DREAM GAS

5. SLEEPWALKER ALERT

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA.

1: 30 a.m

3rd  Tuesday, March , 2020.

The mysterious fog cleared up slowly from the hotel, it's interior and exteriors leaving sleeping men and women snoring.

On the first floor, the first room at the far end of the brightly lit corridor, Oliver was still asleep, his dinner was never delivered: the waitress fell asleep at her quarters. Oliver snored lightly , not really enjoying his dream and so he tossed and turned for a few more hours before he peacefully slept, not hearing his loud set alarm for 4:30 a.m going off.

Six hours later, Oliver jolted awake while light flooded into the room from the sun rise.

" Oh ! Damn it ! Damn it ! " Oliver loudly cursed, rushing into the bathroom and hastily wearing his blue shirt and his black slacks.

He hurriedly picked up his bag, quickly stepping into his shoes then ran out of the door forgetting his watch on the nightstand in the process.

Oliver never noticed the unusually quiet corridors, he walked fast and ran down the stairs to the the lobby. The reception was empty, no one was insight but he never gave the matter a second thought, shrugging and rushing through the elegant sliding doors, Oliver ran to his parked car and got in.

He sneezed then run the AC while he quickly drove away from the place, wondering where everyone else was. There were no passers-by on the streets, no vehicles - it was just dead silent and as much as he hated to admit it, it was unnerving.

" Strange," he muttered to himself.

After a fifteen minutes drive, Oliver started slowing down. There was heavy traffic ahead which was strange, the road on that side rarely had traffic considering the fact it led to Kennedy Station. Oliver cursed and he gave up.

" I bet they took off without me, " he muttered sadly, his expression crestfallen after finally glancing at the time on his powered up phone.

He expected to find a number of missed calls but there were none. Oliver frowned looking up and that is when he noticed the most disturbing thing about the traffic that particular morning : vehicles were disorganized and each faced whatever direction it pleased . This caused Oliver to step out from his car.

Was there an accident ? Oliver silently pondered then decided to ask someone. He walked to the old pick-up truck parked infront of him. He approached the driver's side.

" Halloo ?" He called out, tapping the half open window loudly.

The old man was rigid. His hands still on the steering while his head rested on the worn out seat .

“ Morning Sir ? ” Oliver tried again.

The old man never budged. Frustrated, he shook the man, an attempt to wake him but the man limply lunged forward his frame resting on the steering while he released a deep snore.

“ Must've spent the night here, ” He spoke to himself again, “ but why won't he wake up ?”

Moving away from the pick-up truck, he saw a figure approach him in the midst of a growing fog, a feature he had not yet noticed. Oliver beamed happily at the form drawing nearer to him, at last! Someone to explain what was going on.

“ Hey ! ” Oliver called out, “ Thank goodness! I needed someone to tell me what the hell was going on here, ”

Oliver started to walk towards the figure.

The figure drew nearer and her form became clearer. Oliver noted it was a woman, her features becoming much more defined as he closed the distance in between them. He could see she was shorter than him, her long blonde hair bouncing with every step she took but Oliver suddenly stopped short. There was something unusual about that woman.

Her blue dress had dirty patches and was torn up at the sleeve. Her left foot missed a shoe and her hands were outstretched infront of her as if she could not see.

Maybe she's blind. Oliver thought as he slowly assessed the approaching woman. 

“ What's going on ? ” He attempted again.

But even as she drew much nearer, no expression was evident on her face but Oliver observed a much stranger twist about the woman. Her mouth moved mumbling incoherent words while her eyes were shut.

Realizing the woman will not stop, Oliver gave way and the woman passed by as if he was never there. She walked straight ahead.

“ Miss ? Miss ? Miss ? ” Oliver tried again.

She paid no attention, she walked on, colliding with a street pole in the process, fell down then straightened up and carried on walking, muttering incoherent words.

Oliver stared baffled, his mind at a loss of how to explain what had transpired and to come to terms with what had happened. Oliver did not realize the air was changing. Growing thicker, denser with a grey fog until he suddenly chocked and coughed falling on the ground gasping.