by L. E. Fred
The bedroom was the size of the first floor of my entire house. It had high ceilings and wall-length windows, which made the room seem even bigger than it already was. I saw some sort of jungle below the windows and snowy mountains in the far distance.
Lush, red rugs, that looked like they were made of both fur and satin, glittered on top of the sleek, mahogany floor. The bed was the size of two California kings and covered in a crimson, silk duvet. The bed frame matched the floor and had rubies encrusted on the posts.
A giant screen TV sat on top of the coolest entertainment system I’ve ever seen. There were three computer monitors running some sort of program, with several satellite dishes and keyboards connected to each system. Did someone really create all these magnificent things in a dream world?
I didn’t have much time to take in my surroundings before someone grabbed me by my collar. I tried swinging my sword at the assailant, but he grabbed my arms and put my hands in cuffs.
“Hmph, I can’t believe you gave Serpentine such bad injuries,” a rough voice said behind me. The stranger threw me down. I had to roll to the side to avoid falling on my own sword. I struggled to my feet — kind of hard when you can’t use your hands and you’re trying to hold onto a sharp sword — and turned around. I was standing in front of the largest guy I’d ever seen.
He had to have been over seven feet, easily. His dark skin rippled with bulging muscles, and he wore typical combat gear in purple camouflage. The gun slung around his back looked bigger than anything I’d seen in the real world and that included video game guns. You would think he was a super soldier, except I could tell he wasn’t human.
His eyes gave him away. They were bright yellow, and like Serpentine, his pupils were different. Although hers were slits, his were rectangular, like a goat’s. He had a wispy, black goatee protruding from his chin, and a matching buzz cut with swirly designs shaved on the sides of his head, like horns.
“Like what you see?” The stranger hoisted his gun off his shoulders. “Name’s Gruff, kid, and I protect this establishment. See that wall surrounding the perimeter?” He nodded to the window. I could see the concrete wall stretching out to the border of the jungle. “That’s my invention. Those living sensors are, too, like the searchlight that found you and your little friend yesterday. There isn’t a shot of you or your buddy getting in here or around here without my knowing.” He sneered as my face heated up.
So that searchlight did spot Mitch and me last night. There was just no “INTRUDER ALERT” blaring out of speakers like in the movies. We didn’t even feel the searchlight on us.
“But relax, kid—” Gruff chuckled at my fear, “—you’re a guest tonight. Lucky too, or I could easily vaporize you with this.” He held up his gun again. “Miss Palma will see you now.”
I’m not sure why Gruff didn’t scare me at first, maybe I was in shock, but I could now feel fear taking control. I held my sword tighter as Gruff steered me into a room behind the bed. I knew I wouldn’t be able to use it, being handcuffed and all, but I also didn’t want to let go of my only protection.
The dim lighting in the room took some time for my eyes to adjust. Once they did, I saw I was in some sort of office. An elaborately carved, golden desk sat in the middle of the windowless room, and a fireplace burned behind it. A woman with voluminous, golden hair sat in a tall, red armchair behind the desk. She pretty much fit the bill for a stereotypical villain with her dark silhouette cast against the fireplace. The shadows of the flames made her golden eyes sometimes change to red.
“Devon Alexander—” Leona said smoothly, like a purr, “—how I’ve longed to speak to you. Please have a seat.”
I didn’t really have a choice. Gruff already pushed me into a small, wooden chair, similar to the one outside my principal’s office.
“He won’t need his new toy, either,” Leona said in a more businesslike tone to Gruff.
As soon as he tried pulling the sword away, something strange happened. I could feel part of myself still in my bed clutching my bat. I held on even tighter, tight enough to prevent Gruff from taking it.
“What the…” Gruff pulled harder, but my sleeping self held on. I looked at Leona. If she found this surprising, she wasn’t showing it. Instead, she merely smiled.
“Never mind.” She waved Gruff away.
“Um.” Gruff let go of my sword slowly. He eyed the blade suspiciously.
