“Hey Glaide.” I sit on the opposite side of the picnic bench set in a clearing of vibrant green grass. Glaide and I decided to meet at a park. The buildings surrounding us peek over the trees, whose leaves have started to turn brown and yellow at their tips. Autumn is creeping upon us.
Despite the heat, I’m wearing an oversized hoodie, to shield myself from anyone wandering by. I don't want people to know I'm here after seeing all of those signs against me.
“Hey.” Glaide squints at my hoodie. “Is everything alright? The hospital said you were good but I just wanted to-”
“I'm fine. I appreciate the concern but I've made it out alive and okay.”
He quickly nods. “Okay. I just need to be sure.” He sighs with his gaze aimed at the space beside my hand. “What even was that back on your birthday? The tenebris flowers thing? That's not something you've created before.”
I shrug. I've reflected on it but there's still no good explanation. The best conclusion I can think of are intrusive thoughts, but even then, it seemed too great to be that. “I think the pressure of the wish got to me. My mind wasn't in the right spot.”
He crosses his arms. “I'm worried about you. I don't want those dreamscreechers to get to your head and make you freak out and make tenebris flowers all over again.”
“Get to my head?” I straighten up my posture. So this is what it's all about?
“Yeah. That wish you had implied that you're on their side, and clearly it's messing with your head.”
I didn't come here to get lectured about whose side I'm on. “I’m not on anyone's side. I just want the truth.”
“We already know the truth. Why do you need to wish to see the truth when you already have it?”
“Are you just saying that because Amara said so?”
“It's not just that! You've been in their attacks! You know how they’ve hurt you. Three times now! You’re really gonna dismiss all of that?”
“Dismiss? Its dismissive to want the truth?” I shake my head in irritation. “Those dreamscreechers did horrible things no doubt, but wouldn't it bemoredismissive to say thatalldreamscreechers are evil?”
“No! That's just how they are. They were made to be evil. That's why they hurt everyone, like Sabina and Amara. And you for Cosmo's sake!”
I ball my fists. “Some did! Not all of them.”
He slaps a hand on his forehead. “I've been starting to wonder if Clara was involved with this.”
My heart stops. “What?”
“Well, she got wounded in the orphanage attack and I didn't see her fighting. She survived the fire without a single burn. She knew where you were when no one else did…” He leans against the table, placing his folded arms on it. “You only started to change within the last three months. Around the time you said you two met.”
My hair pricks up on my neck. He's figuring it out.
“I'm starting to wonder if she's a dreamscreecher herself.” He nearly spits the words, his eyes slanted in accusation.
“And what if she was?” I snap. “What of it?”
Glaide falls silent, flinching back. His eyes widen.“She's a dreamscreecher, isn't she?”
“No!” Shit! He can't know! Not now!
“Then why are you so pissed on behalf of these monsters? You weren't like this before! You've only been this way since you met this girl!”
“I'm pissed because you're accusing her!”
“You can't be with her! You have to turn her in!” He slams a hand against the table. “She could never truly love you! She's manipulating you! Like The Great Beast! ”
He doesn't know shit about us. “You don't understand.”
“So you're admitting it?”
“I'm not telling you shit, Glaide.” I get up from the table and walk away. I don't need him to scold me.
