“I need you to believe me, Nick,” Ghost-Henry’s voice had a new sense of urgency. “If you stay in this dream much longer, your body won't survive. And I—” his voice broke slightly, “I love you Nick. I can't lose you.”
The raw vulnerability in his voice was something I'd never heard before. It pierced through the last of my doubts.
“I believe you,” I whispered. “But I don’t know how to leave this place.”
The world around us began to change. The Henry pinned against the wall along with the dumpster disappeared. At the end of the alley, the D'val's remains dissolved like smoke in astrong wind. Fear squeezed my chest. What if I’d died and Henry was actually the manifestation of death come to collect me?
“You're starting to wake up,” Ghost-Henry said, relief washing over his features. Of all the things in the alley, only he hadn’t diminished. “This place only exists because you believe it’s real. Now it’s fading away.”
The alley and everything in it lost substance and faded away. Only Henry remained clear and defined amidst the fading dream.
“I love you, Nick,” he said, extending his hand toward me. “Open your eyes so we can start our life together.”
The grief from moments ago was blotted out by the dream I’d held onto for as long as I could remember. Henry said he loved me, and if there was even the slightest chance that was real, I wasn’t going to pass it up.
Our fingers touched and the dreamscape shattered around me. I couldn’t see anymore, but I still felt Henry, and that was enough.
I gasped, my entire body jerking as if I'd been shocked. My eyes flew open, bringing an unfamiliar ceiling into focus. The remnants of the dream—Henry's face, his voice saying he loved me—lingered as I tried to orient myself.
My skin still burned, though not as intensely as before. Every muscle ached like I'd done a cross fit workout, gone ten rounds with an MMA heavyweight, and then finished a triathlon. I tried not to move, but someone was holding my hand and I really wanted to kiss him.
“Henry,” I said, and turned to face him. “I love you, too.”
His hand tightened around mine, but he looked over my head.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Trevor said.
Looking in the direction of his voice, I watched him slap his thighs and stand. “Hey, Trev. I think we have a few thingsto discuss.” His deer in the headlight expression faded when I smiled. “We’re cool. Nothing will ever change between us. You’re the brother I wanted. I’m not letting you go.”
He moved closer and grabbed my free hand. “You don’t know how scared I’ve been wondering what would happen when you found out. I want to always be your brother too.”
Henry cleared his throat, and I laughed at Trevor’s expression. “You really should go. I’d prefer to keep peace in the family.”
“You got it, little bro.” He released my hand and looked at Henry. “Thanks for not, you know, not dying.”
“So glad I could do that for you.” Henry said. “And thank you for being here when I needed you.”
Trevor nodded, and made for the door. A chorus of voices greeted him when he entered the hallway. I recognized a few, but the person I wanted to talk to most was next to me. “I’m pretty glad you’re not dead too.”
“I’d say that’s a common sentiment,” Henry said.
He looked exhausted, but the desperation and fear were gone. I tried to sit up, but my body screamed in protest. Even that small effort made the room spin. “Fuck me! Even my eyelids hurt.”
It was an exaggeration, but not by much.
“Not today, but soon.” Henry wiggled his eyebrows.
I laughed at his stupid joke and regretted it. “Oh god, don’t make me laugh.”
“All kidding aside, you ache because you were burning your life force,” he said. “Your body needs time to recover.”
Sinking back, I surveyed the room. Plain white walls, dark wood furniture, soft lighting from a lamp in the corner, and generic prints on the wall. Not a hospital, but I couldn’t guess about much else.
Closing my eyelids—and it actuallydidhurt—my dream flashed before me in vivid detail. The D'val, power surging through me, and Henry saying he loved me. I didn’t need him to say the words. He showed me his feelings all the time.
“It was real, wasn't it?” I asked. “The monster, my powers, you promising to tell me everything now.”
Henry snorted softly and traced small circles on the back of my hand with his thumb. “Yes, even the promise to tell you everything.”
