‘I’m going to head off now. I’m so tired.’
‘That’s a shame,’ said Joe. ‘Was nice to meet you.’
I gave Sarah a hug and waved towards Tracey who’d gotten cosy with her new beau and headed out into the cool fresh air. The walk home was refreshing and relaxing. For the first night in days, I enjoyed a rare night of dreamless sleep.
***
Early the next day, a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and tomato helped hold off a hangover. I spent the morning reading and watching reality TV shows with girls wearing way too much make-up yelling and clawing at each other. It had me questioning what was wrong with the world if this was considered entertainment. Still I watched, relaxing on our comfortable couch, which sagged so much it hugged you when you sat in it. Sarah emerged from her bedroom reeking of alcohol around lunchtime, coming downstairs banging and thumping through the kitchen looking for paracetamol.
‘Wow, I hope you don’t feel how you look,’ I remarked with a smirk.
She poked her tongue out and dragged herself back up the stairs towards the bathroom.
Just before she closed the door, she croaked at me, ‘Going to beach. Get dressed.’
Unsure if it had been an invitation or if she’d spoken in cavewoman to avoid vomiting, I decided an afternoon at the beach was what I needed.
After an hour, she emerged from the bathroom looking as though the earlier scene had never happened.
‘How can you look so good?’ My jealousy crept into my words.
‘I’m Sarah!’ she replied with a proud grin.
***
We met up with Tracey at Sandhaven Fish and Chips and with her, Joe and Riley, the guys from the previous night. Their faces reminded me I hadn’t hassled Sarah for any details about what had happened after I’d left them. It was strange. I usually didn’t get a chance to question her as she was so eager to tell me. Tracey and Riley both looked as though they had just crawled from the nearby gutter to join us, their eyes dark and hollow and their faces pale. They avoided making eye contact, and Tracey wasn’t asleep on my couch that morning. I decided it was because she had helped Riley keep his bed warm instead. Joe, on the other hand, looked as though he’d just had hours of sleep. He was bright-eyed and had a content smile.
‘Look at us. We look terrible,’ Sarah fished for a compliment. ‘Joe was the smart one only having a couple of beers. He’s the only one who looks human today.’
No compliment came, but she didn’t appear worried.
‘I don’t know, Amelia looks fine to me,’ he answered, smiling my way.
‘That’s because she cheated and left early.’ She gave me a playful punch on the shoulder.
After lunch, we headed towards the beach.
I’d always loved the beach. It was purifying soaking in the rays of the sun and sinking my feet into the soft warm sand. The salt water rinsed away any impurities and always left me invigorated and renewed after a dip. Sitting on the sand, alone in my thoughts, I stared out towards the horizon with a vacant smile on my face. I had stepped into a travel catalogue. The crisp blue sky set above soft waves that fell and crashed into one another lapping at the shore.
‘May I sit here?’ the calm voice asked quiet enough that it didn’t pull me from my daydream.
Someone sat next to me, and saying nothing, they joined me in enjoying our surroundings.
Tracey ran past, distracting me from my daze. My eyes followed her as she ran up a small dune and proceeded to vomit on the nearby vegetation. My head snapped back to avoid seeing any more than I had, and I caught Joe’s gaze.
‘Seems as though someone had a little too much fun last night,’ he suggested with an amused grin. ‘It’s a shame you weren’t having fun and took off.’
‘Wasn’t really in the mood.’ Releasing our eye contact, I looked back towards the sea.
‘Looks like you’re happier here at the beach.’ He pointed out towards the horizon. ‘I am too.’
He left me alone in my thoughts, both of us watching the waves that rolled in. His presence wasn’t awkward; it was nice to have someone else happy to enjoy the view.
Sarah approached us with a puzzled expression on her face. To her, we appeared strange staring in a trance into the distance with grins on our faces.
She wasn’t one for sitting still.
‘Did you come here to look at the water or swim?’
‘Swim!’ I announced, despite knowing the question was for Joe.
As I stood up, so did he, and the three of us jogged towards the water together.
