The Dreamer's Exchange: The Dreamer's Series, #1

By Adam Snowflake

The Dreamer's Exchange is a new adult story about highschool dropout and occultist supreme Jake Caloway. The story starts simple enough, he and his then best freind Maika Abend go on a quest to sell Jake's soul but things quickly turn sour. Gods will become invoked, channeld, and evoked. Spirits will consume him, Jake Caloway for the best of him will even go mad. Dark theems will emerge and it was results in trials after trials as Jake himself becomes a god. But that isn't quite this story. Atleast, not yet. This is the story of how that all came to be. The first in the long awaited Dreamer Series. The set up to the set up. The prologue to the prologue. The wishing tailes of our not so tribal fish. This is the story of how it all started, this is the beginning of Jake Caloway. This story is public domain by Adam Snowflake, and while entirley fictional deals with dark and mature themeing as well as basis in many different faiths, cultures and religions. I would not recomend it for someone under the age of 18. Also- this story despite it's presnetation is entirley fictional. Lastly this story has a few errors in it's formating whether that be spelling or glamour because the version you have selected is the original draft's "authors copy" which means its the rawest form of this story before an editor touched it. Goodluck, and happy reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adam Snowflake
• Release date: May 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201236328

Book preview

Chapter 1: The Soul Contract

Jake sat down at the table. He wasn’t sure what to feel about his life and what he was planning. More importantly the rewards that would ensue. He rubbed his thumbs together almost toying with them. He was shaking. He knew what he wanted though. He wrote down his items on a list and called up his friend Maika. 

Hello 

Hey Maika? It’s Jake. I need your help with something and it's kinda out there Maika rubbed his eye getting out of bed 

sure what do you need? 

how soon can you come over?.

Not too soon after the high-school student was on Jake’s porch. The two had been close friends for quite some time. Jake was 18 and Maika 16. Maika was still in school though be it a wannabe drop out while Jake was busy obtaining his GED. They normally spent time whenever they saw fit usually on mindless fun. Neither really had real world obligations. They had gotten back into contact a few months ago since Maika had cut ties with Jake do to a minor fight. This has happened 2 times prior. Come inside Maika rushed up the steps. Jake took out a book from his backpack, he placed it on the table and slung his bag to the ground. What’s this? It’s a green witchy grimoire thing and I need your help .

Maika blinked for a few seconds. Looking at the cover. He knew Jake was a bit peculiar yet he pondered what exactly Jake needed his help with that involved this thing. The book seemed old. It’s pages were yellow and the leather cover had stains. 

It’s a book of magic

I got that from the title Maika Abend then gestured for Jake to hand the book over. Jake hesitated and then he slowly handed it to his friend. With the book in hand Maika flipped through the pages quickly skimming them. Some contained images. But mostly it covered basic magical procedures and how to go about them. 

You seemed panicked on the phone Maika commentated under his breath 

Oh, uh sorry about that Jake stammered. In truth he was panicked but it was not something he was ready to openly admit. He always had a tendency to work himself up into anxiety ridden madness. 

So yeah um Jake paused. 

I want to sell my soul Maika stopped flipping through the pages. 

You what? his tone had changed from a groggy sleep droolish one to a stubborn almost stern questioning air. Jake sighed. 

I want to sell my soul He took back the book from Maika with a stare and spoke 

and I want you to help me do it. Maika at first assumed his friend was joking or rather that was what he was hoping for. But after much pondering for what him felt to be an hour, though in reality only a few seconds, realizing his friend was serious he looked up. 

Maika wasn’t exactly a witch or warlock by any means. He wasn’t quite keen on magic in concept but he knew from Jake’s previous rambles that selling your soul was not something to be taken lightly. He believed in magic even if he didn’t fully understand it. One question pinched his brain. 

Why? Jake was quick to answer almost on a que 

because there's things I want and I’m willing to give my soul to gain it 

This is something serious Jake.

I know Jake responded quieter this time.

