Chapter 3

The Foundation Base was a massive underground complex that housed the headquarters of the PHANTOM Foundation, or the Paranormal Hazard Assessment and Neutralization Taskforce for the Occult Foundation. The Foundation was a neutral, independent organization within the government that was dedicated to containing, capturing, or neutralizing any anomalies found on Earth and maintaining the normalcy of the world. The Foundation was also responsible for preventing the dreamers from causing an apocalypse with their dreams or killing them if they proved to be too dangerous to contain.

Dreamers were humans who had the ability to manifest their dreams into reality, either consciously or unconsciously. They were classified into different classes based on the scale and impact of their dreams, ranging from Class-D to Class-S, with Class-S being the most powerful and rare. The Foundation had a special division called the Dreamcatchers, who were trained agents who could combat and counter, as well as detect and track dreamers. The Dreamcatchers were the main force of the Foundation, and they were often deployed to deal with dream-related incidents and threats.

The foundation base was divided into several sections, each with a specific function and purpose. The main section was the Control Center, where the Foundation's leaders and staff monitored and coordinated the Foundation's operations and activities. The Control Center was equipped with advanced technology and systems that allowed the Foundation to access and analyze information from various sources, such as satellites, cameras, sensors, and agents. The Control Center also had a large holographic screen that displayed a map of the world, with different colors and symbols indicating the locations and statuses of anomalies and dreamers.

Another section was the Research and Development Department, where the Foundation's scientists and engineers conducted experiments and studies on the anomalies and dreamers that the Foundation had captured or encountered. The R&D Department was also responsible for developing and improving the Foundation's equipment and weapons, such as the Dreamcatcher devices, which were portable machines that could create and manipulate dreams, and the Dreamkiller bullets, which were specially designed to harm and kill dreamers. The R&D Department was constantly looking for new ways to understand and exploit the nature and potential of dreams, as well as to counter and defend against them.

The most secure and secretive section was the Containment Facility, where the Foundation stored and contained the anomalies and dreamers that they had captured and deemed too dangerous or valuable to be released or destroyed. The Containment Facility was a labyrinth of reinforced chambers and cells, each with a different level of security and containment measures, depending on the threat level and classification of the anomaly or dreamer. The containment facility was guarded by heavily armed and armored personnel, as well as automated defenses and traps. The containment facility was also isolated from the rest of the base and had a self-destruct system that could be activated in case of a breach or emergency.

The Containment Facility housed some of the most bizarre and terrifying creatures and phenomena that the Foundation had ever encountered, such as:

A giant spider-like creature that could weave webs of nightmares that trapped and tormented anyone who entered them. The creature was captured after it had created a web that covered an entire city, causing mass hysteria and panic. The creature was classified as a Class-B dreamer and was contained in a chamber that was constantly flooded with drugs and electrical shocks to keep it awake and sleep-deprived.

A humanoid figure that had no face, no voice, and no identity but could mimic and impersonate anyone it saw or touched The figure was captured after it had infiltrated and killed several Foundation agents and personnel, as well as impersonated some of the Foundation's leaders and staff. The figure was classified as a Class-C dreamer and was contained in a cell that was lined 

A book that contained the stories and memories of every person who had ever lived, died, or dreamed. The book was captured after it was discovered in an ancient library, where it had been hidden for centuries. The book was classified as a Class-A anomaly and was contained in a vault that was locked with multiple codes and keys. This was one of the most useful items the foundation had, as it kept them updated in case new dreamers were born and were going rogue.

The Foundation had many more anomalies and dreamers in its confinement facility, each with a unique and mysterious origin and nature. The Foundation's goal was to study and understand them, as well as to protect the world from them.

However, the Foundation's mission was about to face its greatest challenge yet, as the alarms in the base suddenly blared, signaling a code red alert. The holographic screen in the Control Center flashed with a red warning message:

Class-S Dreamer detected. Location: New York City. Status: Awakening.

The Foundation's leaders and staff were shocked and horrified by the message, as they knew what it meant. A Class-S dreamer was a dreamer who had the power to create and destroy worlds with their dreams and who could potentially cause an apocalypse with their dreams. The Foundation had never encountered a Class-S dreamer before, and they had no idea how to deal with one.

The Foundation quickly mobilized its forces and resources, preparing to face the unprecedented threat. The Foundation's leaders contacted the government and the military, requesting their assistance and cooperation. The Foundation's agents and Dreamcatchers were dispatched to New York City, ready to confront and capture or kill the Class-S dreamer. The Foundation's scientists and engineers activated and armed their contingency plans and protocols, hoping to contain and neutralize the Class-S dreamer's dreams. The Foundation's personnel and guards secured and reinforced the base, especially the containment facility, fearing that the Class-S dreamer's dreams might affect or release the anomalies and dreamers that they had captured.

The control room was a frenzy of activity as dozens of screens flashed with images of New York City. Operators were speaking into their headsets, relaying information to their agents on the ground. The director, a woman in her late 40s with short black hair and sharp features, stood in the center of the room, barking out orders.

"Status report!" she demanded, her voice cutting through the noise.

"Ma'am, we have a confirmed Class-S emergence in Manhattan. The target is Norman Dremour, a 17-year-old high school student. He's exhibiting signs of reality warping and dimensional manipulation. We have multiple teams on the way to contain him, but we don't know how long we have before he goes critical."

The director frowned. She had been tracking Norman for months, ever since they detected a spike in his latent potential. He was one of the rare individuals who possessed the ability to alter the fabric of reality with his mind. His potential was ranked S for a reason, despite his power not fully maturing. The foundation had a special interest in these Dreamers, as they posed a serious threat to the stability of the world.

