The Dream Keepers: Awake

By Z. Oko

Mona is taken to realms of existence that are normally forbidden to most, realms that exist beyond the imagination. Dreams meld into reality forcing Mona to confront just how crucial her work as a Dream Keeper is. The previous threat that had imposed itself onto the astral realm still exists causing a ripple effect which manifests itself as a shocking revelation upon the waking world. Along with her fellow Dream Keeper, Danny, Mona must first delve deeper into her mind to uncover her own truths and fears which are holding her back. The discoveries and beings which impose themselves into Mona’s world have a deeper meaning which must be unearthed before she can move forward. The truth is her only hope and at the same time it’s frightening. To unleash her true power, Mona must choose between what is right for her and what is right for everyone else too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Z. Oko
• Release date: Aug 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005387143

Z. Oko

Zena has been an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction titles from an early age. An aspiring curiosity towards literature is what ultimately paved the way to a career in writing books. With a fortified background in the publishing industry along with titles being featured at the L.A Times Festival Of Books, Zena hopes for her works to enrich and inspire.

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The Dream Keepers

Awake

Z. Oko

Chapter One

Easier to Run

I looked over at the both of them.

‘YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS. YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS ALL ALONG.’

I screamed at the both of them with so much frustration that I thought my head was going to explode. I felt betrayed, disrespected and above all else, I felt ashamed. I was wallowing in hurt, anguish, and unbelievable pain to the point where my heart ached.

‘Mona, calm down. This isn’t like you at all, how could you not trust me? To be honest with you, I feel hurt that you would think that I would ever lie to you,’ said Krish, as she looked at the floor. She continued, ‘How could you think that of me?’

‘I promise you Mona, I had no idea that my Dad wanted to build The Dream Keepers Theme Park. It is my worst nightmare, as well as yours. Look at everything that we have been through. If I had known about any of this, then I would have done everything I could to put a stop to it,’ said Danny.

‘I need to go home,’ I said, with tears rolling down my cheeks resembling a turbulent ocean, ‘I need to be on my own right now.’

‘Shall we walk you home Mona?’ asked Krish.

I looked at her, and then walked away. It felt easier to run right now than to face up to how I was feeling. I didn’t want hate to consume me otherwise it would become a part of me. I didn’t feel comfortable in my current environment. Wounds were beginning to open and I was frightened they may never be healed. The very worst part of this entire situation is me.

***

The short walk home was a blur to me. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn’t recall any of the trip. The best thing about the entire evening was coming home where I felt warm, safe, secure, protected and sheltered. My Mum and Helena were in the sitting room watching television, I peered around the corner to say, ‘Hello.’

I was thankful they didn’t ask me any questions about my evening because I wouldn’t know how to answer them without bursting into tears, or even worse; a rage. One thing I have certainly learnt over the past few weeks is that some things are better left unsaid.

I ran upstairs to my bedroom and leapt on the bed, cupping my hands over my mouth slightly so I could feel my warm breath. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t even realise that my hands were as cold as a fridge freezer. My body felt numb, my whole being felt numb.

However, the numbness I felt had the audacity to make me so much more self-aware.

I was in the position where I felt too tired and exhausted to sleep, but nonetheless I changed out of the evenings attire and into some warm comfortable pyjamas, and then sullenly got underneath the duvet. I closed my eyes and made a pact with myself not to open them otherwise I would start to overthink everything and exhaust myself even more.

Saying that, I was most likely to exhaust myself just as much with my eyes closed but I had to seek at least some solace from the position that I found myself in.

I could feel myself drifting off into the ether. I was lucid, I was distraught, and I was emotional.

I was in a dream standing on a large mattress in space whilst also holding up a large mattress. I was with four other people, none of whom I recognised. The angle I was standing at made the Earth look misshapen. We were propelled at quantum speed higher into space, from this angle the Earth now looked round.

I started to feel my fingers slide away from the mattress I was holding onto. ‘If I fall now I will be falling forever. I will perish here,’ I thought to myself.

The mattress was getting heavier and heavier. There is no way I can hold on any longer. Just as I let out a sigh I fell and didn’t stop falling. I looked up and saw the other four people I was standing with looking at me with a gormless look in their eyes.

‘I can’t die here, I have too much to do, I have a life to live,’ I thought to myself.

I turned my head as I drifted further into deep space. The mattress I was balancing somehow drifted to beneath me so I had the opportunity to lie on it in a comfortable poise and float through the never ending darkness that was coupled with bursts of iridescent light.

I began to fall farther into nothingness, and then encountered a big THUD. I had landed on something hard. I extended one hand out so I could feel what I had landed on. My fingers touched a soft coarse material, similar to carpet. I was thankful to feel something normal.