I know what I’m getting into. I know exactly even. I just- I need someone’s help. I don’t want to do this alone Maika in the midst of his brain rewound Jake’s responses. Hoping to get a glimpse of clarity over his friend's sudden rational. Did Jake really know enough about magic to sell his soul? And if he did, did he really know about the challenges of doing so? Was he really willing to accept the consequences whatever they may be? Jake was known for being impulsive. Did he actually have a good grasp on what this meant?

Maika looked at Jake stone faced. 

You sure about this? Jake held his breath. He responded. 

Yes not breaking the contact in which their eyes met. They stood at each other silent. 

Okay He sighed. His tone was much lighter almost shrugging. 

What? Jake asked spooked.

Okay I’ll help you. In utmost honesty Maika was a fairly impulsive person as well, but he knew enough of Jake to know he wouldn’t take this big of a risk without knowing the full scope or consequences. Plus this was Jake he was thinking about here. If this was something Jake had set his mind to do then Jake was going to do it. With or without Maika’s help. He could at-least make sure his friend didn’t get killed in the process. Plus it seemed at the time like it would be something entertaining to watch. 

Cool we can start with this documentary I found online. 

Are we really going to sell your soul through shitty youtube videos? 

Nothing ventured nothing gained 

true. Maika ended up spending the night at Jake’s that day. It was easier to do research and it gave them time to think of how they were going to go about it. Maika as per the norm for their sleepovers slept on the couch while Jake took his bed. 

Jake had always had incredible dreams. Never truly being himself in them. He always dreamt of the most spectacular sights and adventures. Tonight’s dream most likely do to the subjects discussed, he dreamt of a lake of fire.  He was in a volcano of some sort. He was a knight. From Jake’s perspective he was controlling the actions of the knight but it was not the knights face that Jake wore. The armor was plaid in silver but stained in red. Blood was on the gloves of the suit. On the top of the volcano he saw a raging storm. Ice and creatures within the sky. The bottom towards the footing however had burnt grass and a greece filled muck. In the middle was a pit of lava. He stood at the volcano’s edge as a dragon soared above him. Kneeling Jake began to bleed from his wrist as the dragon stared at him. It began chanting in a foreign tongue and then Jake woke up.

He couldn’t always place what he had done in his dreams, but when he could it always entertained him. He never remembered dreams like this. When he did he imagined it was more like a movie with minor audience participation. Very much like a video game cut scene. Maika on the other hand never dreamt. It wasn’t a mere misunderstanding of what he dreamt or failing to remember his dreams but rather he simply did not dream at all. This Maika more than made up for in the daytime however, where he would constantly be swept away in his imaginary fantasies. He often called himself a maladaptive daydreamer. 

Jake had a tendency to do this as well but not to the same extent or fortune. Jake wasn’t sure such a label fit him. After all unlike Maika Jake wasn’t living an entire double life in his head. The next morning things proceeded as normal. Almost as if they had forgotten about Jake’s plans all together. A few weeks of uneventful nothing passing and Maika was at Jake’s again. This time to discuss the intricacies of this action. Jake had also recently gotten back in contact with his old friend Janet as well. He had only talked to her on a few occasions. But she seemed nice enough. Maika had brought over a list of things they would need that he got from his own research. The list contained lots of complex items. Everything from blood stones to river water meant to be gathered on certain days. Truth be told he had gotten most of his data from the internet documentary, I sold my soul to Satan Welcome to Hollywood which with notes taken he found was surprisingly resourceful. 

He still couldn't believe his ears when Jake told him. It was certainly something he had pondered in days past. When he gave Jake the list jake briefed him with a warning. 

You should be aware... Jake said in a whispy tone. 

Most people who sell their soul go crazy. So at some point during this chances are I’m gonna lose my mind 

okay Maika for a split second felt regret in helping his friend. He shook it off with his trademarked sigh. Jake had trusted Maika with this decision. Jake had a very small friend group  though it was a group he wouldn't trade for the world. In the giant plan of doing this Jake simply couldn't trust this information to Betty or Janet or any of his other friends. Even if he felt very close with them. 

