Aletha woke with a start, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.
"Nick…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
It took her a few seconds to realize she was in her room. Slowly, she ran a trembling hand through her soaked hair and stood up.
Still flustered, she went down to the kitchen to freshen up.
Upon entering, she saw a figure sitting there, holding a glass of milk.
Caden.
He was staring into space, looking as lost as she was.
Aletha approached quietly, grabbed a glass, and poured herself some water.
After a few seconds of heavy silence, she asked softly,
"Can't you sleep either?"
Caden shrugged, a faint, bitter smile on his lips.
— "Let's just say... sleep is eluding me tonight."
Aletha nodded thoughtfully.
— "Me too... bad dream," she breathed, clutching her glass.
Their eyes met briefly, sharing a silent, strange complicity.
After a long moment, Caden stood up, placed his empty glass on the sink, and said with a small smile,
— "Don't think that just because you're having nightmares, I'll go easy on you tomorrow."
Aletha gave a weak laugh.
— "Not even in my dreams, Walking Flame."
They went their separate ways, with less hostility than usual.
The night, this time, was milder.