Welcome To My Nightmare (Academy of Broken Dreams Book 1) Read online

  Welcome To My Nightmare

  Academy of Broken Dreams Book 1

  K.N. Thompson

  Rose Alexander

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Afterword

  About the Author

  ©K.N. Thompson and Rose Alexander, 2019

  All rights reserved.

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Cover: KT Graphic Design

  Editing: Muddy Waters Editing

  This book is dedicated to the Slightly Inappropriate Book Sisters. We love you ladies!!

  Prologue

  “I’ve got the stone,” a man in bloody, tattered clothes says, as he runs into the cave.

  “Good, good. And the children, are they safe?” a white-haired man asks.

  “The women have set up pocket universes around the globe. Thirteen that I know of. The children have protection from the Baku for now at least,” he replies.

  “Let’s join the others,” the white-haired man leads him further into the cave.

  There are a group of older men standing in a circle talking quietly amongst themselves.

  “The Baku attacks grow more frequent everyday!”

  “The frontline is getting discouraged with no new recruits to join them.”

  “There aren’t going to be new recruits with the way things have been going.”

  “It’s been decades since a child was born with all of our powers.”

  The white-haired man clears his throat and the cave becomes quiet.

  “As you all know, our children are being born with only a third of the power we have. As they grow we’ve noticed they’ve developed streaks in their hair, which tell us what powers they’ve retained,” the white-haired man says.

  “How is society going to continue? Surely it will crumble,” a bearded man asks.

  “We have them tucked away in safe havens for now. They will just need to learn a new way. If we don’t adapt, we will die off,” the white-haired man replies.

  “Are we still going to store our knowledge?” someone asks.

  “The moonstone is here. We will store everything we know in hopes the old powers come back someday,” he nods.

  The men gather around the stone and start chanting in the ancient nightmare tongue. The stone glows brighter and brighter as they continue. The chanting crescendos into a deafening pitch, echoing throughout the cave. As they finish the stone dims.

  “It’s done. Hopefully this will help our kind in the future,” the white-haired man says.

  1

  Whisper Age 16

  Sitting at the computer updating my blog is taking longer than I expected. So many strange things happened this week. At school there were little winged creatures flying all over the cafeteria and at the mall I swore I saw a centaur. Things like this would probably freak out a normal person, but then... I'm not normal. Having been born in the hospital ER, the seventh daughter to George and Margaret Lawrence and given the birth name Whisper. I've had experience with weird since day one.

  Now, I spend my days figuring out how the powers that be are lying to us! If this whole other world exists, how many conspiracy theories are true as well? I hit post and rise out of my seat. I've been seeing things since around the age of nine. It also happened to be around that time that I started hearing everyone's thoughts too. But I learned quickly to keep that to myself. Besides, everyone I attend school with already thinks of me as a freak, I don't want to add to it.

  “Whisper! Hurry up or you will be late,” Mom yells up the stairs.

  “Coming,” I yell back as I grab my backpack and favorite grey hoodie.

  I pause next to the mirror on the back of the bedroom door and make sure my hair isn’t a total mess. My fair, porcelain white skin and ocean blue eyes shine back at me, which makes my fire engine red hair almost glow in contrast. I grin at myself before opening the door. Shadow is jealous of my flawless skin, but I really have never had a blemish. She is the sister closest to me in age. The twins Rain and Stormy came before her. Our parents were people of the land, hippies to be exact and loved giving us all unique names. For my sisters, it worked. For me, it only seemed to add to the whole weird package.

  I race down the stairs and grab the bottle of water and cereal bar my mom holds out to me as I shoot out the door. We only live two blocks from the high school so I always walk or skateboard if the weather allows. It’s early fall and still not too cold, so walking it is. I finish the cereal bar and water off, just as I hit the edge of the school.

  I jog to my locker then head to the cafeteria to look for Sam, my best and only friend, if you don’t count my sister Shadow. I can talk to him about things I would never mention to Shadow, like all the conspiracy theories I research, and he never makes me feel crazy. I’m not brave enough to tell him I hear people’s thoughts though.

  I find him in the back corner of the cafeteria with his nose buried in a book about mythological creatures across history. His shaggy brown hair hangs in front of his bright green eyes and his long, slender fingers absently stroke the pages as he reads.

  “What’s new Sammy?” I ask as I sit next to him.

  “Just doing some light reading,” he answers, waving the thick book at me.

  “Light my ass,” I mutter, making him laugh.

  “Have you updated your blog yet?” he asks, putting the book back in his bag.

  “It almost made me late,” I scrunch my nose up, aware that someone just thought about how weird I was.

