I stay two months instead of one."

It wasn't that they wouldn't miss him around, but if this trip entails a much-needed break, then they can accept his absence. Well, that's what they told me anyway, and they even offered to watch my place while I was away. This explanation doesn't ease her concern but rather does just the opposite.

"You're such a workaholic that your loved ones probably figure you'll get gray hairs by thirty. And little do they know, the whole time you've been here has been spent fleeing from monsters and lounging around my house!" Chantel leans against the backside of the couch, her face mere inches from his own. "I will ensure that you have some fun during your stay today. You don't take a trip upstate every day, so I'm bringing you along to my favorite place."

"What, right now?"

This question is only answered by her grabbing his collar, the once cowardly woman surprisingly strong. He gets dragged out of her home, the destination unknown as the vehicle takes off down the snowy roads.

...

The colorful flashing lights in the dimly lit place are unaffected by the stale outside world on the other side of these doors. Likewise, people party on stage, singing to their hearts' content for their audience of family and friends. Delicious food and drinks are being sold at the bar, and he's surprised it's so packed with the sun still up.

"Ever visited a karaoke bar before?"

"No, can't say I have..." he mumbles, his green eyes scanning his surroundings as Chantel greets one of the employees.

"Don't fret. I know you won't feel comfortable like that, so I'm going to get us a private room."

"Us?" Dionte sees her rummaging through her purse, which has him instantly reach for his wallet. "No, you don't have to do that. We can split the bill."

"No, I'm the one who invited you—" Well, she kidnapped me... "so I can cover the cost. I'm only putting it on the credit card."

With no further debate, she purchases a private room for two hours of use. The interior has comfy lounge seats with a large screen TV and soundproof walls so customers can truly belt their hearts out.

"Let me know what song you pick so I can set it up for you."

"Well, ladies should go first."

This dodge is disguised as a polite offer to pass the microphone off to her, but it doesn't seem to work by the frown she returns.

"Come on, you've heard me sing plenty, and this is supposed to be for you to loosen up."

Chantel holds the microphone out again, which this time he accepts. His gaze remains locked on the lyrics as they come across, and his hands sweat more than when the clock strikes three A.M. Why am I so nervous? He isn't performing for a random crowd but only singing in front of her. The young woman beside him sits cross-legged with a wide grin tugging at her lips. She's getting a kick out of this. The culprit contains her laughter, replacing it with a cheer as he finishes.

"Even the jazz songs you chose, I've never heard anyone listen to but on the radio. With your taste in music and how you carry yourself, you truly are an old soul."

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

"You have good vocal cords though," she adds, lacking the teasing tone. "It's relaxing to listen to you, unlike my hoarseness."

"Thanks, I sang in the church choir in my teen years, so that could've had a hand in it."

Dionte takes a seat, giving the microphone to her, and after a minute, she selects a popular pop song. Despite it being in Korean, she doesn't stutter over the lyrics, which is impressive for a language she most likely isn't fluent in. However, her upbeat show is limited to that single positive note. Chantel's pitch is off, and she can't hit the high keys to save her life. Yet, the energy is elevated with her little dance accompanying her ear-deafening tune. It leaves him stifling a laugh when her turn ends with a bow.

"This is pretty fun," he comments when they sit and take a snack break halfway through. "I should've been more open to trying it with my friends back home. Singing is really your passion, huh?"

"I might've gone for it if I wasn't so tone-deaf, but I love my flowers just as much." She has a quick sip of her drink before continuing. "What about yourself? Did you always know that a therapist was the right job for you?"

"Well, somewhat. My life wasn't the best growing up, so I put all of my time and energy into studying. I wanted to graduate early; I'd gain my independence, and family would be of no importance to me." His head drops, examining his business casual apparel, clothes he used to wear only for show to try and prove how mature he was. "I took up psychology, yes, but I wasn't in the best mindset then. I wouldn't have been able to help anyone if I had managed to pass the course. Nevertheless, I went through a rough patch to open my eyes to the blessing laid in my lap. After I got back on track and returned to college, I decided to focus on adolescents struggling with substance abuse in particular."

"Wow, that's admirable. I always enjoy the smiles I get when handing over custom flower orders to my buyers. Though the work you do can honestly save the lives of those who confide in you, like mine."

These words provide an exchange of smiles between the two, though he leans back when the female suddenly edges closer.

"I am curious, if you were twice the workaholic then, just how bad of a stick in the mud were you? It's still hard to link that Dionte to the humble one awkwardly singing."

Dionte averts his gaze at this, tugging at his collar shirt with a wry smile. "I don't think I should say. This gentleman image you have of me might forever be tainted if I start blabbing." The intelligence I strived to obtain had a smart mouth along with it.

