Future Disguise

How does a dream that’s interpreted as a miracle become a nightmare in reality?

A question that Ruemaq had in mind when his eyes shot wide open. His skin was extremely slippery and the bed allowed his body to crease itself into a puddle. Ruemaq rested his hand on his forehead. “What is up with the heat today?!”

Ruemaq yawned, irritatingly chucking the covers off himself. He took a minute motivating himself to hop off the bed. He exhaustingly approached and slightly pulled the curtains open just to immediately close them. “Why is the sun so bright today?! I can barely see out the window.” He said.

He picked his phone off the bed frame, finding out it’s only four o’clock in the morning. His dream showed the sun screaming its light at the entire planet, but it represented itself like a good thing while a smooth skin, long tail, blue creature with bright blue eyes, and razor sharp teeth told Ruemaq to look for him. When the creature said that, the ground opened up. But Ruemaq wondered, “How will he go outside without burning up?”

He checked the weather app on his phone and almost lost his mind when he saw it’s one-hundred-and-thirty degrees outside. He anxiously scratched his head, not even his thermostat being low, helps his case.

Suddenly when Ruemaq looked out the door from his room, he remembered that his father was few doors down the hallway. “Oh my gosh!” He yelled, sprinting to his father’s bedroom. He busted the door open. At first glance, his father Juvawne seemed to be sleeping peacefully, even though his body was glistening to an extreme. “Dad!” Ruemaq lightly shook him. “Dad!” He shook him harder. Juvawne slowly opened his eyes, mouth gaping for air. “You alright?!” Ruemaq asked.

Barely speaking, Juvawne asked, “Is today the day?”

Ruemaq’s heart stopped for few seconds. “No, it’s not the day.” Helping him out of bed.

“You sure?” Juvawne asked.

“Yes, I’m sure.” Ruemaq struggled to pull his legs out of bed.

“I just had a dream that I saw Yindari and sunlight engulfed her.” Juvawne said.

“Dad, it’s not time yet!” Ruemaq shouted, then spoke calmly. “Come on. Get up. Can you walk?”

“Where are we going? Oh man, why did you turn the heater up so high?” Juvawne wondered, putting his feet on the floor.

“It’s not my doing, dad. We’re going to the bunker home.” Ruemaq told him.

“That thing you had built underground?” Juvawne inquired as he’s being carried through the hallway.

“Yeah.” Ruemaq answered. “But move quickly. I can’t stand this heat anymore!” Walking downstairs.

“What’s going on, Ruemaq? Is that coming from the sun?! Out of all my seventy-nine years, the sun has never been this hot before.” Juvawne said.

“Well, there’s a first time for everything.” Ruemaq said. They eventually make it to the bottom of the steps. They had to walk out the sliding glass door into the background where the bunker was. But Ruemaq had to ruminate on how to get there without burning up.

“What are you doing, Ruemaq? We have to go outside, don’t we!” Juvawne whined as his son carefully sat him on the couch.

“The sun is hotter than you think, Dad. We can’t just run out there.” Ruemaq explained. Then he thought about the tin foil blanket laying on top of his Porsche in the garage. “Be right back!” He zoomed through a maze of furniture. “Boom! There it is.” He happily grabbed the tin foil and ran back to his father who had his head leaned back on the couch. Ruemaq’s smile slowly disappeared. He walked over and tapped his father on the shoulder. “Dad?” His father didn’t move a muscle. His mouth sat wide open. Ruemaq pat his shoulder extremely hard, making Juvawne jump up.

“I saw Yindari again!” Juvawne cheerfully said. “Do you know what she said to me?”

“No, what is it?” Ruemaq asked.

“She said: all miracles are in your favor!”

“As in your favor or my favor?” Ruemaq wanted clarity.

“Both!” Juvawne said.

“So we’re gonna survive the heat?” Ruemaq asked.

“Um… I would think so.” Juvawne smiled real largely like he couldn’t control it.

