Reality Dreamers

  Reality

  Dreamers

  K. M. Frost

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and locations are products of the author’s imagination and should not be construed as real. Any similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the author.

  Copyright © 2016 K. M. Frost

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-10: 1535301988

  ISBN-13: 978-1535301985

  For Mamsie,

  Thanks for the faith and support.

  You encouraged me to dream.

  Mother Dear, I Love You So…

  Prologue

  It is cold. The sky is dark and the ground beneath my feet is hard. I look around me, feeling uneasy, but all I can see is darkness. I try to remember what I’m doing here, how I got here, but it’s like there’s a wall in my mind that stops me from remembering. I am alone; I am scared. I don’t know where I am . . . but They do.

  There is a scream nearby, but it isn’t human. I know I should run—and I do. I don’t know where I’m going, but I run anyway.

  I can feel Them coming behind me, getting closer with every step I take. I don’t know what will happen if I’m caught, but somehow I know it won’t be good.

  They pursue me silently, like phantoms in the shadows, but though I don’t hear a sound I know I am still being chased. Maybe there are noises and I just can’t hear them over the pounding of my feet on the ground and the throbbing of my heart inside my head.

  The air stings my lungs when I drag a breath in, but I can’t stop now. I know safety is nearby—if I can just reach it, I’ll be okay.

  I feel darkness, like a cold finger of wind, on the back of my neck and I know They are right behind me. My lungs are frozen with fear and I can’t breathe. My body is covered in sweat and my legs begin to go numb. I know I can’t keep running forever.

  As this thought slips through my head, I feel Them gain substance, as if in response to my almost-surrender. But Their strength gives me the determination I need.

  I will make it to safety.

  My legs continue to pound, sending dull shocks up to my hips. And then, out of the darkness I see a shape forming. It’s dark and unidentifiable, but I know immediately it is my destination. I can’t remember ever having seen it before, but I have no doubt it’s my goal. I’ll be safe inside. If I can just . . .

  I am only feet away from safety when I feel the strong, painful grip on my shoulder. Their hold wraps more tightly around me.

  I scream in pure terror and I know that I have lost.

  Chapter 1

  I sat up with a shout and looked around my familiar bedroom. My heart pounded and my breaths came in rough, rattling gasps.

  I realized it had all been a dream, but it had seemed so real: the fear in my blood, the pain in my chest, the dark things chasing me . . .

  I heard a sound from deeper within the house and instinctively knew it was Mom. She always came in after my nightmares.

  I tried to calm myself while I listened to her make her way down the hallway, but I was still shaking and gasping when she eased my door open.

  “Jonas?” she asked softly, so as not to wake anyone else. I knew it must be the middle of the night.

  I felt a wave of embarrassment. For crying out loud! I was fifteen years old, and I still had childish nightmares.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, fighting to convince my body I was safe. “I just had a bad dream.”

  Mom crossed to the bed and wordlessly wrapped her arms around me. I thought about protesting—I was too old for hugs—but then I leaned against her and just breathed in her familiar smell. Mom always smelled like fresh grass and clean water.

  She rocked me slowly back and forth with a familiar and comforting rhythm. “Are you sure you’re okay, Jonas?”

  I nodded against her shoulder. “Yeah, it was just a dumb dream.”

  “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  I hesitated, but decided that telling someone might make the dream seem less real. I fought a shudder as the vivid memory pulsed through me. “I was somewhere dark. I don’t know where it was, but I was alone. And then I knew they were coming, and I had to run. I tried to get away, but they were faster. They caught me . . .”

  Mom rubbed my back and listened to the silence for a moment. “Who were they?”

  “I don’t know. But I knew I had to get away.”

  Mom sat still and quiet for a while, and then she shifted her weight beside me on the bed. I could hear her frown when she spoke. “What happened when they caught you?”

  I shook my head against her shoulder. “I don’t know what they were going to do—I woke up right when they grabbed me.”

  Mom didn’t respond, and I wondered if she’d fallen asleep. But then she took a deep breath and kissed my hair. “Don’t worry about it anymore, Jonas. Just go back to sleep. You’re safe now.”

  I didn’t want her to leave me all alone, but she was already standing up. So I laid back down on my pillow and let her tuck me in again. She leaned down and kissed my cheek, and then she left.

  I listened to her walk down the hall back to her room and close the door softly. Then the house was still again, other than the quiet breathing of my family all around. I fought to ignore the sound, but the harder I tried to block it out, the louder it got until it seemed like the house itself was breathing.

  I shivered. The sweat on my skin had chilled. I struggled to focus on the moonlight filtering in through the window, but it was a cloudy night and there wasn’t enough light coming in to fight the shadows. I heard a soft sound and listened closer to figure out what it was. It didn’t take me long to realize it was a song—someone was humming.

  I realized it was me humming.

  I let the song die and listened to the night sounds around me. I didn’t dare fall back asleep. I felt like the dream was just waiting for me, and as soon as I fell asleep I would be back with the things chasing me.

