mbarker | Follow Your Dreams (1100 words)

Over at https://moreoddsthanends.home.blog/2020/08/19/week-34-of-odd-prompts/ the prompt was

Follow your dreams. Taken Literally.

Here's what I came up with...

Follow Your Dreams (1100 words)

By Mike Barker

Wilbur wasn't sure when he saw the ad, but he decided to try it. What the heck, when you're out of work, you've got time, right? So he went into the campus and found the building. They handed him a bunch of forms. What he was mostly interested in was... yep, one week food and a place to stay, plus pay. Hey, that sounded good.

Then they showed him this room, they called it the dream lab.

The dream lab looked pretty much like any cheap dormitory or motel room. A simple bed, with a single chair beside it. The psychologist, Dr. Edwards, smiled when Wilbur said that.

"We want you to be relaxed, and a simple bedroom is better for that than a lab with electronic cabinets and shining lights. So, let me go over it again. I know you read the brochure and agreed to this, but I want to make sure you understand."

Wilbur shrugged.

"See, we're really teaching people how to fully experience their dreams. It's a simple process, and I think you'll enjoy it."

"So, what do you get out of it?" Wilbur asked.

"I'm glad you asked," Dr. Edwards said. "Basically, we are learning more about dreams. We may ask you to fill in a questionnaire, and we will be taking measurements of your brain activity while you sleep. That's what the net is for."

Wilbur reached up and touched it. It was really lightweight, almost like a hairnet. They told him it was the latest method for getting readings.

"Now, tonight, I want you to just relax and dream as you normally would. Once we have a good baseline, we'll start giving you our training. Normally, it takes about a week to do our set of exercises. Okay? So get a good night's sleep."

Wilbur nodded. The psychologist got up and walked out. Wilbur leaned back in the bed. He shook his head. They were going to pay him for sleeping here, and feed him for a week? Not bad, not bad at all.

In the control room, Dr. Edwards looked at the interns and the monitors.

"All right, let's get the baseline. All recording synchronized and running, right?"

The interns nodded. They had this down.

###

The next evening, Dr. Edwards tucked Wilbur in.

"Now, as your training suggested today, what we want you to do tonight is just relax. Like most people, you have fairly short, fast dream segments. We want you to try to slow down and enjoy the experience of your dreams."

Wilbur frowned a little. He wasn't sure if he could change how fast his dreams went by. But he'd try.

The psychologist left.

In the control room, Dr. Edwards looked at the interns.

"I think we've got a good one here. Like the other two. So let's keep track."

He glanced at the monitors. The video recording of the subject was synchronized with the measurements of brainwaves, REM, and every other factor they could think of. And this subject was showing some of the same signs that the other two had. So, they would have to see what would happen this time.

###

"You're doing an excellent job! Last night, you seemed to have much longer, slower dreams."

Wilbur smiled. He really had enjoyed those dreams. He had gone to work, but then out on a date. There was something fulfilling about walking through the dream, taking your time.

"So, tonight, we're going to ask you to try to get the full sensory experience of your dream. Instead of just looking around and listening, go ahead and try to smell things. Maybe taste something. Reach out, and touch some things, see what they feel like. Okay?"

Wilbur grinned. So, a slow walk through the dream world. And let his senses get their fill. He could do that.

The psychologist walked out of the room.

In the control room, Dr. Edwards watched the monitors. This subject was really exceptional. His dreams were already quite long, with REM continuing for extended periods. And now, the brainwave activity that they were measuring. Just about every part of the sensorium was active. How did he do that?

###

Dr. Edwards took a deep breath, and smiled at Wilbur.

"You are doing so well. Okay, tonight, simply continue with what you've been doing, but add control. Slow down, full sensory experience, and make sure that you are in control of your dream self. Do what you want to, talk about what you want to. Just take control of your dream, and make it yours."

Wilbur smiled. Last night, his friends had said they wanted to have a party tonight. So, he would go to the party!

Doctor Edwards walked out, and into the control room.

The monitors were active. The subject had a dream that provided even more data about how the brain and dreams interact. He really was exceptional.

###

Dr. Edwards looked at Wilbur.

"All right. This is the last night for our training. Do you have any questions?"

"Yeah. I mean, I've enjoyed this. If I want to tell somebody about it, what should I call it?"

Dr. Edwards chuckled.

"Mostly, people call it lucid dreaming. Or maybe structured dreaming, concrete dreaming. It's really something that anyone can do, with a little training."

Wilbur nodded.

"So, tonight, keep up the good practices. Slow down and enjoy your dream. Full senses. Take control of the dream. And, as you're dreaming, think about this. Which world do you really enjoy? Where would you like to live?"

Wilbur bit his lip.

"I can tell you already, the dreamworld is pretty nice. I mean, I've got work, I've got a girlfriend, I've got friends..."

Dr. Edwards smiled.

"Well, don't tell me. Just think about it as you dream, okay?"

He closed the door, and walked into the control room.

Dr. Edwards and the interns watched the monitors. The subject quickly fell asleep, and started REM. Okay, dream activity, brain active, everything...

There was a loud pop from the speakers. Suddenly the brainwave monitor was flat lined. And in the bed, there was nothing. Well, the monitoring net was laying on the pillow, but where was the subject?

Dr. Edwards grimaced. It happened again. The interns shook their heads, and checked. The door was still closed, and there was no sign in the video of what happened. One minute, the subject was clearly sleeping, with high dream activity, and then with a pop, nothing. No one there. Just like the other two had been.

The interns looked at him. He slowly shook his head, and groaned.

"All right. Wrap it all up, and we'll file it with the other two."

"But what does it mean? Where do they go?"

Dr. Edwards chewed on his lip.

"If I had to make a guess, I think they followed their dreams. Right out of this world."

POP.