by K M Frost
A couple minutes later, Instructor Lokina started class.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Artistic Literature—to be honest, I felt like it was a girly thing. The lectures were always about birds and flowers and love. Instructor Lokina was what made the class bearable. She was young, but surprisingly passionate about her Theme. She would get so into the lectures and the material that she would stage reenactments, musicals, and nature walks in the middle of class.
Today, for example, we were learning about traditional courting songs. After a brief, but hearty premise, Instructor Lokina began to perform some of her favorite songs, complete with excessive actions and exaggerated facial expressions. Though she did sometimes call on students to join her, she usually kept to volunteers, which left me in the clear.
By the time the class ended, I’d laughed away all my worries about Ethan and his thugs. I followed the stream of kids down the hall to my next class, Music of Capernia.
Instructor Stevens was a nice enough man, but my favorite part about his class was the fact that he’d been teaching for almost fifty years and was very traditional. Apparently, back in the day it was considered extremely rude for a student to speak during a lecture, so he never called on anyone. Instead, we all sat in our chairs and listened to famous musical selections and lectures about Capernia’s most renowned composers and performers.
The last class of the day was Practical Literature, my least favorite class. I trekked down the stairs and tried not to drag my feet too much.
I wasn’t the least bit interested in the topics we discussed, and I definitely wasn’t a fan of Instructor Grey. He was a severe middle-aged man who was bound and determined to ruin my life. Not only did he insist on regular team projects, but he always seemed to call on me when I didn’t know the answer. I’d been humiliated in so many of his classes, I always dreaded going.
Today was no different; until I stepped into the room and saw an unexpected face in the back corner of the room—in my seat.
“Leah?”
She glanced up at the sound of her name and grinned at my stunned expression. “What’re the odds, right?”
I stared at her for a second without moving. The room was still filling up and there were any number of empty seats that I could take, but none of them looked welcoming.
I’d been sitting in that chair for years. No matter what room I was in, I always sat in the chair against the far wall, three seats from the back. But now Leah was there.
I felt like I’d walked into an alternate reality and couldn’t quite wrap my head around what was happening.
Leah chuckled and gave me an odd look. “Jonas? Did those apes knock your brain loose or something?”
I shook my head and hurried to drop into the chair next to her. It felt wrong. “No, it’s just . . .” I hesitated. It seemed stupid to argue about my old seat. What did it matter where I sat?
Leah frowned at me. Then her eyes brightened with understanding and she pointed at the chair under her. “Oh, was this your seat?”
I nodded, then quickly shrugged. “Forget about it. It’s not a big deal.”
“Well that’s good.” She settled deeper into the hard chair, making a big show of getting comfortable. “‘Cause it’s mine now.”
I blinked in surprise.
A couple of the kids nearby sent us strange looks. Mostly likely they were wondering why anyone would choose to sit by me, let alone take my seat.
Leah laughed. “Wow, you must really love this chair.” She smirked. “Guess I made a good choice.”
I opened my mouth to insist again that it didn’t matter, but then Instructor Grey arrived, and the class fell silent.
I turned my attention to the front of the room and tried to ignore the self-satisfied expression on Leah’s face.
This was going to be a long class.
Chapter 7
The chime rang an hour later, marking the end of classes for the day. I gathered my things and tossed them into my bag. My face was still burning from Instructor Grey’s last question (seriously, who knew the name of the mother of the author of Traditions of Plenty?).
“He’s kind of a jerk, isn’t he?” Leah muttered from beside me.
I glanced over at her and then quickly toward the front of the room where Instructor Grey was standing. Thankfully he wasn’t looking at us.
I stood up and pulled my bag’s strap up onto my shoulder. “Be careful who you say that around.” I kept the warning low, just between us.
I turned and started up the aisle of chairs and Leah followed, a row of desks between us.
“Oh, come on, Jonas.” She didn’t even try to keep her voice down. “You fear authority way too much.”
“That may be true.” I glanced apprehensively at Instructor Grey. He looked down his long nose at me when we passed him, and I lowered my voice another notch. “But at least I’m still alive.”
Leah snorted and followed me out of the room. “Yeah, but you wouldn’t be if I hadn’t saved your neck this afternoon.”
“I said thank you. What do you want, a medal?”
Her face darkened and she pushed past me, but the hallway was so congested, she didn’t put much distance between us.
I closed the space between us easily. “What does Ethan have to do with this, anyway?”
She rolled her eyes. “Isn’t it obvious? He only beats you up is because you’re a coward. He picks on people he’s sure he can beat.”
I bristled at her tone and insinuation. “I’ve survived this long, haven’t I? Ethan picks on anyone he feels like.”
She laughed humorlessly. “That’s not how it works. They always go after the weak. And the weak always lose.”
The crowd around us had faded away and now we stood alone in the empty hall. I studied Leah’s angry face. Something about her tone—the fervor in her voice— made me think this wasn’t just about me and Ethan. But before I could ask her about it, she turned away, her long blonde hair whipping behind her.
I watched her go, stunned and confused.
I shook my head (and all thoughts of Leah away) and made my way outside, turning my mind toward my afterschool chores.
