Twenty Three

We both stood frozen in the hallway, hands clasped together, mid-step on our way to the exit as we stared at a bleary-eyed Anya that looked as distressed as she was confused. She was holding on to her demon rabbit by the arm, her hair messy beneath her bright pink beret.

"Angel?"

"Anya! Heyyy..." He grinned nervously at her and I quickly pushed him behind me, pathetically trying to hide him although he was way taller, and bigger than me. As if she hadn't already seen him.

"Anya, why aren't you asleep?"

"I had a nightmare," she pouted, and that's when I noticed the dried streaks of tears on her face.

"Ah, yes. You're still dreaming, you see. Angel isn't actually here," I explained calmly as she skeptically looked between then two of us.

"I'm just an illusion," he offered, waving his hands in the air. Oh for God's sake,

"But I just woke up."

"It's a dream within a dream. Haven't you ever watched inception?"