.....[chapter begins].....
When Sultana thanked me after agreeing to keep her sister's bullshit a secret, I had to painfully watch her leave to go back to her house.
she didn't want to let me escort back for safety measures, she said something along the line of that she feels like she's burdening me enough...
if anything I was the burden, I'm the one who keeps asking her for favors, the least can do is care.
nevertheless she just walked away, I couldn't cope with the stress so I went for a walk, I know walking that creepy dog Forest in the middle of the night it doesn't seem like...the best movie plot, but whatever it is what it is.
I kept circling around the trees for a few minutes, it was dead quiet as if nothing is there, dead or Alive.
my thoughts run back to when, Yildiz... that nutcase when she said that I wasn't even sure what connection I have with the agency, in the end she was right.
I was going on this trip without preparing myself well, like I don't have an excuse I don't have like a story to tell when I get to the headquarter... like 'hey I lost my memories? I'm not sure what the hell but I think I might have something to do with you guys?'
nothing, I am under prepared for a journey that may proven to be a shitty mistake... I sure did sound more confident when I was bullshit in the other guys to join me on the trip.
now I'm not.
...an hour later...
as I walked the path back to the treehouse, I caught a glimpse someone standing at the bottom right where I was standing before talking with the Turkish sister, it was the old man.
" got something pulling on your strings kiddo?" Ivan asked me the moment our eyes met,
"sure thing I do and that something...is something like me."
" what do you mean...(Y/N)?"
" oh nothing to be worried about my old grumpy guy."
Ivan smiled, damn I'm not getting used to him being nice for a long while.
" I didn't have the chance to thank you personally (Y/N), if it wasn't for you...this old grumpy guy would've been watching the wedding from the tree house window."
I smiled back at him, " just make sure you don't do something stupid tomorrow Ivan, everyone believes in you. the fact that they tolerated you so far, is that because they saw good in you... don't disappoint them."
"I'll do my best, the best gift I can give the newlyweds tomorrow, is being on my best behavior."
I nodded my head at him, I noticed how tired he seemed so I decided to be more generous "yeah, well you can go back up I'll petrol for tonight."
" I can handle it, I'm old not weak (Y/N)."
" I never said that, just go get some sleep, I got shit running through my head right now, I don't think I can sleep just yet."
" no, you've done far enough for me today, just go because I'm too stubborn for you to actually convince me otherwise."
sighting in defeat, I walked past him and patted his shoulder, " shit you won't budge! but thanks old man...stay safe."
" I'm just doing my job."
" still old hag, even those who are doing their job, sometimes they need a 'thank you' from time to time..."
I ended up climbing the ladder, all the way to the door.
I dragged myself in, the wave of uneasiness that I drowned in for the past few minutes went away as I saw the rest of the team cuddling like kids with each others, deeply asleep with Their mattresses put together, forming a big bed.
" shit, I wasn't gone for long but there you are, already knocked out cold." I whispered to myself slightly smiling.
the funniest part is how everyone used tall ass Omar as a body pillow in their sleep,
all of the sudden, a hand pulled me down forcing me to lay with the group.
"Mickey..."
"*whispering* shhh be quiet!"
" *whispering* you scared the shit out of me man!"
"*whispering* serves you right! where did you disappear all of the sudden?"
"*whispering* went for a walk after talking with Sultana? can't go on a walk without your permission now?"
laying next to him, Mickey turned to my side and looked me dead in the eyes.
" just because you're cute doesn't mean I'll let you of the hook for worrying me (Y/N)"
" ehh feelings! cringy!" I joked, it caused us both the laugh, we nearly woke the rest of the sleeping beauties.
" seriously Mick, are you okay? I'm asking to check up on you...you don't really have to tell me anything if you don't want to." I whispered to him,
" I'm not okay, but I have to be."
"why"
" He's like family to me (Y/N), I want him to be happy, I can't ruin his big day" Mickey whispered to me,
"Life keeps going I guess...shit how dense is Omar btw?"