Ellie was waiting for me by the door. I was surprised to see her, and she seemed surprised to see me, too.
I rolled my eyes. “What, you thought Ethan had done me in?”
I walked past her and she hurried to catch up.
“No.” She had to jog to keep pace with my longer strides. “I just thought you’d be a little more . . . well, beat up.”
I cast her a glance and slowed down a little so she didn’t have to try quite so hard to keep up. “Well, turns out Ethan’s not as tough as he looks.”
Her eyes widened. “You beat him up?” She sounded shocked and slightly awed.
“Well, not Ethan. But I did get Austin’s nose pretty good, and I took down Brock.”
“Then . . . Who got Ethan?”
I hesitated. “A friend.” I knew Ellie was well aware of my lack of friends, and would most certainly have some questions.
Sure enough, she did.
She stopped walking and turned to face me. “Who?”
“You don’t know her.” I stepped around her easily, but she hurried to my side again.
“Her? Who is she?”
I frowned. I didn’t feel like talking about Leah right then. “Her name’s Leah. She’s new at school.”
“If she’s new, then how are you friends with her?”
I huffed. “I don’t know. She helped me teach Ethan and the others a lesson. That’s it.”
“Hmm . . .”
I saw a wide array of emotions on my little sister’s face. None of them put me at ease. But at least she stopped talking.
We made it home after one of the longest days of my life and I immediately went to my room and shut the door, grateful for the solitude. I could hear Ellie’s excited voice on the other side of the door as she told Mom about her day, but I easily blocked it out and closed my eyes.
I laid back on my bed and enjoyed the way my soft pillow cradled my pounding head. Man, I was tired . . .
“Jonas?” Mom called from the other side of my closed door.
I sat up in surprise and felt my head spin. “Yeah?”
“Ellie says you were in a fight today.”
I muttered a dark phrase about little sisters and then pulled the door open. Mom was just outside, blue eyes filled with worry. Ellie stood behind her, just out of reach.
Mom immediately came into my room and walked me to the bed, and sent Ellie to get the med-kit from the bathroom.
Mom quietly inspected my face and then probed my head for bumps. While she worked, she asked me what had happened. So I told her.
I told her how Ethan had appeared at break and how I’d run for cover in the forest, but Austin had tackled me. Then I told her about how Leah had stepped in and helped to even the odds. I just told Mom she was a new girl at school. I’m not sure why I didn’t tell her about the Reality Dreams. I guess I just didn’t want her to think I was nuts.
“Were Ethan and the others hurt badly?”
I was surprised by her question, and a little hurt by her concern for my would-be murderers, but I shook my head. “Not really. We mostly just stunned them so we could get away. Although, Austin’s nose might take a while to heal—I hit it pretty hard.”
“Good.”
I stared at her. “What?”
Mom smiled. “I wanted to be sure those boys were taught a lesson. Although, maybe I should call their parents about this . . .”
“No!” I quickly grabbed her arm, though she made no move to stand. “Mom, that’ll just make things worse. They should leave me alone for now, because they won’t want word to get around that a girl beat them. But if people find out, they won’t have anything to lose. Just let me handle it for now. Please?”
She hesitated and then leaned down to kiss my head softly. “Alright, Jonas, but you need to promise me, if there’s any more trouble you’ll tell me. Deal?”
I smiled, relieved. “Deal.”
“Let me get you something for that headache.”
A few minutes later I had pain killers slipping into my bloodstream and a soft pillow under my head. I was feeling better already.
“I’ll get you when it’s time for dinner.” Mom kissed me again and then closed the door behind her.
Something in the combination of the warmth, pain killers, and fatigue sent me into sub-consciousness before I’d even realized I was falling asleep.
Within minutes of being shut alone in my dim room, I was entering the Reality Dreams.
* * *
The first thing I’m aware of is the sound of water in the distance. I can’t tell if it’s an ocean, a river, or just a stream, but I’m fairly certain it’s water.
I try to open my eyes, but they’re heavy. After a moment of struggling, I manage to pull them open. I’m in the same cave I was in last night, still wearing that strange white suit
I sit up and take in my surroundings.
It’s dim, but faint daylight slips in from a distant opening. I can’t see the opening, but I know it’s to my right, because that’s where the light is coming from.
I listen for anything out of the ordinary, but there’s only the sound of water moving somewhere nearby.
“Hello?” I call, squinting to see more of the cave, despite the darkness.
No one answers me, so I stand up.
I’m kind of surprised when the tips of my hair brush the ceiling. I’m not all that tall, but still, this cave is pretty big. When I’d seen Rick crouching last night, I’d assumed he was much taller than me. I guess not so much—probably no more than a foot.
“Is anyone there?”
I hear my voice echo around the cave, but nothing else.
“Rick? Leah? Stewart?”
There’s no answer.
The silence settles in my stomach like a stone. Is it possible I imagined the whole thing? Last night, the Reality Dreamers, everything? But I’ve seen Leah. And if she’s real, then the others must be, too. Right?
