Dreams of Reality

by Sylvia Hubbard

  As she was about to leave out the yard, several police cars pulled up and a detective car came all the way in the driveway. She ducked down behind the doghouse and watched. The driver got out saying, “Stay in here, Thad. I want to check the house one more time.

  This might not be good.” He walked in the house. Soon as the other policemen followed, she gasped as Thaddeus got out the car. How did he get involved so soon?

  Thaddeus, being stubborn as a bull, went into the house as well. Soon as the coast was clear she hopped back over the fence and went around a neighbor’s house while they were all inside.

  There was one cop on the porch waiting, but not looking her way. She checked to see if the back of the detective car was unlocked. To her blessing, the handle went all the way up and she crawled inside with her bag and ducked down.

  After fifteen minutes, both men sat in front. “Dammit Thaddeus this would have never happened if you had listened to me. You knew getting near her would do this.”

  “Don’t you think I don’t know that now? Don’t think I’m not cursing myself.”

  “Don’t think! Don’t think or talk anymore. You’ve done quite enough.”

  It was quiet as Craig swerved the car sharply around a corner. In the silence, she sat calmly in the middle of the backseat.

  “HOLY SHIT!” Craig screamed swerving suddenly to the side of the road.

  “What’s wrong?” Thaddeus asked looking back in the direction of Craig’s eyes. “Holy shit!”

  Craig looked around at her. “Where the hell have you been?” he demanded to know.

  “Skye . . .” Thaddeus begin.

  “Don’t talk to me. Don’t say one word to me,” she sneered at Thaddeus. “I never want to speak to you again.” Both of the men could hear the wavering of her voice on the brink of insanity.

  Thaddeus forgot reason and started to speak again. “I will throw you out of this car, if you keep being selfish, Thaddeus. You even admitted when you wanted me to find her you were a selfish bastard,” Craig threatened. “She has been through enough of your shit so don’t say one more fucking word or I’ll make sure you can’t see straight. Dammit, I should have pulled you from undercover when I knew you were too emotionally involved.”

  Thaddeus gave her one last look. It was too dark to see her facial expression, but he could just imagine. Ominous and expressionless. He briskly turned around deciding he could ignore the both of them.

  Craig took off again. “Ms Patterson, I’m taking you down to the precinct.”

  “It will be too late. We have to go the medical center. They know how much I know about the drugs and women and the list.”

  He looked in the rearview mirror. “What list?”

  “The list with all the women names on it. They are going to recruit them so they can use them, just like they used m-me.” Her voice cracked.

  Thaddeus almost spoke again, but bit his lip fighting for control wanting grievously to attest he had not meant to use her. “Alan had the list at the party. I made a copy of it. I have it in my bag.”

  “You have a copy? What else do you have?”

  “We have to hurry,” she admonished. “They know I know.”

  He changed directions and begin driving towards the medical center. “How much do you know?”

  “Everything,” she exasperated. “The drug is a birth control hallucinogenic mind controlling substance. They are somehow able to control me using some device—a phone ringing, clapping of hands, an alarm... so I can do whatever they want me to do. I heard them talking. They said they had to many dangerous investors who would not be happy if they didn’t do what they were supposed to do. I know they used GHB in their product which is illegal in the state of Michigan.”

  Craig began to call back up as she continued.

  “I pretended to be passed out. I didn’t know the seriousness of it until this afternoon when I learned that the other doctors were killed.”

  “You know this for sure?”

  “I heard Alan saying so this afternoon when I returned home and saw them ransacking my place.”

  He stopped at the center. There were cops and S.W.A.T. trucks already there. “Stay here,” he ordered both of them. “Keep your mouth shut,” he specifically ordered Thaddeus who was still pouting in the passenger seat.

  Craig got out leaving them alone. At first she was afraid, but then she became concerned about what the officer in charge of the medical center scene was telling Craig about the area.