“That will be all,” Leona said with slight force. Though she didn’t shout, the glint in her eyes said it all. Gruff hurried out of the room. She turned to me, smiling slightly. She reminded me of a sly cat who had finally cornered a mouse. I tried speaking but I only managed to clear my throat with a small squeak.
Great, I thought, maybe I was a mouse.
“Do you know why you are here, Devon?” Leona’s question startled me.
“I…” My voice came out squeaky again. I tried hiding my fear, coughed, and repeated in a deeper voice, “I guess because you brought me here.”
“No, you misunderstand me.” Leona kept smiling. Why was she having this stupid conversation with me? “Do you know why you are in this world when you are asleep?” I thought about the question for a bit before answering.
“No,” I admitted. “I just turned up, I suppose.”
“You have the gift of lucid dreaming; don’t deny it,” Leona said. “You, and your friend Mitch, are like me. We can create our dream worlds. We direct our dreams instead of merely acting in them.”
I didn’t know what to say. Leona was just telling me what Tiff, Mitch, and I already knew. This couldn’t be the only reason she brought me to her headquarters.
“Lucid dreaming has another advantage for you and your friend,” Leona continued. “You both can come and go as you please. Like me, you can create new worlds and affect existing dream realms. You two have been but mere nuisances so far, and I am growing tired of your sneaking around. This is why I brought you here.”
Great, I thought, I’m being called nosy by a crazy woman in my dreams. I think I preferred my old dinosaur nightmare to this.
“I wish to form an alliance between you and Mitch Stansky. You two may come and go as you please from my resorts, free of charge, as long as you keep out of my business here. I won’t recruit any of your friends or family, and you can live your life the way you wish.” Leona looked at me expectantly.
“Why did you only bring me here?” I asked cautiously, looking around as if Mitch would spring up any moment.
“Oh, well, Mitch had a worse run in with Serpentine—” Leona appeared to be choosing her words carefully, “—and you seem to be the more pliable boy.”
I know the safe thing to do would be to take her offer. In fact, the logical part of my brain was screaming for me to say yes. Then I could dream without worrying whether or not I’d wake up. Also, my friends and family would be perfectly safe. However, the irrational part of my brain that hates the word “pliable” answered for me.
“No way.” I was very glad it did.
“You are foolish!” Leona became agitated. “Believe it or not, we do not control the dream realm. Yes, we may create worlds, but there are stronger, more sinister entities that call this world their own. I alone can imprison you in one of my chambers and prevent you from creating a means of escape. I am giving you amnesty. You cannot be forced onto my ships. So, why are you meddling in my business when both of you are immune to my recruitment process?”
“You mean your enslavement process!” I spat before realizing what I had said. Leona’s eyes flashed dangerously; I thought I saw her pupils contract.
“I am not enslaving them!” She growled. “They have the chance to win their waking hours back, and a good bit of them try. They simply have to provide entertainment—”
“By participating in your stupid arena!” I knew I probably should have kept quiet, but I also figured Leona wouldn’t allow me to leave this time.
All of the frustration from her horrid place plaguing my dreams, capturing inno
cent people, and ruining good families like Andy’s was now resurfacing.
Usually, I was good at hiding my emotions, but I guess my dream self didn’t share that trait, and I continued. “I read all about your so called resort in Peru. You were tricking customers into participating in your dangerous tournaments for a free vacation! You also underpaid your workers so much that it was considered slavery. So, what? Jail time in the real world wasn’t enough for you to think that maybe this was a bad idea? You have to just move it to another level, another world, and ruin people’s lives through their dreams?”
Leona’s eyes never left mine as I ranted, except once. Only once did she glance at my sword. I was too busy shouting to see what happened, but I’m pretty sure the sword shot out a few sparks of electricity.
“I see you have done your research,” Leona finally spoke. “Or, should I say, your friend, Tiffany Brightly, did.”
My short-lived bravery faltered as fear froze my insides. She knew about Tiff, the only one who couldn’t lucid dream. Leona smiled as if she sensed my sudden change in mood.
“Let me show you something.” She stood up and grabbed my shoulder with a vice-like grip. Her nails dug into my shirt like claws as she steered me back to the bedroom. She led me to the entertainment system and stood me right in front of the biggest computer monitor.
