A DREAMARE: Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Bring It On

The black XUV suddenly sped up and turned left at NO TRESPASSING sign. Sakura clenched the steering wheel and picked up speed. She went past the road on the left and parked the car on the far side of the highway.

He slammed the brakes on and hurried out the XUV. He looked back at the trail to check if anyone was there and continued walking into the woods. Sakura got off the car and managed to sneak in through the road that led to the restricted area. “Jeez, this is shit scary! I have no idea what I’m doing with my life right now!” she thought as she followed him into the woods.

He entered the old wooden house by the broken signboard that read, ‘forest department.’ Sakura held her breath, hiding behind a tree. “Now what?” she panicked.

Sakura looked around the place and slowly moved closer to the front door. She peered through the crack in the door and saw a group of 7 blindfolded people tied up with rope. “What the.. BLOODY HELL!” she exclaimed, gulping.

He wore a mask as he injected into their forearms. “Sorry folks! Looks like I’ll have to postpone the experiment. And until then, it’s time for some more Modafinil drugs to stay awake!”

He tossed the injection into the trash bin, filled to the brim with needles. “Do you know how bad it is to only have nightmares every day? All of you have good dreams except me!  That’s really” -he rubbed his hand over his stubble- “not fair! I haven’t slept in ages because of my nightmares.”

Sakura broke out in a cold sweat as she heard him speak to the victims. “This man is fucked up!”

“I know it’s not easy for ya’ll to go through many days on no sleep. Don’t worry, I’ll put each of you to sleep forever when everything is over,” he laughed, grunting. “I just need that 1 person for the experiment to be valid.”

“Sakura, you can’t escape! Only you are going to make it complete,” he exploded into maniacal laughter, “I’m finally going to have all the nicest dreams ever when I sleep!”

“My God,” muttered Sakura. She took a light footstep away from the door and ran for her car as fast as she can. She stopped by the XUV to gather clues on the way back.

Sakura dug into his front seat through the open window and managed to grab hold of a car accessory. It was a carved wooden piece with a quote, ‘A dream is to have a dream.’ She rushed to the red Indica, clinging on to the accessory. She heaved a sigh of relief when she got back in her room at home.

“I think you need to find a new job, it’s almost 10 now! I’ll talk to your boss. And whose is the red car?” Afra mouthed as she entered the room.

“Ma, I don’t wish to talk to anyone now. And I don’t care about dinner. So please leave me right now!” Sakura grumbled.

“Ok, relax honey. You need to get rid of that bad temper though! Just let me know if you need anything.”

Sakura lied on her back in bed, staring at the ceiling fan. “I’m in my bed, knowing there are 7 people in danger now,” she agonised. “Should I inform the cops?”

She fiddled with the phone, “I think I should throw away my SIM and get a new one to finish this for once and all!” She shrieked as her phone rang, “Oh no, it’s him!”

“Hi CJ.”

“How was your day? I hope your boss didn’t make it a bad one for you.”

“Not really. It was good.”

“So when are we meeting Sakura?”

His question made Sakura sit up with a sharp jerk. She thought to herself, “I can’t meet him! I have to say NO. But people are dying in that house!”

“Sakura?” he paused.

She put on a brave face and replied, “Tomorrow. Same place, same time.”