“In Dreams” a Halloween Serialized story by nat weaver, Parts V and VI
We are now past the halfway point in this year’s Halloween serial. If you still need to catch up, you can head over to the first two entries and read those before reading Parts V and VI.
Previous installments:
The final installment in this story will land next Friday, October 23rd. And you may be wondering, “wait, but there’s five Fridays this October,” and you would be correct. And I am literally just now realizing that, which means I could have had two more parts/chapters this year. 🤣 🤔😢
Conversely though, I am kinda glad I didn’t realize there were five Fridays, because it means I got to stick to the formula of seven chapters and an epilogue — which is a format I’m really starting to enjoy, even though it can be hard sometimes. On the plus side, that last Friday is Halloween Eve and I have something super cool planned for after “In Dreams” wraps up, so it means we can use Halloween Eve to do that really cool thing that I’m not supposed to announce yet. Shh…
But without further ado, it’s time to dive into the reading. A lot is happening this week, so strap in…
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Copyright © 2026 by Nat Weaver.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted by Artificial Intelligence (AI) or used in the training of AI, for either commercial or non-commercial purposes. For permission requests, write to the author, with subject “In Dreams” at the following email address: nat@weaver.wtf.
In Dreams
a short story by nat weaver
V. Reasonable Things
“Whoa—” Markus blurted out as Circe pushed through his door and into his apartment.
“They’re doing it again,” Circe paced about in the foyer.
“I’m sorry,” Markus closed the door, “but who is doing what?”
“Zeus Tech is farming patient data and fucking with us — with me!”
Markus raised his palms in a calming gesture that made her blood boil over. He took a deep breath, “Now, let’s slow down, and then you go ahead and explain to me what’s happening.”
After listening to Circe recount the events at Tom’s Diner, Markus sipped his wine at the bar in his third living space. Often when he was taking in her words, she noted he would stare off somewhere, squint, and then raise an eyebrow before speaking. After his eyebrow raised, he took one more sip, and finally mustered a response. “We don’t know for sure this is Zeus Tech—”
“Come on, Markus, who else could it be? You?”
He gave a disapproving and hurt look, “I would never, you know that.”
“Well, either it’s you or Zeus Tech,” she gulped some vodka and it burned her shallow throat. “Their shitty patient portal, that we helped build, and you are the only ones I can think of who know about my nightmare.”
A stare, a squint, and an eyebrow raise, and he interjected again, trying desperately to be a voice of reason. “Why would there be any information in the portal about your nightmare?”
“Before it came out Zeus was ratting out its employees, I used to see an in-house therapist and all of his notes went into that portal.” She grabbed the vodka bottle and started to pour another helping. “God, it irks me that I helped code that monster.”
“Easy on the vodka, Circe.”
She titled her head and glared at him.
Markus moseyed over to his glass wall, which stretched so high you couldn’t see the end of it as it disappeared into the blackness of the ceiling at night. He stood at the window and looked across the city. He was staring at Zeus Tech which stood an imposing one-hundred and seven floors, two miles away, and taller than the entire city. Atop the towering behemoth was a bolt of lightning and the name Zeus in golden letters in the center of it. The garish eyesore sent a glow across the city. It was so bright that with the lights dimmed in Markus’s apartment, his face illuminated in gold near the glass.
“What we do know, for sure,” he said without turning to face her, “is that these women are dangerous. These are two women who you do not know and yet they know some very personal and intimate details about you. How? We don’t know. But that makes them even more dangerous.” He took a deep breath and returned to Circe at the bar. “If you see them again, do not talk to them, and threaten to call the authorities. Do you think they know where you live?”
“If they have access to the portal, then they have access to my address,” Circe said.
He twitched his nose. She had learned over time that this was a sign that he didn’t agree with her or was annoyed by something she said, but he would use his nose to distract his mouth from saying something he’d regret. She wondered what it might have been that caused that twitch. “I’m your friend, Circe, if you’re in danger, you can stay here until we rid them from your life.”
Now she needed a deep breath.
Sure, we’re friends, but not that close. I’m not comfortable moving in with him indefinitely.
“I’ll take my chances,” she said and sipped her vodka with a smirk. “I’m a bad bitch after all.”
Just before he let her out of his apartment he leaned in close, and in a sober tone said to her, “I’m serious. These women are not your friends. They are dangerous. If you see them, walk the other way. If they talk to you, threaten to call the cops. And call me as soon as you can, if you run into them again.” He paused for a moment, and then added, “I know a few guys who can help you get rid of them, if they keep coming around. Say the word, and I’ll call them.”
What the fuck does that mean? He knows guys who can make people disappear? The hell…
VI. Other Possibilities
Sitting on the edge of her bed, Circe’s head was spinning. She was a little drunk from the vodka, sure, but she had also taken two extra pills of Gabapentin and it was compounding the effects of the alcohol. She was hellbent on having a deep and long sleep with no interruptions. She didn’t know if Zeus Tech was manipulating her or if she was losing her damn mind.
