warmth of her body next to his provided more distraction than he thought possible. Dante shook his head and sharpened his focus. Deep focused breathing was the quickest way to fall asleep and get to the dream realm. He concentrated on Kerry. Her scent, her energy, the sound of her breathing, all of it brought him closer to her. He drifted, softly and gratefully, into the cradling arms of sleep.
The darkness soon gave way to dense lavender mist that swirled madly around him. She was here. Her soft sobs whisked past him, and he could feel her anxiety within the mist that enveloped him, but he still couldn’t see her. Her psychic shield held strong and continued to keep her hidden. Dante redoubled his efforts and called out to Kerry. She had to be willing to let him in.
Kerry, can you hear me? He kept his voice quiet and did his best to keep his own fear at bay. The mist, thick and stormy, began to change, and darkness was soon replaced by pale lavender dappled with pink streaks of light. It was working. She heard him. Come on, princess, you can’t hide from me all night. Let me in.
Don’t call me princess. The irritation in her voice cut through the mist, parting it like a curtain leading him straight to her. Bingo.
The mist dissipated, and the dream realm she’d created revealed itself. Dante had to admit it wasn’t what he’d expected. He thought for sure it would be the beach or some other natural surroundings, but it couldn’t have been more different. They were in the midst of a rooftop garden overlooking New York City. The jet black sky glinted thickly with stars like diamonds. Warm winds blew softly, and the lights of the city twinkled brightly around them. The most significant difference that separated it from the real world was the glaring absence of noise. There were no honking horns, no sirens in the distance, no noise of any kind, but there was music. A song he couldn’t quite identify drifted around him and blanketed the realm she’d designed.
Kerry sat in the center of it all on top of huge rock, arms hugging her legs with her back to Dante. Her long black hair hung loosely down her back and blew gently in the wind. Her cheek rested on the top of her knees. Barefoot and clad in a simple white tank top and pants, she seemed to glow in the middle of the darkness. She reminded Dante of a fairy, and he thought for a moment she might just sprout wings and fly away from him before he could reach her.
He moved toward her cautiously, knowing that she controlled the environment of this dream and could leave him alone in the mist once again. He heard her sniffle softly, and the winds gusted briefly in response. Dante walked up to Kerry and looked out over the city, silently beside her. They stayed there side by side for what seemed like an eternity before she finally spoke.
I’m so tired, Dante. Sadness edged her voice and cut through him like a knife. She sighed softly. I like it here. It’s peaceful. I don’t have to touch anyone or worry about anyone touching me. No visions. No pain. Just… peace.
You can have that in the material world too, he said .
She shook her head and rubbed her chin on her knees. Do you have any idea what happens when I touch people? She looked up at him, her tear-filled eyes searching his pleadingly. I see everything. Their innermost thoughts, deepest desires, buried secrets, and it hurts like hell. She let out a shuddering breath. She looked away from him and rubbed her upper arms as if trying to get warm.
Dante turned to her and anything he wanted to say evaporated. He found himself speechless and completely lost in the sight of her. She looked up at him, her deep brown eyes swimming with tears.
I see frightening things, she whispered softly . But not when I touch you. When I touch you… it’s the fox. Her lips trembled as though she had finally gathered the courage to say what she’d been thinking. I see the fox when I touch you.
Dante reached out and brushed one
The darkness soon gave way to dense lavender mist that swirled madly around him. She was here. Her soft sobs whisked past him, and he could feel her anxiety within the mist that enveloped him, but he still couldn’t see her. Her psychic shield held strong and continued to keep her hidden. Dante redoubled his efforts and called out to Kerry. She had to be willing to let him in.
Kerry, can you hear me? He kept his voice quiet and did his best to keep his own fear at bay. The mist, thick and stormy, began to change, and darkness was soon replaced by pale lavender dappled with pink streaks of light. It was working. She heard him. Come on, princess, you can’t hide from me all night. Let me in.
Don’t call me princess. The irritation in her voice cut through the mist, parting it like a curtain leading him straight to her. Bingo.
The mist dissipated, and the dream realm she’d created revealed itself. Dante had to admit it wasn’t what he’d expected. He thought for sure it would be the beach or some other natural surroundings, but it couldn’t have been more different. They were in the midst of a rooftop garden overlooking New York City. The jet black sky glinted thickly with stars like diamonds. Warm winds blew softly, and the lights of the city twinkled brightly around them. The most significant difference that separated it from the real world was the glaring absence of noise. There were no honking horns, no sirens in the distance, no noise of any kind, but there was music. A song he couldn’t quite identify drifted around him and blanketed the realm she’d designed.
Kerry sat in the center of it all on top of huge rock, arms hugging her legs with her back to Dante. Her long black hair hung loosely down her back and blew gently in the wind. Her cheek rested on the top of her knees. Barefoot and clad in a simple white tank top and pants, she seemed to glow in the middle of the darkness. She reminded Dante of a fairy, and he thought for a moment she might just sprout wings and fly away from him before he could reach her.
He moved toward her cautiously, knowing that she controlled the environment of this dream and could leave him alone in the mist once again. He heard her sniffle softly, and the winds gusted briefly in response. Dante walked up to Kerry and looked out over the city, silently beside her. They stayed there side by side for what seemed like an eternity before she finally spoke.
I’m so tired, Dante. Sadness edged her voice and cut through him like a knife. She sighed softly. I like it here. It’s peaceful. I don’t have to touch anyone or worry about anyone touching me. No visions. No pain. Just… peace.
You can have that in the material world too, he said .
She shook her head and rubbed her chin on her knees. Do you have any idea what happens when I touch people? She looked up at him, her tear-filled eyes searching his pleadingly. I see everything. Their innermost thoughts, deepest desires, buried secrets, and it hurts like hell. She let out a shuddering breath. She looked away from him and rubbed her upper arms as if trying to get warm.
Dante turned to her and anything he wanted to say evaporated. He found himself speechless and completely lost in the sight of her. She looked up at him, her deep brown eyes swimming with tears.
I see frightening things, she whispered softly . But not when I touch you. When I touch you… it’s the fox. Her lips trembled as though she had finally gathered the courage to say what she’d been thinking. I see the fox when I touch you.
Dante reached out and brushed one
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