"Norman Dremour? I thought he wasn't supposed to awaken until his 18th birthday. What triggered him?"

One of the researchers, a young man with glasses and a lab coat, stepped forward.

"Ma'am, we have reason to believe that another Dreamer is involved—someone who has been influencing Norman's psychosis, pushing him to the edge of his awakening. We don't know who or why, but we have evidence that this Dreamer has been targeting other potential Dreamers as well. Signatures indicate its Nightmare."

The director's eyes widened.

"The nightmare? Are you sure?"

"Yes, ma'am. We have analyzed the dream patterns of Norman and several other cases, and we have found a common signature: Something is invading their subconscious, planting seeds of fear and doubt. We think that Nightmare is trying to create a chain reaction of Dreamers, causing a massive reality collapse."

The director felt a chill run down her spine. She had heard rumors of Nightmare, a mysterious dreamer who had eluded the foundation's detection for years. She was said to be the most powerful and dangerous Dreamer of all, capable of manipulating other Dreamers. No one knew her identity, motives, location, or even gender. She was a blank slate, a literal nightmare for their organization.

"And what happens if we fail to contain Norman?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

The researcher swallowed hard.

"Ma'am, if Norman reaches his full potential, he will become a singularity, a point of infinite density and energy that will rip apart the space-time continuum. He will create a black hole that will consume everything in its vicinity. And if the Nightmare is behind this, he might have other Dreamers ready to follow suit. We could be looking at the end of the world as we know it."

The director felt a surge of adrenaline. She had faced many crises in her career, but none as dire as this. She had to act fast and decisively.

"Who's the agent on the case?" she asked.

One of the operators raised his hand.

"Ma'am, it's Agent Donovan. He's the closest one to the target's location. He's already on the move."

The director sighed. She had a history with Donovan, and it wasn't a pleasant one. He was an agent who often disobeyed orders and acted on his own. He was reckless and unpredictable. But he was also one of the best dreamcatchers they had and the only one who had ever encountered the nightmare.

"Contact him. Tell him to get to Norman as soon as possible. And tell him to be careful. He's dealing with something beyond his league."

The operator nodded and pressed a button on his console.

"Agent Donovan, this is Control. Do you copy?"

***

Norman opened his eyes, feeling a dull ache in his head. He looked around and saw that he was lying on a bed in the nurse's room. Jake and Jenny were sitting next to him, looking worried.

"Hey, buddy, you're awake!" Jake exclaimed, relieved.

"Norman, are you okay?" Jenny asked, concerned.

Norman tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I just didn't get enough sleep last night. Sorry for making you guys worry."

He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"Hey, don't apologize. You scared the hell out of us. You collapsed in the middle of the hallway and started mumbling some weird stuff. Do you remember anything?" Jake asked.

Norman shook his head, trying to suppress the flashes of images that haunted his mind.

"No, not really. Just some bad dreams, I suppose."

He rubbed his temples, hoping to ease the pain.

"Bad dreams? More like nightmares. You were saying something about a black hole and a man with red eyes. It sounded creepy as hell," Jenny said.

Norman felt a chill run down his spine. He remembered the nightmare, the rush of fear and power surging and the reality around him warping. 

But he couldn't tell them that. They wouldn't believe it anyways. He had to lie.

"It was nothing, really. Just some random nonsense. You know how dreams are."

He forced a laugh, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Come on, guys, don't look so serious. It's not like I'm dying or anything."

He stood up and stretched his arms.

"See? I'm fine. Fit as a fiddle. Ready to rock and roll."

He walked around the room, picking up his backpack and jacket.

"Let's go, shall we? We don't want to miss the next class, do we?"

Jake and Jenny exchanged a glance. They weren't convinced by Norman's act, but they didn't want to push him too hard. They knew he was a private person who didn't like to share his feelings. They decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, for now.

"Actually, Norman, maybe you should skip the next class. You might need some more rest. You look pale as a ghost," Jake suggested.

"Yeah, Norman, I agree. You should go home and take it easy. I can drive you there if you want," Jenny offered.

Norman shook his head and waved his hands.

"No, no, no, that's not necessary. I'm fine, really. I don't need any rest. I'm full of energy. Watch this."

He jumped up and down and did a cartwheel.

"Ta-da! See? I'm as good as new. Nothing can stop me now."

He grinned and gave them a thumbs-up.

"Come on, guys, let's go. We have a lot to learn today. Knowledge is power, right?"

He walked toward the door and opened it.

"Are you coming or what?"

Jake and Jenny sighed and followed him. They hoped he was telling the truth and that he was really okay. They hoped he wasn't hiding something from them. They hoped he wasn't in trouble.

As they left the room, they didn't notice the nurse, who had been watching them from behind a curtain. She was a middle-aged woman with a grouchy expression and a kind heart. She had seen many students come and go with various ailments and injuries. She had a knack for knowing when something was wrong and when something was right.

She looked at Norman and felt a strange sensation. It was something that she couldn't explain, something that she had never felt before.

But even though she didn't know what was ailing Norman, since she could exactly tell what was going on with him, she still wanted to help.

She cleared her throat and spoke.

"Hey, kid, are you alright?"

Norman turned around and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

The nurse shrugged and tried to act casual.

"No reason. Just checking. You can leave now if you want. But don't forget to take care of yourself, okay?"

She smiled and winked.

"Have a nice day, kid. And don't let the nightmares get you."