Chapter 40
Noah
It's raining. Lightning and thunder dominate the surroundings. Everything is gray. Dark. And cold.
Over there, moss-covered stones are untouched by the rain. It doesn't rain in that spot.
But there's something else. I step closer.
I bend down.
I run my fingers over the soft moss.
It's damp and slippery.
Confused, I look at my fingers. There's nothing to see.
I bring them to my nose, trying to catch a scent of what it might be.
Blood.
That's blood.
Suddenly, there's a beam of light. Directly above me. It illuminates the stone and the moss. But neither is here anymore.
Julian lies before me. His face contorted in pain. Pale. Whimpering.
Blood drips from a thumbnail-sized wound on his forehead. It mixes with the rain, forming a narrow, bright red trickle running down his temple.
Help me.
I want to support him, but I can't figure out the root of his troubles.
Help me!
I try to say something, but only a feeble stutter escapes my mouth.
His body contorts. He screams out his pain. Forceful and piercing.
Then his gaze becomes fixed.
"No-o-o-o!" he cries.
A jolt runs through my body. Eyes wide open, I spring up.
Before me lies the clearing where my house stands. It's not raining; instead, the sun shines. Birds chirp. The wind tugs at my T-shirt. My back is stiff, the ground beneath me hard.
Gradually, the memories come back. I only wanted a short break before continuing with the sawing work in the workshop. I must have dozed off. How long was I gone? Absently, I reach into my pocket for my phone.
1:15 p.m. I slept for two hours, and now I feel like a freight train ran over me. Cold sweat clings to my forehead.
Did I have one of those nightmares again?
It's not hard for me to let my eyelids fall. Massaging my temples, I try to remember.
"Come on, Noah," I urge. "What did you dream about?"
It was just in my thoughts a moment ago, so it should still be there now. But I find nothing. My mind is blank.
