Dreamers

We kept walking for about 15 to 20 minutes and she stopped in front of a cafe called Dreamers. I recognised this place, it was a very old and popular cafe in this area. The prices were on the expensive side so I myself only came here one or two times.

"It's here, my workplace."

I would never have thought that she was an employee at this cafe. But I don't remember their faces, so it might be possible. Still, what does this cafe have to do with the other business? 

I think the business name on that pamphlet was also Dreamers, so they are connected. This place has a very comfy vibe though unlike what they do at night. 

We went to the back and entered through the staff entrance. There was a staircase to the first floor and two doors saying 'Break room' and 'Cafe entrance'. 

"We will go to the first floor now."

I followed her and went to the first floor. Unlike the ground floor which was bright and colourful, the first floor had a battered look. It definitely hasn't been renovated in years, I can see the paint scraping off and plaster falling off. 

Also, this floor didn't have any cameras, unlike the ground floor but I still felt like someone was watching me. From the moving of my muscles to the blinking of my eyes, nothing felt unnoticed. The atmosphere was very unnerving.

She stopped in front of a door saying 'CCTV room' and after knocking an old man allowed her entry. 

"You go alone."

She said that and left the floor. I kept quiet and entered the room. I saw an old man sitting in front of the monitors. He spoke to me while smiling at me.

"Aayan... please close the door and take a seat."

I did as he said and sat on the chair in front of him. I was hesitating with my words and noticing my surroundings. The man was a little chubby and had an amiable face.

This room unlike the outside hall was more comfortable to be in. The atmosphere was warm and the walls were painted with dim but warm colours. 

The room had a few dozen cctv monitors which were turned off and a large sofa just on the opposite side of the room. A low height table was in the middle of the room above a carpet. 

We sat on the opposite sides of the table and two coffee mugs were placed in front of us. In the middle of the table was an incense which smelled different than the one I used previously. It had a calming aroma. From the ashes it seemed as if it was lit just as I entered the building.

He took one cup and offered me the other. It was a regular milk coffee which was a bit warm. It was just as I liked.

"I know you like coffee better than tea so I had it prepared just as you called."

I took a few sips of the coffee and it tasted great. The smell in the room had calmed me down significantly. When I was very relaxed he introduced himself.

"My name is Neil, I am the owner of this coffee shop and even this building is mine. I live on the third floor here."

"My name is Aayan, I work at abc company's IT department. Other than that you should know a lot about me, since you're involved in some hidden organisation."

I was a fan of horror and mystery novels and these kinds of developments were very common in them. Still, I didn't expect to become a part of such a story.

"I am the head of the 'Dreamers', it is not only the name of my cafe but also the other business."

He continued.

"I was part of a big organisation in the past but well, a lot of things have happened since then. Now I am independently hunting those creatures or should I say my employees"

So the cafe employees are all like that woman? I swear I have seen this structure somewhere before. Maybe there are some normal people mixed in. 

He emptied his cup. I feel he is about to info dump. 

"The thing that is haunting you is called a nightmare. They can give you nightmares too but their name is such because they make life a nightmare for people." 

He got up from his chair.

"My doctor says I should take daily walks. Will you accompany me?"

Well I don't have a choice now have I? I finished my coffee and got up from my chair as well following him. He started talking as we left the room and started going downstairs.

"They are from a different world and sometimes escape to ours. From what we understand about them, their brains are wired to take over people who live unhappy or miserable lives."

Hey, that is so rude. 

I am not that miserable. There are people worse than me out there, why don't you go and stick to them? There is an abundance of homeless, sick and addicts out there and you choose me? 

"These creatures invade people's bodies but they can't always be detected on time. You were lucky that we happened to notice you and you are unlucky that it has parasitised you now."

Again, I have seen this plot somewhere before.

We reached the exit of the building and I follow him out. He seems to be going on a planned route. Maybe he takes daily walks or he has planned something. 

I want to doubt him but his mannerisms have been very friendly since the beginning and his speech is soft. Maybe it's the effect of that incense. 

He starts talking again as we go from one street to another.

"I had informed Myra that the one invading you was special, but she ended up being careless. Please don't hold it against her, she has been feeling guilty."

So it was her fault.

"The nightmare has already started to study you. If left unchecked, he will take control of your mind and body and you will in a sense die."

… 

Fu*k

The stakes are high. Not only will it kill me but it will become 'me'. It will take my place in society and live my life. 

"When that happens he will slowly start corrupting your body and you will become a source of infection. It will call out its companions from its world or it will multiply with a process like fission, the one single celled organisms like Amoeba use to reproduce." 

…

As I was listening attentively to this horror story, we reached a park that was near my house. Then we stopped in front of an apartment that was near mine. This place…

"It was in the news right, a lot of residents magically disappeared from here a month ago. That was actually a cover up story." 

What?

"The residents that disappeared were actually a part of a cult that worshipped these nightmares."