The First Touch

by Alice Sweet

  His face softened immediately, reaching for her warm hand again, as he asked encouragingly curious, “You saw me?”

  “Yes.”

  Ivan did not comment on her response, he simply continued his line of questioning, “What do you mean block you?”

  She blushed at his words and said, “Well my dreams are happening sometimes when... I am awake... now. But the problem is that I have to be either calm, or worked up in order to see them then.” He tilted his head not seeming to understand, and she continued, “Well I can’t exactly get calm around you…so….”

  He snapped, tightening his grip and his words turned icy, “If you saw me… why didn’t you run?”

  Her first thought was, because that is the fastest way to get killed. Her mouth shot back, “Because I don’t think you wanted to hurt me, at least not really. I mean if you had wanted to kill me, you would have done it already, right?” He tightened his hand further still and she hissed back, “Ivan, your hurting my hand.”

  He released his grip muttering spitefully, “Maybe I will.”

  She huffed again and demanded with surprising irritation in her voice, “Are you really going to? Because I came all this way to save you, you know. I could have run and left you there, to whatever fate the dreams were trying to warn me about.”

  He looked at her and said incredulously, “Save me?”

  She replied indignantly, “Yes, I thought that that man had hurt you or that there was a group in the alley waiting to ambush you or something.” His expression softened and he began to smile again.

  He was half-serious when he retorted, “And what would you have done to stop him, if I was in trouble my little Joan of Ark.”

  She smiled, “I would have squirted him with mace.” She patted her bag dutifully. He looked at her disbelieving and suppressed a laugh, as she continued rambling, “And if that didn’t work, well then I would be dead because that meant he was like you.” She did not even hesitate when he flinched this time, “On second thought, if he were able to beat you then he would have to be like you or worse and I’d be dead before I could blink.” He stopped and stared at her wide-eyed. She continued rambling with a furrowed brow, “And I don’t think I want to be Joan of Ark, her king allowed her to be burned at the stake as a witch for her visions, after she lost her usefulness. I think I would rather just be me. I may be off in the head a bit, but at least I wouldn’t get killed by some elitist prick with a god complex living in a flawed system.”

  His mouth was open as he stared at her; she finally looked up at his face, and surprised by his expression, asked with concern, “What did I say?” She looked around the deserted streets again, hoping that they were still alone.

  He asked seriously, “What do you think I am?”

  “You are one of those creatures from my dreams... I think. You feel the same, when you’re angry anyways.” He shuddered. He was flabbergasted, she did not falter, when she made her announcement.

  She had managed to see him for what he was in a matter of hours. Most people never even suspected what he was, she was...amazing. She looked puzzled again, the pause in his answer throwing her off, “Am I wrong?” He looked at her expression of innocent wide-eyed discovery written across her beautiful face.

  “No you are not wrong.”

  She looked smugly relieved, before saying aloud, “Then I am not crazy.” The words seemed to give her a sense of pleasure, and a huge smile broke across her face.

  He cleared his throat and gestured toward the sidewalk repeating her expression from before, “Shall we?” She returned the smile to him almost giddy with joy as she reached for his hand again and gave him a playful tug. He smiled widely almost feeling her joy as she touched his hand, the fire in his hand increasing, tempting him to pull her in for a kiss, unwanted or not.

  He watched as she looked up at the night’s sky and seemed to appreciate the view with new brighter eyes. His thoughts turned serious again, as usual, but as he opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off. She suddenly had a deep sadness and concern in her eyes and asked a question, that tightened his chest immediately, “You weren’t serious before were you?”

  He replied sounding a little ashamed of his earlier taunt, “No I would not hurt you.”

  She retorted angrily, “Good because in my last vision, you ate me.”

  He looked at her with surprise and disgust, replying, “Then why did you come with me?”

  She frowned, “I told you, I thought you were in danger...I had these dreams... and I might be a bit crazy.” The last part was a little more to her than to him. He looked at her thoughtful, puzzled face and broke into a smile.

  He replied, half teasing, “Yes I think you might be right.” She frowned and he grinned, his stress melting away and his elated sense of joy began creeping up on him, as his hope returned.

  She retorted stubbornly, “I really thought you might be in trouble Ivan.”

  Repressing his emotions, he asked, “what did you see?’

  Autumn replied, wincing, “Something about you bursting into flames, well I think it’s you…I can’t quite tell….”

  His eyes widened and he replied tightly, “I see...”

  “It’s not that precise, I must admit, but I keep picturing a kiss. I don’t think I have ever seen one like this before or after it though.... It comes in bursts…”

  He said nothing for a long moment before asking, “And the hungry eyes?”

  She blushed again and looked away, “That was the first thing I noticed about you...” Then she reached into her pocket of her jacket and pulled out two scraps of paper, one from each pocket. He watched her cautiously, as she handed it to him. He opened it and looked down at the words written on the sheet. His eyebrows shot up as he looked at her for clarification. She continued, “I wrote those a few years ago after I had a dream, the second I wrote today.”

