Afterwards, the execs filtered out of the meeting room to go about their tasks. Mr. Branfield, an elderly gentleman with refined taste, stopped the young President in the hallway.
    "Chase," he casually addressed him - only a few of the older, more trusted professionals were permitted to address him in such a private manner.
    Chase looked up into the elder's brown eyes. "Good morning, Mr. Branfield."
    "Good morning boy," he acknowledged back in his refined accent. "How are you today?"
    "I feel great," Chase admitted. "And you?"
    "Oh I am quite comfortable myself. Come, tell me, boy, how have you been sleeping lately?"
    To any other person this would've been just a normal, passive question. To Chase it was something that struck a chord in his heart, that knotted his stomach entirely. "I've been resting well," he lied.
    The two men entered an elevator. Waves of calming island music soaked through the atmosphere.
    "This is good news to hear indeed," Branfield gushed.
    "Yes, indeed," Chase said absent-mindedly. Goodness, the old man was practically *blind* to the bags under the young man's eyes!
    Branfield stepped off the lift with a jolly "Cheerio, boy!" and Chase was left alone, ascending to his top floor office.
 

    Sunlight was not very welcome at the particular moment Chase entered his office. The large room was filled with dark wood furniture, but its high shine only reflected the sunbeams pouring in from the large glass windows across the way.
    He stepped over the blue knit carpeting to those windows. He rested his forehead against the cool glass and closed his brilliant green eyes, blocking out all sights of the city below. The mind's images regressed to the picture of the girl...that girl, who haunted his dreams for so long.
    She was an enigma. Her glossy blonde hair and icy clear eyes were astounding. she wore lavish gowns and an elaborate crown on her head. But her expression was forlorn and she seemed weak. It was heart-breaking the way she seemed to bottle up her pain; only a single tear streaming down her smooth cheek was a release of suffering.
    The knock on the door broke Chase away from the beautiful daydream. he turned back to the door and muttered "Come in".
    Marcy, the doll that she was, pranced in holding the day's paperwork. She was a pretty lady in her late twenties - a curly dark brown mane, glasses that hid a pair of pretty brown eyes, short, and a gossip. She snapped her gum and looked up, an expression of worry crossing her face.
    "Geez, boss, are you okay?" she drawled in her slightly whiney tone.
    Chase nodded. "I'm fine, Marcy."
    "You don't look it!" She shook her head, wide-eyed. "Summn' wrong, chief?"
    Chase shook his head.
    "Are you sure? Have you been gettin' enough sleep lately?"
    He shook his head again.
    "Geez, boss, why not? Too much stress?" She had set the papers down in front of him and perched herself on top of the desk.
    "It's not that, Marcy," he sighed.
    "Then what? You look awful!"
    "Well, lately I've been having this recurring dream," he confided. "About this beautiful girl-"
    "Say no more," Marcy cut off. "Girl troubles are something I know a lot about."
    He shifted uncomfortably. "No, that's not what I meant. Anyway, she's like a princess or something, and she's perched up high underneath all these stars. It's really elaborate and everything is dusted with silver..." He dreamily let his lids drop down.
    Marcy nodded in awe. "Sounds nice," she sighed along.
    Chase's peaceful expression turned troubled. "But she's so sad and alone. I want to help her, but I can't. She's just in so much pain, and I'm so helpless..."
    "Wow, boss, that is troubling," Marcy complied. "I'd lose sleep over that too!"
    Chase opened his eyes and twisted his face into a doubtful expression. "Any suggestions?"
    Marcy thought for a moment. "You know what you need, boss?"
    "What?"
    "A night to relax! after work, go out, get yourself a drink, and just relax! Then you'll fall into a nice deep sleep and you won't be bothered with that dream anymore..."
    He nodded and thanked her and she left with a smile.
    The only question that remained was, did he want the dream to leave him alone?
 

    Mid-afternoon, it returned to him. He had drifted off into his dreamland once more after grueling hours of paperwork.
    Now he was faced with the beautiful image. It was nighttime with the blue sky filled endlessly with stars. The soft green grass cooled his senses. Away from him on the right was an elegant picture. A lush waterfall of diamonds flowed into a pond of moonbeams. Perched atop the fall was the girl. Tonight she was wearing an elaborate blue gown to match the skies. Her long blonde hair cascaded down in harmony with her body frame. The familiar crown was the centerpiece of it all. But her eyes were cast downward upon her hands. They were partially closed and glossed with tears. The brims overflowed and two drops of salty pain danced down her skin towards her jaw. Nothing could be heard in the still night.
    His heart beat faster with every breath, both from the gorgeous surroundings, and also because he felt as if the girl's pain was also charging through his own body.
    And for the lingering moments the encounter had lasted, the image shattered and the broken pieces of his mind faded away.