That’s when I realize it’s not nighttime yet. They’re probably all still awake. I remember falling asleep after taking pain relievers for my headache. They must be working, because my head feels fine.
I take a step toward the cave entrance, but I stop when my foot kicks something solid on the floor. I catch myself before I can fall on my face, and then I crouch down to investigate.
I almost scream when I see it’s a body.
The next moment I realize it’s Rick.
Trying to calm my racing heart, I take a closer look and decide I don’t like the way he looks when he’s asleep —broad shoulders, short black hair, calm face. He looks too peaceful, barely even breathing. It’s creepy.
Standing back up, I spot two more bodies: Stewart and Leah. They must’ve fallen asleep (or woken up in reality) soon after I did.
I don’t remember leaving the Reality Dreams last night. One moment I had been talking with the Reality Dreamers, and the next moment I was waking up in my bed in reality. It’s kind of unnerving that I can’t remember.
Shaking away the thoughts and uneasiness, I walk between the sleeping bodies and cautiously make my way toward the entrance of the cave.
I remember all too clearly the things that chased me two nights ago, and I have absolutely no desire to run into them again. But I’m very curious about the Reality Dreams. I know I get to explore tonight with the others, but a part of me wonders what it looks like in the day.
It doesn’t take long to find the entrance, and when I step out into the bright sun, I blink.
When my eyes finally adjust to the light, I look around at the sprawling landscape in surprise. I’m not sure what I expected to find, but it sure wasn’t this barren valley.
In the distance I can see shadowed gray mountains, but for the most part the ground is just dry and empty all around. The bleak valley stretches far in every direction, and on every side there are those same towering, gloomy mountains.
I can hear the water more clearly now, but I still can’t see it. But it can’t be that far away, right? I know Rick said it’s not safe for me to be outside alone, but I can probably find it and make it back to the cave alright. Besides, I’m thirsty.
And I’m really curious.
Ignoring my better judgement, I step out into the sunlight and immediately feel the heat of its rays beat down on my skin. I’ve never felt sunlight quite like it, and it fascinates me. It feels like the sun is closer, more intense. I wonder if I’m at a higher altitude here.
With one last glance at the cave I’m leaving behind, I move farther into the Reality Dreams. My feet stir up dust with each step, but my white shoes make no sound as they scuff along the hard, dry ground.
Feeling free and excited, I take several steps away from the cave and then turn back. It’s much bigger than I first thought, and actually is just a small portion of a very large mountain. The rock of the cave is the same color I can see on the mountains in the distance. The cave completes the circle, effectively locking us into this valley.
I wonder if the Reality Dreamers have been to other places, or if they just stay in the valley. It doesn’t seem like there’d be much to explore here, but maybe there’s something I don’t see. Besides, the Reality Dreams can’t go on forever, can they? They must end somewhere.
Suddenly, I feel lightheaded and I start to sway on my feet. I realize distantly I must be starting to wake up in reality. Remembering clearly what the others said about the dangers of falling asleep outside, I run as quickly as I can toward the cave’s entrance.
Why did I go out so far?
I’m losing consciousness. I can sense the awareness leaving my body, but I’m not inside the cave yet. If I can stay awake for just one more moment . . .
* * *
“Jonas.” Mom’s voice was soft. “Jonas, it’s time for dinner.”
I slid my eyes open and looked up at her, tryin
g to remember where I was. That’s right—I was in my bed. I’d fallen asleep. I’d been dreaming.
Mom’s voice pulled me back to the present. “I’m sorry to wake you, but you really should eat.”
I nodded distantly. “Okay.”
She smiled and helped me stand up.
My head was foggy and I felt like my body weighed a ton. But I was not about to let my mom baby me into the kitchen where Dad and Ellie would see how pathetic I was. So I gently shrugged her hand off and took the lead.
Dad and Ellie were already waiting, just as I’d expected. I dropped onto my regular chair across the table from Ellie.
I didn’t feel much like eating, but then I saw what Mom had made for dinner and my stomach growled greedily. I hadn’t realized I was so hungry, but now I felt lightheaded from hunger.
As soon as Mom gave me my plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, I ate ravenously. I guess standing up to a bully really takes it out of you. It wasn’t long before I’d finished and asked for seconds.
Dad stopped me after thirds, though, and suggested I let the food settle before I made myself sick. Mom agreed, so that was the end of it.
I sat at the table for a few more minutes, but now that I’d eaten, all I wanted was to go back to sleep.
Before I could escape to my room though, Dad recruited me for dish duty. I spent the next half hour standing next to Dad and washing the dishes we’d used for dinner in scalding water while Mom and Ellie tidied up the rest of the kitchen.
While we worked, we talked about our days. I ended up retelling my adventure to Dad, who was proud of the way I’d stood up to Ethan.
After the sun had set and the house was clean again, Mom and Dad took Ellie to her room to tuck her in. I went to my own room and pulled on my pajamas before climbing into bed.
Mom and Dad slipped into my room and told me good night. I let Mom kiss me and then watched them leave the room, closing the door behind them.
In no time at all, the house was still and quiet; it wasn’t long before I was asleep, too.
Chapter 8