  He looked at her with an inexplicable look on his face, “Tell me more about this dream...” His voice faded away as she stared at him blankly.

  “I dreamt that I was standing in front of a coffee shop, and I walked away from it holding someone’s hand. However, just as the sun was at its highest in the sky, my hand felt hot then, suddenly he burst into flames. The strangest part was that he asked me to kiss him, like it would put him out or something.”

  Autumn looked at him as if she where trying to remember, just so and closed her eyes tightly to see it more clearly, “He said ....But only if you want to. I knew that he had a look of agony on his face even though I could not see it, which made my heartsick. It hurt for days afterwards as if my body did not want me to forget, it was the strangest feeling. I really wished I had kissed him before I woke up.” She blushed again recalling the dreams intensity.

  Ivan looked at her and replied, “I had a similar dream… but in my dream,” he said hesitantly, “I had a different outcome.”

  Autumn perked up, “A dream really? Like mine? What did you see?”

  He did not make eye contact as he nodded, replying, “I did not catch fire.”

  “Weird.” She hesitated, almost afraid to ask, “What did she look like? This girl I mean, from your dream.”

  He tightened, “I do not know I only remember her lips.”

  “Well what did they look like?”

  He hesitated, deciding not to reveal the truth just yet, “They were full.”

  Autumn thought for a moment, rubbing her small heart shaped lips absently, “Well that rules me out, so maybe I am supposed to help you find your... um ... kiss girl.”

  He looked at her with guarded eyes, replying, “Perhaps...,” though he was doubtful.

  She frowned, “Or I could be interfering, though I did not get that feeling in my dream. How about your dream? Anyone watching while you two kissed?”

  He shook his head, “No I was alone with her.”

  She rebutted with, “Maybe her kiss will make it seem like the rest of the world melts away.” She giggled a little and then sighed as he l
ooked to her for an explanation. She replied, “Either way I am glad that the pressure is off of my shoulders now. I thought for a minute there that I was supposed to kiss you to stop you from going into the alley or something, but that’s not it. It’s strange usually my dream are warnings, dangers for me not others, and definitely not… she let the words fall off, before adding jokingly, “Let me tell you if my dream had been for real, and I had to kiss you to stop you from burning up in the sunlight, the chances of you ending up a crispy critter were looking pretty bad.” He flinched at her words, and she added, as she pulled him along again, “In my defense, you did jump over the table and kill me in my first vision.”

  He winced and replied feebly, “I did not know.”

  Autumn replied dutifully, “I know. That was why I followed you into the alley, you seemed very upset after you had done it, like you made a mistake, or something.”

  Ivan asked, “Why did I attack you in your vision?”

  She frowned and replied hesitantly, “You thought that someone had betrayed you and that I was working with him. I think you thought that I had tricked you or something. You seemed very hurt and angry. You jumped across the table and ripped my throat out.”

  He stifled a gasp and replied, “What did I say? Who betrayed me?”

  She shook her head and replied, “No, no one betrayed you, that’s just it, you simply thought that we had.”

  He jumped at the word, “We?”

  Her voice caught as she continued, without answering his question, “In the end… you wept over my body and apologized….” Her voice trailed off again but he heard every word. His chest tightened as he thought, so you are the one.

  Voices

  “Who is this man and why did I think that you worked for him?”

  She shook her head, “I think I would rather not live that moment again Ivan.”

  He looked at her seriously, “Please tell me, it would help me, help me greatly to understand why I thought I should harm you.”

  She shook her head again, “I would rather not, I don’t know why the name sent you spiraling out of control exactly or if it would again.”

  He scowled at her mention of his emotions, and tried a different tact, asking, “You spoke his name first?”

  She nodded her head yes, and he continued, “Where did you meet him?” She looked confused and said, “I have never met him; I have never even seen him before.”

  “So you heard about him from someone else, in one of your dreams then?”

  She shook her head, “Not exactly, I can hear him when I close my eyes at night.”

  His alarm was now apparent, “For how long?” He now looked around eyes wild his pupil’s dilating.

  “Calm down Ivan.” She replied, with a scared look in her eyes.

  He snapped back, “How long Autumn?”

  She replied, “A couple of months, no more like three or four, I think, I don’t know.”

  His eyes were fully dilated now and his breathing almost stopped, “For months,” he looked at her questioningly, “Are you sure?”

  She nodded yes, and echoed it in a whisper, “Yes.” Her happiness had fallen away as she meekly whispered, “I told you this would upset you.”

  Those words seemed to touch him and he looked at her and his pupils beginning to shrink back slowly. He spoke then as gently as he was capable, “I am not angry with you Autumn. You are in danger. If this man was talking to you in your sleep then he was in your room. Do you understand?” He shook her to insure that she understood, “Your dreams were right Autumn, you are being hunted.”

  She took a second to process, “What?” Ivan was searching the streets looking for any signs of danger. His attention returning to her when she spoke again, “He couldn’t be in my room.”

  Ivan shook his head and retorted, “Yes, he could have.”