The mattress I lay on then proceeded to slide forwards violently. I gasped in shock. As I came to a standstill I saw a glass door. Screams and classical music echoed on the other side. It was so loud that the vibrations made me wince.

The glass door opened of its own accord. I was wary of walking through it, I could still hear the echo of pungent screaming. The screams got louder as the door exposed the reality of what was behind it. The truth is, I have no idea of what was happening or, of where I was. My intention to walk through the glass door far outweighed my desire to remain closed-minded. As I stood up I swerved to the right. I was still feeling off balance.

‘Mona, it’s OK, come with me. You are right where you need to be,’ said a sweet female voice, filled with a welcoming demeanour and attitude.

‘Finally,’ I thought to myself, ‘some normality to this perplexing dream theme.’

Standing in the doorway was a girl around my age. The cosmic light coming from behind her gave her a halo effect. She wore blue denim dungarees with one of the straps hanging down. Underneath she was wearing a bright white t-shirt with Patala across the front. Her dark skin gave off a glow like sunbeams. I knew then, that she was here for me and my greater good.

‘Where are we?’ I asked, still trying to find my balance.

The girl extended her hand for me to hold onto. I grabbed her hand with both of mine, and then fell back onto the mattress.

‘You have slipped into the Gateway of Free Will,’ she said, softly.

‘Then why can I hear screaming?’ I said, with authority.

‘Come with me, let me show you,’ she said.

I looked at her confused. I have become accustomed to not believing everything I see or hear, and having such a perspective serves me well.

I stood up whilst grabbing the girl’s hands, and then followed her through the glass doors.

‘Where is the screaming coming from?’ I asked.

The girl looked at me, and smiled. ‘The screams are from the nightmares that people endure, it’s their fear which you can hear. Energy cannot be destroyed, only transferred. The screams are the emotions which have been suppressed by the dreamers. It is their free will not to express them, in reality or in the astral realm. This creates blocks and trapped energy which must be freed. The Gateway of Free Will serves that purpose. Mona, you are very open and receptive, it is because of people like you that this place exists, you create the perfect balance,’ she said.

I followed her down a long hallway. There were rooms either side which were sectioned off with glass panels. The rooms were empty, as if no one existed here. We came to the end of the hallway and stood outside one of the rooms. The glass door opened of its own accord.

‘Get ready to jump when I say, OK?’ she said.

‘OK,’ I said, slightly bewildered. All I could see in front of me was a room. Where was I jumping to? I decided to follow the girl’s advice. What other option do I have right now?

The girl grabbed my hand tightly. I could feel how firm her grip was, she was squeezing my hand so tight that it felt uncomfortable.

‘JUMP,’ she screamed.

I jumped into the air as she pulled my body weight forward and into the room in front of us. As we jumped we fell into the room, the floor no longer existed and I could see why. We had jumped into a carriage on The Dream Keepers Roller Coaster. We were back in The Dream Keepers Theme Park.

I was back on a roller coaster of emotion and I wasn’t sure I was ready to be back here.

I screamed with each daring twist and turn that the roller coaster made. I thought I may as well join in and have some fun. I even put both of my arms in the air.

The roller coaster started to slow down, and then everything went black.

The girl I was with whispered in my ear, ‘It’s OK, you are safe here. You are only being shown what you need to see.’

‘What is your name?’ I asked.

‘Sidnee,’ she said, with a melancholic smile.

Intense light filled the tunnel of the roller coaster. The sides of the tunnels displayed the pink leaves from the magnificent glowing tree, and then I remembered what the plaque underneath it said:

No tree has branches so foolish as to fight amongst themselves

(Native American Proverb)

It all made sense now, the fighting the arguing, there was no need for any of it. Why can’t we all live in harmony, just like each leaf on the tree. The individuality of each component came together and worked as a whole. If only we all lived with that perspective… the world would be a different place. I never realised how much nature can teach me, a flower doesn’t fight with the flower next to it, it grows of its own accord, competition is redundant, yet creation is abundant. Loving would be easy if the tones of people were like a fascinating dream. I am starting to see that there is freedom within just as there is freedom without. The earth is green, yet it screams under a blue sky. We need contrast to exist.

Sidnee was engrossed with looking at the sides of the tunnels. The scenery had changed from the magnificent glowing pink trees to a holographic movie of the showdown that I had with my Dad. I too watched in astonishment. I could see the rip that I had caused in the dream dimension, the one where I had banished my Dad too. As the roller coaster sped up we headed into the vortex that I had created. I wonder what was on the other side?

Red and black energy intertwined and merged into one another just as we were about to go through it. I felt calm and safe, Sidnee’s presence somehow had that effect on me. Yet I was worried I may encounter my Dad again.