" haha pretty dense, he's too blunt he could drive you crazy."
" at least his mind is clear when it comes to Sultana."
" I guess...*sight*"
" are you fine with this?"
he sighted again, " I'm not...I feel like I'm being stabbed in the chest (Y/N)"
I don't know why when I heard his words I instantly felt a need to hug him, wrapping my arms around Mickey, I pulled him closer to comfort him.
in few minutes he fell asleep, after drenched my shirt with his tears.
I suppose being an emotional support is an actual occupation, because I was whooped with exhaustion by the time Mickey finally drifted to sleep.
All I know is that at that moment, I was just too tired to stay awake anymore.
....some time later ....
( beginning of the dream?)
I opened my eyes as soon as I felt a touch on my hand,
" hey (Y/N)! you fell asleep on the couch."
I stared at the person who said that with confused eyes.
Takoda, Takoda Hensley...the guy who that wendigo used his friendly voice to trick me in my dream.
" hey I know what you're thinking my friend, yes this is a dream."
" last time I met you Takoda, you realize I don't know who you are, how?"
he sat down next to me on this couch, handing me something.
a small uniquely designed dream catcher, it had the word 'na'iidzeeł' on it "what is this for?"
" my Tota, it means my grandma btw...she made this for you, to hang in you bedroom, that word you see 'na'iidzeeł'... it's pronounced 'nah eed zeh-lth' which means a dream during slumber."
"that's really cool, your grandma must've like me that much."
" she would have if she met you, however my Tota never got the chance to meet you (Y/N)."
" but you just said your grandma made this dream catcher for me, to hang in my bedroom?! how come she never met me?"
" my Tota, died in the apocalypse, at the very start. she made this catcher way before the apocalypse ever happened, She gave if to me on one of my birthdays as a teenager... following her words, she said I should gift it to the person I cared about the most, and that's how it ended up being yours.
I'll make sure that it's still swaying above your bedroom door, I'll be waiting for you to come back."
his words made me smile, it felt less lonelier having Takoda with me, and way more peaceful.
"Aren't dream catchers supposed to protect you from bad dreams and evil spirits while you're asleep?"
" yes and the reason why dream catchers are more important than you think they are, is because we put so much thoughts into the world of dreams.
by we I mean my people, Us the Native Americans have believed for decades, that dreams had an influence on the conscious soul of the dreamer. "
" influence... like they can change you as a person?"
" yes (Y/N)...once when I was a kid, I was told by my Tota, that dreams could have an impact on character traits such as trust, maturity, kindness and loyalty."
" that's oddly satisfying to hear, with theses dreams I'm having lately, I'm questioning everything I'm about."
" (Y/N)...these are more than just dreams, some bits of your memories are planted here and there, it's your guide back home."
"Takoda, are you real...like at this moment is it really you?"
"wasn't I convincing so far? yes it is! I'm real. As for our strange second encounter, Ever since we met (Y/N), I was somehow present in lots of your dreams, the nightmare to be precise... from time to time usually when we're separated. you can say it's my gift since I was a kid to appear in the dreams of my loved ones, especially those who need me the most, like you are at this point."
" then can I trust you? maybe ask you an important question?"
" trust me (Y/N), I swear on my honor that I wish nothing but well for you."
"If I were to come back, would I be met with a welcome or the opposite?"
"considering how you left from my point of view, I would advise your return so soon as in everyone is unsure of your disappearance and its circumstances. I mean, despite us being partners, you never gave me a warning about you suddenly leaving nor gave a hit of it before, yet..."
" Yet ?"
" you're dealing with amnesia, you yourself had forgotten the reason why you left and it could be very well for your own safety.
you need answers for everything. I myself want to know why you suddenly disappeared and I'm willing to help you... yet if the logic behind everything that happened so far is for you to get away of a harmful situation, going back as yourself might be dangerous."
" you...made your point, Takoda. so, what do suggestion as an alternative?"
"I would recommend a camouflage."
" you mean to say a disguise."
