The Dreamrunner was once again sitting alone.
He sat alone in the world of another person’s creation.
Another world where The Dreamrunner had no control.
He had no power or say.
He just…was there.
He was sitting in the crowd of a baseball game, leaned back with no interest in the game.
There were people everywhere, all talking and chatting amongst each other about things The Dreamrunner knew nothing about. They were eating food that they could seemingly taste and enjoy. Meanwhile The Dreamrunner was tossing popcorn into his mouth and chewing despite not feeling anything.
The Dreamrunner looked down onto the baseball field, watching as the pitcher stood on the mound.
The score was 17-0.
The pitcher had pitched a perfect game.
Not a single hit. Not a single foul. Not a single ball.
The pitcher was cocky and arrogant, laughing and joking as the game was a few innings away from ending.
“Alright alright everyone…let’s get this over with. I got a wife who needs a massage, if you know what I mean.” He said loudly to his teammates as they all laughed with him.
The entire crowd was cheering for the pitcher.
Not a single fan was cheering for the other team. Not even his own team. They were all chanting his name and only his name.
“Johnny! Johnny! Johnny!” The crowd chanted over and over as The Dreamrunner looked around.
The pitcher had a smug look on his face.
All of his teammates were on the field, but none of them seemed interested.
They were all just standing around. Hands in their pockets, pacing around aimlessly. They looked bored. Even a little upset or tired.
“Let’s do this.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56qWCjscMQ
Johnny threw a fastball that was so quick, the ball disappeared for a split second.
The catcher was almost thrown back from the force, while the hitter didn’t even attempt to swing.
“Strike!” The umpire shouted.
Johnny was laughing loudly and manically as the catcher tossed the ball back.
Johnny caught it without even looking, making it look effortless.
The Dreamrunner scoffed, tossing more popcorn into his mouth.
The rest of the game went by so quickly, like it had been put in double speed.
The Dreamrunner gave fake applause as the game ended.
Johnny bowed to the adoring crowd who all cheered him like he was a gracious king to them. Women were trying to throw their clothing or themselves at him. The men were crying as if they felt inadequate to him.
The Dreamrunner was the only person who didn’t react over the top. He barely reacted at all.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eB29SxCIJ
“I gotta go see what other dreams there are.” He muttered to himself as he prepared to leave.
As The Dreamrunner began to walk up the stairs towards the exit, he could suddenly feel every single eye locking on him.
He felt uneasy.
But this was the first time he was feeling this feeling.
He had never been bothered before.
He had a shiver run down his spine.
He couldn’t quite explain it.
How could he experience such a sensation?
The Dreamrunner slowly turned to look over his shoulder.
Every person in the crowd was locked onto him. It had gone completely silent.
Down on the field, The Dreamrunner could see Johnny staring at him.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdnkw8OiC6
“Where do you think you’re going?” Johnny asked loudly, his voice able to travel through the silent arena with ease.
“I’m trying to leave. The game is over.” The Dreamrunner replied.
“Oh no no no. The next game is about to start. Everybody here stays here. They stay for the games.” Johnny said and raised his arms, the entire crowd cheering as if by command.
“Well I have somewhere to be.” The Dreamrunner replied.39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEwlDvSeXp
The entire crowd gasped.
“What did you say?” Johnny asked with a smile that was beginning to fade.
“I have somewhere to be that is more interesting than this.” The Dreamrunner replied and began to walk again, but he suddenly felt his body forcefully pulled back. He flew quickly all the way down to the baseball diamond, landing hard enough to kick the grass and dirt into the air, leaving a streak that stopped at the pitcher’s mound. The Dreamrunner looked up to see Johnny staring down at him with an angry smile, like he was forcing the smile through immense amounts of rage and frustration.
“Nobody…disrespects…me…” Johnny said through gritted teeth.
“Well sorry about that, but I’m going to guess in real life you aren’t this good.” The Dreamrunner said as he slowly began to sit up, trying to get to his feet until Johnny shoved him back down.
“You really disrespecting the greatest pitcher the world of sport has ever seen?” Johnny asked in a very annoyed and angry tone.
“Alright…” The Dreamrunner got to his feet.
“Let’s have a competition. Whoever can pitch more without any hits wins. Deal?” The Dreamrunner asked, holding his hand out.
Johnny laughed loudly, the entire crowd laughing with him until he stopped.
The whole crowd went silent in a split second as soon as he stopped, leaving the entire arena cold and quiet.
“Deal.” Johnny said as he very firmly shook The Dreamrunner’s hand.
“Alright.” The Dreamrunner said, moving aside to let Johnny pitch first.
Johnny was confident and arrogant, playing to the crowd as they all adored him. They screamed and cheered as if he was a God to them.
“I’ll show you how it’s done.” Johnny said, winking at The Dreamrunner.
He turned to face the batter, who looked confident that he was going to hit the ball.
