by Linda Marr
***
My drugged sleep was like death. I didn’t know how long it lasted. I couldn’t go anywhere, certainly couldn’t dream walk. I was cloaked in thick, frightening darkness.
But finally I fought my way through it. I jerked awake, and stumbled to my feet. The world twisted around me, and I fell back on the ground.
My palms pressed against the floor, waiting for the dizziness to end. I felt sick, then sicker still as I began to remember what happened. Jeremiah didn’t believe me; Hector and Gideon would be unstoppable. And I was lost.
I forced myself to look up more slowly, and the dizziness receded.
In the dim light, I saw I was in a small office crammed with boxes and furniture stacked up haphazardly… just like Jax’s hideaway.
The lightning bolt on the door!
I shot up from the floor, and was rewarded with another wave of sick dizziness. I staggered over to the wall. The lightening bolt door was to the right of me. I was just about positive. That had to be where it was.
I knocked frantically on the wall. No response. I realized I didn’t know what time of day it was or whether Jax was even there. I sank to the floor again in defeat.
The light in the room was soft and dim. I looked up there was a small window high on the opposite wall. It was identical to the one in Jax’s room. Was it large enough to climb out? I could stack those boxes… as I peered up at it, a blush of bright red streaked in. Sunrise or sunset?
At least I had a way of marking time. When all light was extinguished and it was dark, I would keep trying to get Jax to hear me. He’d come back to his room eventually, he had to.
I sank back down and thought. But what if it was sunrise? And even if Jax got me out, would it be too late?
I was no match for all the explosives Gideon was obviously going to plant, so how would I stop him? If I went to the police, what would I tell them? The donor centers were secret – Jeff said most police didn’t even know about them. If I told them only about the explosives, they’d either dismiss me as crazy, or in a world where violence was commonplace, they’d arrest me. I’d be no better off than I was right now.
The only people that would believe and help me were at the farmhouse. I’d come here so angry that they’d refused to free thousands of donors. I realized now how wrong I was to leave. I saw it clearly now.
At the farmhouse, they risked their lives to rescue the donors who were about to die. Jeff was right. That was the best they, or anyone, could do.
If I could reach the farm, I knew they’d listen. Even if they hated me for running away, they’d never desert the donors.
But if I was able to escape this room, this church, I really didn’t know how to find the farmhouse or how much time I’d have to try. It had taken me almost two days to reach the city. Even if I could somehow manage to retrace my steps, I’d reach the farmhouse too late.
Then a thought struck me. There was another solution. Kavan. I could dream walk to him, he’d listen, no matter how much I’d hurt him.
I lay down on the hard floor wishing I had one of Jax’s blankets and forced my eyes shut.
I tried to breathe calmly in and out. The last effects of the drug they’d given me were making my heart pound. My thoughts spun over to Jeremiah. I was glad I hadn’t told him I was a dream walker. His men would’ve found some way to abuse my gift.
The red light in the window was slowly turning to a deep blackish blue. So it must be sunset. I remembered what Kavan said about dream walkers being able to fall asleep quickly. I tried to focus on that.
Finally, my breathing calmed, and before I knew it, I was streaking along in the dark, feeling that now familiar flying sensation. I was dream walking. But could I find Kavan?
I painted a picture in my mind of the lake where I’d last seen him. And then, relief washing over me, I was there standing right next to it.
It was daylight, and donor kids were climbing on the bright jungle gym, donor moms chatted on benches. It was so pleasant, so pretty. I must be beautiful again too.
There was no sign of Kavan.
I needed to dream walk somewhere else. I stepped behind a tree and closed my eyes, remembering another park, across town, near the soccer field. Kavan and I had gone there once. Dream walkers liked parks. Trees were a great place to hide a sudden appearance or disappearance.
My skills sharpened with the necessity of my mission. People could see me now so I had to move incredibly quickly. I peered between branches.