Screw them all. I’m going to sleep, dammit.
Lightning struck and thunder clapped outside.
And screw you, Zeus!
She clumsily rolled across her bed, thrashing her legs about, trying to find the bottom of her comforter. She never did get her left foot inside her refuge before her mind and body gave up and fell asleep.
Circe sat up in an open field. The grass was tall and green. The sun beamed so bright her eyes burned and she covered and closed them until she felt she could open them. She squinted and saw a silhouette standing before her, blocking the sunlight.
“Hey, kiddo,” a voice said. “It can take a moment to adjust. Here.”
The silhouette reached a hand to her. The hand was warm and soft, but strong enough to raise her up from the grass. Circe rubbed her eyes and opened them slightly, it was Athena. Her silver hair reflected the sun back at Circe and she winced in pain. “Jesus,” Circe muttered.
Athena laughed and linked arms with her. “Walk with me, kiddo.”
The field stretched for miles in every direction, rolling at times, and flattened but soft at others. There were a sprinkling of trees throughout the fields of varying kinds. A willow stood boldly against the sun, proud and firm, her hair dancing about in the breeze — beneath her a small pond glistened.
“It’s beautiful,” Circe said after a while.
“Yes,” Athena said, “it really is. Everything around you is the Seether. This is our plane, our space. Home.”
They continued their stroll and came across a small town. A group of kids went running by her, and Circe paused when she saw a small girl with blonde hair in their midst. She recognized her but in the moment she couldn’t place her. They continued further into town. They passed an old clock tower, barbershop, and salon where a few women stepped out laughing. When the women saw Circe, they looked shocked and stared.
“Carry on, ladies,” Athena told them.
The women continued their conversation and headed off town the sidewalk.
“What was that about?” Circe asked.
“It’s been a long while since you walked these streets,” Athena explained.
“I’ve never been here.”
“Sure you have,” Athena gestured to a park bench and they sat. “Look, I know this has all been confusing to you. And it’s been confusing to us, too. This whole situation has been unprecedented. But, you always were kind of unprecedented yourself.”
“Who the hell are you?” Circe gestured around. “And what is all this? Explain it to me.”
“This is the Seether,” Athena said. “It’s another place, like the one you think of as the real world, whatever that means. You see, when we sleep, our souls travel. What we think is a dream is just another existence, another place to be. And each place has its own rules, its own reality. Usually, we return to our own places, what we think of as waking.”
“Right…”
A horse rode by with an elderly man atop her, the man tipped his head to Athena, called her by name, and she nodded back.
“So are you thee Athena?” Circe asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Like Athena, the goddess from ancient Greek myth.” Circe asked, half joking.
“Oh god, not that nonsense,” Athena rolled her eyes and crossed her legs. “That world that you think is the only real place to exist has some interesting ideas about me. I am neither Greek nor ancient.”
Circe laughed, “Ok, then how old are you?”
“My age?”
“Yes,” Circe scoffed. “What’s your age?”
Athena puffed in annoyance. “Age? Time? Don’t bore me with these man-made constructs. What is time? A measurement created by man to devalue a person’s worth. If you’re old, you’re past your prime. If you’re young, you’re stupid and don’t know anything, so no one listens to you. What is a year? 52 weeks? 365 days? 12 months? What the hell does that even mean? All that matters is this: I Am.”
Circe thought for a moment, and then smirked. “So, you’re not gonna tell me your age, got it.”
“I am,” Athena said. “That’s all we are and all we can hope to be. Are you alive?”
“Yes, of course.”
Athena stood up. “Good! And I don’t care how old you are, because you are here now in front of me and that’s enough.” She stretched her hand to Circe. “Come, let me show you something.”
Circe shrugged and took her hand. She guided her down a side road where Circe noticed a familiar sign.
The hell?
The sign read, Tom’s Diner.
“Go in,” Athena said with a smile.
Circe stepped inside the diner and it had a similar layout to the one she was used to, but with the sun shining through it gave a completely different vibe. It was warm, welcoming, and there were several families at tables eating and cutting up. In the corner, a group of teens stood around the jukebox. One of the girls choose a song by Electric Light Orchestra and giggled when it came on over the speakers, she turned to a girl next to her and pulled her in for a dance. The two were hopping and bopping as Circe surveyed the scene with awe.
The blonde girl from earlier plowed through the door behind Circe and brushed into her. “Sorry, ma’am — oh, hey, Circe!” The girl shouted up at her before giving her a bear hug around her waist. She pulled back and looked up with wetness in her eyes, “How is my dad, have you seen him?”
