Rise of the Dreamer

by L. J. Higgins

  Kaelee must’ve been hiding when I returned to camp and I was grateful for it. Now my anger had dissipated, embarrassment had taken its place. Sarah hadn’t even seen me completely naked before, and she was my best friend.

  On the way back to my tent, my skin felt fresh. And the thought crossed my mind that maybe one day I’d be able to forget everything that happened. A pang of guilt clutched at my throat at the thought of it. How could I forget? It would mean forgetting what’d happened to Cameron. What had happened to Cameron when we’d left? I wondered if they were going to hold a funeral. Even if they did, there was no way I could go.

  I brushed my hair into a ponytail and sat on a sawn-off tree stump next to my tent. Soon Sarah approached, her hair ruffled and clothes skewwhiff.

  “Hey, how was your bath?” she asked, oblivious to the way she looked.

  “Fine,” I replied. The last thing I wanted was to relive the whole embarrassing encounter with Kaelee again.

  “I was just hanging out with Byron. Everyone’s going to head over to the house for a meeting. You coming?”

  “Sure. You better straighten your shirt and brush your hair first.”

  She looked down at her shirt and gave me an awkward grin before running her fingers through her hair. “Good idea.”

  I rose from my seat and made my way to Rose and Ethan’s caravan, leaving Sarah to tidy herself up. Knocking on the door, I was greeted by a beaming Ethan.

  “Hey Amelia, Mum’s resting and I was playing my game.” He held up a handheld console. “It’ll run out of batteries soon and Mum doesn’t think I should be wasting money on it. I’m going to ask Harper at the meeting if it’s okay. What do you think she’ll say?”

  The Cambiar virus had almost killed Ethan, he’d been dragged around from place to place, he’d missed out on school and had been kept away from his friends. His console was the one thing he had left from his old life.

  “If she says no, we’ll have to try and be sneaky,” I replied.

  A cheeky grin spread across his face, and I winked at him before we were interrupted by a waking Rose.

  “Hey, buddy, who you talking to?” she asked.

  “Amelia’s here,” he answered.

  “You should’ve woken me up. Come in, Amelia.” She climbed out of bed and sat on its edge, smoothing down her hair fly-aways and pulling her plait to hang over the front of her shoulder.

  “They’re about to have a meeting. I was hoping I could walk over with you two.” There was a desperation in my voice I hadn’t meant to be there.

  The tone made Rose stand up and come to me, wrapping me in a tight hug. Ethan seemed confused as to what was going on and sat on a chair to play his game. Tears rolled over my reddened cheeks, and the shuddering of my breath was all that could be heard. Rose stroked my hair in comfort but I pulled away.

  “What am I supposed to do?” I asked her.

  “I wish I could tell you.” She brushed a tear from my cheek. “All you can do is put one foot in front of the other. I can’t even begin to understand how you’re feeling, but I’m here for you. Everyone is.”

  “I know you are, but everyone else is so preoccupied. Sarah has Byron, Joe has Laina, and Harper is so concerned with making up with Kaelee she’s forgotten everything Kaelee put me through...”

  “I know it seems as though a lot has changed while you were gone. It has. And most of it’s because none of us knew what to do without you. Each of us had to lean on someone new to get through it, and now you’re back, I guess it feels as though you don’t fit back in. But you do, Amelia. It might be different, but we still love you.” She pulled me in for another hug.

  I hadn’t thought what it must’ve been like for my friends. Imagine arriving at Harper’s apartment to find I was gone and the front door busted from its hinges. It would’ve looked terrible with things strewn over the place and me nowhere in sight. They had no clue what’d happened to me or if I was still alive. Knowing Cameron was gone was killing me inside. But I couldn’t imagine the pain of having no idea if he was alive or dead. I was the one they would usually lean on for support when things got tough, but I wasn’t there. I guess I’d imagined they’d lean on each other. Maybe it was easier to talk to someone who wasn’t in as deep as they were. Even I’d had to learn to rely on someone new, someone I’d seen as my enemy.

