"What is happening- how did he just vanish? Why does he keep doing that?" Jay asked just as Varun had vanished mid-sentence.
"He seems to be doing that continuously until we can go blind," Aria said rubbing her eyes.
"The Plutonian team again probably," Fara said.
"One explained and another to go people," Jay said.
"Right, we all fell asleep and you didn't. And we were all caught in one dream for some reason and were in the playground where this snow started, according to Varun's brother," Aria said.
"To get out, we kind of crossed the limits of our imagination. So, it would jolt us back to reality," Adam said.
"My idea for the record," Jiant said.
"Even a baby would have figured," Maaz said.
"Thanks Maaz," Jiant sighed.
"Wait, so this thing involves dream and snow now? Whatever is happening here?" Jay asked.
"Seems so," Aria said.
"And… that is why no one on the street?" Jay asked.
"You mean they all are caught in a dream sequence of the normal world before snow?" Aria asked.
"Smart addition and yes it is possible. If what you said happened, that is," Jay said.
"Thanks for making it creepy you two," Maaz said.
"How much time were we asleep?" Jiant asked.
"Around eight hours," Jay said.
"And you still didn't sleep? Wow," Maaz said.
"So, what must we do?" Fara asked.
"Wait for Varun with answers from Pluto," Flint said.
"Except that," Fara sighed.
"Go back in and fight whatever is causing this?" Maaz suggested.
"Too hard to fight a god being in its world," Adam scoffed.
"Just trying to help," Maaz smacked his lips.
"Well, better be a one not involving suicide," Adam said.
"Think guys, think," Aria said.
"Let us go take a walk and clear our heads," Jay said getting up and picked up the keys from near the TV.
"No truer words," Flint said.
"You must use that sentence only once in life per person. And I'm in too, for the walk," Maaz said.
"Feeling like needing a jingle too," Jiant said.
"Jingle…? That's the best you could do?" Aria asked.
"Need any snacks for the road?" Adam asked.
"What is available, ice?" Fara asked.
"There literally is a shop. Well, never mind," Adam said.
***
The seven were walking side by side on the free road, slightly alert for things. The snow was cold but they were onto the fun part of this for some time.
"What if this is still a dream…?" Adam asked.
"Could be, we can never know," Maaz said.
"Also if this was, then they know of Varun and Pluto," Aria said.
"Unless they can read mind when you were in sleep and still achieve the knowledge," Jay said.
"That would be bad, really," Adam said.
"And pinching won't really wake us," Maaz said.
"Then what, killing each other?" Fara asked.
"Fun… but let's save that part for next year and for a better reason," Aria said.
"Rather than the normal continuous schooling, this is better," Flint said.
"Even when at apocalypse, we all can say that this is better than being at school or college," Jay laughed.
"Just think when this ends, we just wake up back in class and just smile at each other. And maybe or maybe not the other person will understand," Aria said.
"Or the other person just will feel that we are creepy as hell," Fara added.
"Now we are onto choosing which one is better. The school or apocalypse state," Flint said.
"Apocalypse is always good and preferred," Maaz said.
"Varun is teaching you both a lot of Gen-Z humour," Aria said.
"Taking a walk into the streets to clear mind and decide a way to fight a crisis. And then deciding that school is worse than a crisis which could kill millions, Gen-Z sure is something," Fara said.
"You too," Aria said, pointing at Fara.
"He shares some memes," Fara shrugged.
"You speak highly of him," a voice came and everyone alertly turned to it. It was a guy in weird attire, which made him look like a demon. "Even my brother does and that ticks me off."
"Who the hell are you?" Jiant asked.
"Someone dumb, because of the timing of the first dialogue," Flint scoffed.
"Oh right, you do not know of me. I'm Phobetor and you… are my victims," Phobetor said.
"You are the one who has caused this? And who had the dream play on us?" Fara asked.
"Just had my hand on the temperature control… it wasn't all me. The dream, yes, that was me," Phobetor said in his eerie tone.
"Right, your brother you talked about," Aria said.
"Yes, though he wouldn't consider me yet. He doesn't know of it. So, I'll win this planet for him and give him the news," Phobetor said.
"Yeah man, family problems is common let's sit and think of a solution," Adam said.
Phobetor glared at Adam and groaned.
"Or not," Adam gulped.
"Why… why are you and your long-lost brother, not mockingly, here?" Aria asked.
"This planet… full of an aura which is connected to the dream realm. And hence the only place which is closest to the dream realm. That is why we are here," Phobetor said.
"A world of dream…? What do you want a unicorn from there?" Fara asked.
"No, our parents are there. And as less excited I'm about it. My brother thinks otherwise, so why not he get his gift I thought," Phobetor said.
"Of all places in the world, only here…?" Jay asked.
