Sara+Bonk

I’m falling, falling and being chased. What is going on? My subconscious thinks as I try to fall faster to earth before the bad guys get me. But wait. Who are the bad guys? And why am I trying to fall to earth faster? I look up and see no one coming after me like before. And just as I turn to look at how close I am to the ever-closing earth, I hit the ground and startled awake.  I gasp and blink at my dark ceiling trying to understand how I got back to my room so fast. I look over at the machine that I had secretly invented and see that my whole dream was about me being chased by the Dream Catchers. . . Again.  I rub my eyes and roll over. How long will it be before the dream eliminating drugs kick in? For as long I can remember, I’ve been taking the drug with no sign that my dreams will finally disappear.  A knock comes to my door. I quickly and quietly hid my dream machine before I remember that it’s only my older brother, Jemson in the apartment. “Ava?” he asks as he walks into my room. “Can I come in?”  “Ya,” I say as I sit up in bed and massage my sore scalp. He walks over to my bed and puts a hand on my shoulder, concern written on his face. “You’ve been dreaming again, haven’t you?”  I look into his bright gold eyes and nod. “I was being chased by the Dream Catchers again,” I take my blanket and wrap it around my shoulders, suddenly cold.  Jemson shakes his head and sighs through his nose. “Av, when are those drugs ever gonna kick in?”  “You’re telling me! I’ve been taking them for ten years now. You stopped dreaming right away when you got them, and we started at the same time!”  “Yes, but it took me two weeks to get over the nightmares they left with me,” counters Jemson as he got up. “Now common, we’ll be late for class.”  As he walks out my door, I grab my pillow, place it on my legs, and lay my head down. “One day,” I mumbled to the man who used to be called God. “Please. Just give me one day where I don’t have to endure this living nightmare anymore.”

 It’s the year of 2182, one hundred years since dreaming was outlawed. Scientists had found a drug that could shrink or eliminate dreams from its user permanently. Since then, the unnamed doctor who discovered the drug, found that it was necessary for everyone to take the drug to reduce what he called, chronic nightmares, aka, the average dream. He said it would help us focus better on reality, that people would fall asleep better because they wouldn’t worry about waking up with a bad dream.  The president at the time didn’t like the idea; a pro-dreamer he was called then. Thus, that was his fate to be assassinated and be replaced by the crazy doctor as the dictator. And with that, the once known nation of the United States of America became the nation of Rem.  What the doctor didn’t know at the time was that his drug caused humans to live longer lives and loose the color of their eyes. If anyone met the oldest man in the world at the moment, who is 122 years old, they would see that he has no color left in his irises. They’re all white except the black pupil in the middle of his eyes.  There are some, though, who refuse to take the drug. My parents were pro-dreamers, and refused to take the pills ever since they were both five. They met when they were placed in the same therapy class for refusing to take the drug.  They were executed in front of my brother and I as a reminder that dreams are bad for the human race. My brother has taken the drugs ever since then, partly insane from the horrible dreams our parents’ execution left, ingrained into our memories. Being eighteen, I’m legally of age to go off on my own, but I can’t leave Jemson to his drug addiction. I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to him.  While getting ready to go to the University, I can’t help but think that, one day or another, someone will find out that my pills aren’t working. My professor would admit me to therapy or worse – the Dream Catchers who will torture me into reveling why the drugs don’t work with me. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Looking in the mirror, I grab my long dark brown hair and tie it into a bun. This is the recommended hairstyle for women while men wear a military buzz cut. Taking one last glance at the mirror before I leave, I can’t help but think that I look like my dead mother. Just like me, she was small, willowy and olive toned. The only difference between her and I are my bright gray eyes which I got from my father. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jemson knocks on the door asking if I’m ready. I nod into the mirror and look away from the reflection of my dead mother, “Let’s get this over with.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Sitting in class with everyone starring at me has become a daily ritual. They don’t stare at me because they know I dream. They stare at me because of my tarnished last name – Somnian. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The one who doesn’t stare at me is Jaeson Sopor. He too had parents that refused to take the drug. This is why he and I are the only known orphans in the University. Jaeson was taken into the same orphanage Jemson and I was placed in, taking the same drug as me. But he doesn’t look like the one who’s plagued with dreams every night like me. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I turn my head slightly to look at him. When I do turn my head, everyone who was starring at me look away, acting like they were never starring. I ignore this as usual, and continue to look for the familiar face. When I find him and from what I can see, his head is down, resting on his right arm as he writes his assignment. His shaggy copper hair is sticking up in random places as he ran a hand through his hair. He is the only one out of my entire graduating class who doesn’t have a buzz cut. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Miss Somnian,” said the voice of my professor from in front of my desk. “What have you found out about the gene that controls dreams?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I turn around and look at her. Her colorless white eyes look at me expectantly. I feel shivers up my spine as I recite what I’ve memorized. “The Somnia gene is a loose part of every person’s DNA. From what I read, I believe the gene can be removed with medication.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> My professor nodded, pleased that at least one of her students had read the assignment. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jaeson look up from his assignment. His light blue eyes stare at me for one second before returning to his paper. I look back down at my own paper, hoping no one has seen my cheeks go red. If I have read my dream machine correctly, Jaeson has been showing up in my dreams, and it’s not from randomness either. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After sitting in the class for another hour or so, the bell rings, signaling the ending of the class. Grabbing my book and binder, I shove it into my backpack and heave it onto my back. As I try to get out of the classroom, I see that the door is jammed, most likely from students trying to get out and their backpacks getting caught on each other. I sigh and stand there, waiting out the huge traffic jam. After a few minutes, and still no sign of the jam getting any better, I felt a set of eyes on my back. Turning around slowly, I see Jaeson staring at me again. I look away quickly, not wanting to meet his eyes. When I see an opening in the jam, I take my chance and walk into it. This is the only time where I’m thankful for my tarnished name. Everyone spreads out as I walk right into their midst. People stare at me, and I meet their gaze. Some look away, embarrassed, and others just frown. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When I’m finally out the door and in the hallway, I turn around to see that Jaeson was able to get out like me. He looks at me for a split second before walking down the hall, where all the kids make way from him like Mose parting the Red Sea.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Sitting alone in the lunchroom has become somewhat of a haven for me. No one bothers me, no one tries to be nice and no one tries to talk to me. But unlike me, Jemson has thousands of people flocking to him. This is partly due to Jemson getting our father’s good looks. Jemson, unlike me, is tall and burly with dark blonde hair. He was also lucky to have gotten our mom’s gold eyes. I look over to where Jemson was, with a brunette girl fawning over him. The girl sees me starring at them, so she leans in and whispers into his ear. A slight scowl comes over his face. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “So what did you think of the assignment today?” asked Jaeson as he sits beside me. I blink a couple of times before I recognized him. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “It was alright. The DNA sequencing was easy though. Wish she could give us something harder though.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jaeson nodded, digging into his mashed potatoes. After a few moments of silence, I can’t bear to keep this question inside anymore. “Why are you sitting next to me, Jaeson? Shouldn’t you be sitting by Annalise?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jaeson shrugged. “We broke up. Wasn’t the right girl for me.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Why?” I ask slightly curious. From what I remember, those two have bee dating ever since his parents died, which has been five years now. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “She doesn’t share the same view I have about dreams,” said Jaeson as he started on his chicken fried chicken. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “And what is your view on dreams?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jaeson looked around the lunchroom before answering.” I believe people should be able to dream, but only in modesty. Like, they should be able to control their dreams, not just take part in it and watch it like a movie. It’s like that movie from the early twenty first century. What’s it called? . . . Oh ya. Inception.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I try to hide my surprise by grabbing my thermostat and chugging down some black coffee. Is he serious? Does he know about the consequences that follow the slightest hint about rebelling? And how was he able to watch that movie? It’s been banned in Rem for the last hundred years? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “What do you think Ava?” Jaeson purses his lips and taps his fork on his plate. “I mean, our parents believed that dreams should be a choice. Well I have to agree with them on some level right?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Right,” I said a little hesitantly. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “So do you think we could talk about this quietly with our professor?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> All I could do was stare at him. When was I part of this? He only asked for my opinion and now I was his accomplice? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I shook my head. “Jaeson, I don’t think going to our professor about that theory would be a good idea.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jaeson frowned, “Why do you think it’s a bad idea?” he asked. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I looked away from his blue eyes and stared at my food instead. “Because,” I began, “what happens if she thinks you’re getting an idea about rebelling, and you asking her to join you? Then she’d be reporting you to the Dream Catchers, and you know what happens to those who try and rebel.