A/N: A year later, here comes this chapter 4.

I never wrote anything that fast! After I published chapter 18 of TPOR last week, I felt I needed to write this one ASAP after such a long hiatus. A special Thank You to you readers who are still here.

I hope you like it.

Please review/comment.

Thank you and take care xx

XXXXX

Bo didn't understand. She just couldn't understand what had happened the night before. Did she have so many drinks she completely blacked out again? However, she remembered leaving the Dal, wandering in the streets and later, screaming at the Savior statue. She remembered the antique shop, the strange and mysterious owner Trick, the mist, the fog, the mist again, then Lauren.

Lauren.

With a flip of the wrist, she turned on the shower. Hot water started running down her face, Bo allowed it to sooth her aching muscles. It reminded her she was not as in shape as she once had been; drinking and getting laid were her only physical activities in the last decade. The steam from the shower was thick and filled the air as Bo washed away any grim traces of the night.

But the one thing Bo didn't want to wash away from that night was her memory of Lauren. If the moments spent with her was indeed just a dream, a sweet dream that was – and she hadn't had one good one in a very long time, usually always waking up sweaty from the same nightmares over and over again – everything else should have been real. And yet, she didn't know how she went from sitting in the shop with Trick last night to finding herself naked in Amanda's bed this morning. Talking to Trick felt so real though. But she had to admit, after what she saw earlier just proved that Trick and his shop were just part of a dream as well. It was impossible the shop closed down and got completely emptied overnight. Maybe Trick was simply a form of representation of her own thoughts.

Of hopes and dreams she didn't dare to have anymore.

However, if she really wanted to be honest with herself, something was not right. Her mind was not right. This must have been caused by her consistent self-destruction behavior and habits. A skill, an art she had perfected over the years.

Bo stepped out of the tub and grabbed the towel on top of the stack of used ones to dry herself off. She looked up just to see her reflection through the misty mirror. Streams of condensed water ran down the cool surface. She moved closer and with her hand, wiped it to clear the steam off. Bo wanted to have a good look at the woman in the mirror. At the stranger looking back at her. For a second, she thought she saw the old Bo in the reflection. Someone she hadn't seen in years. She stared at herself and studied her face. Slowly but firmly, she touched her cheeks, and her chin, as if to confirm she was real and still alive. And then, she brought her index to her lips. She could still feel it. The kiss. She could still feel Lauren's lips on hers. As this wasn't strange enough, she could still smell the sweet cherry scent of Lauren's hair from the night before. From the dream. But was it really?

Bo shook her head, she needed something to bring her back to reality, although a voice in her head was telling her to look further for that said reality. Her mind might not be right, yet as strangely as that might sound, she was not totally convinced it was just a dream.

She hurried to get dress and within five minutes, out on the street she was. Today, unlike any other day, she felt a small desire to accomplish something. It had been so long, but ironically, she was back at being in the pursuit of a dream. A dream she secretly hoped would become her reality.

Didn't someone say the world was full of endless possibilities?

xxxxx

The Dal was empty of patrons or even staff but Dyson. He hurtled around trying to clean up the remaining evidence of last night's celebration before the pub opened up for lunch time. Although that evidence was still very on display throughout the city with the young gents still drinking in the parks in different areas. They either partied through the night or started very early this morning for day 2 of Victory Day celebration.

Bo went around and behind the bar. She grabbed a tall glass and poured herself some water. She observed Dyson at work as she gulped the water. She poured herself some more.

"Bo, you're up early. Quite a change!"

"Yup, I don't think I got much sleep anyway."

"You had a busy night?" Dyson teased and chuckled while wiping down a chair with a wet cloth, but there was no response from Bo. "And I see some of your other morning habits have changed as well."

"Shocking, I know. I'm taking a break from alcohol this morning…specifically."

Dyson laughed, "Did you get too old overnight to handle hangovers now?"

"Hey, did you see me leave last night? Was I completely wasted?"

"No you weren't. You were just…say…usual drunk. But I noticed you left early though. I thought you went with one of the ladies who came here just to see you."

"Indeed, I ended up with one of them." Bo left from the back of the bar counter and went to sit on one of the stool. She looked at Dyson who was still getting the place ready. She hesitated. "Do you know any...well, any antique shop in the area?"

"Yeah, I think I've seen one. Actually, I think it was more like a pawn shop or a second hand store than an antique shop."

"Was it by the main city park? The Victory Park?...Was it somewhere around or nearby the statue?"

"Euh, no. I believe it was at the entrance of the city. Near the arc."

"Oh. Do you remember the owner? An old and very very short man? Named Trick?"

"No, sorry, I don't know his name. I don't really remember what he looked like either. It was a few years ago, I went there looking for some items to furnish the Dal. Do you remember that day when I came back with this Celtic sword replica and a couple of handmade wooden tankard beer stein mugs? Well I did about three or four shops before I found them. But if you say the man you are talking about is a very, very short man, I guess I would have remembered." Dyson finished his chores and came to sit next to Bo. "Sorry, you look disappointed. But…why all these questions? Who is this Trick."

"I just told you, a very short antique shop owner."

"Okay, but why are you so eager to find him."

"Uhm...I wonder why myself." Bo sighed. She suddenly got up and proceeded to leave, but she turned around and asked "Do you believe in ghosts?"

