Shaden lay on his bed. What had happened since he fell asleep again?

A week had passed in his dream world. A week that had been too peaceful for him to bear. He knew Enariss was safe, but he still wanted to hurry into reality. For the first time in his life, he felt desperate to return outside of his dream. He didn’t care about his upcoming birthday. He closed his eyes and felt himself fade away into reality.

〄 〄 〄

Demund opened his eyes. He blinked a few times to adjust his blurry vision. The ceiling. He was looking at a white ceiling. He was lying down on a bed—not completely down; his head was resting against a pillow. He raised his hands and touched his head. There were bandages around it. It hurt less than he thought. He felt refreshed even.

He looked around the room. To the side, his mother was asleep on a chair. She was the only person in the room. He glanced around for a help button.

It was to his left, right next to the bed. A big red button that said, “Call for Nurse.” He pressed it once as a small *bzzz* went off. He had to let them know that he was awake, right?

“Mom. Mom! Hey, Mom!” he called out. His mother stirred on her chair and woke up.

“Mm…Demund. Demund? You’re awake!”

She quickly regained her senses and got off the chair and came to Demund’s bed.

“I’m so glad you’re safe…I’m so glad…”

Tears started to well up in her eyes. She held Demund’s hand and squeezed it tightly.

“Of course I’m alright, Mom. I won’t die from something as simple as that. Stop crying, it’s okay. I’m alright. My head feels fine. Mom? Are you listening?”

Mrs. Blanner wiped her tears off with her hands and smiled.

“The doctors said…no, never mind. I’m so glad you’re safe. We should let him know.”

“I already called for the nurse.”

She got up and gave Demund a strong, gentle hug.

“I’m so glad you’re here…”

“Mom I told you, I’m fine! Mom, the nurse is here. And the doctor?”

Demund watched as the door slid open, revealing a nurse and a man in a white coat with glasses who was probably the doctor. He hastily came and checked Demund’s signals on his monitor. His face showed concern and worry. His face brightened up when he saw Demund’s face.

“You’re awake! Let’s see, Demund,” he said while checking the monitor. “I’m surprised you woke up so early. We were expecting you to be in a coma for at least three days.”

Three days? How many days had passed?

“Doctor, how many days have passed?” asked Demund.

“You came here last night, so not even a day, not even a day,” said the doctor as he shook his head in disbelief. “You had a concussion, a small one, but dangerous, nevertheless. We treated you with anexide and did a simple operation at the back of your head. All we could do was wait until you woke up…”

He spread his arms wide. “And here you are. Do you feel as if anything is wrong, Demund? Like dizziness? Or nausea? Memory loss? Anything you need to mention?”

“No, not really,” replied Demund. “I feel fine. Even good. I think the anexide did the trick.”

“Yes, anexide…it is indeed effective on healing body tissue…” went on the doctor. “But for brain damage, things are more difficult to repair. What stuns me is how fast you recovered…are you sure you don’t feel anything, Demund?”

“No, not at all.”

“I see, I see,” muttered the doctor. He took out his tablet and took some notes on it. “And your ability was dreaming…interesting, very interesting.”

Demund was becoming worried about something else.

“Um, excuse me, doctor,” he said, “but where is Enariss? The girl from last night.”

The doctor tilted his head.

“There was no person named Enariss who came here last night. It was only you and three men who needed emergency treatment.”

“Three men?”

“Ah, yes. Criminals, in fact. But the law required me to operate, so I did. Still, they were quite the mess. They probably will not be able to see or walk again…”

The doctor closed his tablet and looked at Demund.

“I’m sorry, I must take my leave. If there is anything you need, the nurses will provide it for you.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“Thank you, doctor,” said Demund’s mother.

He smiled and walked out of the room, the nurse following behind him.

Demund relaxed on the bed again. That was last night, huh? If Enariss wasn’t here, then where was she?

“About that person you mentioned,” said Mrs. Blanner.

