Infernal Dreams: His and Hers

He turns the treadmill off slowly while wiping every beads of sweats off of his forehead. Even after pushing himself hard on the machine, nothing can distracts him from the strange dream he had last night. The lingering feeling of anxiety and the darkness flashing back into his mind. 

He was walking mindlessly through the dark forest when he heard quite a commotion coming towards him. Unfamiliar with the situation, he hid behind the largest tree he can find. The shadow of someone being chased by a troop of soldiers crossed ​​his hideout. He took a deep breath, trying to hide his presence. It is better not to get involved even if all this is just a dream. 

Yes, he was sure all this was just a dream. He still remembers going to bed quite late last night, in order to ensure all the preparations for today's event is ready. Yet, here he is. in a place so foreign, entangled in a situation feels uncanny to be explained.

He tried to observe everything that was happening at the end of the cliff in silence. Although the light was a bit dim, he was sure that the one being chased was a woman, judging by the shape of the clothes she was wearing. Unbeknownst to him, someone approached him silently and knocked the back of his head. His vision darkened.

When he opened his eyes, everything was back to how it was before he fell asleep. In the modern world, in the room, on his own bed. The long hand of the clock has just moved one step forward.

5.23 am.

"Adam." The voice of Rita, the housekeeper who was already thought of as his own aunt, brought him back to the real world. She placed a tray containing a cup of hot tea and a plate of toast on the coffee table. The event's schedule that Bobby ordered to be delivered to Adam, was placed next to it.

"Are you okay?"

Rita's question was only answered with a subtle smile. He quickly reached for a towel and went straight to the bathroom, leaving Rita who then walked away. Under the shower head, he took a deep breath, trying to ease the nervousness that came back greeting him.

A few hours later...

Adrianna walks along the tall building with a cup of coffee in one hand and a notebook in the other. She reads the name under the last one that she scribbled in the café earlier. This will be the fourth out of a few several names of some used book stores and old looking libraries around the city that she found on the web last night. Her sighs sound heavy and frustrated. It has been five hours and nothing is accomplished.

Her phone rings short. Jillian has been so eager to know every updates on her so-called adventure. She texts her at every single hour since the moment Adrianna told her that she will be out to find the book she thinks fit her dream today.

"I don't think there's anything similar out here, in reality." Adrianna sighs, frustrated.

"I really wish I can be there and help you out. I don't even know how did I ended up here, either." Jillian looks around the foreign room. Her sister is talking to someone of her age. Must be a book lover, like her too.

Everybody in the room seems to be familiar with each other, although her sister, Lily told her that this is their first meeting outside the online meeting. Convinced by the party and food to be served, Jillian ended up driving her to the meeting.

"Maybe next time, I should tell Lily to bring you instead of me to one of her 'social' party. I heard that they are going to have another party next week." Adrianna chuckled a little listening to her whisper from the other end of the line. Jillian purposely changing her voice at mentioning the word 'social'.

"Maybe. But today, I have three more places to go." She sighs again, unconsciously. The call ended by Jillian reminding Adrianna to keep her updated with any hint she might find. 

Adrianna closed her notebook after the last sip. Maybe it is not a book. Maybe the dream was just a dream. Maybe she does not have to do anything at all. The endless trail of guesses and searches tire her. If, and only if, she has even a slightest clue of what she was doing. Anything at all.

"Nothing." Adrianna mutter under her breathe. The empty cup was left behind, with a heavy step.

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