It was a glorious summer night. The moon illuminated the landscape in a silvery sheen, the crickets singing out all around her. Though it had been dark for some time, it was still hot, and she pulled off her jacket, hanging it over the seat of her motorcycle. Ellette inhaled deeply through her nose, throwing her head back to enjoy the simple beauty of the night.

After some time, she decided to walk along the dirt path that snaked through the vast, old park. Lamps were scattered throughout the man-made wilderness, but it made little impact on the shadows beneath the trees. Any number of unsavory characters could be lurking just out of sight, and some likely did.

She didn’t care. This was her world. She’d known fear, she’d known homelessness and despair. She still feared those things, but tonight, in this reality, she was fearless, invincible. She was here for a reason. What reason was, she wasn’t sure just yet. She soon grew frustrated. What a waste of a wonderful night, she thought, circling back to the parking lot again. Nothing was happening.

Ellette leaned against her bike, arms crossed, staring at the shadow-filled park. There were people here, a scattering amongst the benches and picnic tables, minding their own business. Nothing that seemed to pique her interest, to draw her. She let out a long, heavy sigh and wandered over to the park bench. Something would come, or there was something she was missing.

“You know, this isn’t a very good neighborhood to be wandering around alone at night.”

Ellette stood, startled by the voice that seemed to have materialized from nowhere. She let out a sigh of relief when she realized it was a young man, maybe sixteen, lanky, blond, unthreatening, and rather pretty. Ellette grinned, running a hand through her glossy black hair.

“Then what are you doing out here?” she scoffed.

He sighed his body language speaking volumes. His shoulders hunched ever so slightly, defensive, anxious, and on edge. “Listen,” he said softly. “You cannot just come parading through this park at night and not expect someone to notice you.”

She resisted laughing. She’d wanted to be noticed, to draw someone out. His concern was endearing. Though she had resisted laughing, she still smirked at him, and he’d clearly noticed.

“You see those guys over there?” he hissed. “No, don’t look, but those guys over there... they’ve been watching you. I think you should leave, now.”

“Alright. Only if you come with me,” she said with a grin. This was it. This was who she was here for. She was sure of it.

He ran his hand through his hair before accepting defeat and shrugging. “Fine, where to?”

She tossed him her spare helmet, which he caught deftly. She took note of that. Anxious, though he was, he clearly had physical aptitude of some sort. “I don’t know the area. You tell me.”

He glanced back at the men lingering in the park and back to her before approaching her and her motorcycle. "There's a cafe up the road here, to the right," he suggested, pointing down the road. She stared off in the direction he'd gestured to before climbing on the battered old bike.

"This place got a name?" she asked before pulling on her helmet.

"Umm, The Dinky Diner, I think... at least that's what everyone calls it." She could tell he was second-guessing his decision to join her, but she'd coerced others to take a ride with her before. It wasn't like he had anything to fear from her. Ellette was not an imposing person, willowy, and almost overly thin. Physically, he had a clear advantage. He was slender but not slight, and quite tall.

"Aright, you coming?” she asked, pulling the helmet on, the visor still flipped up. He hesitated, helmet in hand. "Look, you want to protect me from those big scary men in the shadows?"

"If you would just leave, you wouldn’t need protecting.”

"What are you afraid of?" she taunted.

"I'm not afraid. I don't know you."

She sighed. "Look kid, what could I possibly do to you? You afraid I have a gun?" She patted down her body, her jacket, noticing she did indeed have a gun holstered to her side. She raised an eyebrow. “Huh. That’s strange. Seems I do.” She pulled it out, slowly. She held it out to him, handle first. "If it’ll make you feel better, you can take it. But come with me."

He eyed the gun, before shaking his head. "Put that away," he muttered, before running his hand through his hair. "I'll go, just... Why do you want me to come with you?"

She studied him briefly before responding. "I need some company.”

He looked about ready to toss down the helmet and walk away in disgust. He surprised her, though, putting it on his head and fastening the strap.

"I could do with some too, I guess," he muttered, making his way towards the motorcycle. She smiled and flipped down her visor. He climbed on, settling into the seat behind her. He fidgeted for a moment before settling his hands on her hips, reluctant and unsure. She grinned in her helmet, she couldn't help but like the kid. So many his age would have leaned too close and made a fumbling attempt to grope her, even as thin and boyish as she was.

She turned to him. "Hold on, okay?" she instructed, "Lean with me, and otherwise, just hold on." She revved up the old machine, waiting for the engine to purr before she pushed it off its kickstand and set off towards the road. She was thankful for what a natural the kid was, leaning just enough to help her through the turns, not a hindrance as someone with more body mass would be.

They arrived at a small diner, quaint and only slightly in decline. Ellette smiled as she pulled to a stop and flipped the kickstand down. It was her kind of place. Out of the way, quiet, homey. Upscale was not her thing. The boy scrambled off the bike, unbuckling the helmet and running his hand through his hair.

Ellette pulled off her helmet before sliding off the bike. "So, kid, what’s your name?"

He gave her an evaluating look, her spare helmet tucked under his arm. “I half expected you to know,” he muttered.

Ellette shrugged and climbed off her bike. “Nope.” Her stomach was growling at the smell of greasy goodness emanating from the diner. “I’m Ellette,” she said, checking her pockets, hoping to find cash or a wallet.

“Matthias,” he told her, shoving the helmet at her.

"I'm starved. Lead the way, Matthias." Hooking the helmet on the handlebar, she followed him into the diner.

