Sequence

Chapter 1-Dreams Within Dreams

I dreamed a dream,
that was not quite like other dreams.
I dreamed that I dreamed,
and when I awoke,
I was dreaming still.
I ran and fought,
but nothing seemed to change,
and when I finally awoke from my terrifying nightmare,
I was dreaming still.
No relief, oh sweet relief...
Where have you gone?
Awake me now from this, this deathful life,
but no, I'm dreaming still.

Imara Hartford awoke from her dream in a sweat. She panted heavily and her hands shook as she reached for the glass of water beside her bed. After quickly drinking the entire glassful, she worked to steady her nerves and calm herself down. She'd had the same dream again. The one where she's in a long, dark hallway with computers and everyone she knew was sitting beside them asleep with wires on their temples. Then suddenly the lights went out and when they flickered back on, all the people were standing and moving towards her chanting in low voices, "Why didn't you help us? Why didn't you come?" And no matter how fast Imara ran from them, they were always one step behind her, chanting and reaching out with their hands to grab at her shirt. Imara slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed and looked at the clock. 6:45 a.m. Fifteen more minutes and she would have to start getting ready for work. She stood up and walked into her bathroom to refill her glass of water. When she turned around, there was a man standing in her doorway. He said in a deep, low voice, "Why didn't you come, Imara? Why didn't you help us?" And then he was gone. Imara barely had any time for reaction before he vanished and she was left standing with her mouth wide open. For a few seconds Imara was frozen to her spot but then she moved swiftly into her bedroom and glanced all around. There was no sign of anyone in her room. She shrugged her shoulders and climbed back into her bed. Fifteen minutes later she crawled back out from underneath her covers and went to her closet. She ruffled through the clothes hanging there, but she knew it was useless. She wore the same thing every single day. A navy blue blouse with a flowing gray skirt. She never questioned why she had to wear the same clothes every day. It was just what they did. The women wore blouses and skirts to work and the men wore navy blue shirts with gray trousers. That's how it had always been and that's how it would always be.
Imara changed into her work clothes and headed downstairs. Her brother and sister were already sitting at the table when she sat down in her spot. Her mother was in the kitchen cooking and her father was at the head of the table reading the paper. Just like every morning.
After about five minutes her mother brought in the food and set it on the table. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, and oranges. Grace Hartford smiled at her family and looked towards her husband. Jacob folded the paper and set it beside his plate. He bowed his head and his family followed his example. No words were spoken but everyone was expected to give thanks for the food silently. After a few seconds Jacob lifted his head and his family did as well. Grace began passing the food around, starting with her husband first. Imara waited silently for the food to come to her. Her father looked over at her and spoke softly, "You're awfully quiet this morning. Is something wrong?" Imara smiled at her father's keen perception and shook her head.
"Are you sure?" He asked again. She smiled once more and spoke equally as soft, "Yes. I'm fine. I just had another dream. That's all." She knew she didn't have to explain her dream. Her father knew all about it. He and her best friend were the only ones who knew.
Imara's younger brother Abe piped up and asked inquisitively, "What was your dream about?"
"Yeah, Imara... What was your dream about?" Her older sister Karlin asked sarcastically. Imara only smiled and kept eating. She looked down at her watch and saw that it was 7:40. Grace also looked at her watch, stood, and began clearing off the table. Imara rose and helped, quickly setting the dishes in the sink to be washed later that afternoon. Jacob rose from the table and went out to the van parked in their driveway. He opened the door to the driver's seat and got in. He started the van and waited for his family to join him. They were all going to work together. After you turn fifteen, you quit school and the Elders assign you a job. Usually the job you're assigned is the same job as your father, but sometimes the Elders will assign someone to a different job. They never explain the reason why. If you're a woman, once you get married you switch jobs to do the same job as your husband.
Grace and Imara finished clearing off the table and headed out to the van. Karlin and Abe followed behind them, and Karlin locked the door behind her. They piled into the van and headed off to work.