 

    "That was encounter twenty-two," he muttered to himself as he lifted his head. It throbbed with stress.
    Outside, dusk had settled and the sun was neatly sinking behind the skyline.
    Might as well go get that drink, Chase thought. He picked up his jacket and stepped out into the hallway, locking the office door behind him. Only a few of the dedicated employees were left working on the rest of the floors. They called good-nights to their president and he distractedly waved back.
    All the way to the bar, his mind was stuck somewhere else. Thinking about the dream consumed most of his time.
    What could it mean anyway? he silently argued. They're all the same, and they come every night. The only difference is she's wearing a different outfit. Am I supposed to help her? Is she even a real person?
    He reached the high class bar and entered. More rich-looking corporates were inside enjoying their cocktails. Some looked familiar, and some waved. He waved back and took a seat at the bar.
    "What'll it be?" the bartender pitched.
    "Uh, c-club soda," Chase answered distractedly. He needed something to settle his stomach.
    "Tch, you're a lightweight, Novum," the tender commented.
    He chose to ignore the statement. Instead, Chase downed the drink and leaned forward. Deciding it wasn't helping, he left the tip and payment on the counter and walked out.
    The chilly night air was the refreshment he really needed. It was a nice eye-opener, especially with the breeze.
    Chase sat against a brick wall facing the door to the bar. He closed his eyes and tried to stop his mind and heart from racing. Inevitably, he fell asleep once more, this time resulting in something unexpected.
 

    Upon awakening, Chase found himself in the same place he had been, leaning against the brick wall, and yet something was different...
    Once sight came into focus, he sat up with a jolt. This definitely was not the classy place he had just exited. It was true that the building before him was a bar, but instead of its white-washed outsides, there was a wall of dirt-covered brick, and a large neon "BAR" sign flashed its harsh light across a border of shadow that hid a bewildered Chase from passerby's.
    He didn't know what to think. I must be dreaming to be in such a place, he reasoned. Yes, I must be dreaming... The thought lingered in his mind before he jolted himself again. If this is a dream, then I wonder if she is here...
    He smiled at the vision of her lovely face.
    But a pained cry just a few yards away from him cut the rapture short.
    It was the cry of a woman, but it was not soft nor innocent.
    Just ahead, a young thing with dark blonde hair wildly whipping about her face was surrounded by base looking bums, all male. Her right cheek was slashed, a thick red line replacing that part of her otherwise creamy skin. The men circled her menacingly.
    "Heh heh heh," one of them laughed. The voice was deep and throaty. "We're gonna have fun with this one, boys."
    "What're we gonna do, boss?" another raspy voice hissed.
    "We're gonna play a little cat 'n' mouse," he taunted before snapping. In a flash her arms and legs were pinned by the croonies and the "boss" and cupped her face.
    She could barely scream, although she tried. It came out choked and breathless, nothing someone could hear inside.
    Chase couldn't let her struggle any longer. He pulled himself up and hurled his thin form at the bulky dark figure.
    Stunned, the boss took his head in his hands and recuperated.
    The girl wriggled free but was instead restrained by the raspy-voiced one, pinning her around the arms.
    The boss' quick recovery resulted in his bulky form slamming against Chase.
    It looked as if both the girl and the foreigner had no hope in sight. The group laughed once more, encircling the helpless girl.
    Chase felt something well up inside of him. A dizziness set over his head. His eyes closed, his breathing slowed. Time ceased.
    Like a wave crashing ashore, a silver light pooled around each palm in his hands. It was faint at first, but grew with force, and was released in a split-second.
    The enigmatic light demolished the siding of the buildings that made up the ally.
    "It burns!" one gang member cried.
    "Goddamit, that hurt!" the boss raged.
    The girl was miraculously spared any harm. She rose and ran towards Chase. The others looked confused, but more so in pain. Some shook their heads, others whimpered, but they all left the area, going to perhaps another bar.
    The girl, who had substantially calmed down compared to a very shaken Chase, stood next to him, dusting herself off.
    "Howdy, stranger," she jokingly greeted in an enticing city accent. "That was some nice work you did on Randal and his group."
    "I-I, uh, what..." he stammered.
    Her sky-blue eyes looked up into his. "What? Surprised at your power?"
    "Uh...what power would that be?"
    She really did look surprised at this. "You mean to tell me that you just devastated an entire ally way and you don't even know how?"
    No real verbal answer.
    "Geez!" She threw her hands up. "I thought everyone with a power knew about it from birth!"
    Still no answer, just a confused look.
    The beauty rolled her eyes and closed them. Chase studied her out-turned palms. With at first a small glint, blue light started to glow in her palms. It emerged into the air, starting to take shape; it turned into two thick beams of swirling water. With a quick blast, the force etched two huge holes into the brick.
