Proxy (The Dreams of Reality Book 1)

by Gareth Otton

  Miriam and Tony let out surprised little chuckles while Stella and Kate just looked confused. They had never been there before. This was their first time in Tad's round room of doors.

  He motioned to the door behind him.

  "Follow me," he said. Then without waiting for a response, he opened the door and led them back to the world of the living.

  37

  Sunday, 30th November 2015

  08:1o

  Tad should have known better.

  It was always the moments when he was most sure of himself when a new surprise came along to put him in his place. He stepped through the familiar door into the living world expecting to come out in King Tower. He expected everything would be quiet and it would still be night. He thought they’d be alone.

  As Tad stepped out of the dreamworld and could see again, he had to blink and shield his eyes against the low hanging sun that had just risen over the horizon. Evidently, the passage of time was not the same in Dream.

  Even with that blindness, he couldn’t miss the crowd of people looking at him.

  What was worrying was that some of those people had video cameras.

  “What the hell is this?” Tony asked as he stepped into the sunlight. Tad turned to look at his ghost and found his teenage friend looking pleased with the reaction. “They here for us?”

  “I don’t know,” Tad answered.

  Stella stepped through the doorway and just as Tad had, she shielded her eyes. Also just like Tad, she didn’t miss their audience.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “I have no idea.” Tad was about to ask something when Miriam and Kate stepped into the world hand in hand.

  Miriam’s reaction was much like the rest of theirs, but Kate looked embarrassed.

  “Shit, they came. I didn’t think they would.”

  “What? Who came?” Miriam asked.

  Kate blushed.

  “The media. I was worried about you going in there without backup, so I thought I’d take matters into my own hands. I called a few reporters and told them that the police knew one of their own had been kidnapped and where she was, but weren’t prepared to do anything about it. I also might have let slip a few key details about Joshua King… and… well… this is the result.”

  “Why do that?” Tad asked, struggling to get his head around the idea.

  “To get this kind of reaction. This amount of media doesn’t show up without police attention. I also hoped they might put pressure on the powers that be to send in backup.” She grinned nervously. “I suppose my plan half worked.”

  “I’ll say—” Tad began, but was interrupted.

  “Tad,” Stella’s tone was insistent, and he got the impression she had been calling for his attention several times. She only got through when she took his hand and pulled hard on it.

  He turned to face her and was about to ask what was wrong when he saw what caught her attention.

  He had meant to exit the dreamworld inside the King compound, but had messed up. It turned out that was a good thing. When he looked back expecting to find King Tower, he found a pile of rubble and shattered glass. King tower was gone.

  “What…” he began to ask before his mind put the clues together. “Shit!”

  “What happened?” Stella asked.

  “Remember what Emily said, about King only needing one more sacrifice to complete his mad plan?”

  “But he never got it. You didn’t die, Tad.”

  “I’m aware of that. But he did, and he was a Proxy. What if he became the sacrifice?”

  “But he wasn’t on the stone table.”

  “I don’t think that matters. That was just King showing off. All that mattered was that a Proxy died in that world. I think I accidentally finished what he started.”

  “And the building exploded?” Tony asked. “Was that always part of the plan?”

  Tad shook his head. “I don’t think it exploded. I think the portal, or whatever it is that King opened, expanded and took the building with it.”

  “Then where is it now?” Miriam asked. “I don’t see that freaky place we’ve just come from.”

  Tad was shaking his head before she had even finished speaking. Now he was looking for it, he was surprised that he hadn’t found it before.

  “It’s there, just not in the way you think.”

  “You’ll need to make more sense than that Tad, because they’re coming.” Stella nodded toward the crowd of media over his shoulder and when he turned, he found them heading his way, microphones first.

  “Oh crap. Alright. Uh, basically, King’s plan worked, just not in the way he expected. The connection to that other world is stronger than we thought, you guys just can’t see it.”

  “Still not making sense Tad, and we’re almost out of time.” Tony didn’t sound upset by that comment. Already he was straitening himself out for the cameras and trying to look his best.

  “Alright. It’s hard to explain. King’s plan worked. The two worlds have merged.”

  “Then where’s all the crazy stuff?” Kate asked.

  “All around us. It’s everywhere. You guys just can’t see it. King has made the two worlds one. They are both occupying the same space only… God this is hard to explain.”

  He looked at the crowd of reporters who were approaching fast. At first the sight made him panic and a good explanation became more elusive. However, when he spotted a camera, he had an epiphany.

  “Think of the world like a TV. Until now there has only been one channel, let’s call it the Living channel. King has created a second channel called Dream. You can only watch one channel at a time, but just because you're not watching it, doesn’t mean its not there.”

  “Dream?” Miriam asked.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. It turns out that place wasn’t Death, it was Dream. That’s what Proxies have been channelling all this time. I… look, I’ll have to explain this later. There isn’t time now.”

  “So what? You’re saying the reason we can’t see this… dreamworld… is because we’re not tuned into the right station? What do we need, some kind of remote?” Tony asked.