  “They’re all gone,” she said reading the officers lips. “They moved everything because they know I know, but they aren’t far.”

  Images danced in her head as her mind was prodding her memory to release the information her subconscious wanted to hold on to.

  Miraculously despite the stress she was under, her brain began to allow flashes of pictures, places... a warehouse near the waterfront.

  She knew exactly where it was. Time was running out and they would know if the police knew because the beady eyed man had some of the cops in his back pocket.

  Thaddeus wanted to turn around, but he didn’t want her to go into hysterics again.

  “We have to hurry.” Her vision spotted the keys in the ignition and Skye knew what she had to do. She pushed the bag to the side and crawled into the front seat.

  He watched as she looked around, and then cranked the car up. Craig didn’t hear the ignition come to life, but when the car went into reverse smashing against another patrol car; he started running for the car ordering her to stop and for Thaddeus to stop her. The car jerked into drive gruffly.

  Putting her foot hard down on the pedal, the engine was reborn.

  Thaddeus allowed her to drive for about five minutes without saying a word, and then decided to ask her their destination in a nonchalant manner.

  “The warehouses. Didn’t he tell you to shut your mouth?” she snapped.

  He shut his mouth again concluding she had lost her mind and when Craig caught up with them Thaddeus would not be the blame for her insanity this time.

  Pulling up to a downtown wharf and parking, she looked around as she got out the car. He followed her meeting her in the front of the car. Closing her eyes she tried to remember the strange ringing of the phone from last night. She had gotten up and went downstairs in her house, then unlocked her door and went right back to sleep. When she awoke again, she was in a limousine with white lining.

  A deep voice was talking while an oriental woman was combing her hair. They pulled right into this warehouse and . . .She relaxed herself and stood straight up, pretending to get out the car. The oriental woman guided her around the car and down the wharf behind one of the warehouses to a back entrance.

  Thaddeus watched as she began to go down the wharf towards the third warehouse, but instead of going in the front of them, she ducked behind them. He caught up, but she suddenly disappeared in front of him. Out of nowhere, a sharp object knocked him on the side of his head and darkness surrounded him.

  Alan stepped out of the darkness and looked accusingly over at Dr. Carter, who looked confused. “I thought you said she wouldn’t remember.”

  “Her personality clearly shows she is not one to take charge.”

  “Fuck that science bullshit! That’s probably what she wanted you to think.”

  Dr. Carter was quiet until he recognized the face of the man. “What is she doing with him?”

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you, doctor?” Alan seethed. He turned to the ominous figure behind him.“ Help him get them inside, then get rid of that car. I don’t want more to come.” He went inside where the temporary setup was moved.

  Fats stood up from his desk on the platform. “What the hell is going on out there?”

  “Dr. Carter was wrong about the girl. She is starting to remember.”

  “How? The others never remembered.”

  “That’s because the others were already into their second or third injection before they realized their minds were deterior
ating.”

  Alan cursed angrily. “We’ve got to get out of here tonight, not tomorrow.”

  “Did she come alone?”

  “No, matter of fact, she brought Newman with her. Don’t ask me how that happened.”

  Trisha stood up from behind Fats and Alan knew immediately the answer to his question. He came stomping around the desk.

  “You did this didn’t you?” he raged grabbing her shoulders and digging his fingers in her skin.

  She cried in pain, shaking her head. “No, I didn’t I swear. I didn’t do anything, Trevor.”

  “Let her go,” Fats said disgustedly. “Just start packing up.” He gathered his bag. “Have Butts to watch them while you get all this shit destroyed. Those two can die in the fire with the rest of them.

  Take care of the doctor yourself, and get yourself and Trisha out the city. I’m taking the train out tonight and we’ll meet in Chatham over in Canada tomorrow afternoon.”

  Alan watched as his father left out. He turned again to Trisha who cowered at the vicious look in his beady black eyes. “I’ll take care of you later.”

  “Y-You aren’t going to kill them in the fire are you?” she asked.

