Turning towards the roof in annoyance, Shem's eye twitched and a slight frown found its way onto his face.
'Just when we were about to get food, huh. I see how it is!
Besides, didn't Corvo say tonight? It's not even evening yet, what is this?'
Letting out a slight sigh Shem shook his head but focused on the words coming out of the speaker closest to them.
"Attention everybody, listen the fuck up." A female voice declared, her words unbefitting her higher pitched tone.
"I am Colonel Esker, this announcement will cover the recent wave of deaths.
Firstly, every town, city, province, country, and continent was affected by this, no one was spared. The Orange continent was the most affected by this due to differing time zones, before the global population was hovering around 10 billion, now it is about 7 billion.
Secondly, all of the deceased were killed in their sleep. That means everybody can die in their dreams and everybody will dream.
Lastly, we are inclined to believe that depending on your willpower and ability to achieve lucidity in your dreams you may alter or affect your dreams. This is not confirmed.
We are looking for a way to prevent death consequently, DO NOT SLEEP.
I repeat, DO NOT SLEEP, you WILL die.
That is all."
Silence reigned over every single person in the line, all of their thoughts in disarray over what they just heard.
Shem along with many others were stuck in their own minds, attempting to digest the new information when a voice interrupted them.
"THE FUCK YOU MEAN THEY DIED IN THEIR SLEEP?????
MY WIFE DIED AND YOU FUCKERS CAN'T EVEN DO YOUR JOB?!?!"
Grumbles and jeering in assent followed the outburst but none of that impacted Shem as he recalled the Colonel's words.
'3 billion people died in one night …' He thought, blood draining from his face while turning pale. His breathing grew hitched and irregular as his palms turned sweaty.
'3 billion people died, I don't even know more than fifteen that well.'
Feeling Lorey's hand touch his, Shem grabbed it and held on tight, anchoring him to the present and calming him.
"It's fine, we will get through this." He murmured like a mantra while the line finally calmed down and started receiving food.
The line moved slowly, the red light streaming in from the windows grew darker and more vivid as the sun setted.
"It's fine, we will get through this."
'Right?'
The person in front of them received their food, soup, bread, and coffee. Lorey's hand felt warm to the touch.
"It's fine, we will get through this."
'Thirty percent of the population has died.'
The siblings got their food, the soup had some sort of meat inside while the bread was cut from a baguette. The coffee filled to the brim of the disposable cup.
"It's fine, we will get through this."
'Will we?'
Sitting on the roundabout now Shem and Lorey ate their food in silence, faint echoes of conversation and arguments could be discerned.
"It's fine, we will get throu-." Shem half said, interrupted mid way through his sentence.
A wave of darkness spread throughout the entire tent, with it brought a sweet scent somewhat like that of freshly cut flowers. The light from the windows instantly cut out, drowning the entire tent.
Feeling himself becoming light-headed, Shem looked at Lorey barely able to make her out.
'Shit her eyes are closed.'
Shem shook Lorey as violently as he could in his current drowsy state but could not wake her up and instead her body went limp.
'Fuck im falling asleep …'
Falling backwards, the siblings' heads fell onto the bush behind them, both of their chests rose peacefully, a smile bloomed on the siblings faces as if they didn't have a care in the world.
-----------
(Shem POV, Dream World)
Both of the siblings woke up together, their heads lifted up in tandem from the green pillow they had been lying on.
'Why was I sleeping?'
Shem was about to turn to Lorey and ask if she was ok before the ambiance seized his attention.
'Why is it so red?'
Indeed it was red, a crimson glow permeated throughout the entire tent, illuminating it in a sinister manner. The origin of the glow directly above Shem.
"Hello Humans." It boomed in a baleful voice, a shiver permeating Shem's being.
Looking up Shem saw it, a creature of his nightmares. Menacingly curved horns adorned the creature's figure, bright white hair flowing containing a twinge of red flowed backwards in an insane appearance. Half of his handsome face was covered in blood red flowers seemingly erupting out one eye socket while the other eye was completely black, no pupil, no iris, no sclera, only darkness. A black suit with red accents graced his figure while his mouth parted into a perverted gut wrenching smile.
'It's fine, we will get through this … right?'