The Jemaverse

Change of Objective

The threat was over in Duckvill. We've succeeded, Mare retreated, without a single gem in possession. We made it back to the lab all in one piece, and even met new allies.
"What can be more important than the potential threat of millions of people dying?" Asked Carlos, as we stepped out of our teletubes.
Tom was in the front looking at the giant computer screen above him.
"The immediate threat of one person dying at a time." Tom responded.
"What are you implying?" Asked Kiara.
"Well, I can't really be sure, which is why I need Jemeni and his brother to wake up. I need you to report back about the behavior of the people around you."
"No problem." I said with confidence.
"But why?" Carlos asked.
"I have reason to believe, Mare has learned to send Nightmares into individual person's Dreamaverses. If he kills the person while inside they're dream, that Dreamaverse is now his, and the person will... Most definitely die. If this data shows true, the symptoms should be obvious."
"Obvious how?" Asked Carlos.
"I dunno, just, maybe a zombie transformation type obvious."
"Wait, your saying in real life, people around us will turn into literal zombies?!" I asked.
This question made Kiara and Tom laugh.
"No of course not. Zombies aren't real. But you better head back, schools starting soon."
Me and Carlos took out our buttons Tom had given us so we would be able to wake up at anytime. We pressed them and the light around me grew brighter. I heard whispers. This was familiar. I tried to hear what they were saying, but the more I tried, a sudden headache got worse and worse. The light dispersed and I saw the tall red building standing tall in front of me.
"Of course." I said.
The moment I heard the whispers, I could easily guess it had to do with the tower.
"Maybe... The Jempire State Building," I decided, since it did seem to be my world, "that's what I'll name you."
A scratchy voice made me jump as it said, "I already have a name. My name is Red."
I looked down and saw Rat the bat. The guardian of the red gem.
"Oh, no I was talking about the tower."
"Hm... Talking to and naming an inanimate object, somewhat signs of madness you know?"
"I wasn't talking to the building. Well I kinda was, but it's not all that inanimate. It can talk."
"I don't get impressed much, but I'll admit, I'm rather impressed on how fast you went from somewhat delusional, to fully delusional within a matter of seconds."
"No, I mean, not talking like regular talking. It whispers."
Red stared at me with the most serious face I've seen.
"I'm sorry, but you need help."
"No, I'm for real, don't you hear it?"
"You can hear the tower whisper to you?"
I nodded, "yeah, that's what I've been saying."
"Mhm, I see. Can you make out what the whispers say?"
"I've tried, but I get a headache when I try too hard. And when I get closer, the whispers become less audible. It's like it doesn't want me to hear, but it does."
"I see. Enough about your delusions, did you get the book back?"
"Not yet, but we've met some... Uh... People? And have the blue gem in our protection."
"Don't waste your time on the gems. Get the book, so I can destroy it. For good."
"The book can be destroyed?"
"In a certain way that only I know, yes."
"Oh, awesome. I'll try my best."
"Good, you better. You can leave me now, I have some things to look over."
Red ran with great speed and climbed up the red tower. I pressed the button again and appeared in bed. It was a dizzy feeling. I heard running towards my room and I jumped out of bed. The door was knocked on and I ran over to open it.
"It's good I'm up!" I said while opening the door.
Carlos was standing outside. He had a serious look on his face, like he had something really serious to say. His faces were similar, but living with him since a kid, I've learned to recognize the tiny differences in his expressions.
"Mom slept late," he said, "she should be up by now."
"Maybe she has a sick day?"
We heard a moan from Mom's room that made us look over. After a few moments her door opened and the first noticeable thing were her ringed, exhausted red eyes.
"Goo... Good mornin... Hon..." She was saying.
Carlos ran over to catch her as he noticed her falling over. He caught her and laid her down against a wall.
"Nope," he confirmed turning his head to me, "definitely weird behavior."
We went down the stairs and got ready for school, agreeing that the next clue we would alert Tom about something serious. After getting ready and dressed, we walked down our long driveway to where our buses would arrive. Carlos's bus would arrive first, then mine. We waited there for quite a while, then a vibration came from my right, jean pocket. I took out the button Tom had given me and his voice came through.
"Anything unusual yet?" He asked.
"Not really." I answered.
"Unless you add the fact our buses are fifteen minutes late and our mom fell asleep right after she woke up like a zombie as not unusual." Added Carlos.
"Oh, I guess that counts," said Tom "come here as soon as you can."
"Got it!" I said already pressing the button.
I was back in the lab. And I stepped out of my teletube.
"Where's your brother?" Asked Tom.
"He should be coming." I assured.
"Or..." Said Kiara in a way that worried me.
"Or what?" I asked.
"This is... Quite bad."
"What is?" I continued asking.
"We should rescue him first." Said Kiara.
"Yes, most definitely." Responded Tom.
"Rescue him from what?!" I exclaimed while still in much confusion.
"His nightmare. Mare no doubt trapped him and most others in nightmares that can potentially kill them if we don't act now." Tom explained.
"But, people can't die in nightmares, they're just, fake, fake visions created by thoughts and wonder." I argued.
"That's when only when your alone in your dreams. But when an outsider like Mare is in it, people can most definitely die in their dreams."
"How do we save him?"
"We have to go inside of his dream, and defeat the nightmare, whatever it is. It's their greatest fear." Answered Kiara.
"Seems easy." I said.
"Are you ready to test that predicament?" Tom asked.
"Sure am!" I exclaimed.
I went into my teletube and Kiara went into Carlos's.
"Kiara?" Tom said.
"Ready!" She said with a smile.
Tom stood still and silent for a couple of seconds until speaking again.
"You can't go."
She faked a laugh at his statement as would a bad joke. Her laugh faded when Tom didn't show and signs of joking himself.
"Wait, what!?!?" Kiara said with an obvious hint of surprise and disappointment.
"I can't lose you again. Especially right after just getting you back. A father is meant to keep his daughter safe and out of danger. I've realized that now."
"What?! No, that's not you! What the flip made you think that?"
"When Mare captured you the first time."
"I'll be fine, let me go. What if Jem doesn't make it?"
"Then you will."
I cut in, "if she wants to go, I'll make sure she's safe."
"It's impossible to guarantee ones safety." Said Tom.
"I promise, Tom, I won't let anything happen. If a bullet comes toward her, I'd jump in front of it if I had to. But she should deserve to come along."
Tom thought for a long while in silence.
"Fine." He said, finally.