Restless dream
River sat up in her bed. The red Osirian sun was setting outside and the light filtered though the curtains on to the heavy rug. She wasn't tired, and hence there was no point in sleeping. Simon would understand that. He'd listen to her stories, let her draw in his notebooks and correct his essays. Quietly she slipped out of bed, careful not to wake the nanny in the room next door.
The corridor outside was empty, long and very narrow, lined with doors she didn't recognise. One of them had to be Simon's.
She could hear footsteps approaching - which was odd considering the carpets absorbed sound so well - and opened a door and quickly slipped inside, closing it behind her.
Most of the crew was gathered in Serenity's kitchen. Mal looked up as River entered and gave her a questioning look, then shook his head.
”Where's Simon?” River asked.
”Doc's in the infirmary,” Mal replied while cleaning his guns. ”If you can find it.”
Jayne laughed at that. ”Crazy can't make it that far. Crossing reaver space an' all.”
River glared at him. ”I killed them all.”
Zoe looked at her with a raised eyebrow, hands folded across her chest, but she said nothing. ”She kills things now?” Wash asked, looking at his wife.
”Cheese anyone?” A bald man with slices of cheese on his head tried to get the attention of the people around the table. Book didn't even look up, his hands folded and his eyes closed in prayer.
Inara stood next to a door and smiled at River, gesturing for her to come closer. ”This way,” she mouthed and winked.
River hurried across the room. ”Thank you,” she mumbled to the Companion, before entering the next room.
It was dark. A light was turned on, revealing a chair. River frowned, slowly advancing. She sat down on the chair, and stared into the darkness.
She couldn't move. Even putting all her willpower into it she didn't move an inch.
A darker shadow appeared out of the darkness, eyes black, white circles around them. The figure - a girl - pointed at the ground in front of River. There a pair of red boots had appeared. ”Put them on, then... dance.” The girl spoke hoarsely.
And River could move again. She slipped her feet into the boots, rose from the chair, and felt her feet start moving. There was nothing she could do but follow, and the dance went faster and faster. It hurt, so badly, and still she smiled. She was happy, she loved dancing, and let the boots spin her around and around, until the soles wore down and then the skin, and her flesh and bones. She screamed for her brother to get her out of here!
Restless Table of Contents
Where it all begins
Willow's Dream
Xander's Dream
Bridge's Dream
River's Dream
Izzy's Dream
Nadia's Dream
Alec's Dream
Dawn's Dream
Sam's Dream
Mel's Dream
Buffy's Dream
Where it all ends