I’m almost asleep, it’s a little past midnight. I can hear someone in the house. The door nob turns and although I should be afraid, a part of me just sighs. An odd sense of elation runs through me; it’s finally over.
“I’m very sorry,” says a voice in a low tone. “Are you ready?”
I can barely make out his features, but his rough, tired voice allows me to guess he’s an older man. I get up from my bed and I make out square shoulders–he’s wearing a suit.
“I think so,” I say. I get up and put on yesterday’s clothes.
The older man nods and someone comes into my room from behind him. Another man, also dressed in black, younger. He passes me without a word or eye contact. He grabs some random clothes from my closet and puts them in a bag that went unnoticed. I go to grab my laptop and he retrieves it for me, handing it over.
“Please,” the old man beckons me away and out. “Outside. Hurry.”
My mind wants to question it all but I knew this was coming. I tip-toe in the darkness, hoping the creaking floor doesn’t wake up my roommate. I make my way downstairs and out the front. A dark SUV with the engine running awaits. A man stands at the ready and he opens the door as I approach. The three of us hop in and the car drives off, leaving the gated community.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Paine Field,” the old man answers.
That’s not far, that’s about a mile from the house.
“Who–?”
“You’ll see,” he answers. “You’ll see soon enough. You’re going to be okay.”
The street lights shine in, allowing me to see my captors. An old man in his fifties with a liver spot over his left eyebrow. White gloves, like he’s some sort of butler. The younger man that grabbed my things, is slightly older than me. No white gloves. He’s very focused on the outside, examining, studying the surroundings. There’s something calculative behind his blue eyes. Maybe he’s local. Or so I guess, given his beard–a well kempt beard.
Our SUV flies past guard stations with open barriers, fully expecting us. We drive up all the way to the air field where a private jet sits on the tarmac.
“We’re here,” says the old man.
This is really happening. As the door is opened a rush of cold air hits my face. Oddly, no thoughts about my friends or family runs through my mind, selfish really. Is this really it?
Bearded-guy places a hand on my shoulder, he looks at me–the first eye contact. “You ready?”
I glance out at the city lights and take one last look at it all, then hop on the jet.
“Who is responsible for all this?” I ask once inside.
The old man smiles. “You and I both know.”
I look at bearded-guy. “Him?”
The old man laughs. “No. He’s your companion.”
“Companion?” I cock my head back. The word sounded odd, tawdry, like he was some sort of male escort.
The plane takes off and we start to level.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Where would you like to go?” asks the old man.
I think about it, overwhelmed by the possibilities.
“Europe… The UK maybe,” I finally say. “Can we do that?”
“It’ll take a stop for another plane, but yes.”
I’m running on adrenaline and sleep has all but left my mind. Bearded-guy pulls out a chess board, he smiles and prepares the pieces. We enjoy a friendly match. We exchange small talk and I’m laughing, and in the midst of all this I finally snap out of it. The room grows still, the winds beating the airplane grows silent, the motion beneath my feet ceases.
“I can’t,” I say out loud. “I can’t do this. This isn’t real.”
I turn to the old man, his eyes fill with tears. I glance back to bearded-guy but he’s gone. The plane jerks and sways, its engines reignite with fury, sending a high-pitch squeal ringing through my ears.
I wake up confused, bombarded by all sorts of emotions but mostly buried by sadness. I get up from my bed, glance out the window, half expecting the SUV–my great escape to be waiting for me. It’s a reoccurring dream. And although I love my state of Washington, I don’t think this dream represents any sort of desire to leave Washington, but more of a running away from emotions, from a situation.
I lie back down and examine the dream, with each occurrence, looking for more details.