“Hmm?”

“Enariss. The girl.”

“Oh, do you know anything? Do you know where she is? Is she safe?”

“I think she’s at the police station.”

“What?”

“The police stated that she was the one who caused the injuries to the men. I’m relieved that she protected you, but—is she your friend?”

Demund nodded. “Yes. She’s my friend.”

Mrs. Blanner held Demund’s hand silently. She believed her son knew what he was doing. He had been so mature over the past few months, after all. She decided to ask him no further on the matter. She trusted her son.

“I’ll go get something for you,” she asked. “Juice? Food?”

“Yeah. Maybe grape juice.”

Demund watched his mother’s back disappear behind the door. He looked around the room for his phone. Thankfully, it was on the desk next to his bed. It had been cleaned, but cracks remained on the glass. He had probably dropped it yesterday.

What a Christmas, he thought to himself. He just wanted to see Enariss. Was she alright?

He looked out the window. The sun was up, piercing through the clouds. Everything was covered in white due to the snowfall the night before. White like nothing had happened.

〄 〄 〄

A couple of people came over during the three days Demund was in the hospital. Rhyne and Riley came the day Demund woke up and visited every day to let him know what was going on. Apparently, the three men who had attacked them had been the criminals on the news Demund saw. So, his deduction was correct. They used their abilities to gang up on lone women. Details were omitted.

The government had dispatched two heroes already when the attack occurred. It had been tricky to catch the criminals since one of them had the tracking ability; they could evade the police cars as soon as the man sensed it. There had already been three victims by the time they had targeted Enariss, spanning over a month and a half.

Evidence suggested their methods varied with each target. However, because their DNA samples matched after every incident, the police knew exactly who to look for. It was only a matter of time before they were caught.

Their criminal acts would get them at least sixty years in prison. The trial had been postponed as they were in the hospital, recovering.

Their luck had run out when they met Enariss. Usually, a high school student with an A-ranking ability went to the Islands. They had expected Enariss to be at most a C-class, and even if she was higher, one of them was a B-class. They had believed they could handle her.

Now all of them lay in the hospital, eyes gouged out and legs and arms broken severely. They didn’t die, thanks to medical technologies, but it would leave them maimed. Since they were criminals, they wouldn’t be able to obtain organ donations either.

Enariss’s trial had ended by the time Demund retired from the hospital. The camera evidence had said it all. She was found to be not guilty as her acts of retaliation was out of self-defense. But she hadn’t visited Demund yet. And Demund wanted to see her. Was she okay?

So, after his wound closed thanks to a week of treatment and anexide, he prepared to run.

〄 〄 〄

Demund arrived at the Zarke residence and rang the doorbell. He waited outside, huddled inside his jacket. The snow was falling slowly again. He shivered as his breath formed shapes in the wind.

The front door opened, revealing a man with semi-curly grey hair and a short beard. He held a cup of coffee in one hand. His tired eyes looked at Demund within his steel glasses.

“Oh, it’s you again. Are you here for Enariss?” he said while coming out of the house. The gate opened as if inviting Demund in. But Demund waited outside.

“Yes. Is she alright?”

“Funny thing for you to say…why don’t you come in—Demund. The cold will get you if you stand there.”

The Mr. Zarke was kinder than he had thought. Demund pulled his bicycle inside as the gates closed behind him again. He followed Mr. Zarke into the house and took off his shoes. The warmth instantly comforted him, so he took his hoodie off.

“Take a seat in the living room, Demund,” offered Mr. Zarke. “I’ll brew you some hot chocolate.”

“Thank you,” replied Demund as he made his way to the living room. He made sure to brush off the snow from his jacket. It would be devastating if the expensive carpet got wet.

He sat down and patiently waited. The clock on the wall ticked quietly as the seconds passed. Being here by himself, Demund felt that the house was a little bit lonely. This large house, occupied only by Enariss and her father. It felt strangely vacant despite all the lavish furniture.