Tracey and Riley both stayed lying on their towels on the sand. I was confident we wouldn’t be hearing much from them that afternoon. Come nighttime, Tracey would be ready for another big night out. That girl knew how to party, regain her energy, and then party once more. It had become her routine for most weekends, and the majority of the time Sarah joined her. The furthest I ventured out with them was to the Tavern, and I’d be home long before they caught the courtesy bus into the city. The one time I did join them, Sarah had convinced me to have a shot of tequila. That resulted in more shots of tequila, which resulted in a night that became an assortment of images that included bad dancing and hugging toilet bowls. Thankfully, I’d woken up in my own bed the following morning.
The salt water refreshed my hot skin as it sank into my neckline. I stayed there, sinking my toes into the wet sand beneath me while Sarah and Joe spent time splashing around and getting to know each other.
To be honest, I should’ve been used to being the third wheel with Sarah. It was usually a handsome, clean-cut guy who didn’t give me a second glance. Sarah always felt safer when I tagged along, and if she didn’t drag me with her, I’d never have gone anywhere. Now she’d fallen for a different type of guy, and I wondered if she’d grown sick of the arrogant selfishness of the ones she’d pursued in the past. Refreshed, I waded from the water and proceeded to lie on my stomach on my towel, eyes closed and my body relaxed, melting into the fabric.
As the warm sun seeped into the skin on my exposed back, I heard a noise amongst the trees on my right. Lifting my head, I squinted, trying to see where it had come from. Nothing was there. Disturbed from my rest, I rolled over and sat up, taking in my surroundings. Darkness had crept in around me. Could it have gotten this late so fast? As I stood up, it became obvious I was alone. Everyone had left without me. I must have fallen asleep and not realised. Sarah wouldn’t leave me on my own.
A deep growl came from the trees. I turned to my left slowly so as not to startle it. The beach faded darker and darker. Before I knew it, I stood in the wet bushland of my last nightmare. This time I was in a clearing, encircled by tall silver gum trees, easy for my attacker to see. It stepped out from its hiding place amongst the bushes and trunks. I jumped with fright as lightning exposed the enormity of its shape. Thunder cracked emphasising how dire my situation was.
Should I run? Or should I hold my ground?
The same fear flooded back through my body, and my chest grew heavier as my options ran through my head. The beast appeared to wait for my decision; it started with its dark beady eyes, breathing heavily and poised to attack should I make a wrong move. Had it noticed me? I’d been frozen in place the whole time. The thought faded. It lunged forwards using its thick hind legs, its mighty figure easily double the height of my own ...
***
‘We’re going!’ snapped Sarah, hitting me hard on the back of the head jolting me awake.
Disorientated, I looked around. The golden sand and the rolling waves helped me realise I was still on the beach. The sun had sunk into the horizon, casting an orange and pink smudge across it marking the end of our afternoon. I shook the sand from my towel, folded it and tucked it under my arm, and jogged up the beach to catch up to Sarah. She waited impatiently on the path. Joe, Tracey, and Riley caught up with her too. Everyone said a quick goodbye, and Sarah and I started on our walk home. Well, a quick walk mixed with spurts of jogging. Sarah wasn’t interest
ed in a relaxing stroll. Anytime I questioned her on why she had become upset, I received a snappy answer, saying it was ‘nothing’ and ‘not to worry about it’.
By the time I stepped through the front door, puffing and panting from trying to keep up with her, she was in her bedroom. I decided to leave her alone.
Sarah barely left her room that night. She emerged once to make dinner, but without more than a few words, she locked herself back in her bedroom. That night, I dreamt again of the giant bear, always threatening, but again, I awoke just before it could maul me. I’d never had a dream repeat itself so many times before, and I became frustrated that I was unable to shake it.
