Dawn of the Dreamer (Dreamer Trilogy Book 1)

by L. J. Higgins

  It sounded too easy, although Cameron had said not to thank him yet which meant it wasn’t as simple as it appeared. The rest of the day I repeated the instructions in my head.

  Right, right, left, stairs, right.

  Scared that if I didn’t, my brain would find a way to muddle my directions or delete them all together. The last thing I wanted was to be lost in the MMC’s labyrinth of corridors that haunted so many of my dreams.

  After dinner, I headed to my room, but was confronted by Rose mid-journey. ‘Amelia, can we talk, please?’

  Annoyed at her interruption, I turned abruptly. Her expression of sadness melted my frustration away.

  ‘Look, I wish I could, but I really need to go to bed,’ I said coolly. ‘I have a headache and need to rest.’ Faking a ‘poor me’ expression, I placed my hand on my ‘sore’ head turning to proceed to my room. Anxiety had taken me over, and I needed to be in room twenty-four when Joe knocked; otherwise, I may miss my chance to escape.

  Time passed slowly as I played everything through my mind over and over. I kept checking my pillowcase to make sure the tape was still there and hadn’t been removed by some invisible force or fallen out. Noticing movement outside of my room, I pretended to be asleep in case Rose tried to check in on me. I didn’t want anything to ruin this opportunity.

  Knock, knock.

  Two quiet little taps on my door, and I jumped up, running towards it, stopping to carefully pry it open. A white coat slid across the floor towards me, and I looked up to find Joe’s earthy brown eyes. I mouthed, ‘Thank you,’ and he smiled. Excitement exuded from him forcing its way into my racing heart. Closing the door, I pushed the coat under the bed with my foot. It became a part of my bizarre ritual. Check the coat was out of sight, feel for the tape that may have disappeared while I was checking the coat, and then repeat. Checking them reassured me that it was really happening. People were working to help me escape. It also made me feel as though I had some control over the predicament I’d been thrust into.

  I didn’t sleep. In the morning, the lights spluttered on, and the clothing delivery lady entered to deliver my fresh clothes. I put them on. I then pulled my hair into a tight ponytail to mimic the female nurses I had seen wandering the facility. Afterwards, I sat on my bed impatiently, trying to give everybody time to get to breakfast and give myself the chance to slip out unnoticed. Once the noise outside had dissolved, I peeked through my window and saw that no one was in the hallway.

  Swiftly, I picked up the white coat from under my bed and slid it on, buttoning up the front. I was comfortable that I would look the part, so I took the tape from my pillowcase, pulled it from its backing, and stuck it firmly to my wrist. It was almost invisible, and no one would notice it if they didn’t already know it was there. Cameron wasn’t only gorgeous, he was a genius.

  With one last deep breath, I took a look around my small room sentimentally, knowing I would never be there again. It had been my sanctuary in a terrible place, and I smiled, said goodbye to the memories it held, and pulled the door open.

  ‘Rose!’ Startled, I came face to face with Rose.

  She looked shocked but appeared to understand what was going on.

  ‘I’ll miss you, Amelia,’ she whispered sadly, and proceeded towards the dining hall.

  ‘Rose ... I’m sorry.’ She continued walking, and although my heart broke, my head commanded that I was to leave as quickly as possible.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Arriving at the ward’s exit, I raised my right wrist, ready to swipe it and take my first step towards freedom. Then I remembered what Cameron had said, ‘Scan your left wrist.’ I would need to concentrate to make sure I didn’t make a mistake. Raising my left wrist, I closed my eyes fearing the worst. ‘Beep.’ The scanner sounded and an unlocking click came from the handle. I sighed in relief as I opened the door and stepped into the corridor. Walking through the hallway, I came to my first turn, right.

  There was no one in sight, and I walked briskly to the end of the hallway, ignoring how similar it felt to the setting in my dreams. I arrived at my next turn, right again, and I carried on along my new path. It was long, but empty, and I only had one more turn till I was safe in the stairwell. Soon I arrived at the next turn, left, and turned to find a man in the same white coat as mine walking towards me.

