Dreamscape

July, 1984

Chapter 2: Glatman

Since the experiment was going to take months, possibly years to complete, the participants were lodged at the facility within dorm rooms. There were over one hundred others in the Lucid Dream Program (LDP) besides Alex, all of them at various stages of the experiment. Some were still at the beginning test, which was entering a lucid dream, at will, more often than not. Others were at the second stage, which was controlling the lucid dream to a point of learning and teaching oneself within the dream, as Alex had the saxophone. Only Alex had begun the third phase of the experiment, which was controlling and maintaining the lucid dream for extended periods of time.

Alex was excited to explore the dream world. He nearly preferred the dream world to reality, but could never admit it. Dr. Novotny had warned against this preference saying that it could be detrimental to his grasp of real responsibility and result in his shunning of real problems.

The dorms were located on the second floor of the four story institute. Alex stepped out of the elevator and walked to his dorm room, his mind alive with the possibilities of what he might find as he explored the world of dream.

The door to his room was open.

The rooms were as plain as hospital rooms, dark gray tile swirled with gold, light yellow walls, cheap wooden furniture including a single bed, sometimes stacked bunk beds, a desk, a chair, a nightstand and a bookcase. Alex had made his room as homey as possible with a few framed pictures, a few rugs and a television. Since he kept some valuables in his room, the door was always locked.

Alex stepped to the doorway of his room and saw Tommy Ray Glatman sitting on his bed.

Great.

Tommy Ray Glatman was the number one participant with the LDP, the only one that was further along than Alex. Apparently, Tommy Ray was already entering other sleeper's dreams, an amazing break though, which was the fourth phase of testing. Normally, the other participants within the same program would be excited for the leader but Tommy Ray was not deserving of any praise or celebration. He shunned all the other LDP people like the plague, as if he were a celebrity, treating them all as though they were below him.

Tommy Ray was looking at Alex's dream journal, thumbing through the pages.

In order to set up triggers during the sleep sequence during the first phase, participants attempting lucid dreaming were required to keep a dream journal, in which the person jotted down details of the dream before they were forgotten. By doing this, dreamers were more likely to realize they were in a dream and be able to attempt to take control. Since Alex had already mastered lucid dreaming, he hadn't kept up his journal in weeks. Still, he felt violated having a snake like Tommy Ray perusing his private writings.

Alex took a few steps towards Tommy Ray and snatched the journal out of his hands, "How're you doing Tommy," He growled, "Make yourself at home, why don't you?"

"You have some fucked up dreams, Al," Tommy Ray smirked.

"Never you mind. What the hell are you doing in my room?"

"In a cherry blossom's shade there is no such thing as a stranger," Tommy Ray said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"We're not in a garden, asshole."

"Wow," Tommy Ray feigned astonishment, "I thought we were friends, Al."

Alex wanted him out of his room. He never liked Tommy Ray, didn't trust him at all. Most people characterized by one word could be summed up in an overall positive way: Friendly, helpful, generous, warm or something similar. Alex could only come up with one word to describe Tommy Ray, empty. To Alex, it seemed that Tommy Ray was devoid of compassion, respect or love. He was empty inside, like a giant dark void residing within him, draining others of their feelings, energy, warmth and caring.

"We're not friends, Tommy, and my name isn't Al, its Alex. Get it right, for once."

Tommy Ray smiled, "Whatever you say, Al."

Alex was a few inches taller and twenty pounds heavier than the other man but for some reason, Tommy Ray still seemed dangerous and intimidating, like a venomous snake. The smile on his face was wide but it was devoid of any emotion, like a mask.

Tommy Ray said, "I wanted to congratulate you on your progress."

"Thanks."

"Even though I'm light years ahead of you," Tommy Ray said, "its good to have someone nipping at my heels. I find it, motivating." As with everything the man said, the congratulation was a falsehood. Tommy Ray felt threatened and was probably trying to slow Alex down through false comfort, maybe intimidate him by putting pressure on him or some other hidden agenda to foul Alex's progress up.

Alex grinned, "You're still weeks ahead of me and I'm weeks ahead of everyone else."

"But I'm still number one," Tommy Ray pointed out.

"For now."

Tommy Ray continued, "I'm actually here to give you some advice."

Alex scoffed, "You love being number one in the LDP, Tommy. You rub it in everyone's face every chance you get. Why would you want to help me?"

Tommy Ray strolled over to the bookshelf, studying the titles on some of Alex's books, "Because I'm stuck."

If Tommy Ray felt threatened that Alex might soon surpass him, perhaps that was enough motivation to actually help other members, get their opinions and ideas. Anything, that in the long run, would help him stay number one. Alex decided to hear him out, "What are you stuck on?"

Tommy Ray was still smiling his cold, impassive grin, "I'm sure you've heard all about it from Dr. Novotny and that bitch doctor. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. It insults my intelligence."

Ever since Tommy Ray realized Alex's crush on Dr. Jane DeVries, he began to insult her every chance he got. Whether he was trying to annoy, anger or start a fight, Alex had no idea but he had always just let the insults slide, "Fair enough," Alex relented, "I heard you were successful at entering a host's dream but couldn't control it and then during the last few attempts you couldn't even make contact with your dream host."