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jaeson was quiet after that. Unable to bear the silence, I looked up to see that his eyes were staring at me intently. Shivers shot up my spine as I glanced away and out the window. “You, know,” he said slowly, as he used his spoon to play with his food like a five year old. “You’re probably right. Going to our professor with that idea would be suicide. So this will stay as a secret between you and me. Okay?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Sure,” said I slowly as Jaeson got up and walked away. Confused I watched him through his uneaten food into the garbage chute and place his tray on the stand next to it. Feeling eyes on him, he turned around and saw that I was staring at him. He must have saw my confused expression because he walked away with a sly smile on his face.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Dream Catchers are what used to be called the policemen, and firefighters. They patrol the streets, looking for people who look like they’re stirring trouble. They don’t wear the dark navy of police or the musty yellow color of the firefighters anymore. Instead they wear the color gray, which is supposed to represent the color of the strings that thread a Native American Dream Catcher. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With the color gray, they can be easily spotted. If you see more than five at a time, then you know you’re in trouble. They have a device that can pick up anybody who is rebelling, thinking about rebelling or even, in a group that is rebelling. When they find the person or people who are associated with them, they send them to an attention camp. Those who are sent, usually never come back. And those who do come back out of the camps are usually a whole different person than who went in. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Walking home with Jemson later that day, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jaeson and his ludicrous idea. How could he go around thinking that without out having the Dream Catchers getting on him for it? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jemson looked over at me with a worried expression on his face. “What are you thinking about Ava?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I blinked, looked at him and then back at my feet. “Oh, nothing really. I was just thinking about my homework for science today that’s all.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I highly doubt that,” he said as he adjusted the backpack strap on his left shoulder. “I saw you talking to that Jaeson kid today. What were you two talking about?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I felt my eyes go wide. He saw us talking? How on earth did he see us talking to each other? “Um, we were just talking about how stupid last night’s homework was. That’s all.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “You’re lying to me,” Jemson said as he used his longer strides to step in front of me. “Tell me what he was talking to you about. Was it about rebelling? Or was it something else?” Jemson’s eyes narrowed. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I frowned, “Why do you want to know all of a sudden Jem?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Because I saw the way you were looking at him today. You didn’t seem to happy about it. Plus it looked like he surprised you a couple of times while you two were talking.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I tried to keep my face a mask of indifference. Even though he was my brother, I didn’t want him knowing what Jaeson was planning. It could make his insanity flare up and then it would take forever for him to calm down. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “He just told me something that I didn’t know was all,” I lied as I sidestepped him and continued to walk away. “We were just talking about how we could save people by inventing a drug that could totally erase the Somnia gene for good.” I turned my head slightly to see that Jem’ face was full of interest. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> And then his face was back to it’s suspicious look. “Since when did you and Jaeson get so cozy? Are you just excited that he and Annalise broke up?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> That caught my attention. I whirled around to look at my brother head on. “That’s not true, and it’s none of your business!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “It is too my business!” said Jemson as I walked away from him. “I’m your older brother! I’m in charge of you!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “No you’re not! I’m eighteen years old and able to think for myself. I’m not a child, Jem.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Then why are you still living with me in that dump of an apartment?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I stopped and bit my lip. I couldn’t tell him just yet about his drug addiction. It would crush him, nonetheless. Plus it would ruin his delicate psych even more knowing that I never told him about it. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Tell me, Av. Tell me why you’re still living with me when you could have gone off on your own. And don’t give me ‘It’s because you’re the only family I have left’ crap.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I bit my lip and took a deep breath. How was I going to be able to tell him this gently? “I never left you Jem because I’m worried about you’re drug addiction.