Overlap

Chapter 44: Lucid Paradox

<02/16/2011 - 09:22 | Saffrin Middle School (Math), Austell, GA, USA>

I managed to start calming down at school after this morning's night fright. Still, I felt on edge even after connecting to Lumina today and explaining to her everything that's been going on with me. If I'm asking for her advice on something, then we both know it's serious.

"Don't let it get to you."

She doesn't seem to understand the severity of the issue. "Lumina. These nightmares have been terrible lately. I need to talk to you about them, sometime today. But I guess it can wait until this class is over."

"Hey Reed!"

I perked up my ears, turning around to the person addressing me from behind. From her voice, I assumed it was Banarus, but when I went to look, I saw Banarus, with pitch black curly hair. For just a flash of a second, I saw Reba Sound within her, even though Banarus's hair wasn't actually black, just dark brown. The sight of Reba launched me backwards instinctively with a yelp. I fell flat on my back with a slight roll, freaked out at the thought that Reba might ambush me at any moment...

Of course, Banarus was not too thrilled, and everybody nearby who saw that started laughing at me. I was too embarrassed to try and explain myself, but Banarus sure game me a piece of her mind. "Don't act like that! I don't look that scary!"

Banarus normally doesn't have her hair that curly either. Could have fooled me, though I never really told anyone else about these recurring nightmares. Of course I was jumpy. Based on what I've seen so far, even Lumina might turn out to be simulation for another inception nightmare... But somehow I don't think that is the case. Either way, I've lost sleep over this already.

"She has a point Reed. It's just Banarus. These nightmares must really be making you paranoid."

"You don't get it Lumina. The person who keeps trying to kill me looks exactly like Banarus, just with darker hair and different colored eyes, and better makeup." I pulled myself off the ground, struggling to cope with this situation. This nightmare effect has another unintended consequence. I can barely look Banarus in the eyes anymore. I didn't think about it before the first time, but the resemblance between the two of them is astonishing.

"But they're just nightmares. You can't die in real life from one of those."

"Reba Sound tells me otherwise, claiming that such rules are different during lucid dreaming. She's tried to kill me three times now. I'm surprised her attempts keep failing."

"Isn't one failed attempt enough to debunk her claims?"

"Normally yes. But in every instance, I never actually died in the dream. The sudden heart shattering fear of coming that close to death is waking me up faster than she can actually kill me, and I'm certain Reba will even admit this much next time."

"It sounds scary..." I heard Lumina taking her time to think about it for the first time today. "But I stand by what I say. She's just yanking your chain Reed. Trust me! We would know if this happened to anybody on earth. You shouldn't be afraid of things like that. It's not real, Reed."

"You say that like you know. But Lumina, for those moments, you aren't there to see it happen." Despite what I was saying now though, I felt a little bit better. I've been waiting for her to tell me that. Lumina wants me to trust her, for me to believe that I really am safe, even in the face of such danger, and I want to trust her. I wish I could stop having these nightmares altogether, but I know better than to assume things will be back to normal so soon. I have no choice but to confront the next dream.