  “None of your business.” He threw the keys at her. “Get the hell out of here.”

  She scrambled for the keys and hurried out the warehouse, but she didn’t go to the car. Instead she looked up at the fire escape, which led to the top loft of the warehouse. Tucking the keys in her pants she started quietly climbing the fire escape.

  * * *

  Opening her eyes slowly, she could hear Dr. Carter’s voice, “...destroy my work? No Alan, I will not destroy everything I have done. You must be crazy. This is the best scientific breakthrough and you just expect me to throw it away. Burn all this work? Now that those old farts are out the picture, the profit and rights solely belong to me. You’d be destroying millions of dollars.”

  She moved her head slightly, then gasped. She was leaning against someone warm, she knew it was him.

  “Are you speaking to me now?” Thaddeus asked quietly.

  “I wasn’t awake to say no, but now that I am, no I’m not speaking to you.”

  He could hear the sarcasms in her tone and ignored it. “The huge man just left out when Alan came in to tell him something. I know it’s him, even though I’m blindfolded. I recognized his voice.”

  “Do you think Trisha is involved?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I haven’t heard her or heard Alan mention her. Can you wiggle out the ropes?”

  She tried, but it was extremely difficult. “I don’t think I can, but I can reach your hands and untie your ropes.” Skye began to do so despite the ropes digging at her back and chest.

  The ropes popped from around his wrist. He quickly untied himself, then turned toward her and began to unwrap her. Both of them heard the loud footsteps and he began to go even faster.

  They knew someone was coming.

  He released her quickly and ducked behind the door. The ominous figure entered and she drew his attention when she flinched at the size of him then gasped at how horribly scarred his face was.

  Thaddeus had grabbed a steel chair and slammed it across his back. The seven-foot giant fell to the floor at her feet. She looked up at Thaddeus. “Did you kill him?”

  “I was trying.”

  She shuddered. The man had been horrendous looking. A long face that bared deep scars as if someone had tried to slash him to death with a hot knife. With his added size was just as apparitional.

  Skye stood and quickly stretched while Thaddeus peeked out the door to see if they had warranted company or if someone was coming.

  He glanced back at her to see her looking about the room. Her bag was over in a corner and she reached in there to look around.

  “My proof is still here. They didn’t check the bag.”

  He looked around the room to see a fire escape near the ceiling. If they crawled over on the wooden crates, they could make it.

  She followed his directions and went over to it already reading his mind. With his assistance she allowed him to help her up giving him a very wary look as if any touch from him would drive her crazy. While she did this, he went over to Butts and grabbed the rope they had been tied with. Hurrying up, he started to tie the giant’s hands, but just as he was finished Butts awoke and grabbed Thad’s wrist in a vicious vise that was unbreakable. Thaddeus tried with all his might to pull away, but it was impossible. The man had super human strength. In his struggle he looked up to see Skye was almost at the top. Butts yanked Thaddeus around, and then practically threw him against the wall knocking the breath out of him. This gave Butts a chance to break the ropes around his wrist and head for Skye.

  Skye saw how the giant had thrown Thaddeus around like a rag doll and she knew if the monster got his hands on her, she’d be like paper in his hands. Climbing faster, she saw the man was coming to the boxes. Just as she was about to reach the top and grab a hold to the windowsill, it opened. At the same time, the boxes begin to sway, then fall. She grabbed the sill in time and looked up as she dangled from her hold.

  “Skye, grab my arm!” Trisha ordered reaching down trying to pull her up.

  Skye knew she had no choice but to let her help. Climbing out the window, she looked back to see Thaddeus wrestling with the man. He was getting the crap kicked out of him. She screamed as the giant slammed a powerful fist into Thad’s stomach, and when Thaddeus hurled over in pain, the giant’s colossal knee came up and knocked him on his back. Trisha pulled her away from the opening.

  “We can’t save him. We’ve got to go,” she admonished.

