As the night air cooled, the four wrapped themselves tight in their blankets. The fresh air and the weariness of their bodies propelled them into a deep sleep. Their bodies drank in the rest they needed for replenishment; pleasant dreams sailed through their minds.
Before the sun’s light could rise to dim the stars, those dreams took a different path, morphing into dark visions and fearful thoughts; Zack’s whole body twitched, Kai Li’s legs jerked as if he were trying to run, Liyah’s mouth stretched wide open but emitted no sound, and Morningstar’s eyes bugged out into an eerie stare.
Zack’s dreams began with him going home, then drifted to seeing friends at school and finally to remembering his dad taking him on a trip to Niagara Falls when he was little. He found himself standing at the Falls watching the flood of water crash into rocks at the bottom of the giant ledge, sending great misty plumes into the air all around him; he was laughing; his dad had a hold of his hand and was smiling. But then suddenly he was no longer beside him. He searched for his dad’s hand, it had been replaced by the hand of a gang member . . . and then other gang members approached, laughing like clowns; they surrounded him. His mind seized. Daddy, where are you? Don’t leave me. But he was gone, Zack left to the groping grasps of the gang. They grabbed him and dragged him to the safety rail on the walkway. Holding him by his feet they dangled him over the side. Through the mist he could see the jagged rocks below; they let go of one leg. Panic set in. What’s going on? Stop! Daddy! Daddy! He screamed and screamed. You know I don’t like heights! Where are you? Save me. Save me! Where are you?
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