Chapter 002 - Who Is In Control Here

  Waking up from a hangover was something Mark thought he’d left behind a number of years ago, the broken recollections of the night before, the pounding headaches that only a fried breakfast could fix, the unexplainable bruises from a potential bar fight and the confusion of awaking in a bed that was not his own.

  Today was going to be a bad day, Mark already knew that as the bed felt considerably nicer than the worn box spring he was used to, along with the fur lined quilt over his own lumpy one. He had considered for the briefest of moments that it was a good day, and a stunning woman would be beside him. Those ideas were quickly tempered when breathing proved to be painful, as was every part of his body when he attempted to move.

  Then there were also the nightmares, the huge demonic cat circling around him, its cold blue eyes glaring at him as blood ran from its mouth, a cold promise of a bloody and violent end as the world burnt around them. With drinks he normally could remember, but maybe someone had slipped something extra in his last order, something leading to a very bad trip. The current question then was if he was the rescued victim or just the victim, the hope that maybe this was a mixup and someone had pulled him from a situation.

  “Looks like he’s awake”, Mark's eyes adjusted to the light as he groaned, seeing a badly focused middle aged man sporting a badly cut beard, apparently muttering to himself as he rose from a chair and left the room. The room being small, having a very nice log cabin aesthetic that he felt was more than just an effect. Compared to his own accommodation the wooden effects were very pleasing, but the ceiling did seem lower than most rooms he had been in, adding a little claustrophobia to the mix.

  With a painful groan Mark managed to prop himself on his elbows, wanting to get a better look of wherever he had ended up. Keeping with the log cabin aesthetic there was a window on one side with heavy curtains pulled across, and a well framed wooden door with brass embellishments from what little he could see. Maybe there was other furniture, but his vision refused to hold any kind of focus.

  Everything felt wrong somehow, the headache or whatever else he had been given wasn't clearing, his vision was probably the least of his issues and his head felt more cloudy than he felt it should, and the continued feeling that everything else was simply wrong.

  The door once again opened with a creak, two female figures came in, he could just make out their loose fitting but practical white robes, noting they wouldn’t look out of place in some kind of fantasy convention, their blond and red hair the only real feature that distinguished them for the time being.

  There was no nonsense as they spoke, Mark’s hearing apparently just as distorted as his vision, only catching the conversation when aimed directly at him, their hushed tones hiding anything else.

  “Don’t try to move”, said the blonde one, waving something above his body as the red head gently pushed him back flat to the bed.

  “Or speak”, added the redhead with some authority in her tone.

  “No broken bones, so that's a plus”

  “Dimensional sickness and stress, can’t say I've seen it this bad round here”

  “At his tier that should have been fatal”

  “Even so, he's alive and that's going to need more answers”

  They mumbled some more between themselves before the blond one left the room, the red one taking a long and considering look at Mark.

  “My name is Valerie, I’m a medic here and you are lucky to be alive”, her voice was soft as she spoke.

  She pulled a chair of some type next the bed, Mark attempted to speak, garbled groans as opposed to some coherent form of language, Valerie taking up the conversation instead.

  “The short version is, we don’t know who you are, or what you were doing outside of the walls”, she looked at Mark for answers she didn't expect, Mark declining to try and answer for fear of what gibberish he may say next.

  “Whatever the story, you are suffering from a high degree of dimensional sickness, and really you should be dead from that alone”, she paused again, this time taking a sip from a mug she had picked up from a bedside table. A strong and familiar scent of black tea bringing a small moment of calm to him.

  “Best explained is, your mind and body are out of sync, it's why you can’t talk. Thankfully you don’t have to relearn how to talk or even walk, it will all come back in a few days.”, another sip of tea.

  “Between now and then, I recommend sleeping as much as possible, Tori will be back to help with that, and maybe a few questions. Try and eat when we bring food around, and use your resting time to work out how you want to explain what's going on to us”, she finished the mug of what Mark had assumed was tea and went to leave the room.

  “I don’t know what your story is, but I’m sure you will be paying Lady Luck back for a long time”, and she was gone, the door closed with a click of the latch.

  Left once again with his own thoughts Mark tried to follow her recommendation of how to explain anything or everything. Closing his eyes Mark tried to remain as still as possible so as not to aggravate whatever injuries were causing all the aching and sometimes mind numbing spikes of agony.

  For his chain of memories, it was all simple. It was a normal day at work, some big project to replace windows of the Manchester high-rise buildings with transparent solar cells, a fascinating new tech that was stupidly efficient and still functioned as a window, the government had some big grants to get the project done fast.

  This was followed by an uneventful tram trip to his apartment complex, he couldn’t think if there were others riding the same carriage as himself or that got off at his stop. The lift up to his floor was equally uneventful, as was the short walk to his front door, there was no mail, not even junk mail or unwanted bills.