"Earth was an easy target to us, gain-able. We thought the aura was high particularly here, but well it was just night time. And we changed the temperature so that people would hibernate, but we misinterpreted that part. The cold at least brings the worlds closer in a way, the portal will be stable. And your friend spiked it up, something is really wrong with that, but we will use it the right way," Phobetor said.
"He is a dreamer," Aria said.
"Oh, you all are, we found later. The energies rose when all of you joined your friend. So, we could use you if you will come with me," Phobetor said.
"We'll take that as a compliment," Aria said.
"And we'll pass on the helping part man," Flint said.
"Yeah, really in bad shape, no time to sleep," Jiant said.
"No greater dodge," Flint said.
"Nice going," Maaz said.
"I really would like to sleep though. But I'm with my friends on this one," Jay said.
"Foolish mockery… What is the point of all that? Deep down you all are afraid, I can sense your nightmares. The fright is just masked by your jokes, but you still fear," Phobetor said.
"Don't you…? Underneath that mask and skin you must fear something," Aria asked.
"Nightmares, don't have nightmares," Phobetor scoffed.
"Even being outnumbered by a large number doesn't strike fear in you?" Jay asked.
"I can't be outmatched," Phobetor said and from his chest came a blinding light.
Everyone put their hands ahead to protect themselves and the light was gone in no time.
Where Phobetor stood, there was a creature now, a dragon, silver coloured and as Phobetor said, one which could strike people as a 'nightmare'.
Until then they had just heard about a dragon, and now they witnessed it, it wasn't pretty. Phobetor just stood there calmly without moving, but striking fear at everyone looking at him.
"That is not good," Aria said.
"Don't plan on hitting it with a log," Jiant suggested.
"No kidding, but, what else must we do?" Adam asked.
"Come with me, help me make my brother proud," Phobetor said.
"How is he talking without moving his mouth?" Maaz asked.
"One thing suggested is trying to outrun," Fara suggested.
"Yup," everyone said and started running in the other direction, in sync.
"Fools, you can't outrun your nightmare. It always follows. Maybe not outside, but on the inside," Phobetor said and no one dared look back and see if he was following, but they could hear a 'swoosh' in the wind.
***
"Where is Varun when you need him?" Maaz whispered to Flint.
"Well, we are far away from his house, and he would teleport back into his house, not here," Flint said.
"Also, the key is with… where is the key?" Jiant asked searching his pockets.
"Last I remember it was with Jay," Maaz said.
"Where is he?" Jiant asked.
"Couldn't concentrate with all the running," Maaz said.
"We need to move, I don't hear the dragon anymore," Flint suggested.
***
Meanwhile, Jay and Adam were hiding at a spot ahead of where Flint was at.
"Great time of the week, huh?" Adam asked, rubbing his hands together.
"We got stronger Varun said. Why don't we try and fight the dragon?" Jay asked.
"I don't know if hands are a good match against a fire breathing beast," Adam yelled.
"Yeah, we will burn down if you attract it that way," Jay sighed.
"Sorry," Adam said.
"Sh…" Jay shushed Adam.
"Relax, I'll whisper," Adam whispered.
"Not that, I hear some moving," Jay said in the lowest of tones.
Adam could hear it too and listened to it alertly. Both raised their fists above to protect themselves when it comes to it. And now even the shadow neared and bent down to them.
"Hey," Aria said.
Adam screamed and Jay just glared at Adam.
"Lesser jokes and noises please," Jay said.
"Yeah, ok, bad timing," Adam said.
"I need the keys," Aria said putting out her hand front.
"Ok…" Jay said and gave her the keys.
"You are going back to the house?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, and only me," Aria said.
"Why…?" Jay asked.
"It will be easier for only me to sneak out and I'll get Varun, he might help with this somehow," Aria said.
"Ok, but the dragon could be anywhere," Adam pointed out.
"Fara is on it. She'll get its attention," Aria said.
"You know she doesn't have many lives," Jay said.
"She theorized that the dragon will want us alive. And she is good, don't worry," Aria said.
"Yeah, 'The Theorist' of our team," Adam sighed.
"Did you see the other three?" Aria asked.
"After the dragon, they kind of vanished," Jay said.
"Then you both have a task at your hands. All of you together be safe and near here. I'll come with help, hopefully more than Varun," Aria said.
"Didn't think we need him so much for once," Jay said.
"Bye," Aria said to Adam and hurried away.
"So… you ready to find the others?" Jay asked looking at Adam.
"Hey, it is at least not taunting a dragon and running to death, I'm in," Adam said.
"F.Y.I., it's been more than an hour after the dragon showed up," Jay said.
"What?" Adam snapped.
"Quiet and slow, will you be ABLE to do that?" Jay asked.
"I see what you did there. And sure," Adam said.
***