Chapter 19 The Dreams
POV: MIGUEL
The dreams had been getting worse.
Every night for the past week, Miguel found himself in that frozen neighborhood. Talking to Luna. Watching her fade away piece by piece.
But tonight was different.
Tonight, he woke up at 3 AM drenched in sweat. Heart racing. The dream still vivid in his mind.
Luna had looked so damaged. Bruised. Bleeding. Like she was fighting for her life at that school.
And he couldn't do anything to help her.
Miguel lay in bed staring at the ceiling. His phone sat on the nightstand. Dark. Silent. No messages. No calls.
Luna's parents had stopped updating him weeks ago. Said it was better to let her focus on training. To not distract her with human world problems.
But the disappearances were getting worse.
Three more this week. Kids from school. People Miguel knew.
And the animals. God, the animals.
Something was wrong with them. Dogs attacking owners. Wolves sighted in suburban neighborhoods. Deer running through streets at midnight like they were fleeing something.
Miguel got up. Couldn't sleep anymore. Pulled on clothes and went downstairs.
His mother was in the kitchen. Making coffee despite the early hour.
"Couldn't sleep either?" she asked.
"Bad dreams."
"About Luna?"
"Yeah."
His mother's expression softened. "Mijo, you need to let her go. She's not coming back. Not the girl you knew."
"I know. But I can't just forget her."
"I'm not asking you to forget. Just to accept reality. She has a new life now. You need one too."
Miguel poured himself coffee he didn't want. "There's something else. The disappearances. I think they're connected to Luna. To what she is now."
"Miguel—"
"I'm serious. It started right after she left. And it's getting worse. Whatever world she's part of now, it's bleeding into ours."
His mother looked away. "Even if that's true, what can you do about it?"
"I don't know. But I have to try something."
"You have to stay safe. That's what you have to do."
Miguel didn't argue. But he knew he couldn't just hide and hope.
He finished his coffee and went back upstairs. Got ready for school even though it was only 4 AM.
Better to be moving than sitting. Waiting. Thinking.
By the time he left the house, the sun was rising. Streets empty. Quiet.
Miguel walked to school. Same route he'd taken with Luna a hundred times.
Everything looked normal. Peaceful.
But it didn't feel that way.
He felt watched. Followed. Like something tracked his movements from the shadows.
Miguel walked faster. Looked over his shoulder.
Nothing. Just empty street and morning light.
He turned a corner. A shortcut through the park.
Mistake.
The park was dark. Trees blocking the dawn light. Too many places to hide.
Miguel's instinct screamed danger.
He started jogging. Needed to get through fast. Reach open ground.
Something moved in his peripheral vision.
He spun. Saw nothing. Just trees and shadow.
"Hello?" His voice cracked. Embarrassing.
No answer.
Miguel backed toward the park exit. Keeping his eyes on the tree line.
A growl. Low. Deep. Not a dog. Not anything natural.
Miguel ran.
Behind him, something gave chase. Fast. Getting closer.
He burst out of the park onto the street. Safety. Witnesses. Civilization.
The thing behind him stopped at the park boundary. Like it couldn't or wouldn't cross into open space.
Miguel kept running. Didn't stop until he reached school. Other students. Teachers. People.
He leaned against a wall. Gasping. Heart hammering.
What the hell was that?
He looked back toward the park. Nothing visible. But he felt it. Still watching. Still waiting.
Miguel pulled out his phone with shaking hands. No signal. That was weird. He always had signal here.
The screen flickered. Went dark. Then lit up again showing a message he hadn't written.
She can't save you.
Miguel dropped the phone. It clattered on concrete.
When he picked it up, the message was gone. Screen normal. Signal restored.
He wanted to believe he'd imagined it. Stress and lack of sleep playing tricks.
But he knew better.
Something from Luna's world was here. In his. Hunting him specifically.
And Luna was too far away to help.