Dream On. Chapter 47: The moment.

Previously...

The moment

The exams were approaching dangerously and, by then, most of the students spent their days in the library. It had needed to change its opening schedule, allowing the students to stay there for more hours. The queues in the canteen to get coffee had gotten out of hand, and some students had started smuggling thermos full of coffee inside the library, and selling cups of it to desperate peers who didn't want to give up their place. There were some students that had tried to sleep inside the library only to be thrown out by the staff, a couple of them tried it more than once and were expelled from the library for a week. It was absolutely crazy. Albert found himself wishing that he could study in his dreams, to avoid all the hysteria. Luckily, all that was bound to finish during the following week as the exams were already starting.

Robert and Dalia had their first exam the following day, so they had arrived first at the library to make sure they could get the most of their last day. Myriam was starting two days after them, and Albert on the following Monday. Robert and Dalia had been studying for two hours when Albert walked to their table in the library. He left his backpack on the floor and sat on a chair that they had taken for him.

-How are you doing?- he asked his friends. Dalia looked clearly exhausted, and Robert didn't look much better, although there was an aura of excitement around him.

-Great.-Robert replied- We are studying organic chemistry and it is thrilling!

Albert made a face that made Dalia laugh covering her mouth with her hands.

-Don't look at me like that! It is!- he whispered.

-If you say so...- he told him taking his books and notes out of his backpack.

Myriam arrived a bit later carrying a couple of books and her laptop.

-Sorry for my lateness. But I stayed awake studying for long tonight and this morning I just couldn't wake up.- she stretched when she sat on the chair.

-Well, you can always stay longer.- Albert joked while Myriam kicked him under the table.

A librarian passed by and told them to be silent. They, then, focused on their notes until lunch time and took turns to go to eat. They all enjoyed those moments outside the library, and they usually took their food outside in the grass to take profit of the sun. That day Robert and Dalia went together because they had been studying for longer and were hungry earlier. Albert was hungry too, but he didn't want to leave Myriam alone so he waited until his friends came back, they wouldn't take too long, Dalia had been trying to minimize her time alone with Robert in places where she would need to talk to him, regardless, they still spent an awful lot of time together. When they came back Albert asked Myriam to go for lunch.

-Already? You've been eating all the time, don't think I didn't see you! I don't understand how you can eat so much and still be hungry all the time.

-I've got a fast metabolism. Can we go now?

Myriam closed her laptop and stand up from her chair sighing.

-Ok, let's go.- she conceded.

They headed outside, took some sandwiches from the cafeteria and sat on the grass to eat their lunch. Albert felt safe during those moments, they were inside their little world not needing to worry about anyone else. He finished his sandwiches and lay down in the grass watching her finish hers.

-You're going to fall asleep in here.- she reproached him.

-Not if you're here.

She smiled and stood up. Albert was reluctant to stand up but he knew he still needed to study and that he wouldn't do anything if he stayed outside. They got back in and took it on from where they had left it. Late in the afternoon, they were all yawning over their notes.

-I'm going to get some coffee, who wants one?- said Dalia standing up.

-Bring me a long espresso, please.- said Albert.

-Myriam? Robert?

-Mmmm a cappuccino for me. Thanks.- she replied.

-I don't want anything, thanks, I need to go to sleep early today and if I have coffee I won't get any sleep.- complained Robert with his eyes still on his notes.

Dalia came back not long after with the coffees which helped them study until the library closed. Then they all headed to their respective dorms either to keep studying or to sleep.

Dream On. Chapter 46: The end of the week.

Previously...

The end of the week

Dalia went to meet Marla feeling strangely brave, these last days she had come to value what was really important for her in life helped by Robert, and she had taken a decision. She only needed to confront her with it and then she would be free. They met at Marla's house as the last time, however now it was in the middle of the day and over lunch in her garden. It was a pleasant surprise for Dalia, as Marla didn't use to be that nice, not even before her change. However, she was tense throughout the meal, they didn't talk much and the conversation kept dying off. When the meal was over Marla thought it convenient to introduce the topic that had brought them together that day.

-So, have you thought about how you're going to do it?- she asked Dalia.

-Yes.

-And?

-I could put it in his coffee one of these days, we usually study together and each time someone different goes pick coffee for everyone, but...

-But?- asked Marla raising one eyebrow.

-This is the last thing I do for you, after this I'll go back home and you will never hear from me again. I'll leave silently and I won't tell anything to anyone. I'll say that the pressure at the university was too much for me and that I snapped. Also, promise me that nothing will happen to Robert.

-Oh, dear, you're such a disappointment. You don't want to be powerful? Where are your ambitions? Why should I let you leave?

-You won't need me again after this, will you? I could go around telling people what you really are?

