LUCID: An Afrofuturistic Novel

By Akili Damone Hight

Life Ultimately Continues In Dreams (LUCID) is an extraordinary tale of self-discovery that takes you on a mesmerizing journey through the enigmatic realms of dreams and beyond.

At the heart of this riveting narrative is Evan Wheat, a 22-year-old on an unexpected quest to unlock the deepest mysteries of his own existence. Evan's life takes a dramatic turn after the sudden loss of his father when he stumbles upon a Lemurian quartz crystal of extraordinary power. This chance discovery leads him to a mysterious bookstore, where an ancient tome titled "The Magical World of Irimus" inexplicably chooses him as its reader.

As Evan delves into the book's pages, he begins experiencing a series of vivid dreams that blur the line between reality and fantasy. These dreams become a conduit to another world, one filled with cryptic messages and hidden truths. However, Evan initially dismisses these visions and strays from the path laid out before him.

But destiny has other plans for Evan. A fateful encounter with a bolt of lightning propels his consciousness into an alternate reality, where he must confront a series of trials and tribulations. At the heart of this alternate dimension lies a sinister villain with ambitions of ultimate dominion over humanity. The key to his nefarious plan? Evan's Lemurian quartz crystal.

Evan's journey through this lucid dreamscape is a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations. In a world where multiple realities seamlessly merge, he races against time to uncover his true identity and, in doing so, plays a crucial role in safeguarding the very essence of humanity.

Life Ultimately Continues In Dreams (LUCID) is a spellbinding adventure that challenges the boundaries of reality, exploring the profound connection between dreams and the human experience. Join Evan Wheat on a transformative odyssey that will leave you questioning the nature of consciousness, the power of dreams, and the ultimate destiny of us all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350933147

Book preview

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Lucid

©2023 Akili Damone Hight

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN 979-8-35093-313-0

eBook ISBN 979-8-35093-314-7

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.

- Edgar Allan Poe

lu·cid

/’loosed/

adjective

1. expressed clearly; easy to understand.

a lucid account

Synonyms: intelligible, comprehensible, understandable, cogent, coherent, articulate

Antonyms: confusing, ambiguous

PSYCHOLOGY

(of a dream) experienced with the dreamer feeling awake, aware of dreaming, and able to control events consciously.

2. literary

bright or luminous.

Step into a World

Step into a world of dreams,

Where reality’s not what it seems.

Vivid and more real than waking life,

Where imagination reigns without strife.

Your mind’s power overrides physics laws,

Unleashing your creativity without pause.

But most are trapped in unfulfilled fantasies,

Unaware they’re dreaming, lost in reveries.

Fear not, for this book unlocks the door

To take you on a journey like never before.

Explore realms you never knew,

Soar through the skies as free as a bird too.

Your astral body is your passport to this place,

Infinite adventures await, at a dreamer’s pace.

The astral world is where ancient wisdom resides,

Secrets of All That Is, waiting to be realized.

It may not be familiar, but deeply ingrained,

In the ocean of your thoughts, its secrets are contained.

Discover an ancient cosmic bloodline,

Uncover the Great Crystal, one piece at a time.

Are you ready to awaken your truest self,

Embark on this journey, and free yourself?

The astral world awaits your arrival.

Open your mind and dream your revival.

Contents

PART ONE – THE REAL WORLD

Children’s Story

Family Ties

Fight the Power

Rebel without a Pause

808s & Heartbreak

It’s Like That

Superstar Part Zero

Black on Both Sides

Death Certificate

The Message

Straight Out the Jungle

Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City

I Know You Got Soul

Reaching a New Refutation

It Was Written

One for All

Raising Hell

Reasonable Doubt

All of the Lights

Family Business

Mind Playing Tricks on Me

6 in the Morning

93 ’til Infinity

Art Official Intelligence

Dreams

GOD’s Son

Mass Appeal

Everything Is Everything

Lose Yourself

Scenario

If I Ruled the World

The Crossroads

Midnight Marauders

When Disaster Strikes

Slippin’

Slow Down

PART TWO – SOLAR CITY

Follow the Leader

A Future without a Past

The Carnival

The Low End Theory

Cell Therapy

Operation Doomsday

No One Can Do It Better

40 Days & 40 Nights

Stars & Moon

Shadow Boxing

Ms. Jackson

The Symphony

DNA

Excursions

By All Means Necessary

The Score

Do You Want More?

The Next Episode

Step into the Arena

Stressed Out

She Knows

Let’s Get Free

Respiration

Shook Ones

The Breaks

Trapped

PART THREE – THE RETURN

Resurrection

Life After Death

Illuminate

They Reminisce over You

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Anything Goes

Always Into Something

Stakes Is High

The Love Below

The Light

Triumph

Survival of the Fittest

Mother I Sober

PART ONE –

THE

REAL

WORLD

Children’s

Story

Evan entered his new school, emotions swirling within him as he took in the sea of unfamiliar faces. The hallways stretched ahead, bathed in bright light, lockers lining the walls, and the lively hum of students’ conversations and footsteps reverberating off the linoleum floors.

