A Dream Within| Howell

[Dr. Theo Atwell]

These last few days Theo hadn't been sleeping well. In fact, the man had been seeping exceedingly poorly really. His moments of much needed rest were plagued by nightmares often brought on by the holiday season. See, these used to be the time of the year when he was the most happy, when he and Noelle had been so happy together. A thanksgiving dinner alone, little celebrations just for the fun of celebrating. Nights spent watching the snow blow outside and knowing they were safe and content, curled up together by a crackling fire like a pair of cats. They had always ben so happy. Now though, now the holidays just brought those memories to life in the worst ways. They twisted into nightmares that haunted his sleep and left him gasping for breath when he woke.

Which was why the man was so exceedingly tired today. His eyelids felt heavy and he was really having a hard time focusing. Everything seemed rather blurry, although that might have been from the slight hangover he still had from the night before. Yes, that was one way he solved his nightmare problem. The man snarked and grumbled as he moved about his office, organizing things and doing paperwork. So far no one had come into the infirmiry, which was pretty surprising. might as well take the opportunity.... he thought to himself.

Theo closed his door and went over to his desk, gently pulling his glasses off his nose and putting them on his desk. He just wanted to lay his head down for a few minutes so that he could think more clearly. Within moments the man was asleep, and the nightmare started all over again, plaguing him like it did everytime he closed his eyes.

[Howell Chilton]

It was either a complete comedy, or an utter tragedy that fate would have Howell be nodding off during class. At this point, his teacher didn't even bother with the futile struggle. So the blonde was allowed his reprieve, head nestled into his folded arms, the lecture slowly drifting into a monotone murmur. And one, two, three, Howell was out like a light.

Figuring that he was already tired from last night's rendezvous in dream land, and it couldn't do any more damage at this point, Howell decided to go scoping others dreams again. The trouble was, who would be sleeping at this time of day? Most people in this school were surprisingly vigilant in keeping active throughout the day, dreamwalkers not included. But what was the harm in trying? So his consciousness wandered in the realm of sleep, until it happened upon another resting mind that proved that not everyone was so up and at 'em.

Howell lept into the dream without a second thought (a mindset used in many of his endeavors). However, the moment he stepped into it, he was really wishing he hadn't. There was a distinct atmosphere here: dark, and cold. A thick fog of dread hung in the air, the kind that practically coiled around his throat to strangle the smile out of him and left him gulping. The otherwise cheerful teen withdrew into himself. It was far too late to retreat now, so with a deep breath and cautious steps he continued deeper into this nightmare.

Great haste was made in finding the host of this nightmare. Having company usually quelled his nervousness. In a few moments, Howell discovered the man - a surly sort of old man, the kind that looked like he needed a good laugh. Well, call of duty, then! The teen quickly approached the man, who by this time should have come to the realization hat A.) he was dreaming, and B.) this unknown kid was a real person invading in on it. Personally, Howell had no real explanation for it; it was just a natural phenomenon that occurred whenever he leaped into a dream (minus that one time with the Asian superhero).

"Heya!" The cheerful ring in his greeting contrasting to this environment was enough to give anyone a mood whiplash.

[Dr. Theo Atwell]

No. Not again, I just want some sleep! it was a silent plea, but it didn't make any difference at this time. The events started to play, speeding through his memories like a macabre movie. Some only lasted a few seconds, but other were longer. They showed moments were Theo and Noelle were together and happy, and moments were she was weary to he bone. It switched again, a scene of all white where the smell of antiseptic was strong and the lights were too bright. A hospital. He knew where he had to go, but a voice stopped him.

" Heya!" It was much too cheerful to be part of his dream. Theo turned rapidly to look at the person who was standing at the other end of the hall with a silly grin on his face. The mans personality boiled in rage, something just not being able to control him like in real life.
" WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY DREAM!" He screamed at the kid. No one even looked at him, going about their business as if he wasn't even there. Really to them he wasn't because they were fixed memories going on a predestined course that nothing could change. But Theo was breaking the pattern now that he always fell into when asleep.

There were tears at the corner of his eyes as he turned for a moment to look away. Pain was overwhelming for him, and he wasn't going to deal with some intruder. When I wake.... the thought for corporeal punishment wasn't even finished.

[Howell Chilton]

... Okay, so this guy was really in need of a good laugh.

Howell was practically blown back by the scream thrown at him, but the most the good doctor would get out of him was a startled jump. Through that, the boy did spot what appeared to be a trickle of sorrow in the dreamer's eyes. He looked around, finally getting his bearings. "A hospital, huh?" he mused, brushing off the roar with no trouble at all.

He began waltzing around, humming his own tune while looking over all the people to see if he recognized any of them. It'd certainly help him start a conversation with the grouchy old guy. Sadly, each face was met with the same result: a sigh and a shake of the head. Unfamiliar, the lot of them. Bored with that, Howell returned to his companion's side, finally getting around to his thunderous demand.

"Well, I just kinda.. hopped right into whoever was dreaming, and you were the lucky guy!" He tried to release a laugh, but no doubt that would quickly die down into an awkward cough after whatever reaction the doctor had for him.

"Sooo... whatcha dreaming? Are you about to get operated on? Or are you operating? It doesn't feel like anyone's about to have a baby, though."

Indeed, the atmosphere was only getting thicker. The blonde was familiar with that. It was a sign of encroaching dread; things were only going to get worse. And, unfortunately, that just made Howell all the more desperate for company. The good doctor wouldn't be able to shake him off that easily.

