A/N: It's my first fic written in English and first fic for Inception ever. I just couldn't refuse AtlantisGirl12 request for birthday fic:) Of course I do not own Inception (which is really sad) or any of Inception's characters (which is even worse).

Something was dripping.

Or maybe not?

No, something was definitely dripping. Only what?

Arthur's eyes snapped open. He had no idea where he was, or if it was a dream or reality. Everything he was aware of was the sound of dripping. Light but constant. Everything else was so remotely, so unreal, cover in mist.

This sound of dripping was important, Arthur was sure of that. It was meaningful. But why?

Arthur tried to stand up, which was surprisingly hard; his whole body was so numb…

And suddenly he knew. The sound of dripping: it was blood.

His blood.

The picture in front of him was mind blowing: Ariadne (in a couple of minutes his Ariadne. In a couple of minutes his wife.). Everything was so perfect, just like in dream.

Dream?

It has to be reality, Arthur told himself, but the urge to just touch his totem was too strong. He put his hand to pocket, only to found out that there was no red die. There was another kind of red, though.

Blood.

His blood.

"It's enough for now, I think. He won't live trough more and boss wants to talk with him before we finish"

The voice was distant, but clear and strangely familiar to Arthur. And then he heard: steps.

"My, my. Dear old Arthur. I'd never thought that I'll see you broken".

"I'm not… broken" Arthur whispered.

"Maybe not now" man agreed. "But think for a second. It's a dream or reality?"

Arthur felt his stomach lurched. He had no idea and there was no way to check it.

"Oh, yes" voice of the man was filled with satisfaction. "You, Extractors, are lost without your totems. And your totem… You know the material dies are made of isn't hard to destroy."

"What… what do you want?"

"I thought that you, Arthur, you of all men should know it. It's so simple- I want revenge. Revenge for destroyed company and broken life, for the hell you and Cobb made for me. It wasn't easy to find you, I have to admit that. You are clever, but love can blind even cleverest"

Arthur felt that men put something in his lap. It was a scarf.

Silky red scarf.

Ariadne's scarf.

"So what do you think?" in man's voice Arthur could hear a real curiosity.

"It's dream or reality?"

He was waiting. He wasn't sure for what. Everything was covered in mist, even pain was distant and didn't important. All what mattered was blood colored scarf laying on his lap.

It's a dream or reality?

Nobody should be able to find him. Arthur always was good in covering tracks and tying loose ends. But here he was- wounded, tied and unsure whatever it was dream or reality.

How could that happen?

It was freezing cold, but it wasn't mattered. Ariadne wanted to go for a walk and she looked so lovely with red colored cheeks and sparks of happiness in her eyes.

But there was something wrong. Arthur felt it somewhere deep inside him.

It's a dream or reality?

The pain wasn't more distant and remote. It felt strong and real.

But pain is in the mind, isn't it?

But there was something more than pain. Arthur could hear gun shots and screams, which became closer and closer.

"Here he is! Oh, my God… Arthur look at me. Arthur!"

Again the voice was familiar, but this time Arthur knew it's his friend voice. It wasn't mattered anyway.

It has to be a dream.

A/N: It's me again. I have one question: continue this story or leave it that way?