  When we noticed movement in the camp, Rose convinced Ethan to turn off his game and we followed Sarah and Byron down the pathway as they made their way towards the shelter. Once we were seated underneath the covered area, Harper placed some fruit platters on the table, and stood at the front. I grabbed a strawberry and placed it in my mouth, enjoying eating something cool and fresh. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten one.

  “Thanks, everyone, for coming,” she began with an excited smile. “Some ideas have been put forward by some of the other groups I’ve been in contact with. I was hoping to present them to you so we’d have time to think about them and make a decision. As Joe told us, the MMC now have an underground facility two hours west of Sandhaven. It’s guarded heavily and surrounded by wire fencing. Janine has given us names of a number of employees on the inside we can trust and after contacting them, they’ve agreed to find a way to get us in and out safely. In return for their help, we’ll tell them what day we’re going to execute our plan so they can ensure they aren’t there and will therefore be safe.”

  The serious tone in her voice forced me to sit up and pay more attention. Rose asked Ethan to go play his game inside Harper’s hut, and with a roll of his eyes and a moan, he did as he was told.

  “The plan is to get into the MMC facility and detonate a bomb so the virus can be destroyed.”

  My eyes widened and Janine shot up to her feet. “You can’t explode the facility. There are hundreds of people in there. Not to mention the cure and vaccine Cameron was working on.”

  “Those people are the ones who are creating the virus and watching innocent people die,” said Joe, Laina nodding beside him.

  “Not everyone in there is bad. Some of them are helping. Some of them are trying to stop it,” Janine pleaded, looking around the group, her eyes landing on me.

  I averted my gaze, looking straight ahead into the distance. I wasn’t going to support her. The MMC had taken two amazing people away from me and, as far as I was concerned, they deserved to die in that hole of theirs. I was surprised to find peace-loving Harper had agreed to this idea, but it seemed even she was at her wits end with no idea what else to do to stop them. Maybe violence was the way to fight them. Fight fire with fire.

  “I promise everyone you gave us the name of will be nowhere near the facility when it happens, Janine.” Harper walked towards her resting her hand on her shoulder. “Everyone knows I of all people don’t believe violence is the way. But we have gone over and over the plans and this is the one plan that will have the desired effect. No more virus or mind control.”

  “There is more than the one facility. The Manager who runs the entire operation of the MMC isn’t going to suddenly stop wanting to control everyone because you blow up this facility,” said Janine.

  “It’s the only facility storing the virus though, isn’t it?” said Joe.

  “Yes, but…” Janine was lost for words. She sat down, defeated, sending a disappointed glance my way. I returned my stare to Harper, hardening my expression.

  Harper continued. “The one problem we have is deciding who’ll take the bomb into the facility and detonate it. I have an acquaintance who’ll be building it for us, but he’s not sure how long it’ll take to go off. Whoever volunteers may not make it back out.”

  Harper watched the group as though hoping someone would volunteer. It was a big ask, but I’d already risked my life so many times to stop them without success. If blowing up the virus was the only way to stop them it needed to be done. Before they could unleash it on the rest of the country.

  I drew in a deep breath and exhaled as I began raising my hand into the
air. Sarah caught sight of me and shook her head, pleading for me to stop as though she could read my every thought. The dampness filling her eyes forced my hand back to my side before anyone else had noticed. The rest of the group looked between each other. No one wanting to take the risk.

  “Why doesn’t someone from one of the other groups put their hand up?” asked Byron.

  “Just like us, no one’s willing to take the risk they may not make it out. But we’re also the closest group to the facility. It’ll be easiest for us to carry out the plan. And I think we would need it to be someone we trusted,” said Harper.

  There was a dull chatter as people voiced their opinions to the person sitting next to them.

  “On a happier note,” Harper attempted to raise the mood, “Wade and I have decided to throw a party to celebrate the arrival of our new guests, Amelia, Kaelee, and Janine. I know we’re on rations, but I think we can make this one exception after everything they’ve been through. Once the preparations are finished I’ll let you know. We’ll hold it in the campground tonight.”