“Oh my god,” Circe bent down on one knee and came face-to-face with the girl. “Chelsea? Is that you?”
“Yeah,” she rolled her eyes, “I had a growth spurt. And I haven’t grown into my ears yet.”
“Circe!” A woman’s voice shouted from across the diner. It was Tom’s wife, Rebekah. She came running from behind the counter and Circe had barely gotten back up to her feet when she dove into a hug. “How is Tom?”
“I — I don’t understand,” Circe turned to Athena who shrugged and told her she better answer their questions. Circe took both of them to a table and sat with them. “Tom is struggling. He thought you were all dead. I don’t understand.”
“No, we’re not dead, silly,” Chelsea chided.
Rebekah looked worried. “This is not good. We thought we were all going to stay here, but I guess he woke up, went back to that other place. I guess he got confused. We opened the diner here, like we had planned.” She took Circe’s hand in both of her waitress-worn hands, “Someone needs to tell him we’re ok.”
After getting the grand tour of the new and improved Tom’s Diner from Chelsea, Circe rejoined Athena in a corner booth next to the jukebox which was now playing a song by Elton John and Dua Lipa.
“I don’t understand how any of this is possible,” Circe propped her head up with both of her hands, her elbows planted firmly on the table.
“Here, darling,” Rebekah left her a coffee and Diet Coke on the table. “The coffee has got all the sugar and milk the way you like it.”
“I can’t—”
“Stop it,” Rebekah cut her off, “it’s on the house.”
“Thanks.” After Rebekah walked away, Circe leaned across the table to Athena. “This is impossible.”
“Is it?” Athena sipped her black coffee. “They say you can’t kill an idea. And to that I say: but we can kill people? No, I don’t buy into that.” She paused to watch the two teen girls who were still dancing next to the jukebox, Athena smiled warmly at the two. “I’ve had some pretty bad ideas, some decent too.” She turned back to Circe with a grin. “I used to think getting insomnia would be great, because I could read and learn and grow and accomplish so much more, if I didn’t have to sleep. But then I learned that’s not how insomnia works at all. And I think you know that all too intimately.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely not a thing,” Circe felt as though time had slowed in the Seether. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been with Athena, but the sun was still shining, and the girls were still dancing.
Could this be real?
“Ideas come and go, some stick and some don’t,” Athena said. “But people? People are forever. And if we last forever, than I’m begging us to get our shit together. Nobody wants to be broken forever.”
The front door flung open and crashed against the wall. Everyone turned to see Kassandra who tore across the diner to Athena. “Your highness, we need to get you out of here.”
“What is it?” Athena asked.
“Leviathan,” Kassandra gave Circe a knowing look, “he found her. He’s here.”
Athena’s demeanor changed, her brow furrowed, and her lips tightened. “Take her. I’ll get the others to safety.”
“But—”
Athena cut in, “No, he’s here for her.” She gave Circe a look that a mother gives her daughter before explaining to her how the world works for women. “Sorry, kiddo, but I’m gonna need you to try this time. Dig deep. Somewhere in your memories is the answer you seek, that we all seek. And nobody can do that but you.”
“I don’t—” Circe tried to protest.
“I know you think you’re weak,” Athena took ahold of her face with those cozy hands. “But you’re not weak. Those men over there in that other place, they’ve beaten you down — I get it. But I’m telling you: you’re not goddamn weak.”
Kassandra and Circe followed Chelsea through the kitchen to the backdoor.
“Kick his ass, Circe!” Chelsea said before kissing her on the cheek and locking them out in the alley.
“Let’s move,” Kassandra said.
But Circe was frozen. When Chelsea planted that sweet, little kiss on her cheek something registered in her mind.
A kiss. On the cheek. In the sun. A kiss… but there was a house… oh, god… I remember the house. There was a house!
“I’M GOING TO GET YOU!” Leviathan’s voice roared through the small town so loud, so deep, that windows could be heard shattering coupled with the screams of the townsfolk.
“Come on, we need to go!” Kassandra grabbed her arm and tried to pull her away.
“No,” Circe yanked herself loose.
“What?”
The ground rumbled beneath their feet as Leviathan ran through the city. “YOU ARE ALL SO WEAK, SO WEAK! GIVE HER TO ME! OUT OF MY WAY!”
A voice shrieked in pain.
Circe looked directly into those green eyes. “I remember.” She raised her hands up and wide.
“Oh god, no Circe, please don’t do this again…”
“When I clap my hands—”
Kassandra grasped at her hands to stop her, but she wriggled them free.
“I SEE YOU, BITCH!” Leviathan fell to all fours and galloped towards the two of them. The alley was too narrow to contain him, his shoulders ripped bricks from their walls as he closed the gap between them. “I’M GOING TO GET YOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUU!”
“—when I clap my hands we will be at the house.”