  Inhaling deeply, I looked along the hallway on a mission.

  ‘Morning,’ he said.

  ‘Morning,’ I replied with a small smile and continued towards the stairwell, growing more nervous.

  ‘Nurse! Nurse!’ Realising he was talking to me, I turned in his direction. I clenched my teeth, together trying not to show the panic that grew inside me. ‘You won’t be able to use the stairwell. They’ve been having problems with the scanner, and the door isn’t opening. You’ll have to use the elevator.’

  ‘So much for getting exercise,’ I joked with a forced laugh.

  He continued along the hallway. What was I supposed to do? Cameron had said not to use the elevator, but he couldn’t have known this would happen. Maybe someone had found out and locked it on purpose.

  My head raced as fast as my heart and, unable to decide what to do next, I stood motionless in the middle of the hall. I was on my own, with no one to help me. The thought crossed my mind that it may be best to forget it all and slip back into the Psychiatric Ward. The hurt I’d seen in Rose’s eyes pushed me forward, and I convinced myself this was my chance to prove I could be independent. I had to use the elevator.

  How dangerous could it be?

  I would just keep quiet and look straight ahead until I got to Floor One.

  But where was it? Had I passed it on my journey to the stairwell? I had been looking for hallways …

  I hadn’t taken notice of doors or elevators.

  A lady dressed in a white coat turned into the hallway, reminding me I was standing in the middle of the corridor. I needed to retrace my steps. The lady turned into an office just before she got to me, and I was relieved there would be no awkward exchange. Continuing along the hallway, I arrived at my last turn and headed back through the long passage. There were doors and windows, but no elevator. Left turn, again doors and windows. Turning left, back towards the Psychiatric Ward, a sign on the wall caught my attention.

  It was a picture of an elevator and an arrow pointing straight ahead, so I continued along the hall. This part of the floor seemed somewhat familiar, and I realised I was heading towards Dr. Muller’s office. As I approached it, I noticed her door was ajar, so I looked straight ahead and hurried my pace.

  ‘Morning.’ It sounded friendly, but I recognised her voice.

  ‘Morning.’ I attempted to deepen my voice, and I hoped she hadn’t looked at me. It gave me a little thrill to fool her.

  Quickening my pace, I continued walking until I arrived at another sign that pointed left along another corridor and, following the sign’s directions, I arrived at the elevator. I was so excited I could almost kiss its cold metal doors. Pressing the ‘Down’ button, it illuminated in green, and I prayed that it would arrive before anyone else did and be empty. My prayers were answered. I stepped into the abandoned lift and proceeded to press the number “1” on the button panel. My stomach felt light as it descended.

  Nine, Eight. I wondered what Cameron was doing. Was he working, or would he be outside to greet me? Six, Five. The lift stopped, and immediately, the doors slid open. A man wearing a dressy suit stepped inside, as did a young woman also dressed classily. Giving them a little smile, I stepped aside as they pressed Floor One and the doors closed. The two of them stood as quietly as I did, looking towards their warped reflections on the doors as we continued down.

  Four, Three, Two. So close, but the elevator stopped again. Subtly, I positioned myself behind the woman and man. The two guards that had taken me to the eleventh floor appeared in the now-open doorway and stepped into the lift.

  ‘We’re on our way,’ the bigger of the two spoke into his two-w
ay radio, followed by white noise and a click.

  ‘Make it quick. She needs to be found as soon as possible,’ Dr. Muller’s aggravated voice replied.

  I stood still, not wanting to draw any attention to myself. Just one more floor.

  ‘Sorry, ladies and gents, we need to get to Level Eleven as quick as possible. You will have to either get off here or ride to the top with us,’ announced the smaller guard with a sense of authority he must have caught from Dr. Muller.

  The urge to knee him hard in the groin swept over me, but a deep breath ensured I kept my cool.

  Both the lady and man proceeded to exit the lift, and I followed.

  ‘Sorry, nurse,’ said the bigger guard, ‘hope you aren’t too late.’ He smiled at me, and I smiled awkwardly back.