Again, no Kavan – just groups of teens huddled together.
Then I saw the back of a boy’s head. Blonde hair the same shade that Kavan’s turned when he was dream walking. Was it him? My heart was beating fast enough that it could’ve been.
I had to find out, but carefully. If it was Kavan and he spotted me first, there was a good chance he’d disappear before I could talk to him, just as he’d vanished the last time, before I could get more than a glimpse of his eyes.
I slipped out from behind the trees, and strolled as casually as I could across the park, skirting a Technicolor rose garden, a small bubbling fountain.
But the closer I got, the faster I wanted to go, and the more I had to force myself to maintain a steady pace. I was close enough now to see that blonde hair clearly. Yes. I’d recognize it anywhere.
I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get to him.
I ran toward him, breathless. But before I could say anything, Kavan must have sensed me coming, and he left the group. My heart was racing now. He spun on his heels and walked to another stand of trees closer to the fountain. I had to reach him. Would he be in another dream before I got there?
Feet pounding on the soft green grass, I darted after him into the trees.
In the leafy shadows, an arm shot out. And Kavan yanked me the ground.
He was kneeling on top of me, his hand over my mouth. And I was so glad to see him. I struggled to tell him so.
“Be quiet!” he commanded, casting a glance through the trees where the teens were still hanging out.
“Be quiet yourself!” I sputtered, tearing his hand from my mouth. I shoved his knee off my chest, and we both scrambled to our feet. I’d almost forgotten that he had every right to be angry at me.
I grabbed Kavan’s hand and held it tight, still afraid he might vanish. But apparently I didn’t have to worry about that. He yanked me closer; he had something to say to me, too.
“What’s wrong with you,” Kavan hissed. “Why did you leave?”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“You should be,” his eyes flashing their mix of brown and icy blue.
“But there’s something more important,” I whispered urgently. “The donor center, the one with the eagle - someone’s going to blow it up tomorrow.”
Kavan stared. At least I’d gotten his attention.
“Who is?”
“The men working for Jeremiah Bell.” The bitterness seeped into my voice. “The man I thought would save all donors.”
He didn’t say anything. So I tried again. “You’ve got to let them know at the farmhouse, Kavan. You’ve got to tell them now. They need to stop it or all the donors will die.”
He only nodded. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t rushing away, waking up. Why hadn’t he shrugged off my hand? In fact, he squeezed it gently before he began to speak. I’d almost forgotten how good it felt to feel his hand holding mine.
“I’ll tell them, but Jeff’s going to need your help to stop them. He wouldn’t know who to look for.”
How would I help, I wondered, when I was locked in that room in the church?
“Okay, but it will have to be in the city. I don’t know how to reach the farmhouse and besides, I need time to get free.”
“Free?” Kavan still didn’t move a muscle.
“They have me locked up right now. But tell Jeff, I’ll meet him in front of the library near that donor center. Tomorrow morning. I’ll get out somehow.”
He still just
stared.
“What’s wrong, Kavan?”
His gaze softened, it was almost tender. It wasn’t like him at all, it didn’t make any sense.
“Your brother, Troy -”
“Troy? What about him?”
“Ever since you left he’s been getting in ‘accidents.’ Jeff thinks he wants to wake up, but for some reason he won’t.”
“He’s scared.”
“You know we can’t rescue anyone until they wake themselves.”
“So, he’ll wake up.” I knew my brother.
“Elle, there’s not enough time. It looks like the center is going to exterminate him.”
My throat closed, I could hardly swallow.
“I’m sorry, Elle.”
I forced myself to remember why I’d come. If we could save the center, there was still time to save Troy. “Kavan, Troy will die anyway, unless we stop this bombing.”
He touched my cheek. “You okay?”
“I will be,” I said.
“I missed you.”
I wanted to tell him how much I missed him, too, but he went on.
“I’ll tell Jeff. You’ll really be there at the library?”