  Mark knew he hadn’t eaten his pasta dinner, something that disappointed him as it was the first time he had been successful when following the online guides, his own fresh pasta, from the day before. But even with that, it was more effort put into a meal than he had for a long time, an attempt at a “Be good to yourself” lifestyle change.

  Following that his memories started to become very strained to even think about, they started mixing with his earlier nightmares, vivid images from before he awoke. The vicious blue eyed cat, the promise of death, the flames on all sides, and a short imp like creature with its sinister laughing that wouldn’t stop.

  There wasn’t really any ability to tell the time as the window was covered and no clocks in sight, he was startled to find he had drifted back off to sleep, towards the waiting nightmares, only to be woken by the soft voice of the second of the two medics that had previously visited.

  “That’s not a constructive way of sleeping”, was how she started the conversation, no hint of amusement in her voice, just to the point, “When you can talk, I’m Tori, Healer and Dreamer here at the Sawtooth Crossing”.

  Mark considered what an unusual way to introduce themselves. Mentally agreeing that nightmares were not the best way to sleep, he assumed it must have been obvious by movements as he slept. The news that he had a name was promising, the Sawtooth Crossing. At a guess it was probably some fancy hotel outside the city, and again there must be a convention or something just based on the costume choice.

  Tori waved her hand over Mark's face, he was sure she had some kind of faint blue glow surrounding it, he already knew he was tired, but now he could feel himself being gently pushed back to sleep. This was just another layer of confusion of everything, was there something in the water? Mark couldn’t remember drinking anything. He didn’t want sleep, he was awake, it was answers he wanted, and yet he could only focus on the hand moving over his face.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  With a conscious effort he forced some level of alertness back on himself, he wanted to stay awake, and with his own assertion he saw the light wasn’t an illusion, but a glowing aura around her hand as it got more intense. He could hear Tori muttering something with an authoritative tone that he couldn't make out with any certainty. The light became bright enough he was forced to close his eyes and…

  There was a void, unfamiliar but known as he had been here before, the fine line between sleeping and awake, aware of the real world around himself and knowing he was sleeping, only this time it felt forced, this wasn’t really his choice and there was a nagging feeling he wasn’t alone with his thoughts.

  With practiced effort and little thought Mark gave substance to the void, a sprawling beach with the warm sunlight from high above, accompanied with a cool sea breeze. Knowing from experience the sea water would be cold this time of year he chose to sit upon one of the many boulders, all placed as a defense against rising tides and waves. From there he could enjoy the sunlight, realistically the sky should be overcast as was the norm for the country, but here it could be different. Random sounds of birds flying overhead and smaller creatures moving around the grassy sand dunes behind him added to the realism of memory given form, a comforting contrast from nightmares and strange log houses.

  Continuing to build from memory was the salty sea air, marked with every different smell he could remember from his last visit to this real beach so many years ago, the near overwhelming salt from the water, the faint smell of grass growing in sand dunes out of sight, and the many different sweet foods from stalls up the near hidden pathway.

  In this moment he allowed himself to enjoy the peace as he sat, real or not, dream or fiction, the rare moment of true relaxation in his life of deadlines and office drama. Whoever was the visitor did not want to be seen, but Mark was already aware, his dreamscape twisting slightly outside of his own passive design.

  “I assume you're not a weird mushroom or something”, Mark casually called out to the ocean as the wind whipped sand loosely around an invisible figure, “May as well be social”

  There was a grump as their illusion broke, sand hanging over the hidden figure forming a comical sight as they faded into view. This was Tori, the second of the two medics that were tending to him, here he could make out details, the clean white robes with red sigils stitched at seemingly random points, hiding any shape to her body as it covered all but her plain wooden sandals.

  She had long blond hair tied roughly in a ponytail with an impractically sized scrunchy and pin. Tori looked to be in her late 20s or early 30s, slightly taller than Mark with a slim face with dark brown eyes, eyes that seemed to betray some level of horror her profession had shown her over the years.

  With a quick shake the sand ran from her robes like rain on glass, leaving her pristine and clean. “You shouldn’t have known I was here, you realise that don’t you?”, was her first comment, the annoyance in her voice obvious.

  “And you realise it’s rude to barge in uninvited?” Mark countered, “Who knows what you may have walked in on, or was that the intention?” His tone remaining calm, but with a sharpness hidden behind humor.

  “How are you doing that?” she questioned, ignoring his response, “We are not supposed to be on some beach.”

  “With practice… Too many hours of YouTube and self help guides”, his reply was flat and uncaring, “now, are you going to explain?”

  “You appear to be under some illusion who is in control here”, the sunny day around them starting to cloud over, Tori now holding a gnarled wooden staff pulled from nowhere, “Why would I need to be invited?”

  “My dream, your rules if I’m going to guess?” Mark said, while still sitting staring out towards the ocean, seemingly unfazed by the change in weather.

