Title from “A Lucid Dream” by Tahanni Yehya Hussein, 2022 edition, page 24

A Lucid Dream

It wasn’t the first time they’d sat here. Both sat across from each other, politely pretending that having coffee at this hour was completely normal. 

“Ya got me up with your screamin’, Gene. Clawed my face when I shook you.”

Gene winced, looking closely at the scratches scabbed up near the other’s jaw. His eyes trailed over Bill’s face, accidentally making eye contact. Bill was casually lounging, cigarette in mouth, like he hadn't just been attacked. 

“Havin’ a hard time sleepin’?” He said, smirking, holding Gene's gaze. Gene stubbornly shook his head, breaking eye contact and stood up. He patted his legs, looking for his own pack of Lucky's, eyes flitting around the table by him. It was technically the truth; Gene had an easy enough time falling asleep, but staying asleep was a different demon. He would toss and turn, writhing against air as he dreamed, unable to shake the fear away. Bill knew this, having been there through most of his fits, their rooms only barely separated by the thin wall. 

His thoughts broke as Bill tapped his pack against his leg.

"Here. Stop fretting. Not like you woke me or anythin'," Bill's voice was impossibly gentle, unlike his normal harsh drawl. “Lord knows I’ve done worse to you.”

Now that bit was true. Gene strongly remembers waking to Bill’s shouts, darting into the other’s room only to be popped in the face by a wild fist. He had to field questions for weeks, all while his cheek and jaw ached smartly. 

Gene accepted the pack, fishing out a lone cigarette. He pointedly looked away as he lit up, staring hard at an interesting patch of wallpaper. 

"All right. C'mon."

"Huh?"

"Let's get some air. Not like either of us gonna be sleepin' anytime soon." Bill had stood up, and was now snickering around his cigarette as he grabbed Gene's shoulder, hand tight. 

"Wait! My coat!" Gene protested as he was unceremoniously shoved towards the door, pushing back against Bill's unwavering strength.

"Won't need it, idjit." Bill said fondly as he grabbed the door handle and pushed them both through the frame. As always, he didn't bother locking the door behind them, something that endlessly irritated Gene. 

“Lock the damn door. One of these days you’re gonna leave it unlocked and someone’ll just stroll in!”

“And who's gonna just stroll in?” Bill looked around pointedly. It was quiet, the hour made readily apparent with the lack of sound emanating from the buildings around, pavement lit by streetlights. Gene made an odd noise of frustration, torn between a hiss and a growl. 

“Ain’t no one in their right mind out here. And it’s cold. Why’re we out here?” Gene questioned, arms coming up around his chest, only a worn sleep shirt separating his skin.

Bill didn’t answer, eyes straight ahead, his hand moving to grip Gene’s wrist. He gently tugged Gene down the street, destination apparent only to him. His hand was the warmest thing around, the wind further chilling Gene to the bone.

“Bill. Please, let's go inside. I’m cold, I’m tired, I want to go back to bed,” Gene whined, staring at the back of Bill’s head. Bill remained quiet, head tilting as the only acknowledgement that he was even listening. It was then that Gene registered how quiet it was. The only thing he could hear was Bill’s unsteady breathing, and the sound of his bare feet on the pavement.

“Bill!” Gene exclaimed, pulling his wrist from Bill’s grasp. “Where’s your damn shoes!”

“Back home. C’mon. Let’s keep going.” Bill had turned around then, eyes darkened as he looked over Gene’s worried eyes. The scratches on his face had pinked up, dried blood darkening the wounds. He reached forward to grab onto Gene again, grip impossibly tighter. Ducking his head down, Bill moved forward again. Gene sighed, surrendering to his friend's odd behavior. Bill had never made sense, even back when they first moved in together. 

"Why weren't you sleeping? Was I bothering you?"

"No. Just don't get much sleep is all. You know how I am." Gene did know. Night owl Bill, always chugging down coffee, always chain smoking to no end. Gene could count on his hand how many times he'd caught Bill actually asleep. Even when Bill had woken him that one night, he'd already been conscious, apologies spilling from his month as Gene laid dazed on the ground. 

Gene was torn from his thoughts as the silence of the night jarred him again. Shouldn't there be some sort of noise? An animal or even the wind? Gene glanced up at the night sky, expecting to see the crescent moon above. Instead, there was nothing. 

Unsettled, Gene looked back to Bill, who was still mindlessly walking along.

"Hey Bill? Something seem up to you?"

Silence.

"Bill?"

Silence.

Gene harshly ripped his arm from Bill's grasp. Backing away, he stared as Bill turned slightly, angling his body in a way that blocked Gene from seeing most of his face. 

"Bill. This isn't funny. I'm going home," Gene turned around, leaving Bill standing there. As Gene walked, he got more and more frustrated. 

"How the hell did we get so far away! It was a straight shot!" He mumbled, walk turning into a run. The more and more he ran, the sound of Bill's feet patting on the ground grew louder and closer. 

"Gene!" Bill growled, grabbing onto him again. Gene pulled away and sprinted. Going as fast as he could, hearing Bill close behind, fear struck.

What is going on? Why is he chasing me? Where am I? I've been running forever!

Gene grunted as something collided with him, smacking him harshly against the concrete. Bill tugged him around, grabbing him harshly as he wrapped those strong hands around his throat. Bill’s eyes were as dark as the sky, and he held onto him tight as Gene thrashed from his grasp.

Gene shot up, screaming, as his nails connected with warm flesh.