Watchers of the Night

by Matthew Keith

Chapter 25

  It was unlikely that anyone retained any of what was discussed through the lecture that afternoon. Dittrich led the discussion, but for those that may have benefited from his instruction, it was impossible to be aware of anything except the tension that hung so thickly in the room.

  Dittrich gave the outward appearance that he was unaware of it, but there was no way to mistake the air of anticipation and anxiety. The room had separated itself into two very clear groups. He spoke for almost four hours with only one small break.

  Finally, he said, “In closing, I want you all to think about what has been discussed here today. I want you all,” and he slowly, one by one, focused on everyone on Paul’s side of the room, “to think about what it would be like to be on your own again.

  “Many of you were found while still living with your family and never had to survive without some sort of support system surrounding you. For the ones who did not have that benefit, and were attempting to find a way to survive alone, I’m sure you can attest to the fact that people with our ability need other Walkers around them to keep from falling into the trap of insanity that can so easily claim us as victims.

  “We are special. We are unique and we do need and deserve special treatment. Do not,” and here he paused to make additional eye contact, “ever make the mistake of turning your back on an institution as devoted to your welfare as this one is.”

  Leaving an uneasy silence in his wake, Dittrich left the room. Slowly, silently, everyone rose and began shuffling out of the room.

  “Well,” Kenneth said with raised eyebrows, “if that wasn’t a veiled threat I’m not sure what else it would be.”

  No one else said a word on the way to the commons room for dinner.

  They ate mostly in silence, a mood that was reflected throughout the entire room. Even the Sentinels, not having been present for the lecture, recognized the subdued air and kept to themselves. There was an awareness of the unknown, and it scared the hell out of all of them.

  After they ate, Steven and Paul agreed that it would be a good time to go out on the balcony and try to call Stephanie.

  “Paul, are you ok?” she answered on the first ring.

  Standing ear to ear, both listening, Steven replied, “He’s fine. So am I, thanks for asking.”

  “Steven!” Stephanie exclaimed in delight. “So everything is ok? You guys are fine?”

  “I wouldn’t exactly say that,” Paul said. “Steph, there is a reason Steven and I are both on the phone. There is something I need to tell you and I need you to believe me.”

  “Us, dude,” Steven said.

  “Us. Absolutely. I meant that I need you to believe us. Of course.” Taking a deep breath and getting a look of encouragement from Steven, he said, “Steph, when I go to sleep I don’t exactly go completely to sleep.”

  “Ok…” she replied.

  “I never actually sleep. I can go anywhere I want, see anything I want, and hear anything I want when I’m asleep. It’s just… no one can see or hear me.”

  “Umm…”

  Paul could tell she had no idea how to respond to what he’d said. Who would? “I know it is impossible to believe, but it is completely the truth. I had a hard time believing it myself when Lisa first explained it all to me, and she explained it to me while we were both in the dream.”

  “Lisa? What do you mean you were both in the dream?”

  “There is so much more to this,” Paul began.

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Steven interjected.

  “Lisa is like me,” Paul said. “Someone who can go places while they’re sleeping. She can do the same thing I can. There are a bunch of people like me here at Astralis, they call us Walkers. They recruited me.”

  “Re-…” Stephanie started to ask flabbergasted, and switched gears. “Why would a sleep clinic recruit you?”

  “They’re not a sleep clinic…” Paul began.

  “They’re a super secret spy agency that does stuff for the U.N.!” Steven finished.

  “Alright, so you and Steven somehow found booze and you guys decided to drunk dial me,” Stephanie said. “Look, I’ve been worried sick about both of you and now you call me with this crap?”

  “Steph,” Paul said quietly. “It isn’t crap. We’re not lying and I need you to believe me. I’m here because Astralis is always looking for more people to join their agency. Steven is here because for every person that can do what I can do, there is someone assigned to protect them while they sleep.”

  “Why are you telling me this now, over the phone?”

  “Because we’re in big trouble,” Steven answered.

  “Right now this place works for the U.N., just like Steven said,” Paul explained. “The U.N. provides money for the facility and for training and stuff. It’s a pretty decent setup, but there are a group of Walkers here that think we’re getting screwed and that we should all make millions off of what we do.”

  “And it looks like they’re about to stage a mutiny on the guy that runs this place,” Steven said.

  “Oh my God,” Stephanie replied.

  “And they think Paul’s going to make all the difference in winning or losing the mutiny so they’re trying to force him to join them.”

  “Unless you two are on some serious drugs, you need to get out of there!” she said, panic in her voice.

  “You believe us, then?” Paul asked.

  “This is too ridiculous for you two to come up with on your own. Yes, I believe you.”

  “You’re the best, you know that Steph?” Paul said with affection.

  “Oh stop it,” Stephanie said, obviously meaning that he shouldn’t.

  There was a short pause as they both smiled into the phone at each other.

  “Are you serious?” Steven exclaimed. “Hello! Get a freakin’ room, you two. We got bigger issues right now than your unspoken love!”

  Paul paused a moment to pull his head back and glare at Steven, then put his mouth back to the phone and said, “That’s actually why we called, Steph. We aren’t ready to leave yet, but we’re close. If we call, will you come?”

  “Of course I will!”

  “Thank you,” Paul said, echoed by Steven thanking her as well.

  “Look, Stephanie—it isn’t long until sunset. I know I just dropped a big fat load of crazy in your lap, but we have to get down to our safe room for the night.”

  “Safe room?”

  Laughing, Paul said, “I’ll explain that the next time we talk. You just would not believe everything that has happened since I got here.”

  “We, dude,” Steven reminded him again.