-And what am I?- Marla said in an ice-cold voice.- Say it, we both know it, don't we? I won't feel offended, unlike other I know exactly what I am.

-You're a witch.- Dalia said accusingly.

-So, I am!- she replied laughing from the bottom of her throat.- I am a witch and I am proud to be one! I see you don't understand, the power, oh, the power! It makes you feel so good. You've never had it, you don't know the sensation of being able to do anything just by thinking about it. And you will never know in your sad mortal life. I pity you. But you're right, I have no use for you after this. I could kill you afterwards or I could hide you away until I had need of you again. Yes, I could do that.

Dalia held her breath, so that was it, she would be either dead or tied to that madwoman forever.

-But, I want you to see that I am benevolent and I'll let you leave. And I won't hurt your straw man. However, I will make sure that you don't tell anyone. You won't be able to tell anything to anyone because every time you will try to I'll come into your mind and remind you. And if you do tell someone I'll hurt your straw man. Understood?

Dalia nodded, hardly believing that she would be able to get away with it.

-Now leave and don't talk to me again. Send me a message the day before you plan to do it and after you've done it.- Marla handed her a little glass bottle. It was similar to the one from the last time, but the liquid had a reddish shadow in it.- If you lose it, or break it or do anything else with this I'll make sure that you will regret doing it your whole life.- she looked at her intensely and Dalia felt how a tree behind her caught fire. Marla looked at it annoyed and set the fire off immediately.- Go away, now!

Dalia hurried down the stairs and into the elevator, she only started walking at a normal pace when she was two kilometers away from the building. Then she stopped, shaking and she leaned on a wall. Had she won? Was it what she really wanted? Maybe Robert was right and she was actually a good person who happened to find herself trapped in a bad place. Would she have to be afraid all her life thinking about what would happen if Marla changed her mind? She had seen what Marla could do, and the fire was an accident, she shuddered imagining what could she do when she summoned her powers intentionally.

Dream On. Chapter 45: Almost a confession.

Previously...

Almost a confession

Robert could not sleep that night, thinking about what he had done wrong. He tossed in the bed for hours until he decided to go downstairs to the common room and study a bit there. The morning found him sleeping with his head on a book. He was awoken by the light that entered through the window and the noise of his dorm mates going for breakfast. He decided to return to his room and hide away from all that noise. Albert was already awake too, and he was dressing after the shower when his friend arrived.

-I'm impressed now, you managed to stay out until now?

-No, I didn't. I was sleeping downstairs, I couldn't sleep in here.

-Ummm, so it wasn't as you expected, I guess?- he inquired.

-It was really good for a long while, we laughed, we talked, and we kissed.

-So?

-She started crying telling me that she didn't deserve me, that I was too good for her, and that she wasn't the kind of person I thought she was. So we came back and we didn't say anything for the whole trip.

-Why would she say that? We know her, she's nice.

-I know, I'll try to talk to her again today.

-Don't push her too hard, maybe she's just scared she's going to lose you as a friend if you become something else...

-I don't know, but we need to talk this through for sure. And I have to make her understand that I love her the way she is, that there can't be anything so terrible that would make me love her less.

-When are you going to see her?

-I don't know yet, I sent her a message, but she still hasn't replied.

-If you want I can talk Myriam into convincing her to talk to you.

-No, please, I'd rather you don't unless it's really necessary.- Robert told him.

-Well, if you need me you know where I am. I'm going out with Myriam today, see you later!

Robert was left alone in the room. He decided to get himself a shower and then study a bit more. The shower helped him feel more relaxed and he was able to focus for a couple of hours. Then his phone buzzed with a message from Dalia telling him to meet her for lunch. He ran to meet her, he just couldn't stand the pressure. She greeted him embarrassed and they walked together to the canteen.

-Listen, Dalia, I don't care if you think you're not good enough for me, I don't care about anything. I like you, I really do.- Robert started as they sat down.

-Robert.-she said looking into his eyes.-I'm not the person you think I am.

-I know exactly who you are. You are a strong person, who has fought for what she wanted to do and who will keep doing so. I also know that you are really sweet and that you would never hurt anyone. And you are smart, smarter than you think. And on top of that, you are a good person.

Dalia stayed silent while tears streamed down her face. She shook her head.

-No, I'm not.- she said sobbing.

Robert reached for her hand over the table and calmed her down.

-Yes, you are.

-Robert, I'm mean, and I'm wicked, and I'm treacherous. I wish I could tell you why right now, but I can't. And the day I tell you, the day that you realize what I actually am, you will hate me with all your heart.

-I am your friend, no matter what, I'll be there for you and you can rely on me for anything you need. But don't say things about yourself that aren't true.

-You will be there for me?- she asked looking into his eyes.

-I will.- Robert assured her.