Dreampaths

An excerpt from Opposite World

The dream hub was a circular room, airy and vast, with the same marbled stone surrounding the interior of the building. Meditative music hummed through hidden speakers, and soft lights gave the space a relaxing aura. In the center sat a single white desk on a slightly raised platform, minimalist and sterile. Beveled white doors dotted the perimeter like portals, each leading to a private dream room. We entered one.

Inside the comfortably sized room, a sleek beige-gray lounge chair sat waiting. It looked extremely inviting. I ran my hand along the cool leather. Andrew was right behind me. I could smell him. His vanilla smell, intoxicating.

“This is a sleep pod,” Everly explained, spilling into the room and shutting the door behind her.

I nodded, moving on to a touchscreen that was built into the wall.

“What is the screen for?” I asked.

“They’re multifaceted,” Everly explained. “They monitor a sleeper’s heart rate and other vitals. They alert the sleeper and Reverie Cloud staff when a sleep cycle is concluding, and they provide the dreamer’s menu selection.”

“Menu selection?”

“Yes, dreamers have a few setup options before they begin. They can choose from any of Reverie Cloud’s core Dreampaths: Terra, Echo, Quest, Restore, or Openfield. Let’s start with Terra. Here, dreamers have the option to choose from a couple of Reverie Cloud-generated environments – lush natural landscapes or immersive urban spaces. Dreamers can explore, create, and engage with the world around them in Terra.”

I nodded, taking it all in.

“Then we have Echo,” she continued. “This option allows the dreamer to visit reconstructed moments or characters from their life, providing opportunities for imagination and introspection. Next, we have Quest. This is what it sounds like – thrilling quests, magical realms, things of that nature. Then there’s Restore, designed for dreamers seeking a meditative session. Think tranquil places, flowing water, golden sunsets, gentle breezes, things like that. And finally, my all-time favorite: Openfield. This one is a fusion of all the Dreampaths – a creative space with no boundaries.”

I thought instantly about my mother. “The Echo one…”

“Yes!” said Everly.

“Can you…see loved ones who have passed away?”

Her expression softened. “Yes, but just like in real dreams, it is a representation of the person. Imagine your memory of the person intertwined with the wonder of artificial intelligence. We do like to remind dreamers that these visions are influenced by their own subconscious, emotions, and memories, rather than direct communication with the deceased individual.”

“How long do people usually stay asleep in the program? Do they stay under all night long?”

Everly chuckled lightly. “Well, the Reverie Cloud team does close shop eventually. We lock our doors at ten. We’re looking into nighttime options, but I’m afraid we only offer a session for one sleep cycle. For now.”

“How long is one sleep cycle?”

“Ninety minutes.”

Andrew’s hand landed on my shoulder. My skin tingled.

“I have to tell you, the Quest Dreampath is the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “There was this one adventure where I had to find a treasure chest in this enchanted forest. I swear to you I was crying happy tears when I woke up. It was life-changing.”

“Oh, wow, you’ve tried it out?” I wondered if this was how Andrew came across so calm, so sure of himself. Maybe The Reverie Cloud played a part.

“Yes, many times,” Andrew said.

Everly tapped her tablet. “And when can I pencil you in for a session, Pip?”

Opposite World follows Pip Screed as she enters a virtual reality sleep program known as The Reverie Cloud to unlock mysteries inside her subconscious, only to discover she’s not the only one interested in tapping into her memories. You can find Opposite World where books are sold, but why not try this independent bookstore?