"Correct," Tommy Ray chuckled, "See? I knew you already heard. Why do you insist on playing these little fucking childish games with me?"

"I'm not playing games, Tommy."

"Then why pretend you didn't know that I've hit a roadblock?"

Alex sighed, "I was trying to be courteous."

"Courteous? By being dishonest with me?"

Alex glared at him, "Look, I'm about ready to throw your ass out of my room."

"Do it then," Tommy Ray said. The smile was gone. He turned and faced Alex.

The snake was coiled, ready to strike. Alex was tempted to fight, his instinct was to defend his room against the trespasser but he didn't know how the institute would react to two LDP members engaging is a fistfight. He decided to try diplomacy, "Say what you have to say then get the fuck out."

Tommy Ray said, "You're going to start exploring the dream world, right?"

"Yeah."

"Whatever you do, don't go down. Stay on the surface," He started to walk past Alex.

"That's it? That's your big advice?"

Tommy Ray stopped, his back to Alex, "From what I can tell, the dreamscape is layered like a cake. The surface is ours, every person that dreams goes there then leaves when they wake up."

Alex almost burst out laughing but held his humor in check. Laughing in Tommy Ray's face was sure to start a fight. He decided to play along, "Are you saying that the dream world is another dimension that we unconsciously visit during our dreams?"

Tommy Ray turned to face him, "That's exactly what I'm saying, Al. I've seen the lower levels, what dwells there. I got scared to death. Stay on the surface, you'll be a lot safer."

He could tell by Tommy Ray's expression that he was serious. Alex was stunned, "Safer?"

"This advice isn't free. I wanted to help save you some misery so that later, if I need to, I could ask your opinion about a few things. I figured, maybe we could help each other out."

Alex was still shocked. From what he knew, the dream world was simply a state of mind, a temporary reality in which the brain created in order to cleanse, heal and reboot itself. If the dreamscape was actually another place, an existing alternate dimension, then the possibilities of exploration and discovery were mind blowing. Alex had a flood of questions he wanted to ask, "Dr. Novotny knows all of this? He's aware that the dream world is possibly another dimension?"

Tommy Ray laughed, "You think I would tell Novotny and his whore assistant? They would only slow me down by requiring more tests. They would invent ways to prove that the dream world isn't imaginary. Science is methodical and by that virtue, its progress is slow. I don't want them to hinder me any more than they already have."

"Our tests on lucid dreams could be dangerous though."

Tommy Ray laughed again, "Dangerous how?"

"You're going into uncharted waters. How can you possibly know whether its safe or not?"

"I didn't know you were such a pussy, Al. I don't care what you think or what you say, you tell anyone, I'll deny it. If you want to get slowed down, you want those fucking doctors crawling all over you for proof that dreams are in another dimension, you go ahead and tell them. See where that gets you. Meanwhile, I'll keep cruising all alone to the finish line."

Alex couldn't remember ever despising anyone more than he did Tommy Ray Glatman. In his thirty-two years of being alive, no one had ever insulted, shocked, pissed off or surprised Alex more. Tommy Ray was an assassin of character. His sharp tongue and cruel wit always struck at Alex when he least expected it. He found himself always on the defensive whenever he dealt with Tommy Ray, a position he hated being forced into.

Alex sighed in resignation, "Fine. I won't say anything about this conversation. Will you at least keep me informed? Let me know what else you discover during your exploration?"

"Sure, Al. As long as you do the same. Don't hold out on me. No more little games between us. We can hate each other but that shouldn't stop our progress. Together, we can rule the dreamscape."

Alex sighed, "Deal."
Tommy Ray Glatman said, "Remember, stay on the surface." He left Alex's room.

As soon as he was gone, Alex felt better. He was no longer on edge, no longer on the defensive. Tommy Ray seemed to steal the life right out of his bedroom, like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dust.

Alex sat down on his bed, his thoughts on what Tommy Ray said.

As he looked at the floor absentmindedly, the room seemed to become brighter. Had the suffocating presence that was Tommy Ray Glatman, actually dim the lighting in his room? Alex knew he hadn't imagined it. His room seemed brighter, happier now that Tommy Ray had left.

His soul-sucking presence had always been considered emotional but now, Alex wasn't so sure. There was no arguing that Tommy Ray possessed a cold aura, like an arctic glacier, but instead of emotional, the aura was physical, draining entire rooms of energy, happiness and light.

Could it be that through exploration of the dreamscape, Tommy Ray had unwittingly brought back something from the dark recesses, something that had attached to him, like a parasite, invisible to the naked eye, which was responsible for the aura?

Alex shivered.

His first test run exploring the dreamscape had been so exciting moments before but now Alex dreaded the thought. As usual, Tommy Ray had ruined his mood and spoiled his outlook.

Alex wondered if he should tell the doctors about the dreamscape dimension regardless. Unless Tommy Ray was full of shit, a fact that was entirely possible, then this discovery could be huge, too important to withhold. On the other hand, Alex had been working with Dr. Novotny for years now. He knew how meticulous the old man was. The doctor would require proof of any such claim prior to acceptance. Alex could be stuck for months simply trying to provide undisputed evidence that the dreamscape was an alternate dimension than earth.

Alex decided to keep quiet about the dreamscape, at least for the time being.