Johnny stood up straight and stared intensely.
He then swung his arm around quickly, the ball almost turning invisible with how fast it was moving before hitting the catcher’s mitt, causing him to slide back across the ground.
The batter hesitated for nearly 2 seconds before swinging, looking shocked that he wasn’t even close to the ball.
“That was amazing Johnny!” The batter shouted, not even seeming upset that he missed.
“Anytime.” Johnny said, lifting his hand up and waving to the sea of adoring fans.
Johnny stepped off the mound as The Dreamrunner took his place.
A baseball suddenly appeared in one hand, and a glove appeared to cover his other hand.
The Dreamrunner sighed and began to do the exact same thing as Johnny, almost like a perfect mirror reflection.
The Dreamrunner threw the ball almost as fast, turning into a blur rather than invisible before it hit the mitt of the catcher, almost making him fall backwards from the force.
The batter swung, but was nowhere close and nearly let go of the bat, the force so much the bat tried to fly away.
“Woah. That was a nice one!” The batter shouted with a smile and waved.
“Hey! You’re only supposed to compliment me!” Johnny shouted.
The batter lowered his hand.
“Sorry Johnny! I love you!” He shouted.
Johnny grunted and got back on the mound, throwing the ball at the same speed with the same result.
The Dreamrunner went up and threw the ball just as fast as before, the batter unable to hit it.
Round after round after round after round.
Pitch after pitch after pitch after pitch.
Both men had thrown hundreds and hundreds of baseballs.
Johnny was visibly growing tired, rubbing his shoulder.
The Dreamrunner looked at him confused and curious. He continued to move his arms without any issue.
But Johnny seemed to be growing tired and sore as he kept throwing.
“You had enough yet?” Johnny asked through panting and gritting his teeth.
“Nope. I could go for a while longer.” The Dreamrunner said, motioning his arms out towards the mound.
Johnny gave a dirty look before stepping up and looking at the new batter who would be swinging and a new catcher taking his place.
Both teams were standing off to the side. All of the hitters were massaging their arms and hips while all of the catchers were stretching their legs.
“It all comes down to this. You can’t handle much more. But you will not lose.” Johnny whispered to himself as he stood up straight.
He waited for a few seconds, complete silence as he stared at the hitter.
He wheeled his arm back and threw the ball, his arm shaking the entire time before the ball came out fast, but nowhere near as fast as other pitches that came previously.
The hitter swung his bat as hard as he could.
And the sound of the ball being hit out of the air filled the stadium.
Every single fan in the place gasped as the ball immediately went to the ground, rolling quickly before stopping at Johnny’s feet.
Johnny looked down with wide eyes full of shock and horror.
He was beginning to shake violently as he stared, becoming drenched in sweat as he stepped off of the mound.
The Dreamrunner stepped up and reached down to grab the ball.
The stadium continued to be completely silent as Dreamrunner stood up straight.
Johnny’s face was that as if he had looked into death itself, his face down in a ghoulish painting.
The Dreamrunner pulled his arm back then threw the ball so hard, a shockwave exploded in every direction.
The ball hit the catcher, then a gust of wind washed over him like a bomb had gone off.
Every single fan continued to sit in silent shock as the wind washed over them, sending hats flying away and hair going back into other people’s faces.
The Dreamrunner turned to look at Johnny.
“I believe that you will be the greatest pitcher alive. But you have to practice and work on it. Understood?” The Dreamrunner asked.
Johnny looked at The Dreamrunner, his eyes still wide in shock and terror.
“I…”
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDTJuLji1x
Johnny was suddenly shaken awake, sitting in a seat of a large bus.
All around him were empty seats.
Johnny quickly made his way out of the bus, grabbing a small bag he had with him.
In front of him was a large hotel that his baseball team was staying in for the night.
Johnny was about to head inside, but stopped to look to the side of the building.
There was a small, public baseball field set up right next door.
Broken down bleachers and a field with poorly maintained grass and white lines that were almost completely faded.
Johnny sighed, seeming to think for a while before he walked over to the field.
The sun very low in the sky, the moon visible but things still bright enough to see.
Johnny went to the pitcher’s mound and opened his bag, showing it was full of nothing but baseballs.
He stretched his arms and neck for a while, then stood in his position.
He stared forward, thinking intensely as he imagined a stadium full of people cheering for him.
The sound was becoming distracting, so he closed his eyes.
The cheers died down until he was on the silent field, the wind barely moving or making any noise.
Johnny took a very long and deep breath inside.
Held it in for a few seconds.
Then breathed out.
Johnny opened his eyes, then threw the greatest pitch he had ever thrown, perfectly in the middle of the box he would have to stay inside.
Johnny was shocked.
Despite their being no batter, catcher, or umpire…
He knew he did good.
But he also knew now…
He could do better.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLnanxUkFd
