Finally I managed to open my strangely over heavy eyes to find myself lying across my couch with no memory of how I got there. I stared around madly frantically trying to logic it all out.
“Fancy a cuppa Sleeping Beauty?” Alec smiled.
“Thanks.” I mumbled. I could hear the neighbours as they wrestled with their barbeque.
“Maybe you should go over there and help them.” I sighed hoping for a bit of peace and quiet so I could work out just what was going on.
“Like last time you mean?” He laughed. “I bet they got the fire brigade on speed dial now.”
“You’re so not funny!” I muttered trying to sound normal. My eyes kept darting back to the old crack in the ceiling that he’d never got round to fixing. “Deep Breaths. One. Two. Three. Four.” I thought to myself. “Everything is okay. Everything is okay.”
“Here!” Alec handed me my cup of tea. “You’ll feel better after this.”
I took a long slurp and let out a deep sigh. “I feel almost human again.” I lied faking the best smile I could muster.
“Good.” He kissed me on the forehead. “Shall we get ready for the barbeque then?” I’ve got some lovely fire proof clothing just in case.”
“Very funny!” I yawned as I watched him rush upstairs.

A loud urgent knock made me jump. “Damn! I must’ve dozed off again.” I mumbled as I staggered towards the front door.
“Connor! I gasped staring at my son who now stood in the doorway.. “How did you get in here?”
“You!” He pointed at me. “You don’t belong here!”
“What?” I sniggered. “It’s a bit early for Trick or Treat…”
“You don’t belong here!” He yelled as he approached me. As I stared into his black soulless eyes I let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Alec appeared beside me. “What is it? Are you okay?”
“Connor!…” I stammered. “Connor!“ He was just there….”
“You and your separation anxiety! I don’t know he spends one night at your mothers!” Alec held me close to him.
It should’ve been comforting but as I listened to his heartbeat it felt wrong and I didn’t know how or why.

“Isn’t this lovely?” Alec smiled. “Just smell that fresh country air.”
Usually such an idyllic setting would make me relax but something didn’t feel right about the whole thing.
“It’s nice.” I sighed not wanting to hurt his feelings. “Thanks for this.”
“Why don’t we find a quiet spot and…”
“Saved by the bell!” I thought as I answered my phone.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Alec looked frustrated and gave me one of his looks.
“Right. Thanks for letting us know.”
“What is it?” Alec asking.
“It’s Connor. He didn’t turn up for Maths this afternoon.”
“Told you we should’ve changed schools but no you wanted to stay with his friends. Now those friends are leading him astray!”
“Like you were a flaming angel when you were his age! You forget your mother told exactly what you were like!” I retorted.
“Typical! We go for a nice drive and he had to go and spoil things! Then he is a mummy’s boy!”
“Well if you’d spent more time with him when he was growing up then maybe he wouldn’t be!” I yelled.
There was a strained silence for the rest of the journey home. Alec sat in the car staring angrily at me.
“Well aren’t you going to help me then?”
“Your son. Your problem. Get it sorted!” He snorted as I clambered out the car.
“Thanks for nothing!” I yelled as he sped off down the road. I didn’t even bother to go into the house. Instead I waited ten minutes to make sure Alec wasn’t coming back then I calmly phoned a taxi and waited by the end of the road.

I sat there in the back seat sweat dripping off me. According to the taxi driver we were in the middle of a severe heat wave brought on my global warming.
I smiled weakly as he continued to waffle about his madcap theories about the government.
My head spun as I struggled to stay awake.
The sudden jolt of the taxi stopping made me sit bolt upright.
“That’s £7.95.” The taxi driver grinned. I handed him a £10 note and clambered out.
“Right Connor! Time to sort you out!” I sighed as I stared at the Sci Fi Experience sign that glared down at me. “”Couldn’t hang out in arcades like the others could you?”

Passing through plastic aliens and strobe lights I searched frantically for Connor. “He must be here somewhere!” I whispered to myself as I wandered into the Alien Abduction Chamber.
“Mam?” Connor’s voice made me jump.
“Knew I’d find you here!” I ran over to him and hugged him
“I don’t remember coming here. I was feeling tired and..”
“It‘s okay. It‘ll be okay. It‘s just the stress of those daft exams“ I smiled.
“There’s something wrong with these people.”
“What?”
“Look at them.”
“I don’t see anything wrong.”
“Their eyes. Look at their eyes.” Connor whispered.
“This is silly. Excuse me.” I grabbed a hold of a passing female member of staff. She looked at me and smiled. Oh! There’s something her eye! It’s looks like…”
“Sleep. She’s still asleep. They all are.” Connor muttered.
“This is an interactive experience. She‘s probably from the local drama school.”
“Non human life form detected.” A metallic voice bellowed.
“What was that?”
“We will capture the non human. Her technology will help our cause.” The voice echoed.
The ground suddenly began to shake. I grabbed a hold of Connor and began to run.