  A party? The idea of it confused me. What were we celebrating? The fact I made it back with two extra people we can’t fully trust, and without Cameron. It made no sense. Maybe Harper was trying to pick up the mood after the news she’d given everyone? Maybe she’d hoped someone would drink enough alcohol to find the courage to volunteer for her death mission? If only she knew how close I’d been to being that person.

  The group began chatting excitedly amongst themselves and made their way back to the campground. Apparently, I was alone in having an issue with the party.

  “I was worried you were going to put your hand up and volunteer for a moment,” said Rose.

  “So was I,” replied Sarah as she joined us.

  I decided to refrain from telling them how right they were.

  “I forgot to ask for batteries for Ethan. Do you want me to go get him?” I offered.

  “Batteries? I can’t believe he put you up to asking for them. I’ll go get him. You go spend some time with Sarah. She can get you ready for the party tonight.” She gave me another quick hug before heading towards the house.

  “Where’s Byron?” I asked Sarah.

  “I’m not sure.” She scanned the area around us. “Guess he went back to his tent. What’s your take on the party situation?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. How could I celebrate when what I really wanted to do was cry and scream?

  “Maybe if I do your hair and you put on a nice dress, you’ll be in more of a party mood,” she said, raising her eyebrows.

  “Doubt it, but we can try.”

  She linked my arm with hers, bringing back memories of drunken nights walking to the Sandhaven Tavern, back before all of the drama with the MMC began. I hadn’t liked partying back then, and the prospect of celebrating when I’d lost so much made my chest ache.

  Chapter Seven

  Legs crossed, Sarah and I sat inside our unzipped tent. I watched as people walked back and forth, preparing for the pending celebration while Sarah brushed, twisted and pulled my hair.

  “Done,” she said, sticking one last bobby pin into the back of my head.

  “Ouch,” I complained.

  “We don’t want it to fall out.”

  “No chance of that happening.”

  When I turned to face her, she tilted her head sideways from one side to the other.

  “How does it look?” I asked.

  “You look beautiful,” she said. “Here, put this on.”

  She held a yellow dress out towards me, bringing back memories of my twenty-third birthday. We’d been having such a fun night before Cameron had to return to the city for work. If I’d known what he was up to…

  Tears threatened to well in my eyes. “I’m not wearing that.” I pushed it back at her.

  Her eyebrows pinched together then relaxed as she processed my reaction. “I’m so sorry. I’m sure I have something else you can wear.”

  “I don’t know what we’re celebrating anyway,” I argued, pushing my loose fringe behind my ear.

  She untucked it again, shaping it around my face. “Harper is trying to lighten the mood of the camp, I suppose. She did the same when we arrived. It was actually the night Byron made his first move on me.”

  “Right, so while I was being tortured, you guys were partying. Good to know.” I lay down on my bed, arms crossed and stared at the blue canvas.

  “It wasn’t like that, and you know it.” She lay down next to me on her side, propping her head up with her elbow and hand. Her long blond hair fell in waves around her face. “I felt the same as you. Why were we celebrating when my best friend had disappeared? Why did we leave the one place she’d know where to find us? I’d tried to express to Joe how I was feeling but he’d shut himself off from everyone. The only person he’d talk to was Laina. I think he was frustrated he couldn’t reach you in one of your dreamscapes. Byron noticed I wasn’t in the mood, and found me sitting on my own by the stream. I wanted someone to talk to, someone who wasn’t missing you as much as I was.”

  “And talking about me disappearing off the face of the Earth lead to you making out?” I asked.

  “Argh, you’re so frustrating sometimes. I know it sounds cliché but it sort of just happened. I told him how lost I was without you. How I’d thought I’d be able to lean on Joe and Rose but they were both caught up in their own worries. And after I’d finished bawling my eyes out he gave me a kiss before leading me back to my tent and tucking me in for the night.”

  “Tucking you in?” I teased.