  Tad grinned. “Not a remote, a Proxy.”

  As soon as he said it he knew it was true. Like with most things about his talent, the knowledge was just there for the taking. No matter where he was, he could step into Dream, tune into that other channel, whenever he wanted.

  The hand he didn’t realise he was still holding, tightened. He looked up to find Stella once more nodding behind him. He turned just in time to flinch away from the microphone shoved in his face.

  “Who are you?”

  “What happened here?”

  “Where did you come from?”

  The questions came thick and fast from every direction at once. Tad had no idea what to say. It was overwhelming, and he didn’t want to be there. He gripped Stella’s hand a little harder, drawing strength from her touch.

  “Uh,” he said, a nice eloquent start. “Well… I suppose that I should start by saying I didn’t blow up this building.”

  “Actually, you kind of did, Tad.” Tony said. “If you hadn’t—”

  “Not helping, Tony!” Tad blurted, talking over the teen, but not nearly quick enough.

  “So you did blow up the building? Why did you do it?”

  “Was it to rescue Stella Martin? Are you D.I. Martin?”

  Again the questions came from everywhere at once, again Tad didn’t know what to say.

  “Look, this was an accident. It wasn’t supposed to happen, it just… ah forget it. No comment.”

  The questions kept coming after that, but Tad was in no mood to answer. He held out his free hand to Kate and said, “Everyone join hands.”

  It was a testament to his ghosts that they didn’t question, they just did as asked. As soon as Tony completed the loop Tad fell back into his power and in his mind, he changed the channel.

  As quick as thought the questions stopped and the w
orld around them changed. One moment they stood on the road outside the destroyed King tower, and the next they were standing in a round room that was no longer filled with doors. There was only one set of double doors that Tad knew would lead to the rest of Dream.

  He didn’t need this room anymore. Dream was his to command, and he didn’t need the round room to find his way around. But it was comfortable and familiar.

  “Oh my God, where are we?”

  That voice wasn’t familiar. Tad didn’t need to turn to see who it was. Once again he was blind and could sense the world around him.

  Behind him were three reporters and a camera man who must have been touching Tad when he changed the channel. He had accidentally brought them too.

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to bring you here.”

  “Where are we?” the one reporter to keep her wits asked again, thrusting the microphone into Tad’s face as the camera pointed in his direction.

  “Uh… I’ll tell you what. You all get one peak outside and then you go right back. Tony, could you open the door?”

  Tony did as asked. The reporters gasped.

  Beyond that door was an alien reality. The wild garden and grasslands beyond was akin to a vision of the garden of eden, only with colours that could barely be imagined. They were vibrant and intense colours that had no place in the spectrum that humans can see.

  Even the reporter who had kept her wits about her to that point was lost for words.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Tad said, drawing their attention. “Welcome to Dream.”

  He enjoyed their speechlessness for a couple of seconds, then touched the nearest reporter on the shoulder. Another channel change and they were back in the living world.

  There were startled shouts as they appeared from nowhere, but Tad ignored them. The camera man hadn’t been touching the reporters, so with another change of the channel he was back in the dreamworld.

  “You too buddy,” he said.

  The man flinched, but wasn’t quick enough, and the moment Tad made contact he was back in the living world eliciting more startled yelps.

  The reporter who asked him the question in Dream had recovered quicker than anyone else yet again.

  “Are you telling us you have discovered another world, sir?” she asked before he could disappear.

  Tad hesitated. The young, blonde reporter looked like she was barely out of school. She kept her head when no one else had, and she kept asking questions. Tad felt that deserved at least something.

  “What’s your name?” he asked her.

  “Lizzie.”

  “Well Lizzie, it’s not another world. It’s another reality. It’s the dreamworld that we go to when we sleep.” He knew this had only created more questions, but Tad was fine with that. He was about to leave again when a new thought struck him.

  The world had changed, not just for him but for everyone. Even though only Proxies could hop between realities, the worlds were merged now and there was bound to be bleed over. That meant that the limitless possibilities of Dream would start infecting the world of the living. People had a right to know what to expect.

  “You got a card?” he asked Lizzie.

  She nodded and reached into her pocket to pull out a white card that was crumpled at the edges. Tad took it and put it into his jeans pocket, smiling once more at the reporter.

  “Give me some time to get my head straight, and I’ll call you. See you later Lizzie.”

  Before she had chance to say anything else he changed the channel again and returned to the round room where his friends waited.

  The hospital room wasn’t big enough for all of them, but that didn’t put them off. Tad took the seat next to Jen’s bed and held her hand. Stella leaned against the windowsill behind him and rested her hand on his shoulder. Tony sat on the other end of the windowsill and watched Jen with uncharacteristic solemness.

  Kate and Miriam were whispering to one another on the other side of the room. Tad could tell it was serious, but he didn’t eavesdrop. He was only interested in Jen.

  They waited in the dreamworld only long enough for Tad to explain what happened. He told them, as calmly as he could, about his epiphany while on the sacrificial table. He had to ignore the rising guilt he felt about not figuring it out quick enough to save either Kate or Charles. He explained everything until they were overwhelmed by the information.