" precisely (Y/N), a disguise. a new Identity, one that wouldn't put you in the spotlight of suspicion."
"but how would I be able to pull it off? "
" you already have your answer, new doesn't mean unused, we call something new when we first try it ourselves and it doesn't matter if if it was used by someone else."
" what kind of riddle is This? "
" I'm talking about your new Identity, (Y/N)."
"are you by any chance suggesting that I should steal an already existing identity?"
" how about a peaceful way? borrow it."
"I still don't understand..."
"use your quirk (Y/N)"
" My What now?!"
" it's not random, in your case (Y/N)."
As if to make matters more confusing, right when I needed more answers,Takoda who was sitting next to me began fading away.
" what's happening!!"
" o-ou-rr connnnnnection is cutting off, I can't k-keep up so you will ex-xperience the real d-dream now!"
I realized that's why during that wendigo nightmare, the scene shifted just like it's about to do now.
it seems like there's limit to how long can Takoda reach me in my dreams,
" you can let go now, I'll figure things out myself, thanks Tako."
" My hon-nor, (Y/N)."
and he was gone, and I was being surrounded by darkness as faze two was about to begin.
I felt something familiar, I feeling I knew before. I was falling, down into the unknown.
so I just closed my eyes.
....time skip... indefinite...
by the time I opened my eyes again, the scenery has changed.
I stood up quickly examining the area, I felt a sense of familiarity with this place for some reason.
I was in the edge of a one story storage unit, boxes and documents being piled up in order everywhere on large metal storage shelves, with long ladders placed to allow reaching higher levels of these shelves.
the shelves were at least 10 feet high (3.048 meters), there was enough space to move a vehicle between each line of these big ass shelving units.
I saw a door for staff behind me so I checked if it was unlocked or not, it was definitely locked with a key.
that door being a dead end, I kept walking between the lines hoping to find a different exit, it felt a like supermarket or a large facility storing area, there was at least 10 lines, so there must be other entrances.
" shit were am I?" I whispered, not sure why but I felt the need to be quiet.
I walked a tremendous amount of steps before I could see the other side.
a large black garage door was right in front of me, as twice as high as those shelves.
I ditched the idea of being quiet, this could as well be the exit I need.
I tried many ways to pray it open but it seems like it's heavily guarded with some sort of security measures, in short I couldn't get it to open.
" shit, well...not like this was going to be easy." I spoke to myself.
suddenly I heard a noise, thanks to how quiet this place was I was able to hear the door I check earlier from the other side being unlocked, whomever unlocked it must've had a bad day since they slammed the door open afterwards pretty harshly.
I sneaked my way back to the other edge of the room, hiding in process behind the filled metal shelves.
mid way I stopped, between the boxes I spotted someone organizing the documents in their cart In alphabetical order.
I was crouched down so I couldn't see their face but I saw what the person dressed in.
your everyday Simple secretary outfit, a black blazer, white dress shirt and mini black skirt and dark color stockings, possibly a female worker.
hey, I'm hear to survive not to judge someone's fashion sense.
" Bitch" the person mumble to herself as she moved from shelf to another,
she was moving away from the door so I took the chance to go closer to my exit...
that was until I heard her say, " Once I kill you I'll be the star."
" oh shit, it must be that snake Yildiz!" I whisper-screamed to myself. I as not about to fight her was I?
" fucking sultana... she doesn't deserve to be better than me!! I'M THE STAR! IT'S IN MY FUCKING NAME! DYFYLFUFTJZTXGXTDTDTFIYOFODTSTDKCGKXTUDUDJGCHCHKCKHHYL" The person whom I suspected to be Yildiz shouted into thin air, her gruntes were nothing but incoherent blabbering.
it was almost as if she was cackling or something, like some animals would do.
"holy shit, I'm not sticking around for this family fued!"
"Stay...where...you...Are."
I don't know why but I froze in place, she spotted me.
I heard the sound of her heels getting closer to where I stood, I was literally one dash away from the door.