That night the boys talked about many things. It was a sleepover after all. They enjoyed sleeping and guessing which celebrities and artists had sold their souls for fame or fortune. They marathoned Jake’s alternative rock music. He was caught up in his own little world of trying to be alternative or emo or something. He wanted to dress in one of those styles . Apart from society in a sense. Jake had a tendency to guess every other successful celebrity while Maika was far more nitpicky with his guesses. In retrospect the two of them had no idea what Jake was getting himself into. 

A few days later Jake and Maika decided to head over to a coffee house nearly three hours from where either boy lived. It was a small Christian place where all of the profit went to helping people in third world countries. Jake honestly found the whole premise quite pretentious and problematic but still went there because he had fond memories of going with an old friend. Maika was just happy to have coffee. Jake had brought his kids guitar with him and Jake could play some songs and jam out while they were there. Jake not to long ago had decided he wanted to be a musician and unable to afford an actual guitar, he bought a child’s one. This was the kind of action that Jake was known for. Deciding life choices on random outcomes and gut desires.

Despite having a very strong love for music and other arts Jake was selling his soul to become a great painter and storyteller. They talked about usual things with only minor magic included. Jake began to daydream. Maika’s words almost seemed to fade as Jake held a contest of wits with his coffee mug. 

You okay? Maika asked bringing Jake back to reality. He stopped snapping. 

Yeah its just...I don’t know. Don’t you feel a little guilty drinking coffee at a Christian place? 

not really Maika leaned back in his seat. 

Coffee's coffee. Who cares where it’s from? 

Yeah I guess... Maika was the far more rebellious and laid back of the two. 

Jake while eccentric in many areas wasn’t really a rebel and more of a goody two shoes. Maika on the other hand was fairly chaotic and more often than not found himself in trouble. If you were to know the pair and ask which of them was going through with this dastardly task most people would assume it was Maika despite this being far from the case. Maika may often find himself on the edge of magic and workings regarding it but he wasn’t going to sell something as vital as his soul. He felt he knew better. Unlike Jake he knew he had common sense. Despite Jake’s oh so sound reasoning Maika often pondered why Jake was going through with this at all. Why he really was, and if there was anything that Jake wasn’t telling him. Here’s something I alone will tell you. There was. Many things in fact.

Jake adjusted himself in his seat fiddling with his hands. He examined around the coffee shop. His eyes darting. Paintings with intense expressionism and abstract ideas overwhelmed him. Wooden chairs and nicely painted windows with the smell of coffee beans that filled the air. Maika noticed his friend’s distressed expression. Jake despite being overwhelmed loved this environment. Jake wondered for a brief second if he’d ever be able to enjoy the expression of an area like this again after the deal had been struck. Maika snapped his fingers to get his worried friend’s attention yet again. 

Oh sorry Jake paused 

It’s chill Maika replied. 

So about this soul thing  

Ya?  The words were slow on the tongue.

what happens when you do it?

what do you mean? Jake asked. Maika scratched his head trying to configure how to phrase this. what happens after you sell your soul? Like do you go to hell? Jake chuckled to Maika’s surprise. 

from what I've read Hell doesn't exist 

oh? Then the thought sunk in. 

then where do you go? Jake glanced back towards his mug  

now that I'm not sure. 

then what value is your soul? 

I'm pretty sure when you sell your soul you become a slave to a demon or something 

wait really?

yeah to be honest Jake was perfectly aware of what would happen and the chaos of it all. It may not be Hell but he didn’t feel Maika could handle the full gravity of the scenario and situation. Jake held a sort of superiority complex when it came to matters like these.

Holding at the remark the boys finished up their coffees and were on their way out of the shop in Roswell. Jake dropped Maika off at his house. Jake went home to read up more from his books. Jake lived with his widowed mother and had two older sisters.They were both in college and moved out. Jake despite being 18 was the baby of the family. He had many problems with being self sufficient on his own. His mother and him had a rough relationship. His mother had a tendency to argue, scream and cause conflict when there was no need. Her favorite form of abuse was that of a verbal variety. He always felt like he was walking on eggshells in her presence. He kept his magic a secret from her. Despite most of America no longer believing in magic, Jake knew what he was messing with was serious business and not for the faint of heart.

