The Dream Machine

Six

"Wait, so it's just you and me? We are the only ones who have this ability? How can you even know for sure?" I asked him, silently freaking out that this man was the only one who shared my darkest secret.

"Trust me, I've looked throughout the universe."

"Then how did you find me?" 

"The concrete wall. That's where all us, dreamers, start out. Throughout the whole word, and this town is where they all land. I mean, I can't know for sure, but I definitely wasn't born here, and I still started there." 

"So, there's really no one else who shares this burden?"

"Hey, I really wouldn't call this a burden. It just takes some getting used to. Such as riding a bike, or learning how to dream in the first place." Frederick declared. 

"Okay, nice metaphor, but I'm leaving." I said as I walked over to a concrete wall and placed my hand onto it, willing it to disappear and bring me back to the creepiness that was Frederick's minivan.

"Good try, but you can't leave." he taunted.

I turned back around, "And why is that? So you can mess with me, turning me into some sort of little brother?"

"Wow, that's a low blow to someone who doesn't have any remaining family to hold on to."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I proclaimed, realizing that I was a real jerk. He didn't deserve to be made fun of, because at the end of the day, he had no one to go home to talk about it with, "So, you're a loner? That sucks."

"I've gotten over it, but I don't wanna bring it up again." he breathed, " Anyway, you can't change the exterior of this place, only the interior. For instance, you may have noticed that while I was asleep, the room was frighteningly dim."

"Yes?"

"That light represents your powers. Fraying at the seems, but not going into total darkness, because you still a little brightness left in you."

"Okay, that's cheesy."

"Well, so is your first encounter with Lizzie."

"I'll shut up." I exhaled.

"Good, " he replied, "now, sit." Frederick pushed me to the ground, but before I could reach it, a chair smacked me upright. A bright, yellow table was lying in front of me. He had already sat down, reclining, "The bright light from when I actually woke up represents my power, fully usable, because I have learned." 

"How could you learn if no one was there to teach you?"

"You learn a lot of things when you start having dreamscapes at five-years-old."

"That makes me feel bad, since I didn't have the balls to look around 'til, well, now."

"Yeah, your power isn't usable yet, but I can help. Is there anyone who knows about your gift?"

"Wouldn't you know already, considering the fact that you know practically everything about me?"

"I haven't had a grasp on your life since you started becoming aware that your dreams aren't just meant for passing time while you sleep. So, does anybody?"

"Well, one." Suddenly, all the lights went out. The chair disappeared beneath me, and I dropped to the floor. I couldn't see anything around me, just blackness.

"You shouldn't have done that. You've put both of us in a dangerous situation." he chanted. 

"It was just George! He's just being nice!" the room became illuminated in red, blood red. Frederick stood in front of me, his eyes sparkling. He seemed like he was about to scream, like he wanted to kill me. I automatically became very afraid of my newfound acquaintance and I yelled, "HE HAS A MACHINE THAT CAN HELP US!" The room went to black again, but suddenly went to a bright shade of yellow, "What in the world is going on?"

"Oh, when my blood level spikes, the room's light changes to the color of my emotions. This machine? What's it called?"

"The Dream Machine, " I exhaled, "and we're running another test tomorrow, if you wanna join us."

"I'd be glad too," he chirped, "I'll make sure to bring the knockout gas with me. It's stronger than chloroform, yet a lot safer." 

I laughed awkwardly, thinking that I was the dumbest person in the world.