As he walked down the hallway, he heard a voice behind him. Yo, fresh kicks.

Evan spun around and was met with a wall of bodies, their menacing stares making his heart skip a beat. He couldn’t tell if they were being genuine or mocking him.

Thanks, he replied cautiously, his voice barely above a whisper.

This fool got some big ass feet, one of the guys muttered to his friend, just loud enough for Evan to hear.

What size do you wear? the first guy asked with a smirk, his crew standing behind him. Evan bristled at the question.

Definitely not your size! he retorted, with right fist clenched at his side.

There was a moment of tension as the guys glared at him. Evan’s heart pumped hard as he prepared for a fight, his mind racing with fear and adrenaline. But then the first guy’s expression changed. He leaned in closer and squinted at Evan.

Evan? he said, sounding incredulous. Evan furrowed his brow, trying to place the guy.

Do I know you? he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Dude, it’s me! Your cousin Chuck! Chuck’s face broke into a wide grin as he stepped forward to embrace Evan.

Evan hesitated for a moment but then he felt a surge of relief when he realized it really was Chuck. They came together in a tight embrace. What’s good, cousin! Evan exclaimed, his voice ringing with happiness.

Evan and Chuck had been inseparable as kids. They did everything together, from playing video games to riding bikes and skateboards through their neighborhood. But everything changed when Evan’s mother passed away when they were just ten years old. Evan moved away with his father, and Chuck was left behind. They lost touch, and for the next four years, they were virtual strangers. It wasn’t until that moment that fate brought them back together.

They began to reminisce, then Chuck introduced Evan to his squad, the Scandal Boy Crew—a group of misfits. Before long, Evan was running with them.

The Scandal Boys were a motley crew, united by their love of hip-hop and the spirit of rebellion. Dee, with his swag and flashy chains, called himself ‘DJ Mr. Hyde’ because he was a beast on the turntables. He had skills, and he knew it.

Armand, the quiet one, wore a perpetual scowl and signed everything in sight ‘Zephyr’, his tag name. He was born in the Bronx, a true artist with a talent for sketching lifelike portraits of his friends and heroes.

Brad, the only white guy in the crew, stood out like a beacon with his red hair and oversize headphones. He went by ‘Reckless’ because he had the courage to try anything once. Evan remembered the time he saw Brad do a backflip off the top of a parked car just for the thrill of it. He was always pushing the limits, always looking for the next rush.

And then there was Burt, ‘Scene’, the soulful poet who carried a tattered notebook with him everywhere he went. His raw and unfiltered rhymes reflected the pain and joy of being Black in America. He had an old soul, and when he recited his rhymes, the world fell silent, captivated by the rhythm and depth of his words.

As they began to explore their shared love of graffiti together, Evan, who adopted the name ‘Reflex’, couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement and energy that he had been missing. The sound of spray paint hissing against concrete and the smell of fresh paint pulsed through his body. The thrill of pushing boundaries and expressing himself in a bold new way made him feel alive in a way he never had before.

For the Scandal Boys, hip-hop wasn’t just a hobby; it was a way of life. However, their actions soon led to close brushes with the law for tagging on buildings and defacing public property.

One night, after barely escaping the police, Evan turned to Chuck and asked, Dude, why are we doing this? I mean, we could get in serious trouble.

Chuck replied with a smirk on his face, We’re making a name for ourselves. We’re leaving our mark on the world, literally. Ain’t that what it’s all about?

Tagging is more than just vandalism. Armand used to say. It’s about free form—the act of rebellion by refusing to conform. It’s about the art, son!

The Los Angeles streets were their playground at a young age, but they were also a trap. Would these kids have the opportunity to transform from Scandal Boys to true masters of their own fate?

Family Ties

Chuck and Evan were born to twin sisters with vastly different personalities, like two sides of the same coin. Yasmin, Evan’s mother, was a gentle soul who loved to immerse herself in the world of literature and create art that touched her heart. In contrast, Jasmin, Chuck’s mother, had a competitive warrior spirit that refused to let societal norms hold her back. If boys can do it, I can do it better, she would often boast with a fierce determination in her eyes.

Yasmin and Jasmin’s contrasting personalities were evident in everything they did. Yasmin, quintessential girly girl with flowy dresses and heels, felt feminine and pretty with her chic bob framing her face. Jasmin, edgy and rough with ripped jeans and sneakers, moved freely with her long, wild hair. Yasmin’s introverted nature made it difficult to connect with others, while Jasmin’s extroverted nature allowed her to strike up a conversation with anyone and make them feel comfortable. These differences, both in appearance and personality, defined the sisters’ relationship.

The sisters always had different tastes in guys, but it wasn’t until John Wheat entered their lives that their differences became a point of contention. John was a smart but awkward young man with an unconventional sense of style. He wore thick glasses, mismatched clothes, and always sported an unkempt high-top fade. But despite his quirks, there was something about him that Yasmin found endearing. She loved the way he always made her laugh, even when he was trying to be serious. And she appreciated his unique outlook on life.