Jake went up to his bedroom and turned on the radio. Ever since Jake had decided to sell his soul he had been getting strange messages through it. The songs in the genres he listened to began to take on new meanings. Almost as if there was more to them then on the surface. It was like there was more written in between the lines rather than what was seen on them. This thought Jake enjoyed. It made him feel special getting these messages. That was something Jake always something Jake wanted to be. Special.

They also were starting to take on new arrangements always getting songs that would relay an overall message given the order in which they were played. Jake knew that he had attracted some attention spiritually from what he was doing. He felt the spirits were sending him these songs as messages. He was even as some might say hyper aware of this. Sometimes to an over-inflating degree. He knew not of these spirits names or appearances. But he knew they were there. He even considered many of them to be his friends. How one can have a friend without a name is a complicated task but one he never failed to achieve nonetheless. 

When most people imagine magic, they imagine wizards of old yelling chants and performing rituals. They imagine sheep or virgin blood and skulls and other such sacrifices. But magic in the modern age carried no such connotation. It was in his opinion rather the current environment hidden in plain sight. Magic in the modern day has been woven into books, movies, songs, the internet and other modern things. In fact you could learn everything that you would need from the internet alone. Jake was always one for social media. He had learned that recently he could achieve spiritual messages through it.

Lately since he began this adventure it seemed that he was seeing signs everywhere he went. Thinking about all this Jake caught himself stressed in his own his own head. With this in mind he decided to sleep. In his dreams he took on a new role. In his dream tonight Jake took on the role of a prince. In a golden kingdom of a foggy world. He had many consorts and friends and was adventuring with a party. In his dream he met with a soothsayer. She told him of a warning. Do not trust the seventh day. Do not trust the ghost of home. You are more than you could imagine beware the spirits of your abode she continued but before he could hear it fully, he woke up. With the dream fading from his memory Jake got out of bed groggy.

Jake put on his chest’s binding underwear and a tshirt. He moved to the bathroom eyes half closed. As he opened them more fully he saw something sparkle out of the corner of his eye. He turned towards it but nothing was there. That’s weird he remarked under his breath. Jake brushed his teeth and headed out the door to meet Maika at the park. They had decided to hang out while there in East Cobb. It was nothing to important but rather something to do.

On the way to the park there were many places you would see. You would pass a church, cross an intersection, and pass a kids daycare/school. When Jake passed the church he noticed an odd sign. The sign by the church had always had a new phrase every few days. The sign today read In times of trials and times of testing comes he. Jake thought not much of it but kept it in mind out of pure paranoia driven instinct. When he met Maika he noticed the boy’s backpack. Nice purse Jake smirked. 

Shut up Maika chuckled. The backpack in question was quite delicate in features and clearly meant for girls. 

I’m living in the future

Sure you are Maika puched Jake as he moved to sit on the bench.  

So... Maika spoke gesturing to the great forest before them. 

So.. Jake remarked looking down. 

You brought the books 

Ya the Conally workbook and the lesser keys Maika’s tone was hushed making references to such magical procedures wasn’t something he wanted people to hear. Jake had found some quaint oddly titled books online. He had Maika order a copy since he was better off financially.

There in the park, they spent time studying. They read in the green grimoire that they owned that forests were best for privacy. Half way through the silence Jake glanced at Maika. 

I’ve been having odd dreams 

Really?

ya... 

What kind of dreams? Jake looked around 

I keep dreaming of another world. Like another place full of extravagant quests and adventures... 

interesting Maika remarked unimpressed. 

I keep being told about something though...some sort of game.. Maika’s voice suddenly carried intrigue. 

Game?

Ya...my spirits keep mentioning it to me to. On the radio I hear references to it, it’s in songs and online like social media I see it plastered everywhere 

what...kind...of game? 

I wish I knew Jake said. He did a quick look around to make sure no one was picking up on their conversation. 

Well it’s probably paranoia don’t worry about it Maika leaned back on the park bench and stretched out his feet. Jake looked at his friend as he closed the book.