[Dr. Theo Atwell]

Lucky. That's what the boy used to describe Theo at this moment. Lucky to have some kid invade his private hell that he saw everytime he closed his eyes of late. The boy was walking around, humming and acting as if nothing was wrong. Well, for him it was most likely that nothing was wrong. This was all in the man's ,mind and he knew it, but that didn't make it any less real to him at this moment. Theo just wanted to scream again, but instead he looked at the clock, a resigned sigh coming from him. His whole body just crumpled in on itself as he plunked onto the bench, defeated. The boy might as well ejoy the ride. As soon as this was over.....well, Theo wasn't sure what he would do.

" No. I am not going to be operated on. No babies are being born." He wasn't looking at the kid, but away. A few tears were leaking down his face because he saw the nurse walking down the hallway. No one noticed Howell, and that didn't change now.

" Dr.Atwell? You should go see her now." The womans voice was very thick, and her eyes were red. Anyone could easily tell by that what was happening. Most anyone anyway. He only sighed and nodded, glancing back at Howell.

[Howell Chilton]

No babies? The teen's shoulders slumped. Why on Earth would this guy be dreaming about a hospital if there wasn't any operating or baby-birthing going on? He didn't figure he would get an answer out of his sulking friend. So there was nothing to do but to wait. And wait... And wait. Howell began shifting in his seat, going from one leg resting over the other, to both being crossed, to half-lying on his side. By the time the nurse came around, the blonde was sitting upside-down on the bench.

The fun little repositioning came to an abrupt halt at that point. And by that, I mean the boy completely fell off the bench with a hard 'THUD,' accompanied by a gasp at seeing the redness glowing out of the woman's sockets. Nightmares! He couldn't stand them! Unlike the doctor, Howell was thoroughly disturbed by the nurse's visage. It only got worse when she opened her mouth and sounded like anything but the sing-song tune women of her calibur were custom to have. The dreamwalker hastily picked himself up off the ground and returned to his place by the man (well, actually, he was all-out cowering behind him).

".. 'Her'? Who's her?" Slowly, the reason they - or rather, just Theo - were here became clear. But the realization was a slow process. Howell was never exposed to any real death. His parents were healthy, and all other family were never mentioned, even when some passed away.

"Either way, we should get going. Any excuse to get away from this lady." He only thumbed in the nurse's direction, not daring to cast another look at her. Whatever was ahead, it couldn't be worse than her.. right?

[Dr. Theo Atwell]

The boy froze behind him when he saw the nurse, seeing the same thing Theo was seeing. So he didn't like nightmares? Then he picked the wrong dream to fall into. This was not something that was fun, or happy, or upbeat. It was the darkest time in Theo's life, and the memory was so strong and clear it hurt. He ignored the boy when he asked who "her" was. The man wasn't ready to tell. Not yet, maybe not ever. There were very few people over the past few years that he had told, most recently Miss De Salamancas.

" Shush. It's your own fault." The man snapped. He walked past the nurse, who walked the other direction once he started to head down the hall. It took a few minutes of twisting and turning to get to the residential patient ward. The doors were decorated for the most part, each one with things on it from the families of the people who lived there. Theo stopped at a door with a wreath on it, done in burnished coppers and golds. It held rich red winter berries and sparkling gold yellow pears, some of Noelle's favorite things.

" If you follow me in you must be absolutely silent." Theo knew by now there really wasn't any chance of stopping Howell from following him, and most likely he wasn't going to be quiet. But it was worth a try. Theo slowly opened the door, looking inside . Sitting on the bed was a once beautiful woman, though now thin and very, very tired looking.

" Hello Noelle." he said to her, going to the chair that was beside the bed.

[Howell Chilton]

The further along this nightmare progressed, the more on-edge the doctor was getting. Was whatever lied in wait for them really that bad? Howell was for the idea to not face this upcoming horror, but his companion seemed wholly intent on doing just that. And poor Howell, completely inclined to follow the proprietor of this dream, trudged along as if he were heading towards his guillotine.

As they walked past the rooms, the blonde took what comfort he could in how pretty the decorations above the doors were. But any attempt to look into any such rooms was for naught. All that lied within them was the abysmal darkness, the kind that almost hurt Howell's eye to stare into, and so he would quickly avert his gaze to spare himself such strife. So much for the relief of decorations. It was like hanging a bowtie on Cthulhu's head...

At last, they reached their destination. This one stood out from the others, and did not contain such emptiness inside of it. Though the dreamwalker was getting the feeling that this might not have been a good thing. The man's demand was met with a quick nod, followed by a motion of his lips being zipped shut - made all the more convincing when an actual zipper closed his mouth. He could at least give his new friend that saving grace (and besides, he wasn't feeling particularly chatty in this hospital anyway). And so they went in, the teenager still staying close behind the older man.

What he found inside almost made him laugh in relief (but he didn't, because that would be rude, and there was still the matter of the zipper on his lips). Instead of a horrific abomination intent on sucking their brains out through their eye sockets, there was instead a woman. Not any sort of "dream woman" usually found in the fantasies of men with back-breakingly large breasts and curvacious bodies that would send Jessica Rabbit running for her money, but just an ordinary, if sickly woman. Noelle was what she was addressed as, and was so with a noticeable tint of adoration, or perhaps a certain sort of longing. Howell glanced again towards the doctor, but followed the command and sat silently on thin air, waiting to see how this played out.