  In the silence that followed, his own mind started working again, remembering how late it was in the real world and also remembering his promise to his daughter. He refused to take any more questions, there was only one thing on his mind. With just a thought he changed the channel again, this time letting his instinct guide him so he came into the real world in a new place.

  To say the people sitting in the waiting room were surprised when Tad and his entourage appeared was an understatement. He ignored them. All he was interested in was finding and talking to Jen’s doctors.

  When he found them, the doctors said the operation was about as successful as it could be. Now Jen had a few months of recovery and a life time of acclimating to a reality where she couldn’t walk. Tad wasn’t looking forward to that and would give anything to change it. That being said, he had some ideas he would test as soon as Jen was ready.

  He looked up as Miriam and Kate came to stand on the other side of the bed, Miriam reaching for Jen’s other hand.

  “She’ll be alright Tad,” she said. “You both will.”

  Something about the tone of her voice sparked a suspicion in his mind.

  “Why does that sound like a goodbye?” he asked.

  Kate grinned. “See, he’s not as stupid as you thought.”

  “It’s because it is, Tad,” Miriam answered. “We’re moving on.”

  “What? Why? You two have just had a reunion and the world has just had a major change. It’s bound to mean big things for ghosts—”

  “Exactly. Big things that might not be good. I don’t know if it escaped your attention this morning, but everyone outside King Tower saw us. Were you doing your thing to make them see us?”

  Tad shook his head.

  “I thought not. That means the world is changing for ghosts too, it means that people can interact with us now. The more interaction others can have with us, the more likely it is we can be hurt, maybe even destroyed.

  “I’ve spent three years separated from Kate. I don’t want to risk an eternity without her. We’ve been talking and we’ve decided. We’re moving on.”

  Tad was speechless.

  “I thought you weren’t staying behind just for Kate,” Tony said. “You always said you stayed behind because you could help people.”

  “And I did, partially. But I’m realising that people can get by without me. I’m more at peace than I once was.” To Tad she said, “We’ve made our decision. Once we’ve said our goodbyes to Jen, we’re moving on.”

  “That soon?” Tad asked. He couldn’t believe it. First Charles and now Miriam. Not to mention Kate. He hadn’t merged with her yet, but he had already grown accustomed to the idea that she would be one of his ghosts.

  “If we put it off too long then… well, who knows what might happen?” Kate said. “Besides. This was never for me. No offence, Tad, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before you get inside my head.”

  He couldn’t help himself, he laughed. They all did, and it cut the tension.

  “What are you laughing at?” A small voice said from the bed. “They didn’t shave my head, did they?”

  Tad turned his attention to Jen who was blinking and looking around the room in confusion. When her eyes found Stella’s they widened, and she quickly searched out Tad.

  “Are you hurt?” she asked, taking in his dishevelled state and the blood he hadn’t cleaned off his clothes. She was trying to sit up. Tad stopped her before she could hurt herself and tried to smile comfortingly.

  “No, Jen. Nothing to worry about.”

  “It’s over?” Jen asked. “I mean you ob
viously got Stella back, but—”

  “Yeah. It’s over. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Tony coughed suggestively.

  “What?” Jen asked. “What’s wrong?”

  Tad shot a withering glare Tony’s way, but he ignored him otherwise. “Nothing’s wrong. I promise. There’s just been some… uh… changes. Let’s wait until you're a bit better before we talk about them okay?”

  She frowned and her aura flared with the usual purple irritation before it faded again. She sighed and closed her eyes as she accepted his words. “Alright dad. I’m tired anyway.”

  Tad couldn’t deny the tingle of warmth that ran through him when she called him dad, and he grinned.

  Soon he would have a long conversation with her about what happened in Dream. He’d have to share the news about Charles with her. But for right now she was fragile, and he felt this news could wait, especially with the shock she was about to get.

  “Okay Jen. Don’t go back to sleep yet though. Kate and Miriam want to talk to you.” He turned to the two ghosts and asked, “You want time alone with her?”

  They nodded, and he stood up. “I’ll be right outside, Jen.” He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, then stepped away. Stella took Jen’s hand, smiling down on her before joining Tad.

  Tony was next and like Tad he kissed Jen on the forehead. He whispered something to her that Tad couldn’t hear. It made Jen blush and smile at the same time, and then he too joined Stella and Tad in leaving the room.

  “What did you say to her?” Tad asked once the door closed.

  “None of your business,” Tony answered.

  Tad felt a flicker of irritation. “For the love of God Tony, don’t push me today or I’ll send you packing as well.”

  Tony just grinned at him and shook his head. “No you won’t. And like I said, it was none of your business. It was just between me and Jen.”

  Tad was about to say something else when he felt someone take his hand and he calmed down. He looked at the slim hand holding his own and followed it up to Stella who was smiling and shaking her head.

  She was right. This wasn’t the time or place for anger. For once he would let Tony’s annoying behaviour slide.