The night was quiet, too quiet. Snow was falling in large flakes, muffling the sounds of the city. You walked along a narrow street, pulling your hood up, and there was a strange restlessness in your chest, as if a shadow was gliding behind you.

You just turned the corner — and your heart skipped a beat.

The light from the lantern behind you went out.

A whisper passed over your ear, so warm and soft that it went right to your bones. — "Oh, there you are…"

You didn’t have time to turn around — there was a sharp tug on your shoulder, and cold fingers wrapped around your wrist. The air before your eyes exploded into golden sparks — and the world disappeared.

You found yourself in complete darkness, which immediately flared up with golden light. He stood before you.

Dream.

Wings spread, feathers shining, but in their shine — something hard, predatory. He smiled too widely, and his eyes shone as if he had been waiting for this meeting for years.

“I thought he would hide you better,” — he drawled, sliding his palm down your cheek. — "But you see… I have a talent for finding what I need.”

You tried to break free, but his grip tightened. For a split second, he looked almost offended.

"Quiet... I'm not going to hurt you."

He bowed his head, and his gaze became sharper, like a blade. — "You're just... a key. He will come for you. He will definitely come. And then... I will finally finish with him."

The world around you began to change: the floor under your feet disappeared, and you found yourself in emptiness, where golden clouds swirled below, and apples slowly fell from above - hundreds, thousands. Some were whole, others - with rot, from which thick dark liquid oozed.

Dream came close, leaned towards your ear. — "You know, he will never be able to give you what I will give. Even if he wanted to."

He touched your back - and the wings closed around you, turning the space into a closed cocoon of gold and shadow.

"In the meantime... we will wait."