  She looked at him and replying, “What about all of the other voices, Serena and Flanagan, all the others? They were all in my room each night?” She shook her head now with more confidence, “No way, I hear almost a hundred different voices sometimes. There is no way that they could all be in my room. I don’t have a big enough apartment for all of those people.”

  This caused his head to shoot back to her, “What?”

  She looked at him and said, “He is just one of many, I listen to at night before I go to sleep.”

  His eyes stared at her and said, “He is one of many? Besides Serena and Flanagan, Who else do you hear?”

  She looked at him with thoughtful eyes, and watched his pupils receding again, satisfied with his leveling state of emotions she continued, “There are so many.”

  He encouraged her gently, “I am listening.”

  She smiled, “Ok well let’s see, Henry, Flora, Helen, Galen ...” She continued for quiet some time and eventually he stopped her by raising his hand.

  “I never would have thought it possible...” His voice trailed as he looked at her his skin turning grey and sickly. She placed her hand on his arm and he looked down at her as if he had just heard some of the worst news of his life.

  She asked, “Are you alright?”

  He gave her a weak smile asking, “What is the name of the man that talks to you each night?”

  She smiled faintly and said, “Grayton.”

  His posture changed slightly almost a slump of defeat. He said gravely, “He is a good man.”

  Her eyes brightened and she replied, in spite of herself, “You know him?” Ivan nodded looking at the ground, while Autumn added thoughtfully, “I have always wanted to meet him.”

  Ivan feigned interest and said slightly, “So during your talks, you have discovered that you have a lot in common?” She looked at him confused; he continued looking unaware of her apparent dismay, “I only ask because of his age. I guess I always assumed his match would be an older woman, although that could be why he was waiting to turn you.” Autumn’s mouth was as wide open as were her eyes. He added, “He’s going to be furious with me for discovering you.” He smiled smugly afterwards.

  “What on earth are you talking about? Talks…? Old…? How old is he? And what do you mean waiting to turn me?”

  He looked at her for a long moment and then said, “I think its best if you wait and talk with Grayton.”

  She shook her head and replied, “Wait …No…Not yet.” She plopped down on a bench, in the park that they were cutting through.

  He looked at her with a new look now, one of annoyance. Then he held his hand out and said, “Let’s go.”

  She crossed her arms and replied, “No, I am not leaving without an explanation.” He looked at her with a fierceness that would have sent a normal person running.

  “Let’s go Autumn.” She shook her head, and he tried tempting her with, “I will take you to Grayton.”

  She shook her head, “No, answer a few questions first.”

  “You needn’t worry he will not be angry with you, mistakes like this happen from time to time.”

  She blinked, flabbergasted, “Mistake?”

  “Oh, no not you my dear, Grayton will explain everything when you meet him.”

  “Why don’t you explain it to me?”

  “It is not my place,” he replied stubbornly.

  She shook her head, adding, “I think if I remembered correctly that I am the one who came to your rescue,” even if you did not need it, she thought to herself. Adding aloud, “Plus you might still need me…”

  He added more to him then to her, “Your dreams did lead you to me.”

  She reveled at the thought, “So… you do need me then.” She patted the bench next to her, as the thought sunk in. He swallowed and sat down next to her suddenly very obedient. He did not look her in the eyes and her primal urge to dominate him took hold. She felt the need to touch him again, and this time she gave into her desire. She was going to enjoy her moment of power. She slid her hand up to his cheek to turn his face to look at hers. Surprisingly, he closed his eyes, leaned into her touch ten
derly.

  The change in the flow of power was exciting and Autumn smiled, delighted by her sudden new hold over him. Without thinking she leaned over him and pulled his body closer to hers on the bench, while he suddenly became sheepish. It was intoxicating, playing into a dominant role which he at once seemed to understand, submissively allowing her to run her hand over his chest, now that they were close. He did not hide his delight at her touch, obviously enjoying her unexpected aggressive attentions to his body, as he twisted under her hand.

  She asked then, eyeing his delicious response, forgetting for a moment the reason for sitting with him. She slid one leg over his lap pinning him to his seat. Her smile widened as she watched him squirm under her gaze, though obviously enjoying her bold actions, as he shifted several times.

  When he finally settled, her brain clicked back on and she remembered the reason for the impromptu stop, “So let’s talk.”

  His eyes shot up and he answered almost pleading with her now, “Grayton will be very....angry with me.”

  She slid her finger down his jaw bone and he shivered. She smiled wickedly and said sultry, “I am pretty sure I could enjoy torturing you for some time Ivan.” His mouth came open as if he was going to protest before he closed it, thinking better of it.

  He asked defeated, “What do you want to know?”

  She smiled and returned, “What did you mean talks?”

  He looked confused, “Talks?”

  “Yes you said, during your talks, Grayton and I have never spoken, Ivan. I have never spoken to anyone else aside from you about all of this.” Ivan looked at her as if the words were not real. Autumn replied more seriously, “I told you I heard voices, not that I could communicate with them. The closest I ever came to communicating was giving Serena a head ache a few times and that may have just been a coincidence.”