think of me.”
“It’s not a bad thing,” he insists. “It tells me you’re a passionate person. That’s a good thing in our line of work.”
He stands up and I remember he’s supposed to help me fall asleep.
“Oh, right,” I say nervously. “So, I just lay down? Like normal?”
“Yeah.” He waits for me as I climb between my sheets. When I’m lying down with my head on my pillow, he walks to the edge of the bed. There’s a light fluttering in my stomach, and I’m finding it hard to look at him.
“I know you’re nervous,” he says quietly as he sits on the edge of my bed.
Am I that obvious? I think.
“But this won’t be like last time. You’ll fall asleep and wake up safe in Minor Calm.”
Oh.
With relief I realize he thinks I’m nervous about what I’ll find when I fall asleep. I’m glad he doesn’t know I’m nervous because he’s really attractive and really close to me-on my bed even-and we are basically alone.
“Okay, you need to look at me,” he says. His voice is so gentle it contradicts the tough image I have of him. I turn my head and look at him. His eyes are such a clear blue; it’s hard not to get distracted looking into them. He places his hands on the sides of my face and looks into my eyes.
“Peace.” Almost as soon as the word escapes his mouth, my anxiety melts away. I’m comfortable. Everything feels wonderful: the soft pillow under my head, the warm blankets covering me, Sam’s rough hands on my face. It’s euphoric. I can’t stop myself from smiling blissfully.
“Courage,” he whispers fiercely. I feel like I can do anything. Send me to Chaos. I want to go. I want a chance to prove myself. I’ll make you proud , I think as I’m looking into Sam’s eyes. I’ll make you all proud. Sam smiles knowingly.
“See you on the other side, Addy,” he whispers.
“Sleep.”
Chapter 9
I know I’m awake and in Minor Calm, but I keep my eyes closed. I’m not ready to lose the feeling and image I just left behind. Before I know it, however, I hear voices whispering nearby. I open one eye and peek out. I’m in a bed. Two figures sit at the end, talking in hushed voices. I open both my eyes and look around. I’m in a comfy-looking bedroom with lavender walls. As I look around, I draw the attention of the two people at the foot of the bed.
Mel and Crank both turn around and shout simultaneously, “WE TOLD YOU SO!” And then we’re all laughing. “You didn’t think we’d forget that part, did you?” asks Mel.
“I have to admit, as crazy weird as all of this is, it’s good to see you guys.” I look down at myself and see I’m still wearing yesterday’s tattered and bloodstained pajamas. “Please tell me we can do something about this.” I indicate my clothes.
“Oh, absolutely, mate. Come with us.” I follow Mel and Crank out of the room. We go down some halls and through a series of rooms before we reach two large blonde oak double doors. Mel pulls one open while Crank gets the other. Crank fumbles for a switch on the wall and flips the lights on. Rows of large florescent lights along the high ceiling flicker on in sequence, the ones closest to us first, then down the length of a very large, very long room.
“This is the Minor Calm warehouse. You can find about anything you need here. And what you can’t find here, you can find in Major Calm’s warehouse, which is nearly twice this big,” Crank explains.
Mel motions for me to follow her. As we walk down the center aisle, we pass all different kinds of furniture and appliances. There are bed frames and mattresses of all sizes to my left. Dressers and vanities to my right. Farther down we pass some sofas and an assortment of electronics. I’m amazed at the variety and quality of everything here. We arrive at a section that looks like the inside of an apparel store you see at a mall. There are clothes racks here and there and tables with folded stacks of clothing. Toward the back wall are
“It’s not a bad thing,” he insists. “It tells me you’re a passionate person. That’s a good thing in our line of work.”
He stands up and I remember he’s supposed to help me fall asleep.
“Oh, right,” I say nervously. “So, I just lay down? Like normal?”
“Yeah.” He waits for me as I climb between my sheets. When I’m lying down with my head on my pillow, he walks to the edge of the bed. There’s a light fluttering in my stomach, and I’m finding it hard to look at him.
“I know you’re nervous,” he says quietly as he sits on the edge of my bed.
Am I that obvious? I think.
“But this won’t be like last time. You’ll fall asleep and wake up safe in Minor Calm.”
Oh.
With relief I realize he thinks I’m nervous about what I’ll find when I fall asleep. I’m glad he doesn’t know I’m nervous because he’s really attractive and really close to me-on my bed even-and we are basically alone.
“Okay, you need to look at me,” he says. His voice is so gentle it contradicts the tough image I have of him. I turn my head and look at him. His eyes are such a clear blue; it’s hard not to get distracted looking into them. He places his hands on the sides of my face and looks into my eyes.
“Peace.” Almost as soon as the word escapes his mouth, my anxiety melts away. I’m comfortable. Everything feels wonderful: the soft pillow under my head, the warm blankets covering me, Sam’s rough hands on my face. It’s euphoric. I can’t stop myself from smiling blissfully.
“Courage,” he whispers fiercely. I feel like I can do anything. Send me to Chaos. I want to go. I want a chance to prove myself. I’ll make you proud , I think as I’m looking into Sam’s eyes. I’ll make you all proud. Sam smiles knowingly.
“See you on the other side, Addy,” he whispers.
“Sleep.”
Chapter 9
I know I’m awake and in Minor Calm, but I keep my eyes closed. I’m not ready to lose the feeling and image I just left behind. Before I know it, however, I hear voices whispering nearby. I open one eye and peek out. I’m in a bed. Two figures sit at the end, talking in hushed voices. I open both my eyes and look around. I’m in a comfy-looking bedroom with lavender walls. As I look around, I draw the attention of the two people at the foot of the bed.
Mel and Crank both turn around and shout simultaneously, “WE TOLD YOU SO!” And then we’re all laughing. “You didn’t think we’d forget that part, did you?” asks Mel.
“I have to admit, as crazy weird as all of this is, it’s good to see you guys.” I look down at myself and see I’m still wearing yesterday’s tattered and bloodstained pajamas. “Please tell me we can do something about this.” I indicate my clothes.
“Oh, absolutely, mate. Come with us.” I follow Mel and Crank out of the room. We go down some halls and through a series of rooms before we reach two large blonde oak double doors. Mel pulls one open while Crank gets the other. Crank fumbles for a switch on the wall and flips the lights on. Rows of large florescent lights along the high ceiling flicker on in sequence, the ones closest to us first, then down the length of a very large, very long room.
“This is the Minor Calm warehouse. You can find about anything you need here. And what you can’t find here, you can find in Major Calm’s warehouse, which is nearly twice this big,” Crank explains.
Mel motions for me to follow her. As we walk down the center aisle, we pass all different kinds of furniture and appliances. There are bed frames and mattresses of all sizes to my left. Dressers and vanities to my right. Farther down we pass some sofas and an assortment of electronics. I’m amazed at the variety and quality of everything here. We arrive at a section that looks like the inside of an apparel store you see at a mall. There are clothes racks here and there and tables with folded stacks of clothing. Toward the back wall are
Similar Books
