That night, I put on a show. I watched his father. His father was horribly impressed. He kept looking at me like he wanted to eat me or something.


    After my performance, Gray and I ate dinner with his father. I was wearing the most expensive fabric I have ever seen. The dress was also the skimpiest thing I had ever worn. It was a grey-purple looking color and looked like a tiger shredded the back of it.


    I started to feel uncomfortable during dinner. Grays father kept staring at me. I nervously crossed my arms to cover up at least a little.


    I leaned towards Gray and whispered in his ear, "I''m cold." He shrugged off his tux jacket and draped it over my soldier. His father chuckled and boasted, "Look at my son, being a gentleman. I am proud of you."


    Gray was happy, so happy he forgot about me. I thought he loved me, but he was too busy basking in the pride that radiated from his father.


    "Why the long face, love?" Gray asked. He was clearly telling me to smile. He wants me to be his war weapon. He wants me to be his toy where he tells me when to smile, when to attack, when to show off.


    I smile and tell him, "It''s nothing. I was just thinking..." He nodded, taking that reply as acceptable. I smiled the rest of the night, planning to confront him about toying with me after dinner.


    When dinner was over, his father, which I found out his name is Callum, took me by the hand and behind a wall.


    I knew what was happening. I knew what he was thinking. He slipped his hand up my dress, and I kicked him. I kicked him as hard as I could, and I ran.


    I ran as far and fast as I could to Grays office. I think I yelled. I got cut off of my path by a soldier. I looked around and noticed I was surrounded.


    I screamed and pushed the air with my hands. The soldiers flew back and slammed into the walls. I started running again.


    I was just outside Grays door. I slammed it open and saw Gray being held at gunpoint by his own father.


    I bent Callums gun-wielding hand towards himself. I was just about to make him pull the trigger when Gray told me to stop.


    I pushed Callum back and walked towards him. I placed my hand on his forehead and put him in a deep sleep.


    I was exhausted. I couldn''t hear. Gray was saying something, but I couldn''t understand what was going on. Everything happened so fast, it was hard to understand.


    I need to pull myself together. I take several deep breathes. I close my eyes and imagine a calm place. When I open my eyes again, Gray is looking at me. My face is between his hands. His face is panicked.


    "I''m fine," I said a little too harshly. I push him off me. Gray tries to pull me back towards him. I start yelling at him.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "No! Don''t touch me. You don''t love me! You played my heart to manipulate me into doing what you wanted me to do!"


    I started crying, and I took Grays suit jacket and threw it at him. He stood there, speechless.


    I walked down the hall, crying. I went to my room and took a steaming shower. I sat down in the shower and cried.


    I kept thinking of Gray. How he held me after I broke his leg. How he cried over my dead but conscious body. How he told me he loved me.


    I cried until the water turned cold, and then I got out. I put my bathrobe on and crawled under the sheets of my bed. I had run out of tears to cry.


    I eventually fell asleep. I dreamed for the first time since my bird dream. I dreamed of Gray. He was saying he''s sorry. It felt so real when I touched him.


    He kept saying he "meant every word that he said". "Every ''I love you'' was not a lie."


    He grabbed my face, and I couldn''t believe how real it felt. He brought my face towards him like he was going to kiss me. He hesitated, wondering if he should.


    I felt every emotion he had for me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he placed his lips on mine.


    I woke up in a cold sweat. It was real. Gray was in my dream. Gray kissed my lips. Gray loves me.


    I got up, and I left my room. I went on a man-hunt for Gray.


    I found him on his way to my room. I accidentally walked into him, and he hugged me.


    "How were you in my dream?" I asked quietly. He held me tighter, then replied, "That is my ability. I am a dream walker. You might think you are the only one with a power, but you aren''t."


    I never thought there were others like me. It never crossed my mind, so I asked, "How?"


    He started to explain, "There was a nuclear fallout the year after your birth." I motioned for him to continue, so he did,


    "Your father was working at the plant that day. He was told that he was radiation-free, and he went home." He paused a moment before continuing, "He still had traces of Radiation, and it went to you gradually. That is what developed your power."


    I nodded, then I asked, "How did you get your power?" He replied and said, "I lived next door to the plant. My dad owned the plant."


    Then I looked up at him and ask, "Did you manipulate my emotions in my dream? Did you mean it?"


    It took him a moment, and I started to doubt myself. Then he answered, "Yes, I meant it. No, I didn''t manipulate any of your feelings; however, the other person can feel my true emotions when I dream walk in their dreams."


    I nodded and placed my forehead on his chest. I noticed how tall he was compared to me, and it made me feel insecure.


    He picked me up and carried me to my room. I breathed in his warmth. It felt so good to be so close to someone. All of this is so new to me, and I don''t really know how to react to these situations.


    Then I remember Grays father. I decided to ask what was done to him. "What did you do with your father?" My voice was so quiet. I could barely hear myself, but Gray heard me. He tensed up and answered with a grave voice, "He has been taken care of."


    When we got to my door, he opened it and walked in. He laid me on the bed and went to walk out. I stopped him, asking him to stay.


    That night was the most wonderful and comfortable night of my life. I laid my head on his chest and noticed that he was shirtless.


    I then was completely aware of my state of dress. I was in a see-through nightgown that barely covered anything. I felt incredibly underdressed.


    I ignored my insecurities. I wanted to enjoy this moment with the boy from my past. The boy that I have really only known for about two weeks.


    It feels like I''ve known him for years, and in a way, I guess we have.


    I fell asleep with him in my bed. I woke up with him gone.


    I decided to dress up for him today. I put on a pair of Daisy Duke shorts and a black tube top that said ''Queen'' on it. The boots were the best part of the outfit. They were black bootie combat boots, and I had to say so myself, they were sexy.


    I decided staying here might not be so bad, as long as Gray stays by my side.