I scrunch my brows together. “So you were looking over at my phone without my permission?”
She shrugs again before sitting beside me. “It's just something I caught at a quick glance. It piqued my interest.”
I chew on my lip and lean away from her.Weirdo. “So what? Are you gonna report me and get me cleansed?”
“No, actually.” She looks back at me, laughter lining her lips. “I like people who can open their eyes a little.”
I glance away. “No. I don't think the dreamscreecher thing is a lie. I just…” I hold my tongue, wondering if I should continue.
“You just…?”.
I scowl and straighten my posture slightly. “I just need a solution for my friend. He got cleansed and he's suffering because of it. I'm looking for any last resort before this cleansing ends up starving him to death.”
My face heats up. Why am I admitting this?
The woman slowly nods. “And you think, going after dreamscreechers will help you find a solution?”
“Maybe. It's a last resort.”
It falls silent between us. Waves slosh ahead as the woman stares at the water. “Join me.”
I draw my lip back. “What?”
“Join me. The dreamscreecher resistance is having a meeting tonight.” She smiles before standing up. She starts walking down the stairs.
Meanwhile I stare in shock. What? No. I can't join that fan club. I've always said not to join those crazy people. I can't go against my values!
She looks over her shoulder. “Are you coming?”
“No,” I say firmly. “I can't. I'm not going to join that mad group.”
She crosses her arms. “You want answers. Don't you?”
“I…” I whisper before realizing that's what I want. But no. I can't. “I'm not mad! I'm not crazy.”
“Never said you were.”
“But no. No, I can't!” My heart starts racing, and my stomach knots. “Dreamscreechers…I can't join that dreamscreecher fan club! What kind of a lunatic would I be?”
She slowly nods, glancing at me up and down. “ But you doubt that dreamscreechers are all evil. You're seeing holes in the ideology.”
My eyes widen. That's my situation. It seems very flawed now that I know what Amara did and seeing Amias' condition. “Yes.”
“Don't you want to know if your suspicions are right? Don't you want to be certain?”
“Yeah, but I'm not going to that stupid fan club to-”
“Join me. We don't judge.”
My glance at her sideways. “No-no! It's not because I feel judged!”
“No one outside will know that you've visited. We don't care if you started off as a friend or enemy, just as long as you're looking for the right answers.”
“No. I-”
“Join me.” She nods, before walking to the left, parallel to the beach. She doesn't look back this time.
I ponder on the idea. Do I really want to go with these lunatics? The people I've been taught as crazy my whole life? What would people think?