  “They’re going to kill him!” she cried.

  “They won’t. We can get to the police in time. He’s too valuable.”

  She reasoned she could. Craig had to know where they were by now. Following Trisha to the fire escape, she almost bumped into the woman’s back as Trisha stopped and began to back up.

  Skye looked past Trisha to see five men with guns pointing at them. Skye would admit right now, she was not having a good day.

  Chapter 19

  Cold water awakened him. He had been in excruciating pain when he passed out and returning to consciousness hurt like hell. “Come on Thad, you’re gonna miss the fun,” Alan’s voice cajoled him awake.

  “You can’t do this, Alan!” he heard Trisha screamed.

  A slap and scream made him open his eyes. “Skye,” he growled.

  Alan turned around from Trisha cowed body on the floor. Two men grabbed her and dragged her to a chair next to Skye who was tied down with her arms straight out in front of her. Her mouth was covered. Amazingly, her demeanor was rather calm. He wondered would he ever see her with an expression like he saw her just that morning. He could have made love to her then if he didn’t think she would lose what little sanity the drug had left her. He wondered if he would ever make love to her again?

  Skye’s eyes suddenly widened with understanding. She could read his thoughts and was mortified he was thinking about that right now. She avoided his eyes on purpose cursing her own self for being concerned about him.

  Trisha started protesting about being tied up. Dr. Carter came in the room. They were back where they started. The boxes were moved around to give them more room.

  There were two extra enormous guards strapped with semi-automated weapons, standing next to him and the other next to Trisha holding her as if she could just jump from the bindings that held her tightly in the chair. Skye could see propane tanks and methane fuel drums around them.

  The room smelled ofpaint thinner, which was one of the main ingredients of GHB. Skye had to get out of this—alive—hopefully with Thaddeus if not anything else. Her brain began to think of a solution to their problem amazingly working well under pressure.

  She loved a deadline.

  “I have worked damn hard to get this drug invented. What pimp wouldn’t want his hands on this?” Alan went over to the tray Dr. Carter had b
rought in. “If the American government won’t approve of it, then maybe my friends in the underground will support me in my effort to give women more freedom. I have made it possible for the middle-aged American woman to explore what her soul really wants. Sexual freedom.”

  “You’ll never get away with this, Alan. There are too many connections to your father that lead to you. You’ll be caught and put away.” Thaddeus decided to buy time by talking out everything.

  Hopefully Craig was on his way and would save them somehow. He tried his bonds but he figured that big oaf of a killer would have double tied everything to make sure they wouldn’t get out this time. He knew Skye must be in pain as tight as her ropes looked. He surveyed the room. There were three men, plus Laroche, Dr. Carter and Alan present in the room.

  Before Alan began speaking to them again, he told one of the guards to gather everyone up and get the supplies down to the boats, because he would be joining them shortly. “I will get away with it, because with the vials we’ve collected I have done what these doctors and street pharmacists have only dreamed of. You or your stupid cop friends won’t be able to stop me.”

  Thaddeus snorted. It sounded so cliché—ick. “So you intend to kill me, get away with the money and the supplies, then live happily ever after in South America or some beach in Jamaica?”

  “Oh no. I’m gong to inject you with our drug. It won’t do what it does to women. It has a counter effect. The large dose of estrogen takes away the sexual drive of man, and instead of going unconscious to get hallucinations, you’ll be wide awake and see things like you’ve never seen before. It’s the perfect high, Thaddeus. You will go slowly insane and soon you won’t be able to function like a normal human being. You will slowly go crazy and no one can stop it. No one! In men, the drug does not have to be injected into you several times; It reacts to the testosterone levels in your system and produce the exact same drug increasing naturally as the synthetic form decreases. No one will know what is wrong with you, as your body and mind grow weak and soon you will perish from mental health and no one will be the wiser. It will affect you instantly so by the time the police arrive, you’ll be too out of your mind to do anything.” He laughed wickedly.