Awoken (The Lucidites Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

sleeve to show the fresh gash which is destined for infection. Who knows where that knife has been or how many other people he’s cut with it.
    “Blimey, stop being so dramatic. All I did was give you what you asked for.”
    “I asked for proof that I was dream traveling, not an injury,” I seethe.
    “But you knew it was real when you awoke, didn’t you?” he leers.
    We’re still hurrying through the hallway when a stabbing pain splinters through my side. I stop and double over. “Look, I’m sorry if I’m going to be late to some orientation. I’ve got to rest for a second,” I say between wheezing attempts to breathe. We’ve already walked a long distance. How big is this place?
    “I don’t think you’ll want be tardy to orientation, that’s all I’m saying,” Ren says, checking his watch.
    I wrap the blanket tighter around my shoulders. My frustration rises to the surface and erupts. “I’m the challenger,” I argue, pointing at myself. “I’ve decided to risk my life for this whole mess. I think I can be a tad late to this stupid orientation.”
    Ren bites his lip, a look of mischief in his green eyes. “Yes, Challenger, you’re right.” He holds up his hands as if surrendering. “Your call. I’m just trying to help.”
    “Yeah, right.” I sigh and start walking forward again, but this time at my own slower pace.
    Ren lets me walk off a few steps before ambling up next to me. “Let me guess, you’re probably also peeved that I did that whole projection business on you. Is that right?”
    “You think?” I first met Ren while I was dream traveling. Trey had arranged the meeting. However, I got lost in a strange apartment building in London. Ren sent a projection of my cat to steer me in the right direction. He knew I’d follow that cat, not just because he was mine, but because he’d recently been murdered—by Zhuang.
    The projection of my dead cat led me to a room where I found Ren, looking bored and irritated. “Finally,” he said, when I tentatively made my way into the darkened room. “Oh stop being so cautious. I’m not going to bite you,” he said flashing an evil grin at me. “Name’s Ren. I’m the Head Strategist for the Lucidites. Trey sent me to fill in some of your missing gaps. Apparently, you’re still in need of convincing.” He slid his hand into his trouser pocket and retrieved a silver pocket knife. Without taking his eyes off me he opened the blade and began cleaning his nails. “Here’s how it’s going to go. You currently don’t think the dream travel with Trey last night was real. You’ve probably spent most the day explaining the whole thing away. Now you’re here with me and the doubt is starting to recede and give way to belief, but you’re not there yet. I’m going to fill your consciousness with enough information and by the time we finish our little chat you’re going to be convinced this whole thing is real.” Ren looked down at his nails, admiring them. “’Cause it is.”
    “So this,” I made a broad motion, “this is all real? It isn’t a dream?”
    “The furniture is real, this place is real, I’m real, and you’re really, really here with me right now. So to answer your question, yes.”
    I nodded and chewed on my lip.
    “Well, the cat,” Ren said, “he actually wasn’t real. He was a projection.”
    Letting the memory wash away I stomp beside Ren through the strange hallway of the Institute. “Did you really have to use my deceased cat like that when we first met?” I say.
    Ren turns a corner and I have no choice but to follow him. “Using your dead pet was the easiest way to lead you to me,” he says.
    “Hmm,” I muse. “Because finding me like a normal human being would be too difficult?” I lose my breath as our pace quickens gradually. “And my cat wasn’t dead before all this mess.”
    “And thanks to us, you aren’t resting with it.” He stops abruptly and turns to me, swiping a finger over his lips.