When Dreams Become Reality
Chapter 1: Sunset
I woke to find myself on a steep hill, the ground damp and muddy. A large abandoned valley around me. The sky lit with sunset, the sun dipping below the horizon.
I stood up, looking around. “Where am I?” I asked myself.
Looking down, fog began to obscure most of the valley.
“Okay... is this a dream?” then I counted my fingers. “10... no, wait... 11!?” Then the 11th finger grew wings, detached itself and flew off. “Yep. Definitely a dream.”
I was about to make my way down when I heard shuffling behind me. Some bushes there. One moved.
“Who's there?” I called.
The bush moved again.
“Come out. I know you're in there.” I felt nervous. “Who are you?”
I heard giggling then someone jumped from one the bushes, pounced on me, wielding a rusty sickle. She wore a mask, partially covered in blood. “Niiiiiiick Barker!” she screamed in delight.
“AAAGH!” I yelled in terror, everything blacked out and I... found myself on the floor of my bedroom.
I shivered, looking at my bedside alarm clock. It was 02:57. Morning. “J-Just... a.... dream...” I stammered.
I sat on my bed for a moment, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself.
Several minutes of deep breathing later... I walked to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror.
My eyes were bloodshot, my black hair disheveled and my skin... pale as the moon.
I sighed and went to the kitchen to have a hot chocolate. As soon as I entered I remembered I ran out and have to return to return to Tescos to get some more... oh and check the local newspapers for jobs.
I poured myself a glass of water instead and checked the refrigerator. “Ran out of sausages too... and there's just two slices of bacon left.” I took the packet of bacon out and placed it onto the worktop.
I frowned. “I wonder if there's any potato cakes left.” so I checked the pantry, but no potato cakes but I have found an egg to fry alongside the bacon.
After I had my breakfast, I went into the living room, grabbed a DVD of My Little Pony FIM season 3 and played some episodes.
Hours turned into minutes as I watched each episode.
Later, I checked my watch. 07:10.
I turned the TV off and hurried back into my bedroom to change into my normal clothing.
As soon as I was done, I grabbed my coat, checked my wallet was still in the inside pocket. I had a glimpse at my ID card. Paul Barker. “Wait... what? That's not my name!”
Why my brother left his ID card in my wallet I have no idea. I remember having him over to visit, we had a couple of drinks... maybe he mistook my wallet for his.
Thankfully, he didn't take my phone. “I'll text him later. How much money do I have?” I muttered, checking my wallet app. “Plenty.”
I caught the bus, just as it was about to leave. Phew.
As I journeyed towards town, I looked at the countryside scrolling past. It was then... I saw something. Something which looked out of place, hovering in the air. I stared, trying to work out what it was. I thought I saw... something blue and rainbow-like.
Either my imagination was playing tricks on me or maybe I saw a plastic bag float past.
Litter is very common in the countryside where I live, especially when people drive past and dispose of their empty cans and bottles of beer, energy drinks, chocolate wrappers, sandwich boxes, etc, on the side of the road.
“I'll find out later.” I muttered to myself.
The bus reached Carlisle, a city close to the border of Scotland. Yes, I live in Britain.
I headed to Tescos first to purchase some groceries, which consisted of Two boxes of Oreos, several packets of instant noodles, several canned meat pies, etc, etc.
However I didn't realize I failed to check on the local newspapers until I finished my shopping. “Oh well, I can always check on them next time.” I sighed, too lazy to turn back.
I walked by the old convenience store I used to work at... or at least, what remained of it. A month ago, some vandal set fire to the nearby hotel, the fire incinerated the entire block, resulting in many deaths. The store couldn't be saved either.
In the newspapers, I read that police had found traces of thermite, oil and other flammable substances around the building. Whoever started the fire had gotten away. Why anyone would do such a thing, nobody knew.
As I went into the local library, I saw a few posters announcing National Derpy day on the 1st of March. Tomorrow.
I remembered to text my brother and let him know he had mistook his wallet for mine. It took a while for him to respond. He simply said: “Oops.”
I rolled my eyes and muttered. “How come you never noticed?”
After a few hours of browsing, it was time to go. I borrowed some books on first-aid, mythology, cooking and lucid dreaming and stored them in my backpack, which seemed to be getting almost full so I had to carry one of the Oreo boxes by hand in order to make room for the books.
I headed back to the bus stop. Ten minutes of waiting, I wondered if the bus was late... again.
“Damn number 74. Where the hell is it?” I muttered, checking my watch.
Eventually, the bus arrived. As I boarded, I found myself as the only passenger.
As the bus left, something amazing began to happen in the town... something that would change the future of humanity forever. Pity I wasn't there to see it.
I kept a lookout for... whatever I saw this morning. Again, I wondered... “What the hell did I see? What was it?” I whispered.
Abruptly, the bus halted and the lights went out.
“What happened?” I called.
The driver shrugged. “I don't know. Maybe the bus is out of fuel. Is your home somewhere nearby?”
“Probably another mile away, maybe two. No worries, I'll make the distance.” I sighed.
“Are you sure? It is getting a bit dark.”
“I have a torch with me, just in case.”
“Okay.” and he helped open the emergency exit door for me since the main doors were unable to open without power.
As I walked along the side of the road, I kept a look out for anything out of the ordinary. So far, I found nothing. My feet began to hurt from all the walking. “The woods must be further away than I thought.”
The sun began to dip below the horizon, things began to darken. I tried my torch... “What? But...” …the light failed... “Damn it. I forgot to check the batteries.”
My phone's battery only had about 20% power left... the phone's camera flash would drain it in minutes. The only option I had left would be to let my eyes adjust to the darkness.
About half an hour's walk, I heard a rustle in the nearby bushes. I froze, fearing some crazed psychopath with a rusty sickle that may be hiding. I braced myself, wielding my torch to use as a weapon.
A bird flew out. I sighed with relief and continued my trek home, only to be interrupted by a stone which I tripped over and collapsed.
Just feet ahead of me... was a cardboard box. I picked myself up and took a closer look.
“Well... what's this?” I asked myself, seeing some pencil writing on the box. “Give to good home. Oh...”
I was reminded of something. Something which I read some time ago. It was a story... a fan-fic. My Little Dashie.
I called. “Hello! Is anyone out there?”
No answer.
“Anyone?”
Still no answer.
I had a feeling I was being watched.
“Okay... well... here goes...” I whispered.
Cautiously, I slowly opened the box... and inside was...
“Oh no...”
A blue feather. I reached out to take a closer look. I began to see light from behind me and heard the sound of a car horn blaring.
“Oh shi-” I dodged a moment too late, the car caught the edge of my hip and my right arm, breaking both.
I collapsed, screaming in pain, the car continued regardless, not stopping.
I reached for my phone mounted on my belt, but the phone had been shattered to pieces. Useless. I called out for help. “Anyone?! Help!” I called.
A rustle, coming from the direction of the woods. I broke out in a cold sweat... I looked around for my torch. “Damn it. I must've dropped it.” I groaned.
The rustling ended with the sounds of hurried footsteps... or... were they footsteps? No... quadrupedal, not bipedal.
I looked up and couldn't believe my eyes... “That's impossible...” I whispered.
