I bolt up from my sleeping position. These nightmares have been more frequent as of late. The effect they’ve had on me has lessened now that I don’t take the potion from Tiff. As I try to go back to sleep I realize that the other four are as stiff as I was just before.

“Are you all right, guys?” I ask. All their eyes flick to me as if I had just set fire to my hair. 

“Just a nightmare,” Amon responds. All eyes shot to her, panic shifting to surprise.

“I had one too,” Matteo whispers. The other three nod minutely in response, and at the same time I do.

“Weird.” Koa’s shaking voice pipes in, “What was yours about.”

“I’m always in a dark room and have to watch as someone in a ring of light gets their neck snapped. I can never tell who this person is, or if it is the same person, I can never say anything or even move. I think the person talks at some point but I can never hear what they say,” Matteo continues, his eyes closed and hands shaking.

“What,” Vic pales even further.

“What’s wrong? I know it is a little out there but I’m sure it is nothing.” His voice still has that edge of panic underneath it.

“I had the same nightmare.” Everyone freezes and stares at one another.

“Mine was different,” I found my voice, “I was in the ring of light.” 

Everyone faces me in a flash, eyes wide and mouth a gape.

“I knew I recognized you from somewhere! I’ve seen you in my dreams for ages now!” Amon practically shrieks.

“You can recognize them?” Matteo’s fear subsides.

“Maybe she is in front of them, can see their face more?” Vic adds, question laced in her voice.

“Oh no, I am too. Just people look very similar. All your ears are the same shape, and your eyes don’t change color at all! Your voices are very distinct, though, so I normally use that, but in this dream, I do not hear any speaking.” We all looked at him in shock.

“Matteo… you don’t say things like that, others will find it rude.” I finally broke the silence after what felt like hours but was likely barely a minute.

“What do you mean? I have heard others say the same thing about waguy and shind and nobody said anything. Should I have said something when they said it or was it not my place?”

“Next time somebody says something like that you should correct them, as you know it might feel insulting to hear that a significant way to distinguish someone from another is completely discredited because they have not been around that species long enough.” It was Koa’s turn to teach the confused wagun.

“Oh, okay, I will do better!” He nods 

“How about we get back to the topic of our shared nightmares? Because this is scaring me and I really don’t want to just pretend it didn’t happen!” Amon whisper-screamed.

“How about we sleep on it, ” I suggested. I have never seen anyone other than the silhouettes. When did they start showing up? Have they always been there and I just haven’t noticed? I was always a little preoccupied while there, with the circling and the cold light. I should look harder next time, maybe I’ll notice new silhouettes outside of my little circle.