Mind Over Matter

iv.

k n o w i n g w h a t

When everything was clear again, they were seated on a velvet couch. The room that they were in was surrounded with mountains of books. In the middle was a mahogany desk with a man beside it. He stood straight and confidence was evident from him. He was wearing a button-down shirt and a slight, barely seeable, smile.

Aria tapped Matt’s shoulder, who has rubbing his eyes forcibly. “How many?” she asked, raising four fingers before him. The man watched them carefully, not bothering to disturb them at the moment.

Matt squinted. “Four,” he answered her with uncertainty in his voice. It wasn’t because he wasn’t sure how many fingers Aria was holding up but because of what just happened to them. Their eyes fell simultaneously at the mysterious man in front of them. Questions meant to be answered flashed on their minds. Who took them here? Why? Where were they? All the questions kept swimming especially why.

The man nodded and faced them both. He observed them keenly, scanning them from head to toe. But it felt morethan just that. It was as if he was seeing through their exterior bodies. They shuddered on their seats, not knowing what to do.

“It’s good to see that you’re alright,” the man said. He seemed calm and composed about kidnappings and temporary vision loss. “How are you?’”

“Freaked out,” Matt muttered.

The man glanced at Aria. “I see your mother didn’t tell you,” he said silently but it was enough for the both of them to catch.

“Tell me what?” asked Aria as she shifted nervously on her seat.

He ignored her. Audible footsteps from outside the room slipped through the doors. “I’m Alec,” he introduced, “Come, I’ll show you around.”

Matt and Aria could only shrug and follow him.

Alec led them out of the room, which was located at the end of the hall and other rooms were installed along it. People passed by them with a second glace like they were already used to the sight. As they walked towards the other end of the hall, Aria realized that it was the same hallway she saw in her dream. The same blood red floor, the same beige walls and the same identical everything. The thought sent shivers to her spine. She was about to tell Matt about it but then, once she looked at him, the more her mind raced.

So that’s why the boy from my dream was so familiar, she thought. But with that being said, there’s only one more thing that will or, hopefully, will not happen—the one with her mother.

“These are the rooms, quite similar to dorms, if I may add,” Alec said, waving his hand to the row of doors that they were passing by.

“Is this a, uh, college or something?” Matt asked in a confused tone. “‘Cause, frankly, I’m too young to be here. Or maybe just too…you know.”

Alec chuckled lightly. “No,” he replied. “This is somewhat a secret place. And you’re not mentally impaired—A plus in Chemistry, right?”

Matt frowned in disbelief. “How’d you know? And a secret place for what?” Alec ignored him and continued the tour. Matt sighed and slurred, “But mentally impaired is a nice term,”

At the end of the hall was a huge, wooden door. Aria gulped and choked down her fear. She knew that dreams were just dreams but something about it felt real, too real. As odd as it may seem, she expected a void-like valley to spread in her vision once Alec opens the door.

But when he did open it, her eyes opened and her jaw hung loose. Not because that she was right but because of what was on front of them. Alec’s eyes glistened with delight. “This is the library, basically my favorite place in the establishment,” he informed.