With some unease, Ellette noticed that people watched Matthias warily as they made their way into the diner. The cook behind the counter gave him a curt nod. Most disturbing was the vague air of fear among those who interacted with him. Ellette tried not to read too much into it, but it was hard not to miss. Who was she dealing with exactly? This pretty young man seemed rather unimposing. He hadn’t struck her as dangerous, but this welcome at the diner made her question her perceptions.

He slid into a corner booth, and Ellette slid in across from him. It was then, in the light of the diner that she noticed the bruise discoloring the side of his face. It traced from the top of his left cheekbone down along his cheek. It possibly had been a black eye at one point, now healed.

"What happened to your cheek?"

He reached up to touch his cheek self consciously. "Practice. Martial arts," he explained haltingly. "I miscalculated, fell. It's nothing."

Ellette shook her head and asked no more. She doubted that was the full answer, but she had no reason to pry. Studying the menu, her mouth watered at the prospect of greasy diner food. She'd found a couple of bucks in her pocket and could afford something small at least.

"What's good?" she asked, waving at the menu, overwhelmed. She subsisted on so little, the thought of food was too much.

He glanced at it briefly, disinterested. “Uh, I guess the grilled chicken?” His eyes slid around the room once more before settling back on the menu. “No, sorry, you’ve got to go with the greasy stuff here. If it sounds like it will kill you it probably won’t taste too bad.”

She laughed. “So, a burger?”

As if her mood were contagious, he smiled and added, “You’d better add lots of cheese and bacon just to be safe.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied with a sly smile. Though she knew with the cash she had on hand, a plain burger was all she could afford.

A surly looking waitress with disheveled hair and a stained apron made her way to their table. She stood gnawing on her gum for a moment before asking, “So, can I help you kids?”

Ellette smiled up at the woman who checked her nails in obvious disinterest. “A burger for me.”

“Mhmmm... Anything to drink?” She jotted down the order.

“Ah no, just water.”

“What, no bacon and cheese?” Matthias added playfully.

Her stomach growled at the thought and she glanced down, suddenly embarrassed. Matthias shot her a questioning look and she shrugged.

“I don’t have enough cash...”

He laughed and folded his menu, handing it to the waitress. “Loralee, get her that bacon slathered cheeseburger. I’ll just have some tea.” He glanced back at Ellette. “You want a soda or something? If you’re going for unhealthy, you might as well top it off with some caffeinated sugar water.

“Uh, yeah,” she stuttered, thrown by the change in their dynamic. Hadn’t she been the one taking charge just a few minutes ago? “I’ll have a coke.”

He nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you. You’re obviously hungry.”

She nodded, feeling a slight flush rise to her cheeks. “I... uh.” She shrugged, having no real explanation to offer. The truth was too strange. “Just short on cash. Thank you...” She felt suddenly out of sorts, wondering what she was doing at this diner with this oddly confident teenaged boy in the middle of the night.

Once the waitress had made her way back behind the counter, he leaned forward across the table, studying her with keen eyes. Ellette sat up straight, reminding herself that she was surely here to help him, that she was the one in control. Yet that observant gaze of his set her on edge.

“So, what were you doing at the park so late at night,” he lowered his voice, “and with a gun no less?”

He didn’t waste any time. She felt the heat growing in her cheeks. “Um... I sort of was looking for trouble?”

His look grew hard, “Why would you do that?”

She laughed, not liking the turn of their conversation. “It’s hard to explain. Listen, Matthias. I know it sounds strange, but I really was just looking for company. Yours, in particular, I think.” She flashed him a pixie-like smile.

That scowl was back, rather it had never left. "You don't know me, and if you know of me, you're barking up the wrong tree."

"Now I'm a dog?" She straightened in her seat. She allowed him to throw her off guard more than enough in one night.

His glare faltered, and he sputtered to correct himself, "I didn't mean..."

She laughed, giving his hand a reassuring pat. What a pair they were. “My situation is hard to explain."

He pulled his hand away and leaned on the table, arms crossed. "Try me."

She shrugged. "Well, I get sent places, and usually I'm expected to help someone. If I don't someone might hurt, or I get sent back until I figure it out."

"So you think I was going to get hurt?"

Ellette smiled and shrugged again. "Well, that was an oversimplification. Sometimes I just help people out in more mundane ways. Like help some high school kid feel better by listening to them." The waitress brought out the food, a heaping plate of belly-filling goodness. Ellette beamed up at her, "Thank you so much, this looks amazing!" She didn't hesitate and dug right in, all thoughts of their previous conversation forgotten.

Matthias chuckled. "You really are hungry."

Ellette nodded, though she knew eating wouldn't do much good in the real world. There was something therapeutic about eating even if it would result in a still empty belly when she woke. At least she could feel full for the night. After she'd gotten a good portion of the meal down and paused to sip on her drink, Matthais took the opportunity to remind her what they had been discussing.

"So, you think something was going to happen to me?"

"I don't know exactly. I just end up at places and usually I help people."

"Looks like I'm the one helping you this time."

That struck a chord in her, and she stared at him for a long moment. Though she usually helped people in the dream world, would it really be that far out there for this dreamwalk to be an opportunity for him to help her? What could he do for her? She did indeed need help, but not here, not in the realms of her dreams. She needed help back in the waking world, not this strange dream reality.

"I suppose," she turned her focus back to her food, wondering, considering.

"Well, finish up and we can have a talk out back," he said, that grim expression back again. "I think we need to talk about what made you think you were equipped to wander around looking for trouble, armed or not."

She shoved the last bit of greasy, cheesy burger into her mouth to hide her smile. Whoever this kid was, it was turning out to be an interesting night.