Leona released me and began typing on a golden keyboard. I thought about running, but my hands were still cuffed together. I also didn’t want to run into Gruff any time soon.
“Look familiar?” Leona stepped aside. The computer screen was now pink with a small lion in the corner. I stifled a gasp and tried to look confused. “This is your little friend’s screen as we speak. She’s not the only one who can hack into programs. She also cannot do this.” Leona picked up a remote and turned on the TV screen. Instead of a show, I was watching Tiff play video games in her room. This time I really did gasp.
“How did you?” I should have asked how could you, but both were valid questions at the time.
“Hmph.” Leona smiled slyly. “You won’t be around to figure it out, and neither will your friend. Yes.” Leona studied the screen again. “I think I’ll make her a cocktail waitress by the pool so she’ll get a good tan—”
BOOM.
I leapt behind the bed as the glass window shattered. I heard Leona scream and hoped some shards found her face.
“DEVON!” Someone shouted above the noise. I struggled to my feet, using my sword as a sort of cane and saw a very unlikely duo. Mitch had jumped into the room through the busted window, and Kyle — my idiot, loser brother Kyle — was piloting a flying scooter.
“I’ll explain later!” Mitch saw the bewildered look on my face. “We gotta get you out of here first.” He saw the screen that showed Tiff’s bedroom. “Is that Tiff?” He hadn’t seen her in person before, but he could put two and two together. “No… she can’t—”
“We’re no good to her if we’re stuck in here!” I reminded Mitch, running to the window. “Come on!”
Gruff suddenly busted open the door leading into the room. He saw Mitch and his eyes instantly narrowed.
“Get them!” Leona was on her feet. Her face was badly cut by the glass, but she seemed more angry than hurt. She bared her teeth as she jumped at me.
“Catch!” I threw my sword to Mitch and rolled to the side, avoiding Leona’s attack. Gruff came after Mitch, charging at him head first like a ram. Mitch jumped on top of a plush ottoman, leapt off with such grace I’d never think possible, and swung at Gruff’s head. The large man ducked, but Mitch got him on the arm.
“Here, this might help!” Mitch swung at my handcuffs, which fell apart like ropes.
“Thanks!” I ducked again as Leona attacked. Mitch tried swinging the sword at Leona, but she was too fast. She pushed Mitch and he fell on top of me. As we struggled to our feet we realized she had pushed us onto the balcony.
We were cornered. I saw Kyle pilot his scooter closer to us, but he was too far away to make a safe jump. Leona was mere feet away from us.
“Did you really think you two would be a match for us?” Leona slowly advanced, Gruff following suit. He gave Mitch a look of pure hatred. Why did he hate Mitch so much?
“You may have gifts, but you didn’t create this,” Leona spread her hands wide, indicating the now ruined bedroom.
“Um, I think we kind of did create the mess.” Mitch didn’t seem at all scared. He held my sword aloft as if it were his own. I was under the impression this wasn’t his first time using a sword.
If I were honest with myself, he did look a lot cooler with the sword. He fit the hero image with his wavy, blond hair and athletic build.
“Silence!” Leona half roared. “Your trouble ends now.” She stopped as a deep crack appeared in the floor. Mitch and I stumbled as the balcony separated from the entire building.
“Now that’s what I call being powerful!” Kyle’s voice rang out behind me. I turned around and saw his scooter parked alongside the now floating balcony like a ship at a dock. “Hop aboard, sirs.”
“Impossible!” Leona screeched, apparently for the first time realizing Kyle was there. Her eyes showed a mixture of confusion, fury, and a little bit of fear. She wasn’t the only one who had mastered creating things in dreams.
“Not in my dreams, lady!” Kyle shouted, having the time of his life. “Peace out!”
As we rode away, Gruff tried shooting us down with his bazooka.
“I don’t think so.” Kyle swerved just in time. He pressed a button on the dashboard of the scooter, and we suddenly jetted far away from the buildings and over the concrete wall.
“Look out!” I noticed one of the searchlights moving in our direction. How did Gruff get down from the top of the building so quickly? I could make out his purple camo as he manned the searchlight to focus on us. “Move, Kyle! That’s no ordinary light!”
