Chapter 99

Elly's POV

"Aidan!"

Not being satisfied with Adrian's interpretation, I decided to return to my class.

I thought it was time I told Professor Rockwell what was going on with me. Maybe he too had "intellectual authority in the dream domain". If he didn't, probably he would have some advice to give me based on Adrian's interpretation of being confused, and how to handle the impending threat that Adrian believed was what my dream predicted.

Never did I imagine walking into a class that was about to be set ablaze by the very guy I loved so much.

I had merely walked in when I saw him covered in flames, like a freaking human torch. I have never seen him in such a form. It felt as if the fire that cloaked him was breathing.

I rushed to grab him and ask him what the fuck was going on with him, but before I got to him, he stepped away.

"No. Stay back!" he said, stepping back. Was he avoiding me?

I pushed on, but before I got any closer, a ball of fire shot from his hand. It was so fast that I couldn't even process how to react to it.

I felt Adrian's hand wrap around my waist and pulled me back. I wasn't hit by the fireball, but the force slammed me and Adrian back, as it flew past us.

I crashed into Professor Rockwell's table, but thanks to Adrian who cushioned my fall, I didn't really feel the pains.

Adrian groaned under me, and I sprang off him.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, pulling him up.

"I'm fine, Lily," he forced a smile, "it's just a scratch."

He stretched his back and cracked his neck.

"What the hell was that?"

"Elly," Aidan spun me around to face him.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a shaky voice. I could sense the fear and worry in it. His cloak of fire was gone and he was all sweaty.

But I couldn't understand one thing. Why was he so worried when he threw a fucking fireball at me?

"Hey, back off!" Adrian pushed him away from me.

Aidan flared up again, warming up his fist to punch Adrian. Ryan caught his fist mid-air and tossed him to the back of the class. Aidan landed on his feet and was about to charge.

Professor Rockwell appeared in between us, stopping whatever epic battle that was about to happen in the class.

"Aidan!" he yelled, but that didn't seem to stop Aidan. He charged at him.

Halfway through the space between them, Aidan's cloak of fire quenched off. It was like someone let down a rush of water on him. Aidan toppled over and crashed on the floor just at the tip of the professor's shoe.

Professor Rockwell sighed. He walked up to the front of the class. "Have your seats, please."

He looked so calm compared to the rest of us, like some messed up shit didn't just happen in the class.

Jimmy was right. Something was definitely off with Aidan. Or was it safe to say that something was definitely off with all of us?

I sat in front of the class beside Jimmy. Adrian sat behind us with Ryan.

Aidan groaned as he got up from the floor. Professor Rockwell waited while he dragged his feet to a seat behind Ryan. When he had settled down, Rockwell clapped once and began his speech.

I was expecting him to scold us all and maybe punish Aidan, but that was the opposite.

"How long did you all intend to keep this hidden before you finally told me?"

"Huh?" I said, obviously shocked as much as the rest of the class was. We threw glances at each other.

"Elly, you had something to tell me?"

Ah, it clicked. Rockwell wasn't like the rest of us. He could swim into our minds and dig out whatever we were hiding in the depths.

"Um, yeah."

"I'm all ears," he said with a warm smile.

I exhaled and cleared my throat.

"Don't feel nervous," he added, "I believe your dream is way deeper than you think. And it's not just relevant to you."

I gasped. How did he know the dream wasn't relevant to only me?

"I had a dream," I began narrating again, the same tale I had told Jimmy and Adrian. The dream that I had repeated so many times that it was now like the lyrics of my favourite song.

He frowned.

"That's not good."

"Yeah," I concurred. "Adrian helped me interpret part of it. He said that the dream speaks of a looming threat and it could be that I can't understand it or see it coming."

Professor Rockwell smiled—the kind he gave when he was impressed.

"That's a good one, Adrian," he nodded at him.

"Well, he's not wrong," he said, walking to where my table was. He sat on it and smiled down at me. For a moment, I drifted off to a void where it was just me and him as I stared up at him.

"I agree that every bit of your dream spells danger from the very beginning. Has it repeated?"

"No. It's just been haunting me like it's a bad memory of an actual event that happened. I can't just shut my eyes for once without seeing it."

"I see," he nodded. The class was silent for a minute or two. Professor Rockwell was focused on nothing in particular. What was he doing?

"I think I know what your dream is all about, Elizabeth."

"Really?" My heart leapt. That joy of finally figuring out a deep mystery that has been haunting me for days.

"Yes. The reason why Adrian couldn't see past the wall is because at that point there is an even bigger confusion. You'll have nowhere to go or anyone to help you out. You would have to find a way to overcome the blockade."

He paused, "However, you wouldn't know the kind of danger that would be waiting for you on the other end."

I was about to speak, but he spoke first.

"I'll tell you everything the dream meant. But first..." His eyes ran up to Aidan at the back of the class.

"I think we should address the elephant in the room."

Jimmy snorted out a laugh with his palms over his mouth, but it was still loud enough for me to hear. Aidan had that stare, the angry one.

His hair was even more messed up than it was before. He looked different, not because of the hair. There was just something off about him like I felt before and wasn't about him being in trouble or doing something bad.

Was he okay?

"No, he's not okay, Elly. But he has refused to speak of it." Professor Rockwell said, turning to me and then focusing on Aidan.

The class faced him, eager to hear what he would say. He said nothing, as always. He just sat there like he didn't care that we were concerned; that I was worried as fuck, because what could make him toss a fireball at me without knowing. The Aidan I know and love so much would never hurt me, or any of our friends, out of anger.

"Aidan," Professional Rockwell broke the silence.

"I'm asking again. What's going on with you? Because I know something is definitely wrong. You're not yourself."

Aidan glared at him.

Why couldn't he just say something? I was getting scared. Was he sick?

My eyes kept moving between the professor and Aidan, hoping one of them could at least say what the heck was wrong.