  As the doors closed, he had a puzzled expression on his face. He knew me from somewhere but couldn’t put his finger on it. Crossing my fingers in the sleeve of my long coat, I prayed he wouldn’t work it out, at least until I was clear of that horrible building full of corridors and fluorescent lights.

  Guessing they would take the stairs, I followed the man and woman through an open office building full of cubicles, each complete with a computer, desk, filing cabinet, office chair, and the clacking of keyboards. The man asked an older man for directions to the stairs in a whispered voice, and we turned down a small walkway. Finally, we stepped through a heavy door into the safety of the stairwell. Hanging back behind them, I let them continue down on their own and stood for a moment, taking a deep breath and exhaling out my nervous energy. My heartbeat rang in my ears.

  That was close, and I still needed to make it out through the front doors and into the safety of Joe’s old car. After a few more deep breaths, my courage began to return as I thought of Joe and Dawn, of them welcoming me back to their farm with open arms.

  I walked down four lots of concrete stairs that spiralled to the door that read ‘Floor One’ and raised my wrist to scan. My wrist beeped across the reading pad, and a red light began flashing above the doorway. The panic prickled my skin, and I stood rigid. I’d scanned the wrong wrist. How could I be so careless?

  Scanning my left, which to my surprise unlocked the door, the light continued to flash above it. Pushing the heavy door open, I stepped through and walked briskly along a short hall until I came to my last turn, right. I arrived in the familiar surroundings of the main foyer of the facility. Quickening my pace, I strode towards the large glass doors.

  ‘Amelia Bailey, stop right there!’ The loud voice boomed across the room turning heads in my direction willing me to break into a run. Knocking a man out of the way with my shoulder, I reached the automatic doors, which took an eternity to slide open. I hit them with my hands trying to convince them to move faster, and once a large enough gap formed, I slid sideways between the glass panels and ran along the concrete path towards the left side of the building. Outside, there were people everywhere, which made it harder for them to see me. I turned left into the car park, scanning it for Joe’s Kingswood. It was nowhere in sight. How could I come so far and be left without a getaway vehicle?

  I refused to be caught, so I ran towards an alley at the back of the car park.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ‘Amelia!’ I stopped dead in my tracks. He waved at me from an open door on a shiny silver car. Relief swept over me; a smile spread wide across my face as I approached Joe. I opened the passenger door, jumped in, and slammed it closed beside me. Joe put the car into reverse and pulled out of the car park. We passed the guards as we left, who banged hard on the doors and boot with curled fists and angry expressions.

  ‘We did it!’ Leaning over, I wrapped my arms around his left bicep, hugging my head to his shoulder.

  My whole body rang with shock and excitement, and I revelled in the full effects of the adrenalin that had spread through my body.

  ‘You did it.’ He squeezed my thigh with his warm hand. ‘I’m so glad to see you out of that place.’

  As we drove out of the city towards the country, I relayed every detail of my adventure: sneaking out of the ward wearing the nurse’s outfit he’d left me, not being able to use the stairwell, searching for the elevator, my first close call with the guards, how stupid I had been to scan the wrong wrist, and then my despair when I couldn’t find his car. I was so lucky to have Joe looking out for me.

  ‘Thank you so much, Joe. You are amazing.’ I beamed with appreciation.

  ‘Thank Cameron. He was the mastermind. I merely did what I was told.’

  ‘Cameron! Where’s Cameron?’ My adrenalin wore off, and the reality of it all sat heavily in my chest.

  ‘He needs to stay on the inside. We didn’t want to risk someone finding out he was involved.’

  ‘Did he say anything to you about me?’ I pressed.

  ‘Just that he had something important to talk to you about when you both had a chance. I’m sorry, Amelia, but I couldn’t risk letting him know about the farm, just in case.’ He looked at me apologetically.

  ‘I understand.’

  He smiled at me. ‘Wait until you see what we’ve done while you were gone.’