“Right!” I gasped. “Let’s get out of here! This experience is getting just a little bit too interactive.”
“That’s the least of our problems - Look!” Connor pointed at a crack that had appeared from behind one of the exhibits.
“Now that is too much!!” I grabbed Connor and pulled him up into one of the displays.
“He needs to wake up!” A voice behind us made us both jump. “He needs to wake up!”
“Great we must’ve triggered the voice activation on this Ood thingy. Don’t think the staff will be happy with us for this! Could it get any worse?”
“Exterminate! Exterminate!” Came a familiar cry.
“You will be upgraded or deleted!” Yelled another cry that left me cold.
“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” Boomed yet another voice.
“Great! I just had to ask!” I grabbed a hold of Connor and ran behind a black curtain. “Not you as well!” I gasped as we darted past yet another Weeping Angel. “Quick! In here!” I pushed open some doors and dragged him in behind me.
“ What are they thinking let that lot run amok? The heat must’ve done something to their circuits.”
Connor tugged at my sleeve. “Err I think you’d better turn round.”
“Not now. I’ve got to think.”
“Turn round now!” Connor yelled.
“Don’t you speak to…Oh my….this is just too much!” I gasped. “Don’t touch anything! We’ve just got to figure out what’s…”
The console suddenly burst into life sending us both flying to the floor.
“I said not to touch anything.” I clambered to my feet grabbing on the side on the console.
“I didn’t!”
“I’ve had enough. Let’s get out of here!”
“Don’t go out there!” Connor screamed.
“I’m banning you from watching sci fi for a week after this young man.” I laughed.” Now come on. The worst we’ll face in some very angry staff.”
I pushed open the doors. “Sorry for the…” I began. “Where’s the staff?”
“More to the point where’s the exhibition?” Connor asked. “There’s nothing here. I don’t like this.”
“It must be done with mirrors or something.” I replied as I used my mobile phone as a torch. “We’ll simply find an exit and leave.”
“Mam!” Connor gasped. “Look! Look who it is! It‘s him!”
“Did we miss the interactive quiz? It’s probably just a prop.”
“Really? Ever come across a prop with a pulse?” Connor asked.
“Your imagination is really working overtime.” I sauntered over towards him and the figure that was lying slumped against the wall. “A pulse indeed….Oh! I gulped as I held the figure’s wrist. “It can’t be! It just can’t be!“ I stared at him in his long brown hero coat and tatty converse trainers. I trembled as I whispered his name.
“Just a prop is he?” Connor sniggered as the figure let out a loud snore.
“Something’s wrong. Something’s very wrong.” I stroked the sleeping figure’s hair gently. “I don’t know what but he’s got something to do with it!”
An echoing laugh filled the air. My face went ghostly white. “No!” I screamed. “Quick! Get him into the ship!”
“What is it? Mam?” Connor asked.
“Don’t argue! Just do it!” I screamed. “Hurry! Just drag him in!” I stood there in utter disbelief.

Ever so slowly it emerged from the darkness. Its purple hair glowed as its long arms reached out from its green body. Its lifeless eyes and eternal grin sent shivers down my spine.
“What is that thing?!”
“Doesn’t matter. Just get inside and close the doors!” I yelled.
“No way that thing has been in my head! I have a right to know!”
“You mean she hasn’t told you! It laughed. “My! My! You have been a bad girl haven’t you?! Allow me to introduce myself I’m The Sandman and I’m your worst nightmare. In fact I’m everyone’s worst nightmare!”
“What do you want?” Connor replied.
“I see he’s got your feistiness my dear. Quite simply I want your mother to sleep.”
“Never!” I laughed.
“You don’t have a choice!” The Sandman laughed. “You really think you’d get away hiding here?”
“What’s he on about?” Connor asked.
“Aren’t you going to tell the boy?”
“Get in the ship. Close the doors behind you!” I yelled.
“Time for you to….” The Sandman suddenly fell to the floor in a heap. I stared at the familiar figure that was now standing before us.
“He is asleep. He needs to wake up.” It repeated. “He will be taken to the Elders. He caused our nightmares. You go. He needs to wake up.”
“Hey! Isn’t the Ood from the..” Connor began
“I’ll explain later. Get in the ship.”
“You always say that!” He muttered.
“Thank you.” I smiled as I bowed my head. I watched as they encircled The Sandman. “He’s their problem now!” I sighed as I closed the doors behind me.

“What about him?” Connor asked. “He hasn’t woken up. Can‘t we just take the sleep from his eye?”
“No. He‘s in a deep sleep.” I knelt down beside the still sleeping figure and gently touched the side of his face. “We need some other way.”
“We could set an alarm to go off or shake him.”
“That could cause more damage. How do wake such a sleeping beauty?” I sighed. “That’s it! Of course!”
“What?”
“Sleeping Beauty!” I yelled smiling.
“You’re going to tell him a fairy story?”
“Don’t be silly. Remember the story?”
“Yeah. Ms Watson made us act it out as a drama exercise a few terms back . She wanted me to play the dumb prince but I didn’t want to kiss no girl...Aw! Mam You’re not going to..You are. Oh gross!” Connor screwed up his face in disgust.
“Well you weren’t brought by the stork Connor! I hate to shatter your illusions but me and your dad…”
“Don’t!” Connor snorted. “Just kiss him and get it over with.”
“In a few years time you won’t be saying that!” I teased.
“Whatever.” Connor leant against the console wall. “Just do it will you?”
“Okay. Here goes.” I sighed.
“Are you sure about this? I mean waking him up. What if things change? What if I change?” Connor looked scared. “I don’t want to wiped from history. There’s a cool game out on the PS2 on next week.”
“Connor. I won’t let anything happen to you.” I smiled.
“You might not have a choice.” He replied sadly. “What if I’m not real?”
“You are very real!” I stood up and held him close.
“I could be part of The Sandman’s tricks.”
“Do you want me to leave him here and walk away then?”
Connor let out a deep sigh. “No. It’s got to be done.” He shrugged me off and turned away. “ I love you Mam.”
“I know” I half smiled as I knelt down beside the sleeping figure. “Well here goes!”
Reaching down I kissed him softly on the lips but he didn’t move.
“My you are in a deep sleep.” I gasped. “Okay! I’ll have to try even harder!”
Closing my eyes I kissed him again. This time I was more passionate but still he didn’t even flinch.
“Mam!” Connor yelled. “Please!”
“He needs a neural shock.” I explained
“Is that what you call it? Looks like you’re going to ride him!”
“Connor!” I blushed.
“Just get on with it then!” Connor sighed as he pretended to study some dials on the console
“Damn! You‘re hot!” I whispered as I kissed the still sleeping figure passionately on the mouth.

“Mam!” Connor muttered in a state of shock.
“Connor!” I mumbled. “As you can see he’s awake!”
“A bit too awake!” Connor snorted. “I’m so going to tell Dad.”
Suddenly the figure was wide awake and staring madly at the two of us. “Can someone explain just what’s going on?”
“You were asleep. I woke you up” I stared into his deep brown eyes and tried to ignore the irregular beating of my heart.
I watched as he jumped to his feet and padding himself down. “I‘m still me!” He muttered. I haven‘t changed!”
“It was The Sandman. He sent you to sleep. He sent everyone to sleep.” I stammered to explain.
“Except you. Why is that?” He asked putting on his glasses in staring right at me.
“I’ve never slept - nightmares. Really bad nightmares. I use a form of meditative sleep.”
“Right! Maybe it’s time you found out why!” He placed his hands on either side of my forehead. “Close your eyes.”
“Mam! Don’t! It might be a trick!” Connor begged but it was too late. Somewhere in my deep subconscious memories began to appear. I staggered backwards onto the console Tears streamed down my face.
“It can’t be true! This is reality! This is my reality!” I wept.
“No it’s not. Your father developed a device that could not only travel through time and space but through every dimension and reality. A war broke out on your planet. Realising that the reality key was going to fall into the wrong hands he sent it and you away before your planet was destroyed. You would’ve been fine until The Sandman showed up in my reality. By changing one reality he began to change the others hence that crack.”
“So I have to go hurtling through it and save every reality then? I’ve got Connor to think about.. Connor..Connor? Where is he? No!” I screamed pushing open the doors.

“Connor! What do you think you’re doing?” I howled. “Keep away from that crack!”
“They want your dna.”
“Don’t do this! Listen to your mother!” He yelled.
“You know me mam. Anything to get out of maths homework! Connor winked before disappearing into the crack which closed up behind him leaving nothing but the echoing silence of a normal wall.
“No!” I screamed. “No!” I fell to the ground in a heap. “Bring him back! Please! Bring Him back! I’ll go in his place!! Just bring him back.”
“I’m sorry but I can’t. I just can’t.” His arms were around my waist. “We’ve got to leave. Realities are realigning themselves as we speak.”

“So what now?” I sniffed. “My planet is dead. I can’t find another reality now. Where do I go?” I slumped down onto the floor. “You’ve should’ve left me there to die.”
“You’re too important for that. You saved me. You saved everyone.” He smiled a Cheshire cat grin that he knew I couldn’t resist. “Besides Connor wasn’t part of that reality.”
“Really?” I asked as he held me close to his tall lanky frame. “What was he then?”
A future echo.” He whispered. “Our future echo…..”

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 26.05.2010

Alle Rechte vorbehalten