    Chase eyed the spectacle of the water magic and its awesome impact. "That's amazing! How did you do that?!"
    "Same way you did." She shrugged. "I harnessed my energy into my magic."
    "But I don't know how to do that. How did you?"
    "I just concentrate on something really emotional."
    "Like what?"
    "You ask too many questions." She began to take off to the outer streets beyond the ally entrance.
    "Wait a minute," he called out with a smile. "Don't I get a thank you?"
    "No!"
    "A name then?"
    "Anna."
    "What?"
    She stopped and turned. "My name is Anna!"
    He blinked and she vanished with the fog. Confused and helpless, he turned back to where he was sitting; he might've been expecting something, but nothing was there, just the shadow. And the door. Shadow. Bar door. Chase.
    He gave himself a shake and shrugged, pulling the door open, casting a harsh light over the shadow.
    The air exploded with a booming of voices coming from inside the bar. Color seemed to be everywhere, dulled with the thick cigarette smoke lingering still in the air.
    This isn't right, Chase's mind protested - although, hadn't he already figured this out?
    He decided to sit at the bar with a drink to calm his nerves. His hands shook like boats being rocked in a stormy harbor.
    Next to him sat an attractive young woman with dark hair and even darker green eyes. How he could not have noticed her is most likely beyond any male, because she looked...well, perfect. At first she studied him with interest - the way his fingers slid across the slickened surface of his glass, the "foreign" look about him, the way his eyes focused on nothing in front of him... He was a fascinating specimen.
    Chase, after a while, felt eyes scanning over him, and without even realizing it, sat up straight and turned his head to his right.
    It was as if he was looking right through her. She knew he saw her, but his eyes didn't change. He showed no surprise, or pleasure, or emotion. Only when she snapped her fingers in front of that vacant gaze did he jolt into consciousness.
    Chase was finally able to focus on the image in front of him. The first thing he noticed, obviously, was her beauty. She was a different kind of beautiful than Anna - Anna had a tough, natural kind of charm - this woman was more the wild, exotic type. The way she stared at you was intense; it could either ease your nerves or break them.
    She let out a sound of amusement, most likely a short laugh, that gracefully floated around Chase. "Hello," she greeted in short.
    Chase felt like a fool, barely being able to concentrate - but everything seemed hazy. The heat and noise were suffocating. He could barely squeeze out a "Hi" without choking on the oppressive atmosphere.
    "I'm Lores," she acknowledged, holding out one perfectly manicured hand.
    "Chase," he blurted, still trying to keep from drowning. He grabbed the hand like a lifeline.
    Lores sensed that his lungs and head had had enough of the tiny crowded place. She pulled him towards and out the door; a lifeguard making a heroic save, carefully guiding the victim to comfort.
    The outside had changed. Chase immediately noticed after the deep air revitalized his burned edges of sanity. Instead of an ally way, there was a large building, like a fortress, that they were standing in front of. The cold gray outside matched the monotone sky and the rocks keeping the surrounding harbor at bay. Behind them, there was nothing but an endless stretch of concrete highway, abandoned and ghostly, and more water. What the hell?
    "Come on," Lores urged, briskly gliding towards the entrance.
    "Where are we?" he asked while cautiously following her.
    She took out an oddly shaped blue-opal key. "My place."
    "But the bar disappeared."
    She shrugged. "That's just the way things are around here."
    Whatever she meant by this fell short of Chase's thoughts because, with the blink of his eyes, they were standing in yet another different place. This one was beautifully serene - dark, like a cave, with crystal walls, and filled with water. Water was indeed everywhere, like thin black blood, covering the floors, stairs, and cascading down from crystal pillars. The ceiling was low, the lighting was dim, and the air was comfortably dry and cool.
    Chase was definitely convinced - he was dreaming.
    Lores was by his side, smiling at the sight. "Come on," She once more urged. She began to move forward again, water sloshing around her ankles.
    Much like in a dream, when often times there are memory gaps where beautiful images are just lost, Chase wound up sitting on the comfortable leather couch in Lore's apartment without any recollection of how he ended up there. he could've seen rainbow fish and lightning storms and the physical form of love that everyone dreams to see and yet he would not have remembered.
    Lores was mixing something in a crystal glass when he looked over at her. She simply smiled and continued what she was doing.
    Another minute passed. And another. But the clock seemed to be going backwards. An invisible buzzing of tension mounted until it was shattered by a rapid knock at the door.
    Lores didn't even look up, as if she didn't notice, yet that smile played on her lips all the more significantly.
    This left Chase to answer the caller. He swung the door open effortlessly.
    And there was Anna, in all of her rebellious glory.