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Looking up through my eyelashes, I saw Jem’s dumbstruck expression. “I’m not addicted to the drugs!” he yelled. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Yes you are! You take at least four of them before you go to bed! If you don't’ take at least three during the day, you fear that if your mind wanders for a split second, then it will go back to our parents’ - ” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Don’t say it!” he screamed as he covered his ears with his hands. I looked around at the people with worried expressions. They knew about us, but the fact that Jemson looked unstable was something new. I walked over to Jemson and forced him to walk. All the while, I whispered into his ear, “I didn’t mean to say it like that Jem. But please. Understand that you being addicted to those drugs makes me very concerned for your health.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jemson was quiet the rest of the way home. He never looked at me, but he was able to reclaim his composure before he embarrassed himself in front of public. When we finally reached our apartment building, he turned to me as we ascended to our level in the elevator. “I’m sorry about what happened back there,” he whispered as the elevator clicked, saying we had reached only the third floor. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I reached up and took my bun down, letting my hair fall past my shoulders in a sigh. “No, it should be my fault Jem. I shouldn’t have said that stuff out there. I know how sensitive you are to that kind of stuff.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jem pursed his lips, and turned to face the doors again. Just seeing him like this made my heart tear itself apart. Yes, even though he was twenty-two, he still had a child-like innocence that came out at random times. He never showed it unless he was very hurt at something someone said. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> When the elevator clicked, telling us that we were on the twelfth floor, both of us got off in silence and walked to our little apartment. As Jemson got the keys out, our next door neighbor, Abygale, poked her head out of her door and stared at us. “Did you hear?” she asked in a hushed whisper. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jem turned to her and frowned. “Hear about what?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> She turned her head side to side as if to make sure that no one could hear her. “The Dream Catchers found a whole gang of rebels in the downtown area. They were apparently hatching a plan to assassinate President Dolor.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “What?” said Jemson, dropping the keys. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Abygale shook her head, “It was a disaster. Everyone that was arrested was over the age of eighteen yet, no one was older than twenty-five.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> My stomach did flip flops. Was Jaeson a part of this gang? Was he one of the people arrested? I then slightly frowned. Why was I thinking about Jaeson right now? Why did I care if he was or wasn’t a part of this gang. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “It gets even worse,” Abygale confirming my darker thoughts. “They were experimenting on a little girl, too.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “What were they doing to her?” asked Jemson, his hands forming fists at his side. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “All I heard was that it was a little sister of one of the women arrested. She was at least seven and they were trying to find a way to “help” her with her dreams.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I bit my lower lip. If a child was being used for an experiment, then everyone who was involved would be given a death sentence. I cast a side glance at Jem. His face was now a blank mask. I could tell that he was thinking that if he ever came across one of those people, then he would rip their heads off for doing that to a little girl. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “That’s horrible,” I said to both Abygale and Jemson. “Have you heard anything about the little girl’s conditions yet? Is she in critical or stable condition?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Abygale shrugged. “I haven’t heard anything yet about it. You can probably hear more about it when the news comes on tonight.” And with that, she ended the conversation with the closing of her apartment door. I was left to stand with a awfully quiet Jemson in the hall. After waiting a couple of minutes for him to say something, I gently took the keys from his hands and opened our apartment door. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Common Jem,” I said as I waited in our doorway for him, “let’s eat something before we see the news.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Without a single word, Jemson followed me into our apartment and shut the door. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Jemson and I live in a small city that used to be known as Billings, Montana. Of course, Montana doesn’t exist anymore in the new country of Rem. Instead, all 50 states were converted into military districts. We just happen to live in the 41st district of Rem. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sitting in front of the old flat screen TV from the 21st century, it was hard not to complain about the horrible quality it had. Compared to the televisions sets of today, the HD as it was called back then, wasn’t clear anymore. The sound quality sucked and the fact that it wasn’t in 4-D was very disappointing. But since it was my great-grandmother’s, it surprisingly lasted this long and has been known as one of the oldest televisions sets in the nation (other than the ones that they keep in the Smithsonian Museums). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As we sat in the living room and ate left over Thai food, Jemson and I watched the news in <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">hopes that the arresting of that gang and rescue of that little girl would show up eventually. It wasn’t until 6 p.m. that the blond haired news lady announced with a grim face, “Earlier today, in the south side of Billings, there was a massive arrest that took place in the old beat down sugar beat factory. Sixteen people were arrested and one young girl was rescued. Everyone that was arrested was older than the age of eighteen, yet younger than twenty-five. All sixteen people will be trialed for and given the death sentence for committing crimes against the nation and for child abuse.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> They then showed footage of the arrest, and how all sixteen people were dragged out in handcuffs. One man, who was in my Trigonometry class, was escorted by two Dream Catchers with a wild grin on his face. Just staring at him, and thinking that he was a part of this gang made my insides crawl with discomfort. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> They then showed another four Dream Catchers carrying two body bags out of the beat up factory. The news lady reported that the group had, at the last moment, injected poison into the little girl’s system before being arrested. The other body belonged to her older sister. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> They showed a recently taken photo of the little girl. She appeared to be about normal height for a girl about the age of eight, with long dark curls and light green eyes. Her name was revealed to be Raechal Burks and she was the age of seven when she was murdered. Her older sister, Amatis, was revealed to have been forced to give up custody of her younger sister after being held at gun point. She was also forced to participate in the experiments conducted on her sister. Amatis was injected with the same poison used on her sister, at the last minute when the group was discovered. Another photo was shown, this time of Amatis. She looked just like her younger sister, but instead had piercing blue eyes that stared deeply at the camera. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “I know her,” said Jemson, putting his green curry aside. “She was talking to me today during lunch.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I looked at him with wide eyes, “You knew Amatis?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Ya,” said Jemson, not taking his eyes off the screen. “I was going to ask her out today.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Both of us fell silent as the news continued. It showed that everyone in the gang was attending our University where they would meet for meetings every Thursday in the library. They continued to show the faces of the sisters as the report dragged on. They also showed the experiment table where they had found little Raechal’s body and then showed the manacled chair where Amatis was found. Out of the corner of my eyes I could see Jemson balling his fists up and staring at the television screen with hard eyes. When the news lady finally started talking about something else that had happened in the area, Jem took the remote and shut off the TV. “I’m going to bed,” he muttered as he walked to the kitchen to clean up. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “It’s only 6:30 though,” I said as I followed him into the kitchen. “You can’t be serious when you say you’re going to bed right now!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I watched as Jem stiffly put his to go box in the garbage and throw his fork into the sink. “I don’t want to talk about this Ava,” he said as he walked past me towards his bedroom. “I’m going to bed, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” Halfway down the hall, he turned left into the bathroom. Before he closed the door, I heard him mumble, “Man, I’m gonna need six pills now.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I leaned against the table, drumming my fingers in annoyance. I understood that he was very upset about the whole Burks double murders, but that didn’t mean that he had to go and overdose on anti-dream pills. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I ended up kicking one of the legs of the kitchen table, and throwing my fork into the sink like Jemson. I walked back out into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Hoping to loose some of my anger, I picked up a book my grandmother (long dead since I was five) had recommended. It was a vampire book published in 2007. It was ancient compared to modern day books, but I have to say, the authors back then are way better than they are today. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> As the hours passed, I found myself drifting off to sleep. Before I could get myself up and go to my bed, I was dreaming. It’s true when people say that you can’t remember how you started your dream. It’s just impossible to just think off the top of your head about what it was. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> So that’s how I found myself in the walking along the college’s pristine gardens, humming a senseless tone. No one was with me, and just as I was about to turn into the University’s library, my whole dream shattered. Literally. Only problem, I never woke up. It was like those falling dreams where if you hit the ground, it startles you awake. But all I could see around me was pitch blackness. There was no up, down, left or right. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I swung my head from side to side, trying to find the familiar University gardens, but when I finally turned my head to the left again, I saw Jaeson striding over to me. A slight smirk was on his face, like he knew a something that I didn’t. “Well, hello there Ava,” he said as he stopped just five feet in front of me. “And what are you doing here?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I frowned, confused. “What do you mean? What are you doing in my dream?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I was just in the neighborhood and decided to give you a visit.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ya, well I’d appreciate it if you’d get out of my dream.” Why did I have the impression that he wasn’t leaving, and that he was actually here instead of a figment of my subconscious? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A smirk appeared on Jaeson’s face. “Oh, you see, I can’t leave unless I want to.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Well, can I ask you again to please leave me be?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“No. I’m here to tell you something. Or more likely show you it.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And it was like a light switch was turned on. Next thing I knew, I was standing on a beach with clear blue water and white sandy beaches. I looked around in wonder and awe. I had never been to a beach before. It was mostly because all the beaches in Rem were destroyed with garbage and the waters were polluted. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Amazing isn’t it?” asked Jaeson as he watched me look around. “This was the Florida Keys. It was like this before being polluted and destroyed with garbage. It was also my home,” I watched as a pained expression clouded his blue eyes. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Then why did you come all the way up to district forty-one? Why didn’t you stay in twenty-seven?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jaeson shuffled his foot, looking anyway but me. “I didn’t stay because it was there were too many memories that haunted me there. I had to get away.” He looked at me then, and I saw then that I completely understood. “And from what I can tell, you would do the same if you could.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It was my turn to look away. “I just can’t leave Jem. I would never forgive myself if he. . .” I couldn’t finish the sentence, so instead I asked, “So why did you come to district forty-one? I’m sure it wasn’t for the weather.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The corners of his lips twitched, like he was trying very hard not to smile. “It’s true. I didn’t come up here for the weather - ” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Then do you have family members?” I interrupted by accident. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“No. I don’t have any family up here.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Then why did you come up here?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I watched as a glint flashed through his bright blue eyes. “The reason I came up here,” he began, “was to find someone who could help me start a revolution.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I felt my stomach drop at his words. “And who were you looking for specifically?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jaeson shrugged. “I don’t know. Someone who can dream like I can.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I stared at him in shock. He could dream? I thought he was taking the same meds I was. “You can dream? But I thought you were taking drugs?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I am in a way. But it doesn’t stop me from dream hopping.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“What is dream hopping?” I asked. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“It’s where you can hop into someone else dream and spy on them.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“And you can do that?” I asked horrified. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I’m doing it right now.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I felt my mouth drop. “But, you can’t! Not if you’re taking the drugs!” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Ya, well those things are placebos. I’m not actually taking the drug.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I frowned. “I don’t understand. I thought you’ve been taking them since your parents died. And they did die yes? Or am I going nuts here?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“They did.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Then. Then how old were you when they died?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“I was fifteen when they died.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“So, how on earth did you get a hold of those. Those placebo things?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A hideous smirk pulled the edges of his lips. “I made them. They aren’t really pills. They’re just gelatin that, when tested, comes up with the same results as the pills do.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I opened my mouth to say something, but found that I couldn’t find the right words. “Alright then,” I said after a few seconds of consideration. “Then tell me who specifically were you looking for.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> And it was before he said it that I actually knew who he was looking for. It was for someone who hid the fact that they could dream. It was for someone who had lost their parents to the government, and it was for someone who knew what it was like to actually dream. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “It’s you, Ava,” said Jaeson, his eyes uncharacteristically dark. “I came for you.”