Jasmin, on the other hand, couldn’t understand why her sister was attracted to someone like John. She thought he was weird and nerdy. She rolled her eyes at his jokes and made sarcastic remarks about his clothes. But Yasmin didn’t care what Jasmin thought. She was simply smitten with John.

Yasmin knew her sister’s reservations, but she was certain that time would bridge the gap. John and Yasmin married, built a home together, and welcomed a beautiful son into the world. With every beat of her heart, Yasmin believed they were bound for a fairy tale ending.

But fate had other plans. Yasmin’s life was tragically cut short, leaving John and Evan to navigate a world without her. John was devastated. He struggled to find his footing without the love of his life.

Fight

the Power

Dr. John Wheat hesitated outside his son’s bedroom door. He knew he shouldn’t invade Evan’s privacy, but he couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something was off. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had been too hard on Evan as he was growing up, or if he had simply been too absent.

With a deep sigh, John knocked and then turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. What are you doing? he asked as he peeped his head in the room.

Evan rolled his eyes in annoyance as he looked up from his sketchbook. Just drawing, he said, his eyes fixed on the page in front of him.

John entered, walked across the room, and leaned over Evan’s shoulder to get a closer look at his sketch. What are you drawing? he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism because in his mind, drawing was a waste of time.

It’s a bird, Evan replied, his pencil gently gliding across the page.

What kind of bird? John asked.

I think it’s an eagle—or maybe a falcon, Evan replied, his eyes still focused on his drawing.

You don’t know? John asked, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

Whatever wants to come through me, I just let it form itself, Evan said, his head bent over his sketchbook.

Dr. Wheat’s lips pursed, his patience wearing thin. As he watched Evan’s pencil dance across the paper, his heart rate increased with each stroke. Well, enough of that right now, he said sharply, You have serious work to do. Close it. His tone left no room for argument.

But Dad, it’s therapeutic, Evan protested.

Therapeutic? Dr. Wheat asked, a scoff in his voice. What do you know about that? You have homework to do. Put that away and pull out your math book.

Evan gritted his teeth and felt a surge of frustration build up inside him. He slammed his sketchbook shut and pulled out his math textbook. He couldn’t help but feel resentment toward his father.

Dr. Wheat believed that hard work and education were the answer to everything, but Evan knew that wasn’t true. His mind drifted back to a time when he tried to open up to his father about his feelings about the loss of his mother, but John just shut him down and redirected the conversation.

I know it’s hard, Evan, but you need to focus on your studies. That’s the best way to honor your mother’s memory.

No empathy, no listening. Just more pressure to conform. Evan felt suffocated. The only way his father knew how to deal with grief was by staying busy and drowning himself with work.

I spoke to your geometry teacher today, Dr. Wheat said, breaking the tense silence.

Mr. Ericson? Evan asked, his eyes wide with shock.

You didn’t tell me you got a B on your last test, Dr. Wheat said, a note of disappointment in his voice.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that, Evan said, his mind racing for an excuse.

You know that’s unacceptable, Dr. Wheat said, his voice stern. That’s why I’ve gotten you a tutor.

A tutor? Come on, Dad, it was just one test. I don’t need a tutor, Evan protested, his voice rising with frustration.

Since when have you been a B student, Evan? That’s unacceptable. That’s not who you are. You’re an A student, Dr. Wheat said.

It’s not fair, Dad. Why don’t you let me follow my own path? Evan asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

Fair has nothing to do with this. While you’re under my roof, your path is the one I put you on. Understand? Dr. Wheat said, his voice firm.

Evan let out a deep sigh, feeling trapped by his father’s expectations. I understand, he said under duress.

Dr. Wheat gestured toward Evan’s afro. And when are you going to cut that crop on your head?

Evan rolled his eyes. I’m trying to let it grow, he said, opening his math textbook and grabbing his notes.

Evan felt the intensity of his father’s gaze, as if it could pierce his innermost thoughts.

Rebellious ideas raced through his mind.

He clenched his jaw and squared his shoulders. His father’s attempts to intimidate him would not succeed. Evan was resolute in his fight for independence. He was committed to pursuing his own dreams and refused to be a puppet on a string. He was determined to forge his own path.

Rebel

without a Pause

Eight years later, Evan was now the youngest teacher at Vista Elementary School, which made him the object of both envy and disrespect. Most of his colleagues treated him like an outsider and avoided him.

Despite this, Evan always felt like he had to prove himself. He knew that he had to take his teaching position seriously, so he tried his best to remain composed, even as his colleagues bombarded him with negativity. He forced a smile, trying his best to conceal his inner frustration and disappointment.

Evan yearned for a creative outlet beyond the mundane, analytical subjects he excelled in. Once upon a time, he dreamed of developing video games. That dream shattered during a college internship, when he witnessed his boss fire a talented Black programmer for being a bad fit. Evan felt disillusioned and