Dream-Hunters - Chapter Eighteen

Tessa’s head spun. Everything was moving too quickly! Though her heart skipped beats left and right, she was nowhere near ready for what was happening. Her pendant swung lightly at her chest as she walked down the sidewalk.

John was strolling beside her, nonchalantly watching the clouds traipse along the skyline. His coffee-brown eyes would occasionally meet hers, triggering a burning sensation in her cheeks.

Still failing to adjust to the shock, Tessa dazedly recalled the events leading up to their walk. As she was entering the hospital, she’d run into John, Matthew, and Sophie leaving. They’d stared at each other for all of two seconds before Sophie had grabbed John and shoved him into Tessa. She and Matthew had then immediately escaped, much to John’s chagrin. Naturally, that left John and Tessa to walk back by themselves.

By ourselves…, Tessa thought, shaking with embarrassment. No doubt, Sophie had planned this. Why, she couldn’t imagine.

She realized that John had stopped, leaning on the railing that bound the pathway, looking out over the streets below. Curious, she leaned out next to him, craning her neck to see what he could be looking at. The roads were the same as ever, with cars ambling gently along the black carpets.

“What do you see?” Tessa blinked in surprise. The question had come from John, wrapped in his soft, soothing voice.

“Um...cars.” Tessa said lamely.

John chuckled heartily, his chest trembling. Tessa’s cheeks burned. He asks you a question, and that’s the best you can do? she kicked herself mentally.

“No, no, you’re right,” John said, his laughter receding. “Yeah, there are cars.” His gaze followed the steel vehicles sliding up and down the roads. “Now, each car has a driver, right?”

“Yeah.” Tessa scratched her head. She hadn’t imagined John as being this hard to talk to.

“And each driver is a person. Now, imagine each driver as their own story, as their own doubts, trials, and tragedies, and tell me what you see. What can you see in all of them?”

Tessa ran a hand absentmindedly through her hair, trying to think. “They’re...good people. I mean, they might do bad things sometimes, but they’re still good at heart.”

John laughed again, but this time it lacked humor. “I thought you’d say that. You're a good person, you know that, Tessa? Always looking for the righteousness in people. I can only imagine what'll happen when you fail to find it."

Tessa blushed, and John went on. "I’ll tell you what I see. Greed. No, not avarice,” he said as Tessa opened her mouth to reply, “The wish for money is far too specific. Narrow-minded, even. I see greed. Desire for power, desire for luck, desire for talent, desire for ability.”

Tessa stopped, realization striking her. There was something she wanted. But was it really just greed?

“But somewhere along the line,” John continued, looking out on the horizon, “they accept themselves to be inexcusable wretches, and let these dreams slip away...it’s only natural. In a way, dreams are greed. And that means that every last human is plagued by the desire to possess, for themselves or others. It makes no difference. It’s all just greed in the end.”

Tessa gazed worriedly at the boy leaning beside her. “What’re you saying?”

“It’s repulsive. I despise it.” John’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. “I’m going to crush their selfish desire and silence them for good. You see, Tessa,” John confessed, turning to her, “I’m going to destroy the dream-world. And bring a permanent end to mankind’s selfishness.”

A cold feeling settled into Tessa’s skin. “Why...why are you telling me this?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” John was smiling now, unnaturally wide. “I trust you.”

Tessa’s chest fluttered with dark angel wings. “I...I see.”

“Matthew and Sophie, they couldn’t care less about our worlds,” John fumed. “They’d just be content to stop the bad guy and save the day.

“Well, I assure you that my vision entails much more than justice. I’m going to change this world, Tessa. And I want you to stand beside me.” John’s voice was filled confidence, and he held his hand out towards her. “Tessa. Will you save the world with me?” His earnest eyes sought hers, his shining gaze tugging at her heartstrings.

Her lips moved on their own. “Yes!” she blurted, then immediately blushed. This wasn’t a question to get so excited about.

John smiled warmly. “That’s good.”

At that moment, Tessa shivered. She couldn’t explain the cold feeling crawling across her skin, discomforting her in its terrible subtlety.

John noticed. “Oh, it’s getting colder, isn’t it?” He stared after the sun, sinking lower in the sky. Turning back to Tessa, he grinned. “Here, I’ll lend you my jacket.”

Tessa’s doubts were instantly swept beneath a blanket of love as John peeled the hoodie from his body, handing it to her. Slipping it on, she felt an overwhelming warmth, and instinctively hugged it closer to her. A light blush set into her cheeks as she mumbled, “Thanks.”

John laughed, light and angelic. “Don’t mention it. Come on, let’s go home.”

With that, he took her hand, and led her home as the sky faded to amethyst, making jokes, teasing her, and pulling her closer as the night set in. Tessa’s heart melted in her chest, her spirit soaring in her perfect romance.