The light in your nightmares

With Potatoes in the lead, all three of them went down in silence.

They didn't meet anyone on the way.

The orange light of the candles gives their skin a warm hue that contrasts with their closed expressions.

The stocky man leads them to the dining room.

The table is there, the cutlery already laid out, a steaming dinner already served.

Next to the long table, standing in a group, the others turn towards the three.

Their circle opens to allow them to become part of them.

Eyes slide from Dust's uncomfortable face to rest on Red's pleasant smile afterwards.

Pony doesn't comment, one of her hands holding her other arm in a much more withdrawn position than usual. Charismatic has a strange pout on her face. The old man observes them all like a bird of prey, without adding his two cents. Potatoes, once having brought them to their destination, moves a few steps away from the two young men. Follower is in the shadows, her impassive face only a vague backdrop for her dark eyes.

Since Purple-belly is no longer someone else speaks up and takes care of the diplomacy.

As if by mutual agreement, it is Two who comes forward to present a suggestion, or rather an imperative, in a flat, hollow voice.

-We decided that we are going to put our... differences for another time. Hopefully when we survive all of this.

The boy swallows, a few strands of his hair blocking the lenses of his glasses hiding any emotions.

He stands straight, visibly uncomfortable but confident. A strange combination.

-if the rule does not change, and if we only need some of us to fulfill the terms imposed to escape from these "nightmares" for us to all survive. Then we need to work like a team. an united team.

Two stops, takes a breath before taking a closer look at Dust and Red.

-To do this, we must of course tell each other the whole truth.

The end of his sentence is completed by the wind blowing behind the black windows.

Dust understands that they are all waiting for an answer so he stammers a weak, probably inaudible "sorry", and a slightly louder "yes".

Red remains stoic.

the young man pushes up his glasses and continues his tirade like a text recited over and over again in his head.

-I put forward the idea that in the "Nightmares" we choose someone or several who, depending on the... trials they faced, would be more apt to complete them. The rest of the group will have to help them succeed without risking their lives.

Potatoes nods, having moved throughout the discussion more and more alongside Charismatic and the old man.

Everyone present claims to unify but clearly Dust thinks, there is a group and then there is Red and him.

And wouldn't the "chosen ones" be a way to embellish things? Instead of saying "cannon fodder" or "sacrifice" they say "chosen"?

To reassure himself, the boy looks at the two womens and the stocky man whom he instinctively does not believe is capable of this type of immoral action.

Pony glares at him.

Under the wrath of green eyes Dust looks at the ground again.

-That's not all.

Two crosses hjs arms across his chest before turning his head towards the long table.

-Since last time it seemed that as soon as we ate and drank we found ourselves passing out, I suggested that we refrain from consuming anything for the moment.

As Dust listens to Two,

Red makes a remark that sounds reluctant:

-A human being only lives two days without drinking.

-Three days.

Two corrects him straight away. No doubt because he wants to convince he adds:

-We will stop drinking for just two days, and on the third we will all hydrate at the same time.

Red is silent. Pony intervenes.

It seems that Dust and his companion arrived before the rest could discuss everything among themselves.

-If something unexpected happens, this kind of diet may have weakened us too much for us to be able to react.

Another silence settles.

Pony swallows, and seems to regain a little confidence in herself:

-Moreover during all this time that we fast, the food will rot, what to do by then?

Her tone hardens:

-I don't want to die of thirst or hunger just because fear paralyzes you. I had enough of the swamp where the only thing you could eat was mud.

Two is visibly uncomfortable. He glances again at the long table where the food seems to be waiting for them. Silver cutlery is placed neatly next to the filled plates, the metal shines under the candles. Lile a bait.

-We won't wait that long, there are foods that last longer than others.

Next to Potatoes who runs a hand over his smooth skull, the old man moves to sit down.

His back slumps as he rests his elbow on the wood, his gray eyes turn towards the white flowers slipped between small breads and crystal glasses.

His voice is low and tired:

-We need to decide on a specific duration and make a precise inventory of all the food present.

Two nods in agreement appearing to find support for his ideas.

-Yes we should check that no one takes food or drinks of their own volition. I also suggest that we split into several groups to visit the castle. Maybe we could find things that could help us with the other "Nightmares".

The woman who has a ponytail, emit a sound that appear like a growl for Dust.

Charismatic gives her a gentle smile, one of appeasement.

It is she who suggests that they vote together to reach an agreement on the duration of the fast.

The boy who has been listening to them so far suddenly remembers that he drank water without any problem the first time he woke up in the castle.

He hesitates, then gives in and decides to involve his companion.

he approaches him discreetly.

Like a kid asking his mother for a little attention, he pulls on the tail of his shirt, head down.

a few strands of his hair block his embarrassed eyes.

Red says nothing, his thin lips still, he bends to listen to his whisper.

Dust senses that some in the group are watching them.

Red straighten up pretty quickly and says:

-Apparently Dust drank water the other time.

As long as we don't drink wine on the tables it should be fine...