  “Something like that”, there was a level of authority as she slowly spoke at Mark, the certainty of previous results, “Our security is important, we need some questions answered, it would be in your best interests to show me what we need to know”

  “As your being so nice about it, I’ll humour you for now, however I do recommend you change to something more suitable”, Mark answered, waving his hand in her general direction, “The weather, like the company appears to be a little anti-social”

  Tori scowled as the clouds dissipated, seemingly against her design, but schooled her face to ask the obvious, “Where are we here? we are weeks away from the coast and this isn't there”.

  “I don’t think here has a name, but Talacre is probably a 10 minute walk behind us, somewhere down there there is even a lighthouse, not sure of its name.”

  “That means nothing to me and explains less, how did you get here?”, the conversation seemingly straining Tori’s patience, as was the apparent scenery.

  “Well, I probably would have driven, there is parking a bit before the path, very convenient, but it's pay and display.”

  “More nonsense,” the sky turned dark as day turned to night, the cool breeze turning cold and biting, a few lights appeared out on the water, with further illumination provided by the appearance of the moon, “I’m here to help you, so some better answers would be appreciated.” Tori sounded strained, attempting to maintain a helpful front, but seemed to be fighting to keep her appearance.

  Mark sighed at her request, accepting that she did indeed have some level of influence over his weird dream, “You asked me a question, Tell me what was wrong with my answer?”

  “I’m going to take us to before you were found, That will make this faster,” Tori waved her staff around in some form of sequence, a bright blue and green flash of light, and nothing happened…

  “That’ll be the tricky part,” Mark answered, finally turning to look towards her from his boulder seat, “I don’t really know, either where I am now or where I was before”, he picked up a large blue hoodie from the side of him, previously where there was nothing, it was getting cooler so he slipped it on and resumed staring out to sea.

  Tori once again waved her staff in an apparent sequence, a blue glow running along its length as the world shook slightly, “You will take us there”, there was an obvious strain to her voice as she tried to command Mark, “I don’t really want to force the issue.”

  That was when Mark truly fixed his gaze on her, he was sure he could feel her pulling at his mind, looking for something and feeling her continued discomfort at what she occasionally found. “Are you threatening me?” That was his question, hanging in the air as now his demeanor shifted from passive ignorance to quiet confidence.

  Mark thought he saw Tori actually step back as he slid from his boulder seat, the pair standing around 10 meters apart, the ocean to his left and the wave defences to the right, a calm stillness hanging as only the sound of the waves could be heard.

  The understanding of the situation at this point obviously changed, Mark deciding it best to address it directly, “You’ve claimed to be a medic, and yet invade my private dreams.” The world or his dream shifted into shadows as clouds crossed the single moon. “Your geography failure doesn't give cause for threats, and as I said, I don’t have an answer for you.” his voice ringing with defiance.

  Tori looked aghast at the accusation, “I am Tori Valerius, Garnet Healer of Tethys, Dreamer of The Sawtooth Crossing,” her voice growing louder as her statement seemed to empower her, “I heal the sick! I banish the nightmares! And I will protect those in need from threats of the unknown!” her staff pointing in Mark's direction.

  The world was reacting as an aura of authority spread from her position, “Your mind is a mess of contradictions and nonsense", once again waving her staff towards him, “I am in control here, and you should show me respect and do as you are told!”

  Tori was a well established medic in the settlement of Enceladus, raised and trained in Tethys, traveled through the Collective with her skills. She was respected by the population at large, supported and cheered by her peers, and until this moment had total confidence in her abilities as both a healer and a dream walker.

  This was the first dreamscape that defied her own will. This dreamer's mind was unlike any she had ever encountered, she was unable to guide its progression along the path she wanted. Every step it pushed back, she was unsure if it was the signs of a deeply unsettled mind, or perhaps the dimensional sickness, or something dark and sinister infesting it that required to be purged.

  For dreamers there are always methods that can be employed for results, for most these follow paths of guidance and banishment of nightmares, reconciliation of broken dreams and memories. But other options are available for those with the imagination and will to use them, Tori had the resolve to be one such person, and her uncertainty of this person was her justification.

  As the echoes from her announcement faded across the waters, she glared towards the man just standing there, failing to acknowledge her station, no reaction to her declaration, no apparent urgency.

  The decision was made, as she staggered back holding her staff for support, two creatures from her own nightmares were given substance. She was unable to draw from his nightmares, but her own would be just as potent if not more so, she could recall the dark corners of possessed minds, this man was not on their level. Drawn from such a dark corner was the realm of bedtime stories, tales to scare children away from dark places, were humanoid forms of nothing that exist and are hungry.

  Silent Silhouettes, creatures born of shadow and nightmare, creatures that fed on the hopes and dreams of those unlucky enough to cross their path. Just their name could invoke chills down the spine, seeing them caused most to run in hopes they were not already trapped in a corrupted dreamstate.