Dream Traffickers: The Battle for New Elysium

By fez barnard

Dream Traffickers: The Battle for New Elysium is a gripping tale of courage, hope, and redemption. As Alex, Sara, and their allies wage war against the forces of darkness, they uncover a web of corruption that extends to the highest echelons of power. Together, they fight to reclaim their city and protect the people they love from the insidious threat that seeks to consume all of New Elysium.

In this thrilling urban fantasy, every victory comes at a price, and every step towards justice reveals new secrets and dangerous enemies. Join Alex, Sara, and their team as they navigate a world of betrayal, sacrifice, and unimaginable evil in their quest to save the city that desperately needs them. Can they restore hope to New Elysium, or will the city be forever lost to the clutches of the Dream Traffickers?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312696853

Book preview

Copyright ©, fez barnard, 2023

All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be copied, distributed, or published in any form without permission from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction in which all events and characters in this book are completely imaginary. Any resemblance to actual people is entirely coincidental.

ISBN: [978-1-312-69685-3] ebook

Imprint: Lulu.com

Edited by fez barnard

Chapter 1: Dreams of New Elysium

The horizon stretched infinitely before the skyline of New Elysium, a sprawling metropolis that rose like a phoenix from the desolation of its past. It was a city of neon and steel, its mighty skyscrapers reaching toward the heavens as if to defy the very laws of nature. Beneath the pristine towers, a network of streets and alleys crisscrossed in a maze-like pattern, teeming with life and energy.

New Elysium was a city of contrasts: opulence and poverty, beauty and decay, hope and despair. It was a place where dreams and reality collided, where the powerful and the powerless struggled for dominance in a world that was ever-changing.

At the heart of this futuristic city was a unique and revolutionary concept: dreams as currency. The people of New Elysium had harnessed the power of dreams, and in doing so, had created a new form of commerce that both enriched and enslaved.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in an ethereal glow, the streets of New Elysium came alive with the hustle and bustle of its nocturnal inhabitants. Neon signs flickered and hummed, their garish colours reflecting off the rain-slicked pavement, while holographic advertisements danced and shimmered in the misty air.

In a dimly lit alleyway, a conversation was taking place between two individuals, their faces shrouded in darkness.

Have you heard the riddle? the first one asked in a hushed tone, eyes darting nervously around.

The one about the secret in the heart of the city? Yeah, I've heard it, the second one replied, curiosity piqued. It's all anyone's talking about these days.

In dreams, lies the key; in shadows, the truth shall be. A web of deception, woven with care, the threads of power, tangled and snared. When the clock strikes midnight, in the heart of the city, a secret shall be revealed, a truth that's not pretty, the first one recited from memory.

What do you think it means? the second one inquired, eyes wide with anticipation.

I don't know, but I have a feeling it's something big. Something that could change everything we know about this city and the dream trade, the first one whispered.

The second one nodded in agreement. Well, whatever it is, I'm determined to find out. We can't let this opportunity slip through our fingers.

As midnight approached, the city's inhabitants gathered in the shadowy streets and alleyways, their eyes scanning the darkness for any clue that might lead them to the truth. Conversations echoed through the night, a mix of excitement and apprehension.

I heard it's about the origins of the dream trade, said a woman, her voice hushed yet intense.

No, I think it's about some sort of new, powerful dream that's been hidden away, countered a man, his eyes gleaming with greed.

As the clock struck twelve, the air seemed to hum with anticipation, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife.

Suddenly, a series of mysterious symbols appeared on the side of a towering skyscraper, their luminescent glow casting an eerie light on the crowd below. The symbols seemed to pulse and shift, as if alive, beckoning the city's inhabitants to decipher their meaning.

What the hell is that? a young man shouted, pointing at the symbols, his voice cracking with surprise and fear.

I don't know, but it must be related to the riddle, said an older woman, her eyes fixed on the glowing markings.

The crowd gazed up in awe, captivated by the enigmatic display that seemed to hold the key to unravelling the city's darkest secrets. The air crackled with anticipation as whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Do you think this could change everything? asked a woman, her face flushed with excitement.

Maybe. But we have to figure out what it means first, her companion replied, his gaze never leaving the shifting symbols.

An uneasy silence settled over the crowd as they studied the symbols, their minds racing to uncover the hidden message. The night air was charged with an electric energy, as if the city itself was holding its breath, waiting for the revelation that would change the course of its history.

As the minutes ticked by, a young woman in the crowd suddenly gasped, her eyes widening with realization.

I think I know what it means! she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. The symbols... they're coordinates!

Murmurs of disbelief and curiosity rippled through the crowd as people began to discuss the implications of this revelation. Could this be the secret they had been searching for? And if so, what did it have to do with the dream trade?

Armed with this newfound knowledge, the city's inhabitants set off on a quest to uncover the truth hidden at the heart of New Elysium. Little did they know that this journey would lead them down a path of danger, intrigue, and ultimately, to the very heart of darkness.

Chapter 2: A Legacy of Dreams

As morning broke over the city of New Elysium, the streets came to life with the hustle and bustle of its inhabitants. Amid the crowd, a tall, lean figure strode confidently through the throng of people. This was Alex, a dream extractor with a family legacy that stretched back generations. His piercing blue eyes seemed to take in everything around him, reflecting the city's neon lights as they scanned his surroundings.

Alex was born into a family of dream extractors, a lineage that reached back to the first pioneers who harnessed the power of dreams using ancient techniques passed down through the ages. As a child, he was immersed in the