Rise Of The Dreamer (6 page)

“How many of you are in this terrorist cell?”

No answer from Dennis.

“What was the reason for this attack?”

No answer.

“Where did you get the explosives from?”

Dennis refused to talk.

“Who provided funding for this attack?”

Dennis looked away.

“Answer the questions!!”

“I didn’t do anything Dennis screamed!”

“Then how come you knew the plane was going to crash unless you were privy to some information!” SSA Gates asked. “Were you feeling guilty, was that why you made that anonymous call? Were you having a change of heart? Was that why they tried to take you out of the picture this morning before you
ratted
them out? If you corporate with the FBI, you might not get the chair.”

Dennis looked stunned when Marcus had implied a death sentence. Tears started
brimming
his eyes. He sobbed. “I had a dream alright, I saw the plane crash in a dream and that’s how I knew it was going to happen.”

Marcus Gates burst into laughter. “Is that all you could come up with?
A dream?
You are really one lousy fella. You have no idea the kind of trouble you’re in do you?”

“I’m telling you the truth and that’s all I can say.”

Marcus was just about to open his mouth to say something when there was a loud buzz. They both looked up at the door as if they could see who was on the other side of the door. Marcus proceeded to the door.

As soon as Gates reached the door, Dennis noticed that Marcus was discussing with someone at the door, and he could not make out who it was. Marcus eventually stepped out of the holding room in order to continue the conversation with the other man who was most likely another FBI agent.

Dennis was extremely afraid, he didn’t know what to do and who to call. He could see his whole life crashing right before him. Everything he had worked for his entire life was all going down the drain and there was nothing he could about it. He sighed heavily as he looked at the pictures that were still placed on the table in front of him.

“Let me have a go at him.” The two agents stood outside the holding room and briefly glanced at the monitor linked to the hidden CCTV camera showing Dennis looking flustered.

Marcus protested to his superior. “I can get him to talk, just give me some more time sir.”

“I don’t doubt your abilities agent, but time is of the essence, Dr Riley might be the weak link to this terrorist cell, and if there are any more potential attacks, he’ll know about it. Why do you think they’re trying to have him killed?”

“Okay sir,” SSA Gates said reluctantly.

“One more thing, turn off the monitors and microphone.”

Gates was puzzled at the request and slightly tilted his head to the right. “Sir?” he questioned. “That isn’t procedure.”

“Trust me and do as I say.”

“Yes sir.”

The senior agent stepped into the holding room where Dennis was kept.

Dennis’s head was bowed down to the table when the senior agent walked in. Dennis looked up at him and figured out that he must have been the person that SSA Gates was speaking to.

“I’m Assistant Director Bob Floyd. I trust you’re comfortable?” Bob sounded soft spoken and very smooth.

Dennis didn’t respond.

“I just want to have a discussion with you.”

Dennis stood up. “I’ve already told the other agent, I’m not part of any terrorist cell,
I
didn’t cause that air disaster.”

“I know, I believe you.”

Dennis opened his mouth in shock. He couldn’t believe his ears. Finally he had gotten someone who believed him. “Then why am I here?
”,
he asked.

“I said I believed you but I didn’t say the FBI did.”

Dennis was confused. “What do you mean?”

Bob sat down across Dennis and placed his two palms on the table and gave Dennis a sinister look. “Let’s cut to the chase, I know who you are.”

“What do you mean?” Dennis became cautious.

“I know that you’re one of them.”

“I’m not a terrorist!”

Bob chuckled deviously. “You don’t know how to play this game. I know who you
are,
I know you’re a dreamer.”

Dennis looked cautiously around the room as if he could see the hidden CCTV camera in the room. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied.

“Don’t worry, nobody can hear us, I’ve had everything turned off.”

Dennis relaxed a bit. “How do you know me, are you a dreamer too?”

“Not exactly,” Bob smiled. “I’m affiliated with another group who is also aware of the spirit dimension.”

“What group is that?”

“It’s a secret society, with few but very powerful, wealthy and influential members. You can find us in every political arena around the
world,
we even have a few presidents among us.”

Dennis was taken aback and impressed at the same time.

Bob continued. “We have immense power which is not only political and financial, but physical and spiritual as well.”

Dennis raised his eye brows.

“We are in control of world events.”

“But I’ve never heard of you before.”

“I said we are a secret society. Nobody knows we
exist,
we are just a myth to those who can’t confirm our existence. We have the real
power,
we can make problems go away.” Bob leaned forward. “We can make
your
problems go away.”

