Revenge

Dream Funk, Inc (Part Two)

Miller came to work the next day eager to test the effects of the new drug regime on Julia. He dodged the usual group of protesters outside the Dream Funk building with their "Stop the Funk" signs and "Give up the Funk" chants. Troglodytes, all of them. He bet they still watched movies on flatscreens while munching popcorn. They probably all thought Nickelback was the greatest band of all time. Losers, every one.

"Move with the times, dudes," he muttered under his breath. "Gotta move with the times!"

Dream Funk, Inc, had cornered the entertainment market several years ago, quickly replacing the old fashioned TVs and DVDs. With the advent of new technology and carefully crafted drugs, it was possible to record living dreams, save them electronically, and sell them to the public via Dreamcaps. All the purchaser had to do, was sit down comfortably and place the cap over their head and be transported to a new world.

Who wanted to watch a screen when you could experience a Dream as if you were living it? When you could not only see and hear what was happening but smell, touch and taste it? And people loved being scared, especially when it wasn't their own body in actual danger. Currently, Horror was Dream Funk Inc's biggest seller, overtaking that perennial favourite, Adventure / Fantasy.

Miller logged in his arrival with the Receptionist, then went straight to the laboratory.

"Good morning, Heather. How's that new dose for Julia coming along?" he asked the studious young woman working at the nearest bench.

"Good morning, sir. I've got it ready for you here." She picked up a syringe lying in a small tray and handed it to him carefully. "I've added one cc of Formula 23 to her usual mix. Not too much to start with, as you requested. Let me know how it works out and I can adjust the dose if necessary."

"Thank you, Heather, I'll do that." Smiling, Miller took the tray. Then, dressed in a clean white coat, he went through the laboratory to the Dreamer's ward beyond.

Julia was sleeping, the quilt pulled snugly around her shoulders. The machine attached to her head was making its customary almost inaudible hum.

Miller smiled with a touch of malice as he inserted the syringe into the bag of chemicals connected to the port at the back of her neck. "Let's see what this does to your garden, then. Perhaps you'll find a few wicked fairies at the bottom of it," he chuckled.

Julia continued to sleep peacefully. It would take some time before the new dose took full effect. Miller turned to Jason.

"Still dreaming about cars then? Time to move on, Jason boy. What about an adventure? Something involving hunters and prey with lots of blood, or better yet, dragons. You could be a dragon slayer." He bent down to whisper into Jason's ear. "Did you hear when I said 'Dragon Slayer'?"

There was a drop of Julia's solution left in the syringe. No-one, and especially not Jackson, was watching. Before he could change his mind, Miller shot the last drop into Jason's bag of fluid.

Who knew whether that would make a difference or not? Dreaming was such a new field and there was so much they didn't yet know. He was keen to try more experiments but Jackson was always cautious—too cautious in his, Miller's, opinion. It was good to come in here for once without Jackson tagging at his heels.

Miller walked quickly along the rest of the aisle, checking briefly that all ten Dreamer's were sleeping and their machines operating correctly. He stopped for a moment to adjust Noah's dose, keeping the SSRI level high to keep him from waking too easily, then he left the ward. He'd return in an hour or so and see what the next crop of Dreams had delivered.

~~

Julia was dreaming. She was in a garden, her garden—or was it? Blue delphiniums, purple monkshood, pink foxgloves, irises and azaleas, all filled the flower beds in lush profusion. A sweet scent wafting from a hedge of oleanders, irritated her nose as she strolled along the grassy path. In the distance, stood a ruined Grecian-style folly, its roof long gone. Morning glory vines wound their way up four intricately carved Corinthian columns, the marble finish crumbling.

A cold wind made her shiver as she wandered through the garden.

In her bed, Julia's fingers clenched around the quilt cover, pulling it tighter.

In the cot next to her, Jason was striding through a green forest. He was wearing a leather jerkin over a long-sleeved shirt and carried a heavy sword at his side. He stumbled, confused. Why was he here? Where was the race track? His beautiful car? He stopped and looked around, as if it would suddenly pop into sight. Suddenly, flames tore through the trees in front of him. A huge dragon's head pushed through the burning foliage and roared.

Unthinkingly, Jason unsheathed his sword and brandished it. Now he remembered. He was a Dragon Slayer! He slashed with the sword, pressing forward to drive the dragon back. The dragon roared again and flames bellowed forth, burning through Jason's glove and sleeve. Oww! That really hurt, thought Jason in surprise. He'd been tired, muscles aching with handling the wheel, but he'd never been hurt in a dream before.

He didn't like this dream. He wanted to wake up and return to his racing cars, but he remained in the forest. Panting, Jason gripped the sword in both hands.

The dragon roared again, its huge eyes glowing blood red.

Further down the ward, Noah was having a nightmare. Running. Always running. Skittering sounds followed him, getting louder and louder. As if a nest had burst open and all its inhabitants were chasing him, their tiny claws scratching the pavement, mandibles clicking. Faster, he had to run faster. Even though he didn't dare turn his head, he knew they were gaining. He felt a sharp pain in his left calf. Then his right.

Noah screamed. But he didn't wake up. He ran, sucking in great gulps of air, his chest heaving painfully and his legs feeling as if they were on fire. Warm blood ran down his calves.

He stumbled and looked down. Huge insects the size of dogs were scuttling alongside of him, their eyes glittering. Noah tried to run even faster, but the insects were crowding him, jostling him from one side to the other, then one stopped suddenly in front of him and he flew head over heels, landing on his back—winded.

Insects swarmed over his prone body. He felt their sharp little claws digging into his flesh. Noah screamed again.

They were over his face. A giant cockroach climbed into his open mouth. Noah spat furiously, swinging his head from side to side but the cockroach dug its claws into his tongue. Inch by inch, it started to climb down his throat as ants scuttled over his bottom lip and into his mouth. Tears of horror streaming from his eyes, Noah choked and spluttered, gagging furiously but they kept coming. More and more, filling his mouth and throat. He couldn't breathe. Noah's body thrashed wildly.