  I’d been having nightmares ever since I was a kid, but recently they had been getting worse—more real, more intense. Tonight was by far the worst. I was used to wandering around in the dark, lost and alone, but I’d never been chased. I’d never been hunted.

  So, though my eyes burned with fatigue, I stayed awake the rest of the night, humming Mom’s favorite lullaby into the darkness.

  When morning finally came, I listened to my parents get up; I was sure my little sister was still asleep. I could hear Mom and Dad whispering as he got ready for work and she made his breakfast.

  Then he left and Mom headed into Ellie’s room. It wouldn’t take her long to wake my sister up, and soon enough Mom would come in to get me. It was time to start my day.

  I got up to dress for school. I pulled open my closet and looked over the selection with more attention than I ever gave my clothes. Trying to distract myself from my dream, I sifted through the options—not that there was much to choose from: varying shades of blue, white, and brown. I pulled on my plain brown pants and a blue cotton shirt. The old brown boots came on next.

  I was so busy fighting off last night’s dream, I didn’t even hear when Mom knocked on my door.

  “Jonas?” She poked her head into my room.

  I raised my head. “Yeah?”

  She smiled, her gray-blue eyes warm. “Oh good—you’re awake. Breakfast’s on the table, whenever you’re ready.” Then she closed the door.

  I ran a hand through my dark hair and tried to tame it, but I knew it was useless. My hair had been totally unmanageable since about age two, but I still held onto the hope that one day the embarrassing mess would start behaving.

  Ellie was alrea
dy eating when I walked into the kitchen, wearing her usual cotton dress. She purposefully didn’t look up when I came in.

  I rolled my eyes and sat down across the table from her. It looked like she hadn’t gotten over yesterday’s prank. All I did was hide her doll under her bed, and she got so hysterical that Dad demanded I return it. I’d thought it was funny when I told them I didn’t have it. They called it childish.

  I had dragged the doll from its hiding place and thrust it at my sister with a grumbled apology. I’d gotten over the argument pretty fast, but it looked like Ellie hadn’t quite forgiven me.

  Mom took the chair at the foot of the table. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

  Immediately, Ellie let out a high-pitched squeal (nine-year-olds were so annoying).

  “Oh, today’s Lana’s birthday, Mom! She’s having a party after school. Can I go? Please?” Ellie clasped her hands beneath her chin and widened her eyes imploringly.

  Mom smiled and kissed Ellie’s cheek, obviously charmed.

  Behind Mom’s back, I gagged.

  “Of course, Ellianna. As long as you get your chores done.”

  Ellie whooped and giggled.

  I frowned at my breakfast, but I wasn’t very hungry.

  Seeing Ellie’s joy made me painfully aware of my lack of friends. I just wasn’t a people person. I’d always had a hard time making friends, and over the past few years I’d stopped trying all together.

  Mom and Dad knew I didn’t have many friends, but I don’t think they realized just how bad-off I was in that department. And that was fine with me. If your parents know you don’t have any friends, they decide it’s time to get involved.

  I’d been forced to endure too many blackmailed ‘friends’ who only spared me a glance because they didn’t want to be lectured by their parents. I’d rather suffer in silence than be publically humiliated.

  So I didn’t say anything about friends when Mom asked me if I was planning anything fun for the day.

  I shrugged, ignoring her frown. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

  To keep her from asking the embarrassing questions, I glanced at the large clock on the wall and stood. “I’d better get my stuff—we don’t want to be late, Ellie.”

  My sister pretended she hadn’t heard me, but I didn’t care. Not waiting around, I hurried back to my room.

  It took mere seconds to toss my books into my worn leather bag, and then I was ready to go. I knew Ellie wouldn’t be done for another few minutes, and rather than go back to be interrogated by Mom, I sat on my bed to wait.

  I didn’t especially like school, but at least it would distract me from the haunting images still crowding my mind. And for some reason, sitting at my desk for hours and listening to my instructors ramble on was oddly relaxing. I could let my mind wander and unwind.

  I didn’t have to feel scared at school—not with so many people everywhere. The haunting beings from my nightmares couldn’t reach me at school. It was one place I felt truly safe.

  But on a day like today when I just wanted to be left alone, school wasn’t really the place I wanted to be.

  On the bright side, I only had two more years left of Primary School, and then I could move on to Secondary School, where I would be free to study whatever I wanted. I wouldn’t be stuck with a prearranged schedule, and I wouldn’t have to endure any more boring classes. I’d survived ten years of Primary School—I could do two more.

  “Jonas!” Mom’s voice drew me out of my thoughts.

  I hefted my bag onto my shoulder and shouted, “Coming!”

  Mom and Ellie were already waiting by the front door.

  “Ready?” I asked Ellie.

  She pointedly ignored me.

  I felt my eyes narrow with annoyance, but Mom broke up the fight before it could begin.

  She leaned down to kiss Ellie and then me. “I want you both to have a wonderful day at school. Ellianna, have fun at Lana’s party. And Jonas, don’t forget: Dad wants your help after school.”

  I nodded and followed Ellie outside.

  I waited until we were out of Mom’s sight before leaning down toward Ellie. “Have fun at Lana’s party, Ellianna.”