  “I saw that look on your face, ignore them. People talk about everyone around here. Quit eavesdropping,” he whispers, bringing me back to our conversation.

  “It’s easier said than done,” I sigh as the warning bell goes off. “See you at lunch.”

  He waves and we go our separate ways. I really wish we had morning classes together, but sadly I am alone in a sea of sheeple. I plop in my seat as the bell rings, starting my English class. I pull out a notebook and try to pay attention, as half the class listens to our teacher, and the other half let their minds wander, causing their loud thoughts to overload my brain.

  I discreetly pull out my headphones and stick them in, playing static white noise to drown out all the random voices. I really don’t care if Ashley is worried her period is late, or if Dave is agonizing over asking Rachael out. I hate that most of these people are so self-centered they don’t even realize an entire world
exists just outside of their awareness.

  That’s what attracted me to Sam when we were in grade school. He was always questioning if there's more to life than meets the eye. It also helped that he’s the only person whose thoughts I couldn’t hear. The final bell rings, dismissing us, and I slip out and rush down the hall. This is the worst part of the day. So many voices in the same area all at once. I can't escape the overwhelming, drowning of voices in the hall as I can at lunch when I escape outside to avoid the noise. I slip into my second class, Math, and zone out. It’s a good thing Shadow helps me with my homework, or I would be so far behind.

  The day proceeds in the same fashion until it’s finally time for lunch. I take off out the back door and head straight towards the back, to the tree where Sam and I always meet. I pull out my phone and start browsing through my favorite subreddit, r/ConspiracyTheory, until Sam shows up with our food. I’m thankful he braves the food line alone for both of us. He’s had my lunch card since the school year started.

  I close my phone after not finding anything worthwhile. This forum used to be interesting, but lately, too many people are focused on politics and I couldn't care less about those. I need to find people that actually know about the stuff that I see.

  I see Sam coming, his face contorted in anger. Crap! What happened? I jump to my feet running up to meet him and see Shadow behind him, her mind blank, but face angry.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, looking back and forth between them.

  “Davey was making fun of Sam getting your food,” Shadow explains, twirling her long black hair nervously.

  “That’s not what upset me. They were talking shit about you,” he grits out.

  “So? It’s not like I care about what the sheeple think about me,” I reply, reminding him I don’t care about everyone else.

  “I care because I care about you,” he sighs, his anger deflating.

  “Are you guys ok?” Shadow asks, glancing over her shoulder, torn about making sure I’m ok and spending time with her friends.

  “Go back to your friends. We’re fine,” I assure her.

  She’s my favorite sister, but we couldn’t be more different. She’s popular and outgoing, while I’m awkward and shy. She’s on the cheerleading team and dating the captain of the football team, while boys other than Sam don’t know I exist.

  And Sam and I aren’t like that. He’s my best friend. Sometimes I wonder if we could have more, but I don’t know how he feels and I’m not willing to risk our friendship to find out. It doesn't mean that I won't still look at him and notice the way his lips go thin when he's angry, or the way his shamrock green eyes light up every time we talk about different conspiracies. Sometimes I think he feels the same way when his eyes seem to linger on me a little longer than I think they should, but I have zero experience with boys and no knowledge of how they act when they like a girl. While most days I'm grateful I can be around him without hearing his thoughts, it's in those moments he smiles at me, or touches my arm, or his eyes linger on me a little longer than I think they should, that I hate I can't hear what he's thinking.

  “So, your birthday is Saturday. Are you doing anything?” Sam asks, trying to change the subject.

  “I guess, Mom is insisting on a joint party for Shadow and I, so a party for Shadow,” I laugh.

  “I’m wounded. You didn’t invite me,” he grabs his chest in mock pain.

  “Of course you are invited. I was trying to avoid going myself,” I mumble, knowing there’s no way of getting out of it.

  We eat in silence until the warning bell rings, and I put my headphones in to brave the rest of the day.

  2

  Finally, it’s Friday! That means the weekend and a little peace from having to listen to the egotistical monologues and hormone ridden inner thoughts of the people that roam the halls of Shadyville High School.

  While I'm not looking forward to Shadow's birthday party, I can't wait to spend all evening talking conspiracies and theories with Sam, or Sammy boy as I like to sometimes call him.

