“It’s usually the same, but it’s changed recently.” She proceeded to explain chasing the feather, trying to read the script, the bloodshot eyes and the scorpion, and then the bottomless pit and creepy door.
“In the beginning, I used to see a crow every time, but I don’t see it anymore. And the pit and trying to open that stupid door—that’s all new. I used to wake up once the scorpion stung me. And I swear, that pit is in Hell. There are flames, and the sky is—”
“Wait.” Iris held up a hand. “What was that about the crow?”
“I used to see a crow at the beginning of the dream. It took flight, and when it spread its wings, it covered the face of the sun, and the day became night.”
Iris made a strangled laugh and then covered it with a cough.
Suyin just stared at her. “What?”
“Oh, um—” She coughed again. “Nothing. A crow and the sun, huh? Weird.”
Suyin frowned. She had the distinct impression that Iris was withholding something, which reminded her why she hadn’t confided in her friend lately. “Does that mean anything to you?”
Iris hesitated. “Well, it’s not hard to find meaning in that kind of symbology, is it?”
“That’s not what I asked,” Suyin said, a little sharper than intended. “I asked if it meant anything toyou.”
“Not really.” Iris’s voice wavered, and she became focusedon rotating her beer glass in circles inside the ring of condensation on the table.
She was lying.
Suyin couldn’t fathom why Iris would choose to blatantly lie about her dreams, of all things. It was symbology. Why lie about it?
Whatever the reason, it pissed her off. Here she was opening up to her friend about something personal, and Iris couldn’t even do her the courtesy of being honest.
“I’m ready to go back inside,” Suyin said, planting her palms on the table and standing. This time her sharp tone was intentional.
“Wait.” Iris’s avoidant gaze snapped back to hers. “Su, I can’t—I know you think I’m lying to you.”
Suyin didn’t sit. But she didn’t leave either.
“I’ll just say … The crow and the sun? I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Actually, I think it’s a good thing.”
Suyin frowned. “A bird of darkness covers the sun and snuffs out the light. How can you perceive that as a good omen?”
“Maybe …” Iris went back to staring at her beer glass. “Maybe the sun had been forced to shine for too long, and it needed to rest in the darkness. Take comfort in a secret space. Or let its own inner darkness out. Maybe the crow didn’t snuff it out but gave it protection. Maybe it wanted to be dark for a long time, but it never could until the crow came along.”
“That’s a very unusual interpretation.”
“I know. But it’s worth considering.”
Slowly, Suyin sat down again. “Maybe you’re right, but it doesn’t shake the foreboding I get from everything else. Right after the nightmares began, that demon showed up at the store. And now I think I’m being stalked. I’m checking over my shoulder everywhere I go. I have six different protection wards up at my place, and I’m on edge every time I’m outside of them.”
“Su …” Iris’s green eyes were full of concern. “I didn’t realize—How long has this been going on?”
“A few weeks.”
“Have you called the cops? If there’s actually someone stalking you—”
“The police aren’t going to do shit about some creep lurking in a public park. You know how seriously they take complaints like that. But that isn’t what I’m worried about. It’s these fucking dreams.”
“But maybe that situation is amplifying your anxiety and making the dreams—”
“Why aren’t you taking this seriously?” Suyin snapped. “Why are you so convinced that everything’s okay?”
“I am taking this seriously, I swear. It’s just … things are safe now. For the first time in my life, I genuinely feel safe, and I hate that you don’t feel that way too.”