  She immediately stopped walking and stepped right up to me, jabbing a small finger to my chest. Hard.

  “That’s ‘Ellie’ to you, Jonas.”

  I took a step back and rubbed the sore spot on my chest. “Why can Mom call you Ellianna, but I can’t?”

  “Because you just do it to be mean. Mom calls me Ellianna because it’s my name, so that’s okay.”

  I rolled my eyes. “So can I poke you every time you call me ‘Jonas’?”

  My sister’s eyes brightened, but not in a comforting way. “Well, if you have something more appropriate in mind . . .” I was sure she had some ideas.

  I turned away, annoyed. “Whatever.”

  Ellie didn’t speak the rest of the walk.

  We lived only about a half-mile from the school, much closer than some of the kids in town. I’d heard rumors there was a guy who lived seven miles from the school and had to walk that every day. I wasn’t sure if I believed it, but I was still glad my walk was pretty short.

  On our way to the schoolhouse we saw people in their yards and walking to various places, but there was no loud, bustling noise. Capernia was a relatively small village with a friendly, almost quaint feel about it. I’d always been secretly glad that we lived in a quiet village rather than one of the bigger, busier cities nearby.

  As soon as the school and the kids running around outside it came into view, Ellie rushed forward without sparing me a glance and went to join her friends.

  This was probably the hardest part of the day. Well, this and break. When I was sitting in a classroom I could pretend I was like everyone else, but when we were outside I felt like an outcast again.

  Luckily, Ellie’s and my dawdling had set us back, so I only had a couple minutes to stand awkwardly outside. I offered a silent prayer of gratitude when the chime struck and kids began to filter through the doors.

  But then I saw her.

  I didn’t recognize her. She was far enough away I couldn’t see her face, just make out her long white-blonde hair and stock-still posture. I wondered who she was. Then I realized she was watching me.

  Unnerved, I glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed her, but I was alone in the schoolyard—the other kids were already inside.

  I turned back to the girl, but she had vanished. I looked in every direction, but didn’t see her anywhere. I wondered if maybe I’d imagined her, but I didn’t have time to waste thinking about it. I was going to be late.

  Forcing the strange girl out of my head, I hurried up the stairs and into the schoolhouse.

  Chapter 2

  The first half of school passed in a haze. I had trouble listening to my instructors—my mind was too busy trying to block out my nightmare. It was no use, though. No matter what I did to distract myself, I could not get the images and sensations from that dream out of my mind.

  By the time Instructor Vorez excused us for break, I was exhausted. I’d hardly slept at all last night, and my eyes were burning. Trying to ignore it, I followed the other kids outside and immediately retreated to my regular, secluded spot.

  I’d discovered the hiding place two years ago and had never left it. It wasn’t much—just an old stump that had been covered over the years by other plants. When I’d first found it, it had been the perfect height to shield me from the schoolyard, but now I had to crouch a little to make sure my hair couldn’t be seen over the top. I knew eventually it wouldn’t be able to hide me anymore, but for now I enjoyed the shelter it provided.

  I ate my lunch in silence and solitude, just the way I liked it. I could hear the other kids screaming and laughing as they played, but I had no desire to join in their games. I used to feel jealous of their friendships, but now I was more than happy with my seclusion. They didn’t even notice I was gone.

  That�
��s why I was so surprised when I heard a sound in the forest in front of me. My stump wasn’t very far into the woods, but it was still surrounded loosely by trees. I sat up straighter and looked more closely, to figure out where the sound had come from. There were legends about these woods . . .

  I gasped when I saw a flash of blonde hair, and then it was gone. I held my breath, waiting for it to reappear, but before I could decide what was in the forest with me, I heard a rough laugh.

  I anxiously ducked behind my stump, but I knew I’d been seen.

  “Hey, guys! Check this out!”

  I closed my eyes and fought back a word my mom would definitely disapprove of.

  “Come out, come out, Hartley! We just want to play!”

  I knew that voice well. It belonged to none other than Ethan Coombs, one of the cruelest people I’d ever met. I was sure Brock and Austin, his henchmen, were with him too. If Ethan had been alone I would’ve run, but Austin was one of the fastest runners at school, and he could definitely catch me.

  Deciding I’d rather go out with dignity, I left my stump and stood to face the notorious trio.

  Ethan stood at the front, looking as evil as ever, and right behind him were two menacing forms: Brock and Austin. Brock was huge and dumb; Austin was small and fast. They followed Ethan everywhere, and were almost as cruel as he was. I knew I was in trouble the moment I saw the evil light in Ethan’s eyes, but I didn’t know what I could do about it.

  “What’s the matter, Hartley?”

  I had no idea how he’d managed to perfect such a threatening tone, seeing as he was only a few months older than me, but the sound made me shudder.

  Facing him, I steeled my nerves. “Nothing.”

  Ethan stiffened. “What, you normally hide behind trees?” He took a threatening step forward and I flinched. “Well, I guess you never do anything normal.”

  Brock and Austin laughed, and I bit back a retort. I wondered distractedly how long we had until our break would end. For now at least, I was on my own.