“Here you go,” said Mr. Zarke as he handed Demund a cup of chocolate. Demund carefully accepted the cup and took a sip. It was rich and delicious, unlike any other chocolate he had had before. It was like the one he had had on Christmas, but better. Definitely leagues above the powdered-instant ones.

“I heard that you were in a coma,” said Mr. Zarke. “That’s what Enariss told me. But look at you. All healthy and energetic.”

“I was told that my recovery was beyond expectation,” stated Demund. “Even the doctors were shocked at my quick recovery.”

“Is that so?”

Mr. Zarke sipped his coffee and looked at Demund. His green-grey eyes seemed to scrutinize Demund as he sat there. Demund sipped his drink too and fixed his gaze on the man.

“Is Enariss alright?” he asked.

“Enariss? Yes, she is upstairs,” stated Mr. Zarke. “Confined to the house, even. What she did for self-defense was…extreme. No, I don’t blame her for it. If those criminals even laid a hand on her, they’d be under the sea by now.”

Demund felt a chill go up against his spine. Mr. Zarke had said it so casually without batting an eye.

“She confined herself, you see. Her mother’s influence—she’s quite similar to her.”

“Her mother?”

“She’s passed away now.”

Mr. Zarke sipped his coffee again. Then he got up.

“You can visit her if you want. Knock on her door. It’s the last room up the stairs to the right.”

Demund nodded. Mr. Zarke vanished into the halls of the house, and Demund heard a door close somewhere. Demund sat on the couch for a few moments before getting up himself. He finished his chocolate and left it on the table.

The stairs were in front of the entrance, so it was easy to find it. Demund slowly went upstairs and reached the second floor. The upstairs was more simple-looking. Less furniture and paintings. But there were a few photos that Demund didn’t see downstairs. Like a woman with red hair. He assumed it was Enariss’s mother. She was beautiful just like her.

Demund took a right and reached the end of the hall, facing a door in front. He took in a deep breath. And knocked twice. He heard something rustling behind the door.

“Who is it,” said a voice beyond the door.

“It’s me. Demund.”

“……wait a moment.”

Demund heard something like drawers being closed and things being moved. Then the door opened. Enariss’s head poked through the entrance. Demund took some steps back as she came out of her room. She was in an oversized white sweatshirt with baggy pants. Comfortable clothes for the winter.

“So, why are you here?” she said, her arms behind her back. Her eyes darted around Demund’s face, never meeting his eyes.

Now Demund felt awkward.

“I was worried since…” he trailed off. “How was your day?”

“My day? It was okay. As you can see, I’m enjoying some peace in my house.”

She looked at Demund now, in the eyes.

“Your head looks fine. It was bleeding a lot that day.”

“Yep. I recovered quicker than I thought.”

Another moment of silence passed between the two.

“So…Enariss. Are you okay right now? With everything that has happened?”

“I’m fine. If you’re talking about how I beat those bastards up, they deserved it. No big deal.”

“I see.” Demund smiled in relief. A genuine, big smile. “I’m glad.”

Enariss crossed her arms. “So? Was that all you were going to ask?”

“Well…we can’t run in this weather, can we,” said Demund with a small chuckle. He nervously fidgeted his hands. “I was thinking…if you don’t mind, want to spend New Year’s Eve with me?”

“New Years? Hmm…okay. I’ll see you on New Year’s then.”

“Alright. That was all I had to say. See you later, Enariss.”

Enariss watched as Demund’s figure faded behind the stairs. She heard the front door open and the gates slide to the side. She quickly went to the window and spotted Demund cycling away into the falling snow.

She was glad he was as energetic as ever.

After all he had seen, he still wasn’t afraid of her. She chuckled. That was great. That was really great. Demund reminded her of the person who had caused her mother’s death with each passing day. Her first love—and the person she wanted to see fall down to hell the most. She clenched her fists tightly.

She wouldn’t become hurt ever again.