15. Reunited

The dragon shrieked then shot green flame toward the ground, burning the vehicles on the streets as it traced a flaming line toward JJ.

JJ ran as fast has he could. The flame and the dragon right behind him. He has got to reach the corner several meters away and try to duck somewhere. He hoped. He tried. He can save himself from the flame. At the dragon's speed, it and the flame will overshoot JJ once he makes a quick right.

And it did when JJ made a quick right, the heat searing through his clothes while the flame barely grazing him. He saw a door. He turned the knob. It's locked. Horror gripping him, JJ turned to look for another way in only to find out that one of his assumptions was wrong. The dragon was able to make a sudden stop. It is now hovering in front of him, large wings flapping.

The dragon with its long neck, moved its head near JJ and shrieked. At first, JJ smelled the foul odor of sulfur from the dragon's breath blow at him. Then everything grew bright green as a blast of flame engulfed him.

JJ screamed. But he does not feel any heat. He opens his eyes and looks around.

He was feeling disoriented. He tried to make sense of where he was. The last thing he remembers is seeing a bright light at the end of the dark basement of JFK International Airport.

He looked up the ceiling. It looks old. The wooden materials is stained. He can hear the sound of busy streets outside.

Where could he be, he asks himself. His bed is comfortable enough though he can feel the springs push on to his back.

Then he remembered the dragon.

Quickly looked at his arms. No burn marks.

He touched his face. No burn marks there either.

Then he remembered about the joke they used to talk about in high school. It is about a cream locally called "sebo de macho."

Maybe they have a very effective one here, he thought. And asked himself, where is here?

Then the door knob clicks. He sat up, anticipating what will come through the old delapidated door.

What came in made him smile. It's his son, Albert, and wife Katrina.

Albert ran up to his father and jumped on his bed. He was so excited to see his father.

Katrina was less excited even with the smile on her face. JJ quickly saw the reason why. Behind Katrina is the Chinese who saved him back at the airport.

"Good to know you are well now," said Quan Tie now wearing white Chinese clothes. "I was worried when you collapsed on our way out."

JJ sighed. "Well, should I thank you," JJ asked. Katrina just standing there, seeming nervous but still smiling.

"All will be explained," assured Quan. "Right now, I leave you with your family."

With that, Quan stepped away and closed the door. JJ heard the lock click. They are locked in from outside.

As soon as the lock was in place, Katrina slackened and ran to her husband.

"Oh my God," she whispered, tears running down her face. She was shaking. "Who are these people? Why do they know us by name? Why did they bring us here?"

Albert, oblivious to what is happening, just stared at his parents.

"I don't know," answered JJ wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I don't know baby. We will find out soon."

Katrina sat up. "They said they are keeping us here. To be safe. But safe from who?"

"I am not sure," said JJ still cuddling Albert. "I am confused. Are you guys alright?"

"They gave me McDonald's," Albert said gayly. Of the three of them, he is the only one who does not seem to mind what is happening.

"It also came with an action figure," he said fishing out a small Doc Ock toy.

"Where are we," JJ asked his wife. "Do you know where we are?"

"We are somewhere in downtown Manhattan," she answered. "The van that took us here was heavily tinted. I was only able to take a peek through the windshield. I think it's Manhattan. I recognized the bridge."

"How long was I out?"

"Not long. We missed our flight. They will be waiting for us in Manila."

"Did you see any phones around here?"

"Just the one at the lobby."

"Is this some kind of a hotel?"

"I think so, but it looks deserted and old," said Katrina scanning the room.

"I just had the wildest dream," said JJ holding his head. Albert now sat on the chair near the bedside table playing with his toy.

"It's the same dream," JJ said. "I have been having this dream for days now."

"What dream," asked Katrina.

JJ narrated his dream while Katrina listened.

"I remember you waking up at night screaming and sweating," Katrina said. "Why are you having this dream? Have you consulted anyone?"

"No. I was going to ask an albularyo when we got to Tarlac but now we're seem to be stuck here."

Katrina moved closer and hugged her husband.

There was a knock on the door and the locked clicked again. Both waited for the door to open not knowing who may come in.

Quan opened the door. His face still without expression.

"Time to go. It is time you know who you are, why you are here, and what is your destiny."