You know what that reminds me of Maika commented nose deep within it. 

What? Jake asked. 

This comic book called skybound Jake smirked and punched his friend causing him to finally remove his eyes from the book he was skimming.  

It’s this comic where a few kids play a video game that causes the apocalypse. Jake laughed this is real life dummy 

Ya I know but ya gotta admit it’s kinda eerie Maika winked. The boys got up and walked back to Jake’s house. Jake flopped onto the floor panting for breath. 

I know your chubby man but damn

Shut up Jake panted.  It looked pitiful.  Maika kicked off his shoes. It was unaccustomed in Jake’s house but a personal preference of Maikas. The teen slicked back his sharp blonde hair with the comb he always kept in his pocket. 

Anyways what do you have to eat? 

Check the fridge Jake was finally beginning to catch his breath. Maika set everything up. He knew Jake’s house almost as well as he had known his own. 

Jake turned on the radio using the Pandora app on his phone. Pandora  was a website/app where you could make custom radio stations based off one or two songs. Even an artist in fact. It was named after the myth of Pandora's box. Where all the evils of the world were unleashed upon the opening of a box. It was great for general listening. Maika made himself a grilled cheese and offered jake up some soda. Maika personally could never bare the taste.  They ended up watching the documentary 3 times that night. Jake was obsessed with watching it over and over again and constantly taking notes. Maika felt his friend a bit much. Jake suffered from intense OCD but you’d never notice it unless he was comfortable with you.

Eventually the boys got talking. Maika walked over to Jake sitting at the table now. 

I just want to know, call me curious but what are you selling it for? Jake was taken aback. 

You really wanna know?

I mean ya. I am kinda helping you here Maika was unimpressed. 

I want to be important. And a good painter. That too. To be honest there's an entire of list and I'm not sure I should call it out 

Can you do that? 

What do you mean? Jake pondered. 

Can you ask for a lot of stuff? Jake started shaking his leg. 

It's my soul dude I want my money's worth.

Maika sighed. What if they try to screw you over? 

Again from what I've read demons are teachers wanting to enlighten people. It's not in their motivation to 'screw me over get that old testement mumbo jumbo out of your brain Maika' Jake made air quotations. 

But you will be their slave 

something akin to that. Oh and one more thing

what? 

everybody who does this goes crazy at some point so at some point during this process I'm going to loose my mind

okay Maika said with a waver and a sigh. 

Also...once you start this process there's no going back...so now that I’ve even just decided to do it....I can't back out or my life will descend into hell

your so stupid Maika commented. Quips like these were common place for Maika to make towards Jake. He never meant them jokingly he just had a flair for insults. Jake got up and walked towards the t.v. whatever. 

That night the boys played video games on Jake's console.  Maika as always didn't dream. In the morning Jake woke up and moved from the couch avoiding his friend whom had slept on the floor. He went towards the kitchen. He contemplated what was happening.  Jake had two neighbors with whom he cared. Lauren and Eli. Jake had gone towards Lauren's house for quite a while. She was a redhead with an attitude and a self admitted ‘sociopath’. She actually had a disorder. She wasn’t doing it to be edgy though that was often the sort of person she was. In most honesty Jake who’s empathy was always on the rise had admired that bit about her. Maika was the same way. His friend Maika suffered from Antisocial Personality disorder as well but much less to a degree. Maika could at least will himself to feel emotions for other people though be it limited. In many ways much like mother nature Maika and Jake were friends out of necessity. They were friends because neither had other people. Maika could use Jake to drink under age and get places via a car. So they were friends. Maika didn’t manipulate people. Not everyone with this disorder is like that. But in many ways if I were to sum up their relationship it would be that Jake was codependent on Maika and Maika used that to his advantage. 

Jake could in many ways be seen as pathetic at the start of it all. So when Maika truly felt like he should be feeling something for him he willed himself to feel sad or empathy for his friend. Not that he did such things naturally. Jake and Maika had become friends through Jake's meer persistence and manipulation. Jake was very good with people and when he wanted something he knew just what buttons to puch to achieve it. In Maika's case he simply bugged the boy until the two became close for he saw that as a reasonable option. Despite being nothing alike, the two were both very good at getting what they wanted and each could get what they wanted from each other. They were just as manipulative as each other, the main difference was their goals, their empathy, and their methods.