***
Come Sunday morning, Sarah was still distant, but was at least speaking to me. She didn’t mention the beach or Joe again, so I left it alone. Sarah knew how to make me feel better whenever I became homesick or upset that I was a Dreamer. I’d never been very good at doing the same for her. I was a useless friend. When Sarah was in a mood, I’d decided it best to let her work it out for herself. Otherwise, I ended up in the firing line of her frustrations. She always apologised later and felt sorry for the nasty things she’d said, but I’d decided in high school that it was best to avoid it in the first place. That way, she didn’t have to apologise, and I didn’t cop the brunt of her anger. Sarah was a happy, fun-loving girl for the most part. It was rare to see her upset. When you were unlucky enough to get on her not-so-fun-loving side, she would let you know.
Sarah may have had a mean streak, but knowing her as well and as long I did, you couldn’t help but be inspired by her. In year ten, her mother, a school teacher, was unable to afford to live in the city any longer. As a result, she’d asked for a transfer to Montville Primary School. That was the school I’d attended. She’d never known her dad who left before she was born. That didn’t upset her, but moving away from the city did. Sarah and I met during a Maths class together, and from our first conversation, she decided we were going to be friends. Even when she became popular with the students in our year, she kept me under her wing and insisted I do everything with her. She’d been my first real friend and pushed me to do things and go places I’d have otherwise avoided. Despite the popularity, she hated living in the bush and dreamt of the day she could move back to the city.
‘It’s so boring here compared to the city,’ she’d say. ‘You wait, Amelia. When we graduate, I’ll show you.’
She hated living in Montville, but to me, it was home. I’d grown up on a farm with my mum and dad and enjoyed a happy childhood. My parents hadn’t always been impressed with the situations Sarah dragged me into, but they were happy I’d made a close friend. They grew to care for her as though she was a second daughter. During our last year of high school, Sarah’s mum became ill and was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was hard for her to see her mum so unwell, and difficult for me to be there for her as I had never been good with words of comfort. Eight months after her diagnosis, Sarah’s mum lost her fight with cancer and passed away. Sarah was devastated. My parents offered for her to come and live with us, but I knew she wanted to leave the sad memories behind and move closer to the city where her heart had always been. Despite the terrible circumstances, it forged a deep friendship between us, and I admired her for the positive outlook she had on life despite her tragic loss.
CHAPTER THREE
A girl wearing a white hospital gown appeared. Her messy long brown hair hung in front of her face, making it difficult to recognise her, but her presence was familiar. Taking in my sterile surroundings, I realised we were in the MMC’s facility, and she gestured for me to follow her. Reluctantly, I started after her, walking through the halls and corridors of the facility. As her pace quickened, the building became a labyrinth of walkways as we turned corners abruptly here and there. Her pace got so fast, I would catch sight of her ducking behind a corner or through a door. I kept following her, trying to keep up and not lose sight of her while still trying to make sure danger wasn’t present. A heavy white door appeared with ‘Sleep Room Four’ printed on it in dark grey. Heaving it open, I stepped through the doorway.
The room was stark white with no windows or doors; it was so white, it was difficult to establish where the walls ended and the floor and ceiling began. I turned to open the door behind me, but it had disappeared. I was right where I was meant to be.
‘Save yourself!’ I turned towards the frightened voice, but she was nowhere in sight.
‘Save yourself!’ This time more desperate.
Suspended from the high ceiling, a giant birdcage swayed slightly. The girl I’d been following cuddled her knees inside it. She sobbed, soaking her hospital gown and hair.
Rushing water burst into the room, pouring from the fibres of the walls. Although I tried to swim, I sank straight back to the floor, my bare feet heavy as though they had lead weights inside of them. The water rose over my face, and the sound of crying was drowned out by the sound of rushing, gurgling water. I breathed deeply, sealing my mouth and nose. Pain crept into my aching lungs, begging me for a breath of air. The intense agony grew as my vision blurred, and I inhaled a mouthful of water.
***
That dream shook me for longer than usual. It normally didn’t take me long to shake off the fear, sadness, or pain and carry on with my normal day, but that morning, I remained lost in my thoughts. Who was the girl? The faint pain in my chest still throbbed, which didn’t help me let the dream go. Rubbing it gently appeared to soothe the ache until, hours later, it dissolved. My thoughts were jumbled, and I had many questions with no way to answer them. I kept telling myself over and over that it was just a nightmare, in the hope it would convince my overactive brain to forget the whole ordeal.