"What? I'm super curious now! I'll tell an embarrassing story of mine to make it even!"

The two joke around for the next hour, and he returns home with a clearer head, replaying the songs they duet.

...

The reddened sky has become routine, and it's only been a week. Dionte is quick to sit up with his two companions doing the same, them now in the seventh dream state. This is the night everything is going to be turned upside down. If everything Pravati learned is correct, a monster for each individual will be roaming around there.

He takes a look at his pocket watch to confirm what he already knows. It's three A.M., just as I figured. Now the hour it begins in the normal nightmares correlates to the time frame in the special ones.

"I was on the fence about suggesting this before, but I believe we should—" he cuts himself off. The growling noise, distant yet tingling his ears, and by the expressions on their faces, he is well aware of what's behind him.

Dionte doesn't even spin around to check. He simply hand gestures the two to run ahead as he follows after them—and so does the beast. The patterning is enough to make the concrete shake, or rather his legs because of the anxiety level while fleeing from it. Both adults tighten their hold on Jun-Seo's clammy grip to ensure he keeps up and his fear is kept under control.

To bring the danger up a notch, they pass by yet another Daemon across the way. It makes a sharp right slide to join the fray, now having double the prey. This night is already off to a bad start.

Chantel can't peel her eyes away from the new predator that's joined the fray. "Are you kidding me? There's two chasing us now!"

"Just keep your sights straight and don't stop running!"

They listen to his orders, cutting through the lawns in between the narrow houses to try and lose their foes. And after taking more twists and turns, they're blessed with silence beside their own heavy footsteps.

"...D-Did we lose them?" Jun-Seo asks, the boy collapsing on the concrete, which he can't determine is the root of his cataplexy or exhaustion.

"Uh, I think so..." Dionte scans the area, and thankfully, there are no signs of those red glowing eyes. "What I was just considering moments ago is the way to go. We cannot afford to patrol the streets to find the sixth curse sufferer. We need to do what Pravati suggested in the last dream state and lie low until it's over."

Indeed, he doesn't want them to simply give up their search, assuming this mystery male will have a mutual response as the others. Still, I can't risk their lives roaming about for this guy, even if death won't be permanent. This isn't up for debate, his teammates nodding without a hint of disagreement.

"Well, I got somewhere good we can hide. Let's hope we can make it there in one piece though."

Chantel leads the boys across the street, with him having a watchful gaze while maintaining a decent walking pace. The further along they travel, the more this particular road raises a strong familiarity. I thought all of the streets pretty much looked identical, so what is this weird déjà vu that I'm getting? Once they reach the destination, it clicks like a key that is the perfect fit.

"This is where I stayed yesterday when you and Jun weren't here. No monsters ever came near the end of this alleyway. If we're lucky, that'll be the case tonight too." There's a short pause when she places her hands on her hips. "Yes, I took cover behind a gross smelly trash bin, but what did you expect me to do? Go skipping around under the streetlights to invite one to come eat me?"

"No, it wasn't that. This is just the exact spot I got trapped in during my first dream state."

That terrifying night feels so distant, yet he can vividly recall what happened. The monster did follow him down there before, but that's only because it was already in pursuit. All we can do is pray we won't be discovered taking cover in this place.

The three take a seat chatting—though in a whisper to pass the time. It gets cut off immediately whenever they hear the slightest noise nearby. One hour is going by so slowly now. Perhaps it's a mixture of the time tripling and them lacking an objective like earlier in the week.

Their conversation is interrupted by hearing growls that aren't a human stomach growing louder with each passing second. Though to make the situation even more chilling, a soft woman's voice speaks clear yet unseen.

"I finally found another one. What luck I have to seek death and take a whole hour to obtain it."

Jun-Seo frowns at this, his brown eyes darting at him. "It sounds like that lady we met. She isn't going to sacrifice herself again, is she?"

"I don't know."

But I'm not gonna wait around and find out. Determination coursing through his veins, he takes a stand, much to Chantel's alarm.

"Hey, you can't intervene!" she whispers, pleading in her wavering tone. "With how close that thing is, stepping in is a death wish!"

"Keep Jun safe and stay put right here, okay?"

Dionte can only flash a guilty smile with his selfish request before heading for the darkness these nightmares represent. Regardless of whether Pravati refused to join our team, I can't idly sit by and let herself be killed when I could prevent it. And so he emerges from the alleyway to be met with the victim and a large Daemon prowling mere inches from her.

A/N Hello readers. Sorry if this chapter isn't as good. I'm getting a little behind schedule and will be on slower updates for a while. Next chapter will be from a different POV.