[this is loosely based on part of a dream I had last night]

The heat was nearly unbearable. There might have been eight or ten people in the room. More like ruins, if you ask me. I don't recall anyone's face...except for his.

Jaw clenching, temple quivering. Sweat beading up and dripping down his forehead, hair slightly matted on his head.

I didn't fully understand what was happening. His hands were gripping a long piece of wood, then, suddenly producing a knife of sorts, he started swinging with great fervor at the wood. Chips and splinters flew around him, as a defined point began to form before my eyes. My brain recognized the shape as one of a spear, but I didn't understand why.

I'm told this is what happens when you're in shock: your brain can recognize things but nothing really makes sense.

The knife disappeared as quickly as it came, and he tossed the spear upright between his hands, testing its weight, its balance. I watched as his muscles twitched, his general lack of clothing on his upper body were to thank. And just as the reality of my surroundings began to settle in, he screamed out in a mixture of anger and pain, and I watched as wings began to erupt from the blades of his shoulders. The skin broke as they emerged from within, reopening old scars I hadn't noticed before, and blood spurted out, sprinkling my cheeks. I was sure it would have felt warmer than I expected, except I was even more sure the heat in the room was suffocating me. I didn't even notice I was holding my breath until I started to feel light headed and a tightness in my chest. I stared as he stretched his shoulders out, wings now at full span, blood slowly trickling down his back. He turned slowly, eventually facing me, a grave expression clouding his features. He reached forward, cupping my left cheek with his oversized hand. I stared wordless up at him. My ears started ringing, and I watched as his lips moved but I heard none of what he was saying. I focused on his lips as they formed shapes and tried to will the words but the buzzing in my ears was too great. He leaned forward, pressed his lips to my forehead. I could feel his breath as he whispered something, then he took a few steps back.

His wings began beating against the air, stirring up the dust covering the ground, and he slowly rose before me. Even though I couldn't hear what he said, I felt sure I knew as I looked into his eyes. For a moment he hung there, suspended in the air before twirling around and shooting off into the dusky sky above. A slight chill quickly settled in and the ringing in my ears subsided. I continued staring up into the sky, squinting for any sight of where he flew off to. I hardly noticed someone had grabbed my hand until I was ripped away from where I was standing, my legs carrying me to wherever I was being taken.

Labels: dream journal, fiction junction