Free IA: Initiate by John Darryl Winston Page B

was saying. The floor gave way and while I was falling, I saw seven people. Then I woke up. That morning, Miss Tracey found the bathroom a mess and said that I had been sleepwalking again. But there were things out of place in the bathroom that I never touched in my dream. How can that be, Dr. Gwen?”
    “Who were the seven people?”
    “I don’t know. They were more shadows than anything.”
    “I’ve read somewhere that dreams can either remind you of your destiny or warn you of your fate. And I’m afraid that’s about as much as I have, Naz. Dream research is a very complex and controversial field, and more to the point, it’s not my field. As far as your sleepwalking is concerned, as I’ve said before, at your age it’s not uncommon. It may increase slightly in the next year as you go through puberty and then gradually decrease thereafter.”
    Naz wasn’t paying attention to Dr. Gwen’s prognosis about his sleepwalking. He was more interested in what she might have to say about his dream, so he decided to come from a different angle. “Meri says that something big is about to happen in my life, that the things floating all over the place mean I’ve lost control, and that being trapped in the bathroom symbolizes my inadequacy to deal with the situation.”
    “Inadequacy?” Dr. Gwen said, laughing. "That sounds like a fine interpretation to me. I’ll second that opinion. That’s my little counselor. How is she anyway … Miss Firecracker?"
    “She’s fine.” He was hoping for more from Dr. Gwen about his dream, but it was clear he wasn’t going to get it.
    “That reminds me. I have something for you … actually for Meri.” She put her briefcase on her lap, opened it, and pulled out an envelope. “This is the first step.” She handed Naz the envelope. "It’s up to her now to do her best, and from what I know about little Miss Meridian Slaughter, she’ll have no trouble making the grade.” She paused to make sure she had Naz’s full attention. “Naz, you do know that International Academy is a boarding school, right? If she scores high enough, there are scholarships out there that would provide her full tuition, as well as room and board for the next seven years.”
    Naz stood up with a look of excitement on his face. “I didn’t know that. She’ll score high enough.” He looked at the thick envelope made of light green parchment. It had a raised crest with a large I and A in emerald green Old English style letters on the flap, but it wasn’t sealed. Naz traced the crest lightly with his fingers. He smiled as he read the address.
     
    Meridian Liberty Slaughter C/O Doctor Guinevere Hornbuckle15086 Stansbury CircleBrookeside Village IL
     
    “It is of the utmost importance that you be there on time—no, early, Naz. If you are even one second late, the doors will be closed and locked. She will not be admitted, and there will be no second chance. Do you understand?” Dr. Gwen asked with her eye trained on him.
    “I understand. I will have her there at least an hour early, Dr. Gwen.”
    “Good, I knew you’d say that.” She paused, and then continued, “Naz, has anyone ever witnessed, or actually seen you sleepwalking—moving something while you were sleeping, picking up something … anything at all?”
    “Well, when I dreamed about the tornado and being trapped in the bathroom, Meri said she got up when she heard me sleepwalking. But she said by the time she got to the bathroom, I was already back in my bed asleep. So, no, I don’t think so, never.”
    “Hmmm, interesting.”
    “Why?”
    “No reason.”
    She was holding something back. Naz could sense it, but he knew he was just about out of time, and so whatever she was thinking was probably going to have to wait. She reached in her briefcase one more time and pulled out a tarnished, odd-shaped skeleton key. She handed it to him.
    “What is this?”
    “A key,” said Dr. Gwen, with a laugh.
    Naz laughed as he stood up and