"Euh…" Dyson looked at her quizzically. He wasn't sure what answer Bo wanted to hear.

"Never mind, I'm going for a walk." And off she went, leaving Dyson a little bit confused.

Bo walked along the same street she did the night before. She passed by the park where a small group of teenagers still hang out at the foot of the statue pedestal and seemingly trying to hide their alcoholic beverages between sips. She wanted to return to that place again. She needed to verify. When she reached the entrance of the alley, she stood there thinking, hesitating for a few seconds. She went all the way to the end and as expected, there was still nothing there but an empty store. A non-existent business abandoned by the owner some time ago.

At this moment, she wasn't sure of how she felt anymore. A mix feeling. Something between relief and disappointment, and both at the same time. She took a step back and read the sign again. Other unique surprises. Quite a surprise it had been. A strange but briefly nice surprise, she thought.

As she exited the alley and turned the corner, she saw a shoe repair shop. Another shop she had not noticed in the past. It looked just as old as Trick's; same style and same vibe. She pulled the door open and entered. An old man was busy repairing a shoe and he was so focus on his job he didn't hear her coming in.

Bo looked around and sure enough, there was nobody else working in this place but that old man. "Excuse me Sir"

The shoemaker, realizing a potential customer had entered his shop, carefully put the shoe and the tool he was holding down on the table. He came to greet her, "Can I be of help to you Miss?"

"Maybe. I just have one question. The antique shop at the end of the alley, Trick's, when was it opened last?"

"Oh wow! That's a tricky question. It was such a long time ago I'm sure nobody truly remembers when it was. I own this shoe repair shop for over forty years and that place, in my memory, had always been closed and empty. Before that, my father owned this place and whenever I came here to give him a hand as a kid, I had never seen it in business either."

"So..never?"

"Never. I don't know if anybody in this town has ever met this Trick."

I have, Bo thought.

Bo smiled a shy smile at the gentleman, "Thank you" she said before leaving.

Once out on the sidewalk and her hands in the pockets of her jacket, she walked toward the park where The Savior statue seemed to permanently await a visit from her. The teens were still there, chatting, laughing and obviously still drinking. She went to sit on the same bench she usually did when she came to the park.

It was a little insane to even believe there was a minuscule possibility that what happened last night was real. She had her answer this morning, and just now, with the shoemaker confirmation, she sadly reached a conclusion that it was all just a dream.

"Bo, you decided to prolong the celebration and spend time here…by yourself?"

Bo looked up see the Mayor, in a dark red one button blazer and skirt dress suit, standing right next to her and smiling. The Mayor's long dark hair and big brown eyes always made her look authoritarian, but she had this special way to approach people and unique method of convincing citizen which suited well with her job and position. In a way, the woman reminded her of Bo herself, a long time ago.

"May I sit with you for a moment?"

"Sure."

Mayor Marquise took a spot on the large bench, "I know I should be saying something to those kids, who are doing exactly what they are not supposed to be doing, but it's Day 2 of Victory Day, I'll give them some slack."

"So you decided to work on a public holiday?" Bo asked without turning her eyes away from the group of teens.

"I can take a day off, but definitely not two. I had to come in for a portion of the day. But I can say that I enjoyed the time with Glory City citizens yesterday. It was nice to see all the happy people at the Dal as well, and you."

"Good, I'm happy to hear that." Bo said it with some degree of sincerity, not the usual response she gave without much attention or care. They sat in silence for a while, listening to the mild city noises and to some birds signing, before Bo interrupted it. "Do you believe in ghosts?"

The Mayor pondered a few seconds before giving her answer. "Yes."

The response caught Bo by surprise, especially coming from this so-down-to-earth woman. Bo turned to take a good look at her.

"I think we all have ghosts from our past. I think they manifest themselves in different ways; dreams, visions or signs." The Mayor smiled and slowly stood up. "My husband just arrived. He is picking me up for an early dinner at a new restaurant." She pointed to a car parked in front of the City Hall, across the park on the other side of the street. "Try to enjoy the rest of the day okay? It's all for you." She turned and walked away.

"Thank you Madam Mayor."

The civil servant leader turned back right away and shouted "Bo, I already told you the first time we met, last year, in my office. You can drop the Madam and the Mayor. Just call me Evony." She smiled and resumed her walk.

Bo watched the lady leave until she got into the car and disappeared. It left her thinking.

She shook her head and remembered she hadn't eaten anything all day.

xxxxx

The microwave signaled that her chili was ready. Bo never ever had real food at home, only canned food or processed and frozen meal. That had been what she had lived on the past ten years.

After her meal, she cracked open another beer bottle, her second one only, for a change. She sat down on an armchair by the window and threw her legs up on the windowsill. The night had fallen. The sky was clear and the stars were shining bright.

She felt relaxed and she listened to the quietness. Her mind was lost in the night.

Then, as if something just flashed through her mind, she peeked at her watch and jumped off her chair. She put the beer bottle down next to the chair and ran to get her coat.

She walked a steady but fast pace along the same streets she took earlier today. The same she took last night. The exact same path. She turned the corner and walked past the park. When she arrived at the alley, she spotted it. The gleaming light. It was calling for her. She moved towards the light. Towards the shop.

The door opened. "Here you are. I was waiting for you. It's time, are you ready?"

As Bo didn't respond nor really react, Trick insisted, "Don't just stand there Bo, come on in."