As I turned to Sidnee she was gone. I was back in my bed. I looked to the side of me and right next to my bed was the red and black vortex. It was about a metre high and a metre wide. I couldn’t move, I was paralysed. I was having a false awakening with sleep paralysis. A dream within a dream. Even if I wanted to be terrified, I couldn’t. I couldn’t move, my body lay stagnant.

I need to stay calm, it’s the only way I can get out of this. I relaxed my body, and then drifted off into another dream space.

***

I was on a beach on an island and fully lucid. The only occupants of the island were the sand and I. I looked up at the moonlit sky which was filled with satellites. Were they sleeping satellites just as I was? I stared beyond the ocean and felt at ease with the ebb and flow that the deep water resonated. I looked around to see if anything or if anyone else was here. Perhaps I missed something and the moonlight was hindering my perception.

I wasn’t alone, The Gate Keepers were circling the island whilst on a paddle board. Their golden belts were blistering to the eye. I suddenly realised that sometimes we too can be blinded by the light, yet the dark can also show us the way.

I waved my arms in the air and shouted, ‘Hey,’ to try and get The Gate Keepers attention. They stopped paddling as I felt their attention turn towards me and fill me with an assurance of serenity. I smiled in acknowledgement as they continued on their paddle boards, just before I drifted into a void of nothingness.

***

‘What is that noise,’ I said to myself, bleary eyed as I awoke from my deep sleep. The house phone was ringing and for some reason it sounded louder than usual. I heard my Mum answer the phone with her usual polite demeanour:

‘Hello.

I am so sorry, so sorry.

When?

How?

How is Elvina? Silly question I know, but, I am in shock.

If there is anything you need, anything, then please let me know.

I understand completely, of course.

Bye.’

That sounded odd. By the end of the conversation my Mum sounded unusually upset. I wonder what has happened? I am making the assumption that it was either Meru or Ala on the telephone as my Mum asked how Elvina was.

I got out of my bed and decided to go and investigate. I am sure it’s nothing, yet my curiosity plagued me.

As I made my way downstairs I could hear my Mum sobbing in the kitchen. A barrage of thoughts rushed through my mind like a dark cloud just about to release a fresh thunderstorm.

‘Mum, what is it, what’s wrong? Are you OK?’ I asked.

‘Good Morning Mona,’ she said, with bloodshot eyes. ‘Would you like some breakfast?’

‘No thank you, I am not hungry. Why are you upset?’ I said, as I put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

My Mum’s eyes started to well up as she said, ‘She’s gone, she’s gone.’

‘Who is gone? Gone where?’ I asked.

Chapter Two

In The Stillness

My Mum looked at me with sadness in her eyes. In that moment I could see shards of pain emanating from her pupils. My empathy is boundless and as much as it serves me, it also shows me how vulnerable we can all be and the strength and power that it actually holds.

‘Are you going into work today? Maybe you should stay at home with me instead. I have a week left of the school holidays so how about we have some quality time together? Mum?’ I said.

‘No Mona, I won’t be going into work today,’ she said. ‘Enigma will be closed from now until…’

‘Until what? Mum,’ I said.

‘Meru passed away in her sleep. Elvina found her yesterday morning. Ala said she looked peaceful in her final stillness, and even had a smile on her face,’ she said, whilst her eyes glazed over with a look of reminiscence.

I stood back. My chest felt as if I had been hit with a mallet and my body was acting as the gong. Ripples of emotion took my brain to another dimension and I momentarily lost my attention.

***

‘Mona, Mona.’ I could hear my Mum calling my name as I lay on the kitchen floor. The lino was cold against my back from where my pyjama top has risen. I rubbed my eyes, and then opened them.

‘Are you OK Mona? You had me so worried,’ she said.

As I sat up I had a volcanic head rush which exploded, and then propelled everywhere.

‘I am fine,’ I said, as I clutched my head with both hands. ‘What happened to me?’ I asked, as my Mum helped me to my feet.

‘You fainted Mona. As far as I can remember you have never fainted before. It must be the shock. I am still in shock too,’ she said, as she got me a glass of water.

I sat down on a chair. My mouth was dry. I took a sip of water slowly as not to choke on it. My body felt as though it had been pushed aside and my whole perspective of the present moment was looking at the whole from a 360° angle.

‘Are you OK?’ I asked my Mum, with a raspy voice.

‘Am I OK? Mona, you are the one who fainted. Don’t worry about me. I didn’t know you would react the way you did. I suppose we never really know what our reaction will be until we are faced with a situation, even death. One of Meru’s favourite phrases was, ‘Noli Timere.’ It means…’

‘Do not be afraid,’ I said, as I cut my Mum off whilst she was in the middle of her sentence. ‘It’s Latin.’

‘You do surprise me sometimes,’ said my Mum, with her mouth slightly upturned. ‘You have snippets of knowledge that blow me away and I don’t know where it comes from. I have a