We circled around him, the lights flickering, our torch beams poised for the perfect moment. He gradually settled onto the stool, and just as slowly, the stool toppled over. "In 1568—" was the last thing we caught from his lips.
Abdo stormed over, frustration evident in his stride as he seized Rum by the collar, yanking him upright. "Stupid! Didn't I tell you we're running out of time?"
"Come on, don't be like that," Rum stammered, his eyes fluttering, innocently.
Abdo released his grip, turning to face me, his expression darkening. "
Is there anyone in this room who understands that anyone linked to a dream is in jeopardy—especially if you're tampering with that link?"
Rum let out a weary sigh. "I was trying to explain that."
"Well, you were doing a spectacularly terrible job!" Abdo snapped, rubbing his feet together in agitation, inhaling deeply.
"I'm trying to clarify things here—I'm not angry," he added, but his tone did little to reassure us.
"The problem now-", He looked at me, "I've tampered with the connection that you and that lady you said is your sister have ".
Hunter looked at him, "I thought you destroyed it, or do they respawn now?"
"I can't destroy a dream unless they all agree to be destroyed", He sighed, " It's weird, don't ask questions".
"So...what do we do now?", Rum asked.
"We find them all, no matter where", Abdo replies.
"The Five Dreams?", Alpha asked.
Abdo nodded slowly, "The Five Dreams".
-----
"Honey, it'll be okay".
"No, it won't!, It won't ever be okay till I find them, She muffled some sounds into her pillow, "My darlings!"
"Where could they be?", He thought as he rubbed her back, if his wife would calm down, then they could look together.
Mrs Zen picked up the phone next to her, calling the first person she could.
Liam was the only person she ever saw her daughters with.
At that exact second came the doorbell sound.
Mrs Zen almost flew to the door, opening without questioning who it was.
There stood a young man with orange eyes and hair with an undercut.
He wore an orange tracksuit, the colour intentionally complementing his eyes. This young man was just the person she wanted to see.
She dragged him in, pushing him to the chair.
"Ma'am?", He muttered, confused. Was he safe?
She sat next to him, grabbing his face, "Liam, have you seen my daughters?, and how did you even get here so fast?, Wait, have I even called you?"
Liam was uncomfortable.
He looked around, confused, before trying to give an answer... at least he hoped that's what he was doing.
"I'm just here to give Chanel something, I didn't know you called me ma'am".
Mrs Zen's fingers travelled to her mouth, "So she's not at your house, Chanel or Dove?"
Liam stumbled back, Why would they ever be in his house?
"Ma'am, that's not possible. Chanel and Dove would never come near my home, even if they trust me a bit".
Mrs Zen didn't say another word, as Mr Zen walked towards Liam. "It appears they stepped out in the evening and spent the night wherever they went, because we've been looking for them till now".
Liam turned his head quickly, meeting eye to eye with Mr Zen. "Till this morning?, And you don't know where they went?"
"No, not a clue".
Mr Zen sighed, looking at his wife, "She's been like that since, she thinks it's her fault".
Liam turned back to face her, wondering that Chanel and Dove leaving without saying anything was a universal error.
"We can find them", Mrs Zen said with a sad muffle, "It's still 3AM, I can't lose hope".
Mr Zen smiled, "I already called a few people, they're searching for them right now".
Mrs Zen turned around in shock, moving towards her husband. "You did?!", she questioned, eyes glowing.
He smiled and nodded.
Liam looked away from the two, he felt like he should give them some space.
He knew he probably seemed like a creep, coming to someone's house at this time in the morning.
But he just wanted to make sure he was right on time.
15 years ago that day, by around 3:20AM, a six-year-old girl told him that she loved marshmallows dipped in pineapple juice.
And since that day, he has come every year.
By 3:20AM, he always gave her what she loved.
And then, she decided they would be friends.
Friends.
Just that.
Liam got up and moved to the door, "I'll leave now!", He announced.
Mr Zen turned to him, "Boy, are you already heading home?".
He nodded, then smiled. "To be honest, I'm heading out to look for them".
Mr Zen held his hand, "By this time?, Stay here with us, leave it for the professionals".
"I'm very sorry sir, but I have to find her, before 3:20AM".
And with that, he left.
"Will he be safe?", Mrs Zen asked.
"Maybe".
Liam's first steps were towards the palace.
She had told him she was soon to be a female knight, the first their kingdom had ever seen.
Perhaps she had gone there to train.
Or whatever Knights did in the night.
He wasn't meant to be there, the palace grounds were sacred at that time, and commoners were not allowed to come anywhere near.
This was an emergency.
For the first time in Liam's life, he had to break the rules.
Well, he would try.
That was till he heard a person's voice.
All hopes were cut down when a hand clasped his mouth, and his two hands went behind him.
"Who are you?"
He muffled sounds through their hand, trying to escape and speak.
Whichever he could manage.
The person didn't let go, she placed her hand in a sturdier form and began to lead him somewhere.
He assumed she was a female, her hands were quite soft.
She led him to a building, a small house with just flowers surrounding it.
Liam would have attacked long ago and gone on with his journey peacefully, but he didn't hurt women.
He would have to find a way to talk this out.
She almost led him into the building, but he finally slid his hands out of her grip slowly.
He'd been brainstorming for a way to do it without it hurting.
"So you are not weak?"
She laughed, mocking.
He didn't say anything and simply began walking back towards the way they came from.
"I can't stay any longer Miss, I'm trying to find someone and I have a time limit".
"Sorry", He said, and headed on his way.
The lady stayed quiet, not speaking, not moving, it seemed even the breeze wanted to play along.
Till a knife sank into Liam's chest.
She watched as his body fell to the floor, a smile on her face.
She stood there before him.
Liam's body.
She looked at him, his eyes wide in pain, shock...confusion.
Then she looked into those half-dead eyes of his.
"Carolus Pierr, I know you killed my daughter".