Page 6 of Midnight Dream

“First of all, lower your voice,” Dustin commanded. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

I inhaled deep and settled myself before trying again. “What happened to Jake?”

Dustin turned his back and went to the nearest window. It was one of the large ones by the front of the café. The moon streamed through and bathed him in its light, casting an eerie glow on and all around him.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Dustin. Jake!” I persisted. “Jeanette just told me he was beaten to a bloody pulp and they had to rush him to Cook County Hospital for attention. That’s two counties over!”

“Listen, Dream. I don’t know what you’re implying here, but as I said. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then what happened between you two this evening?”

Dustin shifted towards me in such a way where half of his face was in the moonlight, and the other covered by darkness. A cold shiver went up my back.

“We got a couple of beers and then I left.”

“That’s it?”

“Dream, I’m not of the mind to be interrogated by a woman I just fucked.”

I bit my lip. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Without saying another word, I moved to my feet, flattened out my sundress and opened the door to the backroom. On the table was my clutch and my keys, which I snatched up and walked back through the door.

“Where are you going?” Dustin asked.

I didn’t answer. I brushed past him and opened the front door to Dreamy. The bell sounded as always, but before I could exit, Dustin grabbed my right arm and pulled me back inside. He was rough, as a sharp pain ran through my bicep.

“Dustin, let me go. You’re hurting me.”

Dustin released my arm, but not before he moved me behind him and shut the door. He leaned his back against it leaving me cut off. I set my clutch and keys on the counter and jammed my hands in my armpits to prevent the shakiness in my arms from showing.

“That’s the last time you put your hands on me.”

I willed the words to come forth.

“Ha,” he chuckled. “That’s funny. You weren’t saying that a moment ago when my hands were all over your body.”

“That’s before you treated me like a whore.”

“You’re no whore, Dream. But you are mine.”

“I don’t belong to anyone.”

The corner of his mouth curled up.

“What’s so funny?”

“You are, Dream. You are. The fact that you think you have a choice in the matter is hilarious.”

Dustin stepped towards me. I looked all around and behind me, searching for something to grab onto.

“Don’t come any closer, Dustin.”

“What are you going to do, Dream?”

“I’ll call the police.”

Dustin laughed loud and deep. “Ha! Those buffoons? Dream, I scoped them out as soon as I entered this backwards town. Those two fat fucks couldn’t catch a cold in the dead of winter, with no clothes on, in the middle of an ice storm.”

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