Jake had attempted what he tried with Maika with Lauren and at the time since she had nothing better to do it worked wonders. Soon Maika left the house to go back to his home in Marietta. School was still a factor after all. Maika lived the next town over but that never seemed to stop Jake from pursuing time for the boys to spend together. Soon weeks passed and Jake and Maika continued to acquire the items for the ritual.

One day Jake decided to visit Lauren. He walked up to her house and rang the doorbell. She invited him in for tea. She said she was going to have a friend over soon but despite this Jake was welcome to stay. Jake seemed different that day. He kept catching himself making references that otherwise nobody would notice. References about his deal. Lauren kept looking at him weird throughout the process. Eventually they got to talking about jobs and opportunities there of.

Lauren gave Jake a look. 

well you could apply at Bendys. 

Bendys? Jake asked curious. 

Ya the fast food joint off 92? I'm sure they'd love to hire you there... Jake paused. 

I don't know. Fast food seems so...not fun Lauren's friend Sandy who had arrived an hour earlier laughed. Well no one likes their first job. Sandy took Jake's hands. 

Trust me they'd want to hire you there. Jake pushed them off of his 

I'll think about it. Lauren stared at him. 

I hope you do. They continued watching t.v. The show they were watching was about pirates and adventures therein. Jake had discovered something within his travels. 

It was that magic was everywhere. It was often times hidden in plain sight. Jake called being able to notice the magic 'reading' or in this case 'watching between the lines'. Something about the video they were watching bothered Jake. It almost seemed to be making constant references to his deal or pact. What he was planning. What he wanted to do.  Even the sleepover last night. The video was from a popular youtube gaming star and from a few weeks ago but Jake couldn't help but feel weirded out. Lauren and Sandy didn't seem to notice, and whenever Jake tried to make a comment about it they laughed it off awkwardly almost disturbed by the connections he not so subtly drew. 

Jake was making perfect sense. He knew he was. But he was also talking about things that he knew they couldn't comprehend and to the un-awoken eye that just seemed like pure madness. Jake decided to go home. He was sane, he knew. He wasn't crazy not yet but if it was starting this early on maybe there was a reason for that. Regardless of the methods for which his spirits were communicating with him, Jake considered this progress. Jake walked inside to hear laughing from his television. Him and Maika must've left the t.v on last night.

He turned to the web and decided to watch videos as always.  Once again the references started back up. This time it was like the videos were instructing him. He was not quite sure of what beyond two things. Wear a rope around your neck and wear red thread around your pinky. He didn't really get this. Were spirits communicating with him through youtube videos? Was he imagining it? After sitting on this he decided on a new philosophy.

(If it could be magic it is magic. If it could be a sign it is a sign.)

He decided to keep this philosophy because he needed to be engaged with what he was attempting to do. His contract was important to him. In most honesty that kind of philosophy for Jake would eventually prove to be dangerous. However as of the moment it seemed perfect for what he was attempting. The videos kept referencing him receiving something soon. Jake often pondered at what it could be. Soon a few more days passed and Jake thought about Lauren's proposition. Sandy seemed so sure that he go to apply for a job there. So he eventually gave in and walked to Bendys. Jake headed up to the restaurant. He walked into the joint mummering to himself about spirits. He looked around. There was a cold feeling. It had an uncomfortable air about it. A depressing energy.

He walked in. He went towards the applications. There were none in english. He walked up to the counter of one of the women working there. 

Can I help you? She asked. 

Ya uh I'm here to apply for a job? She looked him up and down. She noticed the lengths of rope around his neck and finger. She took note of his sunglasses and disgruntled hair. His pale face was ridden was acne. He had red stains across his attire. 

Wait here she said with a nod as he went into the back. A white man came out. Gruff long hair. He looked Jake up and down. 

I have what you're looking for. I'll be a moment. He went into the back of the restaurant and