" who are you? were you hear before I came? how the hell you got here if the door was locked?" Yildiz asked, it took me by surprise that she didn't recognize me but then again if this was the version of her before her sister told her about me, it would would make sense if she doesn't know me.
Sultana and Ivan hinted that being Agents, doesn't mean they know every other agent with them in the agency as well.
" listen, I got lost here someone played a sick joke on me and locked me here! I swear I didn't take anything." I half lied, the other part of taking nothing was the truth so far.
"you don't seem like you took anything, that much is apparent but do you honestly think I'll believe it when you tell me, that there are agents around playing pranks on each others here? locking up people."
" listen Yildiz i-"
" how the fuck do you know my name?"
" oh i-....ummm I...shit ...I like you! I actually i sneaked it here...to see you. " I lied, I mean she's pretty, people can be persuade with her physical features but her heart is as ugly as the word itself is, so no thank you.
" seriously I told them to change the Locks, anyone can pickpocket that shit...well stranger, I'm flattered but I'm not interested! especially not in a creep like you." Yildiz replied smiling down at me.
I high-fived myself internally, this seems to be working, " *fake sadness* oh, no! I really wanted to get to know you." I said
" well next time try not stalking your crushes, talk face to face like a normal person." she replied, what a freaking hypocrite, who stalked who in real life.
" so... you're not mad? like I'm not in trouble?"
she nodded, "Evet, I just broke your heart, so I'll let you go peacefully...if you were a threat I would have attacked you by now." said Yildiz.
I wanted to roll my eyes so bad but I had to maintain a fake happy smile, " thanks! you're the best Yildiz!"
" of course I am!" she said, " in fact since I'm the best how about we share some coffee? or whatever you'd like to drink. there a vending machine here so you can select your drink while I find us a table and couple of chairs to sit on."
Without even waiting for me to decline her offer she handed me some change and went searching for chairs, I was left with no choice but to actually be obedient.
I might not have to fight anyone in this dream after all,
I selected a drink for myself and brought a coffee for Yildiz, she had already set a place for us to sit.
... minutes later...
Yildiz talked on and on about herself, how much she thinks Sultana is overrated and how much she hates her job in the administration department.
at the beginning I was bored beyond imagination but then, she spoke about her past, how her family treated her like an outcast.
she talked almost none stop about here late fiance, whom she loved for showering her with attention she couldn't find in anyone else in her life.
I came to realize she might not be bad after all, well a little.
she has a villian origin story.
her family were degrading and ignorant towards her growing up, which made her turn into a major attention seeker.
she has a sibling whom she believes is the reason why the spotlight was never direct at her, a sister too successful she made Yildiz feel like a complete failure.
the apocalypse happened, and it led her to end up loosing her lover twice, one by him being infected and one by killing him herself and thus, she's overwhelmed with guilt.
and she turned herself into an HHZ, a human hybrid zombie, in the eyes of many, either a disposable tool, or a monster.
No wonder sultana is too soft on her.
" Yildiz..."
" what (Y/N)?"
" do you think you'd like to be my friend?"
Yildiz smiled, it was real as far as I can tell "what about you, do you think you can be a friend to somebody like me?"
I smiled back "Evet!" I replied mimicking her way of speaking, Yildiz bursted laughing.
" Ahahaha! don't say that again and we Will be friends!" she replied extending her hand to me, " deal." I said shaking her hand.
suddenly I noticed the staff door, since it was open I could see what behind it, earlier it was pitch black but now...it was glowing bright light.
" Thank you (Y/N) for talking to me today, I hope I didn't scare you earlier...you can go now."
I stood up from my chair, takoda's words earlier about peaceful methods rang in my ears for some reason.
I waved a goodbye at The dream version of Yildiz as I walked through the door, looking back, I saw her waving back at me with a smile.
I don't know why I did this but, I walked back to her.
I grabbed Yildiz's hand and we began walking again towards the door, " what are you doing?" she asked me confused.
" let's go together." I said as we made it to the door.
"no soldier is left behind in my army."
(End of dream)
..... [Chapter end]....