“I’ll be there.”
“First light, Elle.”
Kavan vanished and I was left alone in the grove of pines, listening to the laughter of the carefree donors Kavan left behind.
How I wanted to dream walk to Troy and convince him to wake up. But I didn’t know how much time had passed, or how long it would take me to escape the locked room. I had to wake up now.
When I opened my eyes pale early pre-dawn light was pushing through the storage room window. A lot more time had passed than I realized. I was shaky, the way I used to feel when I was jarred out of a bad dream.
This was the morning of the day that my family’s donor center would be destroyed. And my family along with it, unless I helped Jeff stop it. This was the real waking nightmare.
I rose. I was relieved to find I was steady on my feet now, the last effects of the drug gone. I knocked on the wall next to Jax’s room.
But again, there was no response. Could Jax already be off on another errand?
I turned to the window. That was still my only chance to get free. But now that I was no longer drugged, I could tell it wasn’t quite big enough for me to squeeze through. If I could open it, at least I’d be able to call for help. And hope it wasn’t one of Jeremiah’s men who heard me.
It took all my strength to shove boxes beneath the window. When the stack was high enough, I scrambled up, hoping they would hold my weight.
Reaching the window, I looked out on streets already filling with traffic. And parked against the sidewalk was Jeremiah’s white van. I was startled. Were Hector and Gideon already heading for the center? I had to get out, now. Now seeing the van, I was afraid to call out.
All I could do was watch, as one of Jeremiah’s men hurried from the church and tossed suitcases in the back of the van. A few more men followed. One brought the trunk from Jeremiah’s parlor. As he heaved it inside the van, Jeremiah wheeled out. I realized what was happening.
Jeremiah was leaving.
Why?
I pulled at the window latch, but it refused to budge. I tried again. It was stuck. I pounded on the window with all my might. Now I wanted him to see me.
“Jeremiah! Jeremiah!” I screamed through the glass.
Jeremiah had to see me. He had to see what Hector had done to me. Then, maybe he’d believe me. Then, he’d understand and get me out. Maybe he could still stop what was happening. I pounded, I yelled. And at last Jeremiah looked up.
His eyes locked with mine, and I was stunned by what I saw in them.
Jeremiah was scared.
Without the television cameras and any adoring crowd to watch him, he was showing me who he really was. He was a coward. His charisma just hid it. He was braver in the donor world when he shouted the truth. Now he couldn’t control his own men, and he was running away.
My shock turned to disdain. He must’ve seen it on my face. He looked away abruptly. He wasn’t going to help me at all. He wasn’t going to help anyone but himself. He allowed himself to be lifted from his wheel chair into the van like a baby.
Everything was clear to me now. Jeremiah did believe me. But he was afraid to admit it, or help me. And now he was escaping from Hector and his plan.
And then the boxes I’d been standing on shifted and I tumbled to the floor with a crash.
As I sprawled there, I could hear someone fumbling with the lock. I’d fight Hector and Gideon with all the strength I had left. Somehow I’d get to the library and meet Jeff. Somehow, I’d make this right. I had to.
I scrambled to my feet, body tensed, ready to face whoever was behind the door head-on. I grabbed an old chair and held it in front of me. It was the best weapon I could find that fast.
But when the door swung open, Jax stood there. “Elle? What’re you doing here?”
Particles of dust floated silver in the growing light around his face. I’d never been so glad to see someone in my life. But there was no time to tell him.
“Hector’s blowing up the donor center, he’s going to demolish it,” I said urgently. “And Jeremiah knows, but all he’s doing is running away!”
“What are you talking about? Jeremiah wouldn’t go without me. He told me I’m the only one he really trusts.”
“Well he lied,” I said.
I pushed past him into the hall. “But I know someone who will help us stop Hector.”
I raced down the hall, and reached the door to the street. I turned to Jax – he wasn’t behind me. “Jax, come on! We don’t have much time!”
