Chris walked alone down a small path, he could see units ahead of him as he came closer to the compound. The trip at least was over for this week. They had stayed in a grim hotel on the 2nd floor, his Brother had disappeared again, he always did.
Chris was always guarded about his possessions in the compound, this thought was loosely vibrating throughout his head, when suddenly he was faced with a unit, blocking his pathway and preventing him from any further movement. Chris went to defend himself automatically, recalling the time he'd been jumped by the group of units who took all his possessions and fled away into the distant night. Such was the constant underlying terror that hide dormant, ready at any time to unleash itself across the compound and it's inhabitants.
In this case, it wasn't hostile and Chris relaxed slightly, still remaining partly on guard. Chris looked at the unit, then looked around, all the other units that had a moment ago been sighted ahead had now departed.
'Did you enjoy your trip?' asked the unit
'No, not really.' Replied Chris
'Well never mind, they'll be another one next week.'
Chris remained silent
'You know why your here, don't you?' the unit enquired
Chris thought for a moment ' Well, to be honest, no not really.....'
after a short pause Chris started up again ' I don't know, I think I'm either dead or I'm dreaming.'
'Well your not dead.' confirmed the unit
'Are you sure?'
'Yes'
'So I'm dreaming then.....?'
'Yes'
'I knew it.....that's what I thought.' said Chris sounding relieved. He looked down for a second and smiled, then looked up at the unit........
'Wait a minute, how do you know exactly? And anyway, this all seems far to real to just be a dream, I mean...... I know the difference, you can tell, you know.......'
And with that, the unit was gone, just as quick as he'd first appeared.
Chris was still not convinced with the unit's reassurance that he was still alive.
Meanwhile back in the compound, it was going out night, on this particular evening random units would meet up and then drift away usually separately back to the rest quarters. Often randomly choosing a place amongst the rest rooms to settle. Chris headed for his usual bed, not a single unit was present at this time.
Some time later.............
Chris found himself in the bathroom, looking out towards a courtyard, it was school time in the compound, and as he watched, units filled the wood work class one by one. He had a strong feeling that he was also due to attend the same lesson, but as he left the washrooms, he turned away from the class and made for the common, which was situated all around. To the left of the class was the pack house he'd passed by recently. He thought he would walk for a while and try to find another unit to talk to. Communication was sparse in the compound, and sporadic to say the least, even at the best of times. Chris searched for what seemed like an eternity to him, eventually finding a lone unit, a female. She was located in the house quarters, which was very close to the rest area. In the house quarters the curtains were always drawn, and it always seemed to be 06.00am in the morning, the lights were on, as they always were.
Chris walked into the room, as he did this the female unit packed bags full of clothes and emptied out her drawers. She had filled several suitcases by now, and as Chris entered, her packing was coming to an end.
'Where are you going?' asked Chris
After drawing a huge sigh and placing her hands on her thighs, she replied....
'Nowhere.'
'But what about all your bags, all the packing?'
'I can't leave here.....' she replied
'How do you mean?'
'Everyday I do this, everyday I pack these bags, the same bags......then I go to the bus, I get on the bus, and soon after I'm back here again.' The female unit stood and looked at her bags placing a hand leaning on the handle of the largest case.
'For how long?' asked Chris
'I don't know........a long time.'
Chris looked at her, she was pretty, but looked tired and very skinny, her collar bones stood out and moved together as she spoke softly to him. She appeared quite young too he thought, certainly younger than he was. He looked over at her bags.
'I was told that I'm in a dream.....' he said.
The female unit looked up at him sharply and replied,
'This isn't a dream we're in....'
Chris looked her in the eye,
'Are you sure, how do you know?'
'I know only too well.' she replied
Chris moved around on the spot, suddenly feeling a shooting pain dart right across his stomach. The serious expression on her face when she spoke those words had sent a chill down his spine. He glanced round to look at her bags.
'Well, then why are we here, what for, do you know?' he asked.
The unit picked up her belongings one by one, throwing a bag over her right shoulder, that nearly knocked her sideways. She turned to face him.
'Yes I do..........give me a hand on to the bus and I'll tell you.'
Chris nodded his head, and moved towards her, shortly they left together, for the bus, which was situated a short walk outside the house quarters.
As they leave, the unit who had spoken to Chris earlier, stood back, carefully out of view, watching the pair of them board the bus.
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