“You think I’m stupid?” Kyle dove, as if the scooter were a fighter jet. He arched over the wall and began descending into the jungle below.
We drove for a while in silence until Kyle found a valley just before the mountains. We descended amongst the willow and palm trees and landed on soft, pinkish grass.
I had never seen a jungle, forest, or even a park that sported both willow and palm trees. Then again, I guess the pink grass should have told me things here didn’t adhere to natural laws.
“Whew, that was intense!” Kyle exhaled deeply as he got off his scooter. He formed a hammock between two palm trees and plopped down on it. Mitch watched him with great interest. He still had my sword.
“Okay.” I took deep breaths to calm myself after our escape. “So, how did you two end up meeting?”
“Oh, it was weird,” Kyle answered before Mitch could speak. “I ended up on the weird ship thing. I didn’t even try getting there; someone abducted me!”
“He was sitting on the ship looking confused,” Mitch explained. “And I could tell he wasn’t a soul. Also, you two have the same brown hair and hazel eyes. I asked if he knew you—”
“Which I answered unfortunately,” Kyle carried on. “And we decided to wait the bus ride out to get here.”
“Interesting.” I found it rather coincidental that Kyle just appeared on the ship right after I told him about this place. “And how did you know I was in Leona’s bedroom?”
“That’s the weird part.” Mitch frowned, absentmindedly twirling my sword. “As soon as we got off the bus, the ball of light showed up. I figured Kyle should take it since he didn’t really know how dangerous this world could be—”
“Yes I did!” Kyle protested. “I’ve seen my brother wake up looking shaken all week—”
“Anyway!” Mitch shouted over Kyle. My brother grumbled as he swung on the hammock. I couldn't help but smile a little. I knew they wouldn’t get along. Mitch continued, “I was about to touch the light, but then I heard your voice. The light got bigger until it had a little screen on the inside. I could see you talking to Leona
in her room. I tried getting closer to the light, but it moved away just far enough for us to follow. It led us through a side passage past the wall, and we didn’t see anyone along the way. Then the ball flew to the top of the building—”
“Which is where I come in.” Kyle hopped off his hammock. “And created this little beauty.” He patted his scooter.
Really? I thought, Kyle could have created any flying machine in the world and he chose to put wings on a scooter? However, Kyle seemed awfully proud of it, and he did save my life, so I refrained from teasing him. Also, I didn’t want to know what kind of things Kyle could create in here to torture me.
“Well, if you two didn’t come when you did, Leona probably would have eaten me alive.” I looked at them both. “Thanks.”
“Of course.” Mitch nodded. “You saved my butt last time; I had to return the favor.”
“Now we need to rescue Tiff!” I said urgently. “Leona’s going to ‘recruit’ her! If we leave now, we can make it!” As if on cue, the ball of light appeared in the middle of the cleaning. No magic picture inside the light this time. It was time to go.
“We shouldn’t waste time.” Mitch started toward the light.
“Uh, hang on, buddy.” Kyle spoke up. Mitch turned around, one hand outstretched to the light and another holding my sword.
“You still have my brother’s sword.” Kyle held out his hand. “Fork it up.”
“Oh.” Mitch looked at the sword, a weird light dancing in his eyes. “I-I guess I forgot it wasn’t mine. It felt so good using it, though. I wish it created flames like it did for you, Devon.”
“It made lightning in Leona’s room,” I answered, taking the sword back. “When did you get so good at using swords?”
“My dad put me in fencing classes for almost fifteen years,” Mitch answered, a hint of pride in his voice. “I’m on the team at school, as well.”
“Oh.” I guess that explained it. Mitch was a naturally good swordsman. I looked at the blade swinging at my side. It still felt awkward in my hands.
A voice in the back of my mind suggested returning the sword to Mitch. I knew if I did, Kyle would call me a wimp. Plus, I didn’t want to risk losing my bat, too. I needed that thing for baseball practice if I made the team next year. Mitch frowned at the sword for a few moments. I half expected him to ask for it back.