Ruemaq smiled back. “Can you stand? Because we’re gonna cover ourselves with this tin foil when we get out.”

“I should be able too.” Juvawne answered, using the the arm rest to push himself up. He clapped his hands and said, “Come on. Throw it over me.”

Ruemaq laughed, putting his arm around his father as they both pull the tin foil above their heads.

“Wait!” Juvawne paused. “If it’s too hot for the sun to touch our skin, would the brightness affect our eyes too?”

Ruemaq pondered on it for a second, removing the tin foil off of himself. He remembered looking out the window earlier when he first woke up. “Let me get the shades. Stay right there.” He dashed upstairs and sped down the hallway, grabbing two shades off his dresser. He came back to the living room. “Dad?” He searched around for him. He leaned over the couch to see him lied on the floor laying the tin foil on top of him. “Dad!” Ruemaq leaps over the couch to check on him.

After lightly slapping him in the face for a minute, he woke up smiling. “I have a good feeling!”

“What are you talking about, dad?” Ruemaq inquired.

“That we’ll make it through the heat to the bunker.” Juvawne clarified.

Ruemaq chuckled. “Did she tell you that?”

Juvawne nodded his head then said, “I’m gonna have a peaceful rest tonight.”

“Yeah, if the sun ever goes down, which I don’t see happening anytime soon.” Ruemaq replied, helping him off the floor.

They both put on their shades, cover themselves with the tin foil, and make their way to the sliding glass doors. Ruemaq takes a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.” He pulled the door open.

Their skins began burning instantly, making Ruemaq hesitant to move, but with Juvawne’s tenacious words, he says, “No, son! Move forward. We must go there, quickly!”

They both make a beeline to the bunker, ignoring their legs being scorched by the environment. Once they reached the door to the bunker, Ruemaq said, “I can’t touch it, it’s metal!”

“Use the tin foil as gloves to twist the door open.” Juvawne told him. “I’ll help you.” They pulled the tin foil slightly over their heads just enough to shield their hands from touching the handle. They twist harmoniously until they heard the knob make a click sound. They pulled the door open and rushed inside.

“Finally!” Ruemaq removed the tin foil. He helped his father walk downstairs and sat him on the green couch. He took one look at both his father and his own legs, noticing they’re a bright red. “Boy, that sun put a real hit on us, didn’t it?”

Juvawne laughed then ask, “How long do you think we have to wait down here?”

“Who knows.” Ruemaq shrugged his shoulders, approaching the pantry beside the couch. “You hungry?”

Juvawne shook his head. “I’m going to take a nap.”

“Dad, I really want you to eat something.” Ruemaq replied in concern. 

“No, I’m fine, Ruemaq. I just want to sleep right now.” Juvawne said.

“Dad, eat.” Ruemaq pulled out a can of beans with a spoon and passed it to him.

Juvawne smacked it out his hands. “Ruemaq, I don’t want to eat! I want my peaceful rest Yindari said I’ll have!” He yelled.

Ruemaq grimaced. “Dad, just eat!”

“No! I want to rest!” Juvawne said.

They both stared at each other like lifelong mortal enemies. Their stare down went on for so long, they completely had lost track of time until Ruemaq finally said, “I’m going to take a shower. Rest all you want.” He departed across the room where the bathroom was, and slammed the door.

Ruemaq’s body suddenly began shaking. He had to calm himself down before stripping his clothes off. He ran the shower without letting it get warm first and stepped inside. His body shivered in a good way. With his eyes closed and his mind in a euphoric state, Ruemaq received a vision of the blue creature from his dream. It said, “Look for me.” Which made Ruemaq instantly open his eyes.

He finished his shower, got dressed in casual clothes, and checked on his father first before going downstairs. He only snored lightly.

Once Ruemaq reached the bottom of the steps, which only had a few beds sitting in a row, he walks around until a voice made him stop at the center. “Look for me.” It whispered from beneath his feet. Ruemaq knelt down and started to feel a strange vibration.

This story belongs to, and is written by Devond Devoe

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