Chapter 4: "A familiar friend"

The sun has risen up and rays are piercing through the window, though Hiro is still frozen in cold sweat on his bed. he couldn't move for 3 hours as he tried to affirm to himself that none of it is real. he can hear the commotion of people outside his room but despite that he doesn't seem to care as he's still in a state of confusion and fear.

A long agonizing 7 minutes has passed and the boy slowly calmed down and he slowly regained control of his almost frail body and rose up and covered his face with his palms in disappointment and reassurance, "sigh... none of that is real, its impossible" the boy said as his hands still cover the surface area of his face. "Day by day, its getting harder to tell what's dream or not. its becoming a nuisance".

The boy reached into his bag and pulled out his journal, he grabbed a slender ballpoint pen and sat in the bed side. He turned the page of the book until he found an empty page, there he began writing his entry to record his dream before it went out.

Entry 26- (Nightmare) 
this time its strange, i've woken up on a dream but im still in a dream. its the same hotel but there's no people, everything seems to function well and well kept, in the dining room there's a lady. her contorted arms and twisted torso is terrifying, she chased me through a never ending hallway and it lasted for a few minutes, and then i tripped and the lady got me..
i dont know what's happening anymore, its getting worse.

After writing in his journal he closed the black book and left it in his bedside table.
He went to the door and opened it and  left the room, he went to the lobby and before he leave the building the Receptionist called him, "Hey, you look pretty tired, did you get any sleep?".

"Yeah i did but... something is just bothering me but thank you for your concern" Hiro replied to the boy, The boy step out behind the counter and approached Hiro.
he's holding something, some kind of paper.

"Here" The receptionist said while raising his arm signalling that he's giving something
Though Hiro is pretty confused so he asked the boy

"Oh thank you but what is this?" Hiro asked while the boy gave him a piece of paper.

"Its a coupon, since you're pretty new here and you might need a help. just tell them you know me and show them this paper and they'll give you 50% off, Myogiri is a good restaurant so enjoy!" The boy explained with a smile on his face, his pale complexion leaves a good impression to Hiro. before he leave he thanked the boy.

on the paper there was a number, though hiro dont know what it meant and just left it be.

"Thank you for your kindness!" Said Hiro with such smile on his face, "Oh also what's your name? Im Hiro, Hiro Geheimnisse".

.

"Me?, My name is Shin'en, Nice to meet you Hiro!" Shin'en said with glee.

Nice to meet you too Shin'en, i hope we become good friends" Hiro Bubbled.

Before he left Shin'en told Hiro something, "If you need help, just call me here in the hotel. a friendly helping hand if you will".

"Thank you Shin'en, ill consider it" Hiro thanked the boy and left the building.

Unlike the day before, the sky is more lively and bright plus the atmosphere is not as heavy as before. He noted that he can see more people now compared to yesterday, maybe it really is a bad weather.
the boy walked on the side walk, he frequently saw cars zooming by the road. i guess its not a small town after all.

After a few minutes of walking, Hiro entered a street, it was old and there were 10 houses, 5 in each side. he followed the side walk and saw the residents. they were friendly and greeted Hiro good morning.

as we walked he denoted that these houses are familiar as in like he saw them before. he continued and turned left, it was another street but this one is fairly new, looks like some people are moving here and living here to retire or stay permanently. before he can take a step someone called him, "Hiro? is that really you?", he stopped on his tracks, he turned around and saw a young man.

He has a fair complexion and a white short hair, he's tall and wore a plaid black jacket, a black jeans and a white shirt under the jacket, he is fair and he has a soft sounding voice.
he cant recognize who this man is nor ever meeting him.

"Do i know you?" Hiro asked, this made the man looks confused but his eyes showed that he knew Hiro so well, its like they've known each other all their life.

"Oh that easily! you made me very sad,' the man joked, "of course you do! im your best friend"
"until you cut your ties to all of our friends and left".

Those words brought up an image, A burning house.. an image of a smiling child
what is this.. it felt so... familiar.

"Gray?' He muttered.

He came to his senses but something is strange. "Hiro!" someone shouted, he saw someone running towards him and jumped and hugged him.

"Gray" he said but he wondered how he knew his name. but other than that he noticed something, its the same white haired boy but this time he's a child but he also noticed he's also a child but infact his younger self, it seems like he went back in time but how?.

"Good morning Hiro!" Gray greeted him with such a bright smile akin to Nori.
he suddenly recalled something, a missing fragment of his humanity, an integral part of being alive... memories..

He stood there motionless as he came to realization... how could he forgot... how could he forgot his friends...
a few minutes has passed and he regained his composure, "Good morning" he greeted Gray.

"So what you wanna do today?," Gray asked "that abandoned house we entered yesterday is reaaalllly scary! i dont wanna go there again".

Hiro stood motionless again and answered, "How about we go to park?".

"That's a good idea! lets go!" Gray cheered.

Gray held his hand and pulled him, on their way to the park, Gray suddenly stopped. he turned around a brought Hiro to hide in the brushes. Gray covered their mouths and stayed quiet, after a few minutes 2 suspicious looking men arrived where they formally are.

The man looked around and asked the other man, "where did the two children go?", " you said they are here".

"They're here i swear, i saw them" the other man pleaded though that didnt stopped the man from punching the other man and beating him up, the man's fist is bloodied and his eyes are filled with murderous intent.

"This is your fault, our prey got away" Said the man as he pulled the bloodied man's body to the white van and drove away..

What Hiro witnessed is terrible but what was that. 
Gray unknowingly saved both of their lives, Hiro noted that both of the men are probably a part of a organ trafficking organization, they're planning to kidnap both of them, but somehow Gray saw both of them coming and hid.. it was bizarre .

"We're playing hide and seek! and those guys are the seekers" Gray whispered to Hiro.
"we won!".

They got out of the brush and went home, trying to get to the park when something happened like that is really dangerous. before he can say his goodbye he came to his senses,"good bye-".

"Gray" Hiro muttered and came to his senses, he's back in the present.. what had happened.

upon hearing his name, Gray smiled and it lit up like a blazing fire, but it was warn.
he was truly happy he remembered him.

"Thats my name!" Gray confirmed.

Gray held his hand and pulled him aside, they both sat down on a wooden bench near a house with a store in-front. Gray stood up and called for the owner.

"Hello? can i buy 2 sodas?" Gray inquire the lady.

The lady pulled 2 sodas out of the fridge and handed it to Gray, he payed the lady and expressed his gratitude..

"Thank you".

He handed one soda to Hiro and kept one for himself, he sat down beside him  and orated, "im surprised you visited this town again," "i thought you'll never come back after what happened".

What Gray said confused him, "What happened? he asked.

"Nevermind! its better for you not to know it, its nothing important really" Gray fretted.

Hiro is gonna ask more question but he stopped when he saw Gray's face..
when he told him its nothing important, there's one emotion is printed on his face. Its Despair.

Gray suddenly stood up and offered him something, the despair in his face is gone. it was replaced by happiness and assurance.

"i heard you're staying at that hotel, how about you temporarily live in my house? so you can save money" He offered, Hiro accepted his offer and decided to move in to his house.