  “Now, that’s the Amelia I know and love. And yes, I’ll have you know he was a real gentleman.”

  “He really is different to the guys you used to date then.”

  She punched me hard in the arm.

  “I’m glad he was there for you,” I said. “But after everything that’s happened it still feels wrong to celebrate.”

  “If you don’t want to go tonight, I understand. We can go sit by the stream or go for a walk,” she suggested.

  “I’ll go if you promise to stay with me.”

  “Of course.”

  Sarah handed me a loose white cotton dress and crawled out of the tent to let me change. Once I’d pulled it over my head, I pulled a grey jacket over the top and I, too, crawled out of the doorway. Harper and Kaelee busied themselves around a long table they’d set up between the caravans. Janine was setting up chairs in a semi-circle around a metal drum. Sarah waved for me to sit between her and Rose and I made my way over to the fold out chair. It was saggy but comfortable enough as I lowered myself into it.

  “You look nice and fresh,” said Rose.

  “Thanks.” My right leg began bouncing uncontrollably. “Where’s Ethan?”

  “The guys took him to get some firewood. They’ve been so good for him. I wish he paid as much attention to schoolwork as he does to following them around.”

  “Schoolwork?”

  “Yeah, I know, right. You’d think this would be a situation where I’d let it go. But I don’t want him to fall behind, so when this is over he can go back to school. Be a normal kid.” Rose’s optimism was unwavering. She truly believed we would get back to our normal lives someday.

  Soon Joe, Byron and Wade came out of the rainforest with a wheelbarrow full of wood, followed by an excited Ethan. At least someone was keen for a party. The poor kid must’ve been so bored, he’d be excited to hang a balloon above his caravan.

  As they walked past Joe gave me a warm smile, and I found myself relaxing a little as I smiled back. I noticed him gaze past me and his smile widened. Turning my head, I noticed Laina behind me, looking at Joe with the same expression. I ignored the strange feeling stirring inside me. Laina caught me looking at her.

  “Hey, Amelia, how’re you settling in? I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since you got here. Thought you’d want your space.” Her entrancing green eyes stopped me from looking away.

  “That’s oka
y.”

  No doubt noticing I wasn’t up for a conversation, she sent me one last friendly smile before starting a conversation with Kaelee. Kaelee’s eyes lingered on me for a moment longer before she turned to answer Laina. I hoped she’d keep her distance for the rest of the party. And for the rest of our stay, for that matter. Apart from the fact I didn’t like her, I hated the reminder of our encounter at the stream.

  Janine distracted me with a wave from the other side of the drum, and I gave her one in return. We’d spent so much time together in the MMC cell I think we both needed time apart. But I didn’t hold the animosity towards her I once had. I think I even kind of liked her.

  “I still find it so weird she’s here,” confessed Rose.

  “Janine?” I asked.

  “Yeah, Janine. I understand you got to witness a different side of her when you were both in there. And in the short conversations her and I have had, I can tell she’s a different person from who she was. But part of me can’t help remembering how evil she could be when we were in the psychiatric ward.” Rose looked back over at Janine, who was talking with Kaelee, her arms flailing around as she spoke.

  “I know what you mean. I still think it’s weird she’s here with us, but I do think she’s sorry,” I replied. “It seems she honestly thought she was helping us, and the MMC had brainwashed her into believing it.”

  “I guess.” Rose nodded, but I was unsure if she accepted my answer.

  Having filled the drum with wood and making a pile with the remainder nearby, the guys joined our growing circle and Harper stood to speak.

  “I’d like to officially welcome Amelia, Janine and Kaelee to our community of like-minded people. Here we believe Dreamers and Non-Dreamers are equal, and that we all deserve the right to create our own desires and dreams. I also have to say thank you to Kaelee and Wade for helping me prepare our delicious meal for tonight. And thank you to the guys who helped collect wood, especially young Ethan.” She smiled in Ethan’s direction and he beamed back at her, mimicking his mother’s smile. “Now let’s eat, drink, and dance.”