Page 20 of The Not So Super Hero

“I’m fine,” Zane responded, finishing his first can of beer in an instant. Judging by the small trash can in his bedroom, as well as the one in the kitchen, he seemed to go through a few cans a night. Bailey figured it was worse recently with his lack of sleep.

Rather than going along with Zane’s obvious lie, Bailey moved to the floor.

Zane gave him an odd expression, then gestured towards the one closet in his room.

He mentioned extra blankets being in there.

Bailey retrieved them, fluffed up the pillow Zane offered, then got comfortable.

Bailey watched TV for no more than five minutes before he glanced back to find Zane asleep.

His breath evened out, soft and comforting.

His long hair brushed over his cheeks. Now and then he let out almost what sounded like a quiet sigh, which had Bailey chuckling.

Figures that he even sighed in his sleep.

Bailey sat up to move Zane’s blanket out from under his feet.

Once the blanket got untangled from Zane’s long legs, Bailey threw it over him, making sure the blanket reached up to his neck.

Then he took Zane’s beer away to place in the kitchen.

It was much easier to remain quiet after that.

Bailey didn’t want to bother Zane’s much needed sleep.

Besides, he felt a sense of pride that Zane had fallen asleep on the night he was over.

Maybe it had nothing to do with him. Nevertheless, it felt good.

Those pleasant thoughts helped Bailey drift off into sleep.

A sleep that was not as pleasant as the feelings that caused it.

It was the feeling of frigid water around his ankles that awoke Bailey.

Green eyes opened wide to take in darkness that stretched as far as the eye could see.

No matter which way he turned, he saw nothing but his own reflection in the dark water.

Squinting his eyes, Bailey tried to take in his surroundings, if there were any surroundings at all.

The warm glow from his body gave enough light to see barely an inch in front of him.

His mind didn’t even process that he was no longer in Zane’s apartment, sleeping on his floor.

Somehow, he couldn’t stop thinking about the water and how it gave off a strange smell that had his eyes watering.

“Hello?” Bailey called. His voice echoed in the vast darkness. There was no response, and maybe he was happy about that.

He stepped forward, taking one hesitant step after another.

When no monster came out of the dark abyss of the water, he took that as the world saying he was alone.

He continued walking, looking over his shoulder and from side to side in case a monster appeared in the darkness.

It never happened, but his legs grew tired the longer he walked.

No matter what he did, there was no end to shadows.

“What the hell?” he spoke to himself, rubbing at his eyes that stung more from the overwhelming aroma of the water.

Suddenly, there was a powerful gust of wind.

He nearly fell. Arms up, he shielded his face from the stifling wind.

It was so hot, almost scorching. After a few moments, the gale became so strong he couldn’t stand it.

His hands; they were burning. A familiar and terrifying sensation.

The gust picked Bailey off his feet and sent him falling into the water that soaked him to the bone.

However, it was as he was laying there that the smell finally registered in his mind. It wasn’t water. It was gasoline.

A soft glow erupted in the distance. His throat tightened when the light grew bigger and bigger until everything around him burst into flames.

Bailey let out a blood-curdling scream from the heat engulfing him, piercing his skin and filling his lungs with smoke.

In the distance, he heard a voice crying out for him that caused even more pain.

“Bailey!”

Bailey stared into a pair of concerned blue eyes that slowly faded in and out of his vision. Zane hovered over Bailey with his hands on the boy’s shaking shoulders. Frowning, Zane rubbed said shoulders to calm Bailey, who practically hyperventilated on the floor.

Bailey was sweating profusely, and breathing ragged.

It took a few minutes of Zane reassuring him that he was safe before he finally realized it was true.

He was fine. He was in Zane’s apartment.

There was no gasoline, no fire or darkness.

He was ok, and it was that thinking that had him finally sitting up.

Zane allowed his hand to drop to Bailey’s back.

“You should probably get another shower,” Zane said, looking Bailey up and down.

“Yeah, uh, thanks.”

Zane retrieved a pair of sweatpants and a shirt from his own belongings.

He offered his hand too. With shaking hands, Bailey grasped Zane’s hand to ease him onto his feet.

His legs trembled. Zane kept at a close distance until he slipped into the bathroom.

Getting a shower was a damn good idea because Bailey felt better the moment warm water touched his skin.

The TV played in the distance. Had Zane stayed awake out of concern?

The thought of that, and the embarrassment of having such a crazy nightmare, caused Bailey’s cheeks to flush.

Why the hell did he have such a dream to begin with? He hadn’t had a nightmare like that in—one could say ever. It was worse than any he had before, and even thinking about it left him shaking. Her voice continued ringing in his ears.

Once he finished showering, Bailey changed into the borrowed clothes.

They barely clung to his body, though felt oddly warm wearing them.

He peeked out of the bathroom to find Zane had changed his futon from the couch mode to a bed.

It was now big enough for two and he had placed Bailey’s blanket and pillow on the bed.

To say Bailey’s face was red would be a lie.

It made a whole new shade of red. He approached the bed where Zane was already laying.

Neither of them said anything when Bailey slipped under the covers.

His back barely pressed against Zane’s, yet somehow his skin still tingled.

“Goodnight,” Bailey whispered, wondering why Zane didn’t ask about his nightmare, though he was very grateful for it.

Zane’s voice was the last thing Bailey heard before falling back asleep. “Goodnight.”