  I finish getting ready for the party. I want to make a good show at least for my parents. I dress in black skinny jeans, silky emerald green off the shoulder blouse, and a pair of black ballet flats. I throw my fire red hair into a messy bun on top of my head, glance in the mirror, and step out of my bedroom door. Cringing, I hear loud talking coming from downstairs as guests are showing up. My mom welcomes them and shows them to the backyard. I try to block out their thoughts before being bombarded by them, but with this many people, it’s almost impossible. I quickly step back into my room, grab my headphones, and put them in, anything to drown out the noise. Finally, I make my way downstairs and run into Mom at the bottom; I remove my headphones and shove them in my pocket.

  “Whisper, happy birthday, and you look beautiful!” she says as she tucks a stray curl behind my ear.

  For a second there, I think my mom won’t nitpick me then her thoughts betray her. “Even more now that you took those ghastly earphones out of your ears,” she thinks.

  “Thanks Mom. Do you need any help in here?” I ask, secretly hoping she would say yes.

  “No sweetie, I have it all handled. You have fun with your friends; it’s your party too, after all!” she says and kisses me on the cheek.

  I step out onto the back deck and realize how much planning and money have gone into this party. The back deck is lit up with long strands of white fairy lights, wrapped in white organza fabric to give off a soft glow; paper lanterns hang in such a way that they look like they are floating. Tables are set up for dinner to be served by one of those expensive caterers. While I’m sure it will be delicious, no one should spend that much on fish. I don’t know why they couldn’t just ordered fifty pizza’s, a DJ, and call it a night.

  Looking around for Sam, I feel Shadow step up beside me; leaning over she takes my earbud out and says, “Happy Birthday, Whisper.” She winks at me and then walks off to a group of waiting friends. I smile, but that moment of happiness comes to a screeching halt when the thoughts of her friend reached me.

  “Why is she such a freak?” thinks Christie the blond bimbo that can’t pass Math class without making out with the teacher.

  “Why does she look so pale? And look at that fire red hair, she could work as a clown in a circus.” This thought comes from April, a thick-thighed, bitchy brunette that only hangs out with my sister because she is the head cheerleader and hopes to take over Shadow’s position one day.

  I shove my earbuds back into my ears then turn and set off to find the darkest and furthest corner away from everyone when I run right into Sam.

  “Hey, how's the birthday girl holding up?” he asks, noticing the look on my face.

  “You would think they could at least be nice to someone on their freaking birthday! For fuck’s sake people, get your heads out of your asses,” I fume, knowing Sam doesn’t mind listening. He hears them gossiping about me in the halls at school.

  “I know right! I would be afraid to see how they behaved if they accomplished the head from ass removal,” he says, nudging me in the side and making me laugh. He always knows what to say or do to make me feel better.

  “Did you get the article I emailed you about the new conspiracy theory I found?” he asks, drawing his brows together to create that weird ass wrinkle in his forehead.

  I slowly lift my finger as if I am pointing at something behind him. He instantly freezes, giving me the perfect opportunity to poke the weird ass looking wrinkle and bust out in laughter.

  “Seriously Whisper, you always get me with that shit! I can’t help my weird brow wrinkle, I told you it’s inherited,” he says and laughs with me while rubbing his forehead.

  “But you fall for it every time and to answer your question. No, I haven’t had the chance to check my emails since I got home. Tell me about it,” I suggest, curious about the theory.

  “Ok, well there is this conspiracy that revolves around the demonic-looking, mustang statue that guards
the entrance to the Denver International Airport, glaring at guests with bright red eyes. Before they finished it, the nine thousand pound sculpture toppled, killing its artist Luis Jiménez. After his death, many of the people of Denver believe it was cursed, and legend says, the giant horse will come alive during the Apocalypse for one of the Four Horsemen to ride,” he says in a creepy voice that send chills down my back and gets the gears in my head turning.

  “You know, I have heard people talk about there being aliens in the tunnels under the Denver airport, but this statue story is new to me. I can make a post about it on my site; maybe we can find out more information from the people of the interweb, but first, food,” I tell him, clapping my hands. My stomach takes that moment to growl as loud as possible. My face turns red as I look around to see if anyone heard it.

  Sam chuckles, “Let’s go find our table and get you some food before your stomach climbs out and eats us all.”

  We take our places at the tables reserved for the birthday girls and their friends. Mom and Dad each stand and give a toast as the dinner plates arrive. Once the speeches are complete and dinner is served, the buzz of small talk filling the quiet air dies, and people begin to eat. After dinner, the big ten layer half-strawberry, half-chocolate cake is brought out and set up. Shadow and I are asked to stand near the cake while everyone sings happy birthday.

  I hate this part, but all I can do is stand here with my face flaming red, wishing people would sing faster. I don’t like to be the center of anyone's attention, especially not this room of people. Finally, the singing ends and I’m able to take my seat back besides Sam.