Into the Dreaming: Chapter One "Collin" (Fantasy Y/A Novel)

-I wrote the following novel nearly two decades ago. In the years between then and now I've honed my craft, and my perception of this world; my thoughts and ideas; have changed dramatically. However, I still enjoy the premise and have decided to do an overhaul of revisions and rewrites, though likely not until sometime next year. (Though I'm sure I'll do a little as I post chapters)

For now I hope you will enjoy a glimpse into my book writing beginnings...

They are the closest of friends though they have never met in waking life.

Prologue-PT1 Prologue-PT2

Chapter One

Collin woke up, yawned, stretched for a moment, then turned over to look at the alarm clock by his bed. 5am. Shit, he thought, one more hour until the damn buzzer goes off.

He’d dreamed of her last night and as always felt sad that it was over. He’d begun having these dreams about three and a half years ago, when he was eight. It had started out with just him, walking along a creek bed in the middle of the woods and he'd immediately known he was dreaming. Firstly because he had never been to a creek bed, and secondly, well in real life he had never felt that peaceful.

He lived in a crowded not so nice neighborhood on Long Island, just about an hour south of New York City. He shared a room with his two brothers in a rundown apartment, one of many they’d lived at in his twelve years. His mom, Ms. Janet Capri, did the best she could for them, working long hours at two different jobs, but with the high inflation rate and her lack of formal education, she was always on the losing side of the monetary battle. His father had taken off when his youngest brother Jack, four years his junior, was born, so he had only a vague recollection of the man. His mom had ended up in one bad relationship after another for the next three years or so until she’d finally given up on men all together. A relief for them all.

His mind went to the little girl that accompanied him on most of his night time excursions. She was no more than eight or nine, but had the mind of someone years older. On top of which he had never met anyone in his life so full of optimism and love of life. She could see beauty in the smallest things, and smiled so much it seemed her permanent expression.

The weird thing was that they talked constantly in the dream, but never once had she told him her name and vice versa. He tried before going to sleep to make himself remember to ask, but once in the dream he always forgot all about it. He was half convinced that this person existed somewhere in the world, as ridiculous as that seemed. If only he could find out her name, where she lived, he wouldn’t care what it took he would go meet her in person.

As always, when his mind took that turn he had to laugh at himself. He tried to imagine what any of his friends would think if he told them that he dreamed of an eight year old girl and desperately wanted to find her. He wrinkled his nose, knowing exactly what distasteful things they’d have to say about that. Even though they knew he could take them all down at the same time without breaking a sweat, that little story would be too much for them to resist, and the ragging would be relentless despite the beatings.

He figured he would not be going back to sleep, so he might as well get up and put on some coffee. A beverage which he had been drinking since six years of age, and the one thing to send him into a rage if not in the cabinet in the morning.

Living in the city had the inevitable effect of making him grow up a bit faster, but living with very little parental guidance enhanced that fact tenfold. He also had the advantage of being exceptionally intelligent. Book wise, world wise, street wise, he had a lot to offer. His type of person generally had only two clear paths to take, one of greatness or one of great trouble and generally it was outside forces which provided the determining factors.

Collin, however, was aware of all of these things, making him even more unusual than ever. He had an uncanny ability to really see people for who and what they were. But people, ever changing, were designed to disappoint, therefore he lacked any true faith in anyone. He trusted no one, relied on no one.

At twelve years of age he could have lived quite comfortably on his own if it weren’t for the law.

Continue on to chapter two

Enjoy my writing style?

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Check out my new author's website: https://www.linnetmclaughlin.com/

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