Jax moved down the hall slowly. His amber eyes were clouded. “I had to see for myself. You’re right, he’s leaving. There’s got to be something you don’t know.”
“There isn’t. It’s over.”
But Jax shook his head. “He didn’t tell me he was going because he knows I’ll find him. He must be in trouble. I’ve got to help him before I can help you.”
“Jax, I need to get to the library. Show me how to get there -”
“Sorry, Sparkles. Good luck.”
With that, Jax was gone. He still believed Jeremiah could save the world. Far from it, I thought. But I didn’t have time to feel sad.
Outside, the sun had almost risen, and it terrified me that Jeff might have reached the library already and wouldn’t wait for me.
The city’s power blinked on and off as I pushed through garbage and people. I was free, but I had a new problem, now – I had no idea where the library was.
As I shoved my way through the crowd, I shouted at anyone who would listen “Where’s the library?”
At first no one paid any attention to me, but then a man pointed to the right. “That way. Just keep walking,” he said.
I tried to run, but the press of the crowd held me back. But, finally, just as the sun made the jagged tops of the broken skyscrapers catch fire, I saw the huge silver square of the library building.
The street crowds were thicker here. The trains rattled empty on the monorail above me, as empty as I felt. The stone plaza in front of the library was jammed with people. How could I even find Jeff?
I pushed my way up the worn marble steps. I reached the top and paused there on the terrace. I could see the congested plaza below.
The crowd shifted and surged. No sign of Jeff anywhere. Was I too late? And then a hand grabbed me by the shoulder.
“Just keep walking,” Charles’ voice was close behind me.
I glanced up - Jeff and Charles were already pushing me through the swirling crowd.
“We’re less than ten minutes from the center. We’ve got people watching it, but we need you to point out Hector.”
I nodded. I wanted to thank them for being here, but now wasn’t the time.
Charles used his broad shoulders to force our way through the street. I saw he still had a Sunrise Dream rose peekin
g out of his pocket. Seeing the rose and remembering what it had meant to him and Blair made tears come to my eyes. I blinked them away. There was no time for that either.
Charles and Jeff flanked me as we hurried through the swarming crowds. As we shoved our way, I thought again about how different the city was than the town I lived in as a donor. Reality was nothing like that fantasy. It was messy, and chaotic, and it struck me that there would always be something I had to fight here. In this world, nothing came easy.
We walked for only a few minutes but it seemed to take forever. Then there was the center, the metal fence I’d clung to when I’d overheard Hector’s plan.
I glanced around frantically. I recognized a few faces from the farmhouse in the street. No sign of Hector. Could we have missed him? Were the bombs already planted? Was I too late?
And then – there he was. Gideon by his side, both of them with backpacks slung over their shoulders, out of place with their business suits.
“There,” I pointed. “The two guys wearing ties.”
“Stay here,” Jeff said. He pushed me against the same fence I’d used as an anchor last time, to keep me from being swept away in the crowd.
I could barely see what was happening through the masses of people.
Jeff and Charles closed in; others from the farmhouse followed. It looked like everything was happening in slow motion.
Jeff reached Hector first. Charles grabbed Gideon. But Hector had a gun in his hand. I saw the flash of the silver muzzle. People were screaming. A shot rang out. I couldn’t just stand there.
I let go and fought against the rush of people heading away from the fight.
In the tumult, I saw Charles grab Gideon’s backpack and swing it at Hector. Gideon pulled a gun of his own from his belt. No! I wouldn’t let Gideon and Hector kill my friends.
The other men from the farmhouse were still too far away. I was smaller than them, I had an advantage. I slipped between the crush of people.
Charles was wrestling for Hector’s gun, completely unaware of Gideon’s gun, pointed right at his back.
I dove in blindly, knocking Gideon to the ground. A shot rang out and the crowd surged away. Charles spun to the sound, and in that moment Gideon fled.