“What?”

“It will be like it never happened. On behalf of the society, I’ve been asked to make an offer to you.”

“Do you have a name?”

“We call ourselves The Rulers.”

“Rulers of what?”
Dennis was being sarcastic.

Bob smiled.
“Rulers of this world of course.”

“What’s the catch?”

“Just join us. I would call it a life time membership. You’ll be given authority and power to rule over regions assigned to you. You’ll have lieutenants that will report to you and follow your every order. People will fear you and you’ll become a man of power and influence. You’ll have everything you ever wanted.”

“That’s a very generous and tempting offer.” Dennis admitted.

“It’s a onetime offer. Many a people have sought for this opportunity, but were rejected.”

“What makes me special?” Dennis asked.

“You have
potential,
you have certain gifts that would make you a valuable asset to this society.”

Dennis wasn’t stupid, he caught on quickly. “Or gifts that could prove to be a hindrance to your aims and objectives.” He remembered the dream he had of Nero making an attempt on his life.

“You catch on quickly Dr Riley, but it’s all up to you. I’m making it easy for you now, but a time will come when you’ll have to choose whose side you want to be on and that time is coming very soon.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, it’s a certainty, there’s a war brewing, not the physical kind you know.
Battles in the spirit dimension that will have catastrophic repercussions in this physical world.
At that time, you’ll want to be on the winning side. There can be only one victor, so choose sides wisely.”

“So you’re beefing up your ranks?”

“You could say that,” Responded Bob. “So, what will it be?”

Dennis didn’t feel right about Bob and his so called Rulers. In fact, he didn’t feel right about anything at the moment. He was more confused than ever now.
These Rulers sound scary.
“I need some time to think about it. I need to consider all options.”

Bob stood up and placed his hands on the table to make a statement. “It’s now or never.”

Dennis looked down at the table. “What happens if I say no?”

“It would be rather unfortunate if you did. You would lose on so many levels you can’t even begin to imagine. Your life wouldn’t be safe anymore and I wouldn’t be able to call off the hunt for your life. There’s a price on your head from the spirit dimension and there’s a great reward for whoever can get you first.”

Dennis was scared, but he tried not
show
it. He also never responded well to threats. He stood up, placed his hands on the table and looked straight at Bob in the eyes. “Then I’m going to have to take my chances.” Dennis was scared and that’s all he could say.

“I’m very disappointed to hear that. You’re a fool just like your father and just as stubborn.”

“What do you know about my father?!” Dennis yelled.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Bob said, flipped around and walked to the door. He opened it and SSA Gates was waiting at the door. Bob glanced once more at Dennis, smiled and walked out and closed the door after him.

The assistant director spoke to SSA Gates. “Do everything you can to get the necessary evidence against
him,
he’s as guilty as hell. I’ll also send more resources to assist you in this case, even if it means taking men off existing cases.”

SSA Gates nodded.
“Thank you sir.”

“Don’t mention it.” Bob replied and walked away.

Marcus Gates enters the holding room and tells Dennis who was bowed down, “Looks like you’re going into detention at a federal facility tonight,” said Gates with delight.

            Dennis was detained at a federal maximum security prison pending investigations. A lawyer from the state had been assigned to him and had come to visit him the following morning. He had a bad night. He couldn’t sleep well and he expected Joshua to appear to him in a dream in the night, but nothing happened. He felt lonely and abandoned. He was beginning to feel he had probably made a mistake by not accepting the offer from The Rulers.

            He also remembered that he was supposed to have been in Chicago to meet the person that Joshua sent him to in order to receive some training as it were on how to defend himself in the dream dimension. But that didn’t seem possible anymore, he was in detention now. He also remembered his research job at the university and his career as an astrophysicist. He remembered his dreams and aspirations. They were all disappearing because he felt he was doing the right thing. His state appointed attorney didn’t seem to improve the situation.

            “Dennis, they have a strong case against you and they said their still gathering more and more evidence.”

            “What evidence? There is no evidence, everything is trumped up and fabricated.” said Dennis.

            “Who could be trying to frame you?” The attorney didn’t believe him.

            There was no way that Dennis was going to tell him some mumbo jumbo about The Rulers. If they were as secretive and as powerful Bob Floyd made them out to be, then most likely nobody had heard of them, and he didn’t know who to trust anymore. “I don’t know, probably the FBI.”