CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A glaring cherub

                                    

                                          


 
He dashed past tall trees as the dry leaves cracked. The moon above was large and reddish. His legs were tired and sore. If their lives were not in danger, he could have fainted a few minutes ago. But he didn't allow himself to. He would rather die from exhaustion than from the beasts that were following them. But, Lord, he truly wanted to stop already.
"Hurry up! They'll get us!" Brent exclaimed.
He looked ahead and saw his brother drenched in sweat. If their mother could see how dirty they had become, she would undoubtedly nag and complain about it.
"I'm exhausted," he admitted, gradually slowing down.
"No, you moron," Brent yelled. "Just run; you don't want to die right now."
But deep down, Glace wanted to tell him that he would rather die.
He attempted to move, but something hindered his progress. He moved at a snail's pace, as though time itself had decelerated.
His end seemed to have arrived, and he felt incapable of going farther. However, his brother grabbed him, and they started running again.
"What are you doing? Do you want to die?" Brent snapped. "You have to decide which path to take. Your choice will determine the future, and you must think it through."
"What are you talking about?" he asked, not understanding his brother's words.
"The time will come with your dread."
Glace lost his grasp on his brother and stumbled to the ground. He looked behind him to see if the werewolves were still pursuing them, but what he saw were not werewolves. Instead, he saw a glowing figure approaching. It was a floating human form wearing a red cloak. The figure was engulfed in flames.
"My blood, come to me," it said in a frigid male voice. The voice sounded like it was coming from a cave or a well, but it echoed loudly in Glace's head.
"Brent!" he called out, but he couldn't get up. However, when he looked up, he did not see his brother.
"Dad?"
"Son, hurry up. We need to get you out of here." His father helped him to his feet, and they began to float. 
Glace noticed the shrinking figure of the blazing man as they soared above the trees. He held onto his father tightly, wrapping his arms around his waist. Despite his confusion, he was happy to have his father by his side.
"If you're afraid of heights, don't look down," his father advised.
He looked at his father, only to realize he was holding on to the wrong man. It was Edu. Perplexed, he looked around and saw Mr. Bell carrying Brent, who was unconscious. There was no dad present.
He took a step away from them, shaking his head. He couldn't figure out what was going on. "What's happening?"
Glace should have reminded himself that they were flying because he'd forgotten, and now he was plummeting to his death. 
His leg dangled from the ottoman. He jolted awake, breathing heavily from the intensity of his dream. He felt sweat running down his back and trickling down his brow.
He took off his sweatshirt and started to cool down. He felt refreshed despite the fatigue he had experienced during his dream. However, the pain in his leg persisted.
Glace discovered the two still asleep. He got up and limped towards the area where the upper window on the wall was visible, trying to determine if it was already morning. It was indeed morning, but it seemed too early. Glace saw that the window was slightly open. Through it, the cool morning air was coming in. He could hear the sound of pages turning upstairs.