After lunch, the time came to start my shift at the grocery store. After packing my pyjamas and a set of new clothes in my backpack, I slung it over my shoulder and headed out the door.
I was unusually distracted for most of my shift. I’d forgotten to tell a few customers to ‘have a nice day’, and one customer had to ask me to put her shopping into a bag. Once my shift was over, I walked to the bus stop and waited for the two-thirty bus to the city. Once again, it was time for me to visit the MMC’s testing facility for another night of tests and being analysed. Remembering my dream, I crossed my fingers in hope of a cure.
***
By the time I got to the MMC building, scanned my wrist to get my locker key, and showered, the strange cloud that surrounded me all day subsided. It helped that Nurse Cameron was working the night shift. It was nice to see a friendly and handsome face. I smiled at the others occupying the room as I entered. There had been two other girls, but only one was in the room. Maybe she had been cured. The remaining girl looked to be around the same age as me, but despite this, we never spoke. The man in his forties kept to himself. We’d say the odd ‘hi’ and ‘bye’, but the knowledge that each of us was a Dreamer kept us to ourselves.
We sat, in a row, on big comfortable couches while they took blood tests. I filled out forms outlining my sleeping habits and the dreams I’d experienced since my last visit. The bear dreams were easy to relay, but I decided to hold back when it came to the dream I’d had with the girl. Maybe it was too fresh, but I decided to keep it to myself. Maybe next time, when it wasn’t so raw in my mind. I shouldn’t have relayed the bear dreams, either because the doctor who read my paperwork became agitated that I was having a recurring dream. It was a step back in my treatment. And I’d hoped, as I did every visit, I would leave cured.
After they finished poking, prodding, and questioning us, we headed over to our designated beds. Kicking off my second shoe, I pulled back the crisp white sheets. A lady burst through our doorway, yelling frantically, her face red with panic and wet with overexertion.
‘Don’t let them take away your dreams! Listen to them!’ she pleaded. ‘Don’t let them take away your dreams! Save yourself!’
As she got out the last line, two bulky men grabbed her by the arms and
dragged her back through the doorway.
My dream flooded back into memory, save yourself! Those two words echoed through my mind. When I first started at the facility, protestors would stand out the front with placards covered in quotes from the Bible, suggesting God was not happy with the Wristochips. They called the chip the ‘mark of the beast’ and told anyone willing to listen that their choice to receive one meant they would go to hell. It was overly dramatic in my eyes, and it wasn’t long before they were moved on and stopped showing up all together.
I’d never wondered until that moment why such passionate demonstrators would give up so suddenly. My guess was that the realisation that it was almost impossible to function without a Wristochip had forced them to give in and receive one. When Wristochips were first introduced, there was debate with regards to how good or bad they were. As time went on, the debate subsided, and were advertised as, ‘the next step in human evolution,’ and it was essential in our day-to-day existence. I didn’t know one person who didn’t have one and couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to live without it.
Doubt swirled around my head as a lady, her hair tied back in a slick ponytail and wearing thick black-rimmed glasses, walked into the room with a computer tablet in her hand. She had an air of importance, and I swear I caught Nurse Cameron rolling his eyes.
She stopped inside the door and proceeded to speak in a confident, commanding tone.
‘I am Dr. Muller, the MMC’s psychiatrist, and I want to apologise for the young lady’s outburst just now. As her psychiatrist, I thought it best that I inform you of her mental condition myself and hope that you will continue your testing this evening despite the interruption.’
We agreed, nodding our heads and with a few murmured words, but the doubt still hung in the back of my mind. To be honest, the psychiatrist had firmly planted the seed. She’d tried too hard to convince us that the woman was mentally ill.
‘That was intense,’ said Nurse Cameron.
Dawn of the Dreamer (Dreamer Trilogy Book 1) Page 2
