The elders' council
Albert met with David, George, Hugh, and Margaret that same afternoon at his grandmother's house. He had felt uncomfortable about the meeting place, but they insisted that it had to be there, so it was. He arrived before their meeting time just to spend some moments remembering the period they had spent together in those rooms. Nothing had changed, he did even found the book in the place he had left it the last time he had visited her. It was unsettling. He smelled the sheets of the bed, they smelled like burned meat, but they didn't have a single stain. He lay on it staring at the ceiling, wondering how much would have it hurt her to be burned alive. He was lost in his thoughts when the doorbell rang. He got up and went downstairs to open the door. His guests were still dressed in mourning clothes, he let them in, and into the living room. Margaret handed him a plate of homemade cookies and offered to prepare coffee and tea.
-Don't worry kid, I already know where the kitchen is.
She came back shortly after carrying a tray with a kettle, a coffee pot, and some cups. They got themselves seated on the sofa, while Albert sat on an armchair opposite them.
-You might wonder who we are exactly.- started Margaret.
-We are the elders' council.-stated Hugh.-We try to keep all the Dreamers in the world together and safe. However there are fewer Dreamers than ever right now, and the whole community is dying. On top of that, as you might be aware, we have a terribly powerful enemy who wants to get her hands in our most powerful resource.
-Which is?- asked Albert, knowing already which would be the reply.
-You.- said David shortly.
-Albert, we know you are strong, you are the most powerful of us that's left, but it also makes you the most vulnerable. However we can't keep you in a golden cage because you're our only possibility of surviving. It is a difficult situation for everyone, not only for you.- told him Margaret softly.
Albert stared at his untouched coffee cup and stood up, pacing from one side of the room to the other. He stopped in front of the fire place and took a picture that was over it. It was the same one his grandmother had taken some time ago.
-Well, it's easy for you to say so, right? After all its my family and my friends the ones who are in danger, I am the one who has to risk his live, I am the one who is facing the danger.- his voice was pregnant with anger.- But don't worry, I was already willing to sacrifice myself, not because you told me so, but because I am a good person who knows that if Marla wins the world is fucked.
The elders council stared at him petrified, they hadn't expected this reaction, that was clear.
-You said you were going to help me, but at the same time you don't have any kind of powers whatsoever, so what are you going to do? Bury me when she has finally killed me? Are you going to tell my mother that you're really sorry that she has lost yet another family member?- he was losing his temper.- How can you help me? Can you give me my grandmother back? She was the one helping me, and now she's gone.- he punched a wall and fell on his knees crying about everything he had been through and everything that was bound to come.
-We can't bring her back, but you can.- George told him.
-How?- Albert asked still sitting on the floor.
-She died in your dream so she will be there forever, you just need to dream about her to be able to talk with her. Listen, we know that she told you that you shouldn't dream anymore, but this is the only way to overcome this threat.
-But there's one thing that you need to make sure of. This house has to remain as it is right now. It is a safe haven, if your grandmother hadn't left it and entered your dream she wouldn't have died, but it needs to maintain its equilibrium.- added Hugh.
-Also, you need to overcome this grief that is haunting you. It is not good either for you or for your mother, you have to be strong for her.- said Margaret.
-I'll, but I'll do it alone, I've got no need of you.- he replied harshly.
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