Under the cool morning breeze and the damp air that flowed with every breath he took, Joey found himself standing in an unfamiliar place after waking from a heavy sleep.
Beneath an endless blue sky and on a damp, green carpet of grass, he stood alone in a vast field filled with tall blades of grass swaying gently with the morning wind. Everything seemed calm, yet he couldn't shake off the odd feeling. How did he end up here?
He looked around. To his right, the horizon stretched endlessly—green grass extending into the unknown. When he turned to his left, the view was the same. The place seemed boundless, with no clear way out.
He had no choice but to walk. He started moving toward a small hill that rose faintly in the distance, hoping it might reveal something. The climb was exhausting, and the grass beneath his feet was wet and slippery.
When he finally reached the top, he paused to catch his breath. Before him, the landscape remained unchanged: endless green fields glistening under a soft, calm sun.
He stood silently, observing the scene, before whispering to himself in fear:
"This is a dream... no, a nightmare."
But the tranquility was suddenly broken. A cold breeze carried a faint voice from behind him:
"Soon... you will walk the shadowed path."
He turned sharply, but there was no one there. He glanced back again, his breath quickening with tension, only to see strange footprints burning with violet flames, starting from where he had been standing.
When he looked down at his own feet, he saw the same violet fire flickering around them.
Before he could comprehend what was happening, the flames engulfed his entire body. They consumed him swiftly, leaving behind fragile ashes. As everything around him dissolved into darkness, the voice returned:
"Your question is near... but my answer is far."
Joey woke up abruptly.
He was breathing heavily, his hands trembling. He stared at the ceiling of his room before glancing at his phone. A message from Chris read:
"Meet me at the bus stop at 7:30!"
He looked at the clock. He had just thirty minutes to get ready, but his mind was still trapped in the strange dream.
He headed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and changed his clothes. Standing in front of the mirror with a smile, he dried his face, revealing a small mole beneath his left eye that added a unique touch to his light coffee-toned skin.
Exiting the bathroom, he walked to the end of the hallway where his mother's room was. He gently opened the door to check on her, only to find her deep in sleep. After a brief moment of thought, he decided to let her rest without disturbing her.
He moved to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. Soon, the apartment was filled with the aroma of crispy honeyed bread. He made two plates of pancakes and added a side of eggs and warm bread. Sitting alone at the table, he hurried through his meal, preparing for his meeting with Chris and the others.
Just as he was about to finish, his mother walked into the kitchen, still half-asleep, her face showing signs of surprise. She mumbled lazily,
"Sorry I didn't wake up early to make you breakfast."
Joey smiled and handed her a plate of pancakes as she sat down across from him. With his mouth full, he replied,
"It's fine. You got home late last night from Aunt Mary's place."
His mother smiled faintly and picked up a book that was on the table. Glancing at him, she said,
"You know your aunt. Talking to her never ends. We spent the entire day moving between visits and acquaintances. I tried to get away, but it was hopeless."
She wore thin-framed rectangular glasses, and her face was softly defined. She took a bite of bread, followed by a forkful of scrambled eggs, their golden hue resembling a sunset. One hand held the book, titled Man and His Symbols, while the other managed her meal, surrounded by other books with similar themes stacked on the table.
After a large bite, she suddenly paused mid-chew and said,
"I saw him again. That man from the dream."
Joey gave her an intrigued look, rising from his chair as he asked,
"Really? Did he talk to you this time?"
His mother quickly replied, disappointment evident on her face:
"Unfortunately, no. He just stood there, in the middle of a grove of gray roses, under a black, star-filled sky. Every dream is slightly different from the last, but I always feel something changing. This time, I was closer to him—the distance between us was about the length of this table, multiplied by seven. I saw his hair… it was a smoky grayish-blue, like the color of dawn blending with the night. Around him were small lights darting quickly, like fireflies, playing gently. One danced between his hands, while three others dangled. Just when I felt I could get closer, I heard my name being called—'Sarah Rose'—and suddenly, I woke up, drenched in sweat, with the smell of fresh pancakes filling the room."
Joey chuckled apologetically and said,
"Ah, I always mess things up with pancakes. But look—this time, they're the color of the sunrise, aren't they?"
His mother smiled, enjoying the crunchiness of the pancakes as he hastily put on his backpack. Glancing at the clock, he said,
"I've got to go now. I don't want to miss the bus. Look at the time!"
"Good luck with the job interview. Love you," he said, dashing down the stairs and slamming the old door shut behind him. Reaching the ground floor, he exhaled sharply and prepared to sprint. The nearest bus stop was three big blocks away, and he had to hurry.
When he arrived at the bus stop, he found Chris and Alex waiting under the old shelter. Panting, he said between breaths,
"Finally made it. What did I miss?"
Noticing something odd, he glanced around and asked,
"Where's Dave? He's not here today."
Chris stepped closer to the curb and answered,
"Dave left early. Said he had some private projects. Don't ask me what that means—I didn't understand it either."
Alex chimed in, turning to Joey,
"He mentioned something about going to buy a spare part."
Joey moved closer, puzzled, and asked,
"A spare part? For what? Dave doesn't even own a car or a bike!"
Before either of them could reply, the bus arrived. The metallic door opened with a hiss, releasing warm air from the engine.
Chris stepped back slightly from the cold curb before the three of them boarded. The bus was almost fully packed, but they managed to find two seats together in the back. The crowded aisle made moving difficult, and Joey nearly tripped several times over students' scattered bags.
Once they were seated, Joey was the first to speak, his serious tone catching Chris's attention. It felt oddly out of place amidst the faint scent of old and new school bags:
"Did you figure anything out about Berry's company? Or are we still going in circles?"
Chris sighed and leaned his head back against the seat, saying in frustration:
"We're worse than zero, Joey. That company is a master at hiding everything. Even that strange man who attacked us in Jerry's shop vanished like he never existed. No evidence, no trace."
Joey responded with a faint smile:
"Maybe he's a robot? Or some alien sent by a group of mad scientists trying to take over the world."
Alex interjected with a serious tone:
"As Chris said, there's something those people are hiding. Since their company was founded, they've been acquiring a huge number of buildings, properties, and housing complexes. Can you imagine a company created just three years ago owning more than thirty-five properties? Isn't that suspicious?"
He adjusted his glasses, which had almost slid off his face, fixing them firmly as he refocused on the conversation.
Joey fell silent for a moment, lost in thought as he stared at the rusty ceiling of the bus. A spiderweb was barely clinging to the metal. He let out a small sigh and said:
"What if we go check out the company ourselves? You know, sneak in… maybe we'll find something interesting."
Alex's voice rose unintentionally, drawing curious glances from a few students nearby. Realizing this, he quickly lowered his voice and whispered cautiously:
"Are you suggesting we sneak into Berry Company?"
Chris snapped in a sharp tone, trying to manage the rising tension:
"What Alex is trying to say is: Are you insane? Do you want the police to catch you? Or worse… the company itself?"
Joey smiled confidently, as if the idea was just a fun game:
"Don't worry. The plan is simple. Two of us sneak in while the third stays outside to keep watch. That way, we'll stay safe."
A few seats away, between scattered laughter and side conversations, a girl sat silently watching them. Her gaze didn't reveal much interest, but she was listening intently to their conversation.
Despite her attentiveness, none of them noticed her presence or that she was observing them. She had dark brown hair, almost black, and a dusky complexion like freshly baked brown bread.