  ***

  The familiar crunch of the gravel as we travelled up the driveway to the farm induced a smile, and I relaxed back into the seat. I was home. Well, at least the next best thing to being on the farm with my mum and dad. As we drove up the hill and Dawn’s old house came into view, I noticed three caravans parked next to the rusted tin shed. They were parked around a large gazebo with a table setting underneath it, where a few people were sitting. Joe parked next to the house.

  ‘You should go and see Dawn first. She’s been so worried about you, and she can explain everything.’ He smiled happily, and I climbed out of the car, realising Joe wasn’t going to follow. Noticing my confusion, he spoke to me through the window, ‘I need to go park this car elsewhere so nobody tracks it, and I want to pick up my poor beast.’

  Hesitant to let him go when I had only just gotten him back, I knew he would only leave me if it was necessary.

  He drove back down the gravel driveway. I walked up the rickety front steps, and as I reached the screen, Dawn pulled it open.

  ‘Amelia!’ She pulled me into a firm hug, and I wrapped my arms around her, crying.

  I wasn’t sure if it was the shock of my escape or a build-up of the weeks confined to the Psychiatric Ward. She led me inside and sat me on her comfy old couch while I pulled myself together, embarrassment creeping in to dry up my tears.

  She came out with a glass of water and sat beside me. Taking the glass from her, I took a few sips. She wiped the tears from my face. ‘You’re safe here with us, Amelia.’

  ‘I know,’ I replied, ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be silly.’ Dawn tightly squeezed my shoulders. ‘What you had to endure is horrible. When Jonah comes back, I want to explain the people staying on the property and what they have to do with all of this.’

  The weight had lifted from my chest with a simple hug. Apart from my mum, Dawn was the only other person who held that power.

  When Joe joined us in the living room, they relayed what had been happening while I’d been away. I had been in the MultiMind Corporation facility for over three weeks. The night I was dragged into the Psychiatric Ward, both Joe and Dawn had dreams that I was trapped and lost in a maze of white walls. They knew I was in trouble. When I didn’t meet Joe that Friday, he had searched for me. First he’d looked at the beach, and then he headed to my place and waited for Sarah to get home. She looked very uncomfortable seeing him, but she told him that a doctor from the MMC had called her. Dr. Muller had said I was unstable and unpredictable and thought it was best I stay at their facility until they could ‘fix’ me. Sarah had said they sounded concerned about me, and she’d told them I had been distant from her and been hanging out with new people she didn’t think were good for me. Joe was furious with her and explained to her about my dreams and what the MMC were really doing before leavin
g.

  The next day he’d received a text from her, asking to meet at the beach. She had an uncomfortable feeling our unit was being watched, and when they met, she confessed that she’d been jealous and gone too far. Sarah was extremely worried about me but didn’t know what to do. That night, Joe dreamt of the facility and the number ‘10’ kept appearing in his dreams. He knew it meant something, but despite how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure it out. The next day at work, he was asked to fill a shift for someone who had left; the shift was on Floor Ten.

  He explained how excited he was when he saw me. He knew he couldn’t let anybody know that we knew each other. He confessed that he kept looking at me while I was busy pretending he wasn’t there to make sure what he was seeing was real. I’d looked healthy and in good spirits, so Joe felt he had time to make sure the escape plan was perfect and that we couldn’t fail.

  He had desperately wanted to speak or write to me as Sarah had, but chose not to risk getting caught a second time. When he got to work a few days later, he had a message to meet with Nurse Cameron. I was grateful that he had. Cameron explained that he intended to get me out and had organised to meet Joe after their shifts. At a nearby service station, they discussed their joint plans and came up with the final idea but it would take more preparation. Cameron had to find a suitable Wristochip, and they planned an exact escape route so I could easily find my way out. He explained it was good that Cameron was sent back to his normal job, because it took the focus off him being part of my escape.

  The information was overwhelming. Could dreams really have been leading Joe to me?

  ‘Are you okay, dear?’ Dawn’s words made me realise I hadn’t taken a breath for a while. I inhaled deeply, held it for a second, and released it feeling energy flowing back through my body.

  ‘Yeah, it’s all just hitting me.’ I had become so used to not talking about the MMC and the Ward. Their words made it real and not the distant dream it was already beginning to fade into.