CHAPTER TWO

I backed down slowly against the elevator wall. Probably the whole floor had heard that shout, and that guy was starting to go from wacky and amusing to creepy. The elevator's doors closed again and, after a short delay, we arrived at the last floor.

That floor was different from the rest. The big windows were replaced by cream colored walls, illuminated with gentle and warm lights. The floor was fully carpeted, and some couches and armchairs rested on the ample hall. However, there was something that felt especially odd. I couldn't point out what exactly, but then I noticed. There was no noise. Even when paying attention, I wasn't able to hear the sounds from the traffic, or the people working in other floors.  Just a calm and soothing silence.

Reve was being surprisingly quiet, too. I was still following him around, some steps behind. And it felt awkward. He turned around to check if I was still there, smiled, and kept walking in silence. Finally, we reached the end of the hallway and slid a door almost camouflaged with the wall.

"...huh." Inside, there was the last thing I expected to find in an office. Beds. Beds, cushions and pillows covered most of the room, which was large enough to accommodate twenty people comfortably. The only other thing in the room were some end tables and cabinets, presumably to leave your personal objects while sleeping, and some electric plugs.

"Welcome to the room of dreams." the fox whispered dramatically. I looked around, but there was nobody else in the room. 

"Nobody is dreaming." I mumbled.

"Observant. But my dream *is* coming true."

"So, let me guess. Here's where you test the... thing. And where you pass most of your time. "Testing". Right." the fox giggled. We were talking in a very quiet tone, even though there was no need. It just felt right.

I heard a loud cough behind us and jumped out, startled. It came from a cougar in a white lab coat that was now inside the room. The floor must had masked the sound, so I didn't notice.  I glared at him for a second and sat down on a bed, growling quietly. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." 

"Don't worry about it" said Reve, clearly amused. "So, is it ready?" The cougar nodded and gave his boss a sports bag, who started taking out its contents and placing them on the bed, next to me. The first of them looked like some kind of Virtual Reality glasses. However, they didn't seem to have any actual glass on them, and looked considerably bulkier. "May I?" The fox nodded as he took everything out of the bag.

I examined the glasses closely. They were pretty heav, probably weighting around two kilograms. I placed them in front of my eyes, but there was nothing to see. There was no way you could wear those around normally, so they had to be meant for sleeping with them, obviously while laying on a bed.  Two long cables came out of them, one ending as a normal electric plug. The other one looked like a phone charger, but I didn't recognize what it could be connected to.

"...hmm?" There was something on the part where a screen would be in VR glasses. Some kind of detachable compartment. Inside, there were three big vials with different colored liquids. I looked up and saw the fox with his annoyingly amused mug, always expecting a reaction. "...so it has drugs in it."

"Don't look at me like that. It's perfectly safe and legal. And it doesn't even create addiction. There simply is no other way to regulate your dreams without using some sort of substance. Not reliably, anyway."

"There's a lot of it here, though."

"Yeah, it's so you don't have to change them for a long time. Also, different species need different doses, of course." 

The scientist-looking guy intervened. "If you were wondering, the three main components are for prolonging the REM phase and stimulating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The former makes dreams more vivid, and the latter allows you to realize it's a dream. The third vial is another stimulant that would wake you up in case it's needed."

"By the looks of this headset, though, it doesn't seem like it's very adaptable." the diadem was adjustable, but not much. I couldn't picture many species using them, outside canines, felines and maybe ursines. The entire device looked pretty crude. Not the kind of thing that is ready for the market.

"Yeah, well... It's not fully developed. I mean, it's completely functional and it shouldn't bring any problem, but there are things we could improve. But you're right. At this point, only the most common species can use it."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh. So, we're kind of test subjects, huh?"

"I wouldn't put it like that. We already have tested it thoroughly, the rest is just... patching things up. Like in a videogame."

"I... guess. " I muttered. I focused my attention on the next object. It looked like some kind of digital watch, but bigger, like an armband. The material seemed durable and strong, but unlike the headset, it was rather light. I turned it around and cringed upon seeing a needle coming out from the bottom.

"That's the portable part of the device. It doesn't do much unless you connect it to the "glasses". And yeah, the needle is to inject the drugs into your system." The fox didn't seem very comfortable with that part. "It's supposed to be kept attached for a long time for that same reason. But it doesn't inconvenience the user much. It's waterproof and everything."

"That looks pretty shady, to be honest." Reve forced a smile and scratched the back of his head. "I know, I know. But there's no other way. Besides, the armband does nothing if it's turned off and disconnected, and you can remove it without much difficulty. I'm wearing one myself." the other canine pointed to his right arm. Certainly, there was a small bulge in his forearm, pressing against his suit. "...anyway, it's worth it. I promise."

The fox sat down next to me, tilted his head and smiled once more. "So, what do you say, Asher? Do you want to go for it?" The fox looked... excited. He appeared to be really involved in that, and looked at me expectantly, with the eyes of a hopeful child. It felt strange. I was just one out of many supporters. Although I did happen to be the first. Moreover, I was really intrigued with the device. It seemed like an opportunity to change the dull life I had. Although I was trying to be all logical and reasonable about it, I never doubted for a second what my answer would be.

"Yeah, let's do it."

Reve jumped out with a happy yelp, visibly excited. "Great! This is great! You won't regret this. I swear."
The scientist guy, who still hadn't left, was looking at his boss with the same smug smile the fox had minutes earlier.  Although he seemed a bit happy about it too. "Alright, so... feel like having a nap?"

"Huh? Here? Now?" I asked, a bit surprised.

"Well, the first time should be here. Just to be one hundred percent sure everything is alright."

"Well, I did have a long nap earlier today and..." I checked my phone. Holy shit. I had forgotten all about the reason I went to the city in the first place. I was one hour late for the appointment with the psychologist I had. "Well, fuck. I really can't do it now, I lost track of time and now I'm super late."

"Hmmm... alright, don't worry about it. How about tomorrow? I think we can make it even better that way. Is tomorrow at 16:00 alright for you?" I nodded. Perfect time for a nap. Although, to be honest, almost every time was good for a nap for me. "Nice. I'll accompany you to the exit."

After leaving the building, I rushed through the streets, slightly annoyed. I didn't care for the psychologist, but if I didn't go to the first appointment I wouldn't hear the end of it from my mother. To make things worse, it was starting to rain. Just some light rain, but annoying nonetheless. The scent of the city was even worse when wet.

I arrived at the clinic and rang the doorbell. Some receptionist opened and I asked for the guy in question. "Dr. Linus Beaton". Luckily, he was still in his office. Following the indications, I entered the room.

A male badger in his thirties was sitting there, looking at me with curiosity. He was wearing some kind of brown sweater, matching with his fur. He looked mature, but gentle at the same time, like a young teacher.  A doctor's coat was hanging from his chair. For me, that was proof that almost anyone can have a doctorate.

"...yes?" The badger asked.

"Oh. Uh... sorry. I'm Asher."

"You're pretty late." he commented, checking his watch.

"Yeah... Sorry. I got lost." I lied. He looked at me closely, maybe analyzing what I just said. Great, just what I needed. Another all-seeing eye judging me. Because I didn't have enough at home.

"Well. Take a seat, Asher. I'm Linus. It's nice to meet you." he offered his hand, which I shook hesitantly before sitting. "Since we don't have much time, we'll just go through the beggining quickly. Tell me. Why are you here?"

"I was forced to by my mother."

"Did you come at gunpoint?"

"...no, but she wouldn't leave me alone until I came."

"I see..." he wrote something down on a notebook in front of him. I couldn't figure out what it said, but I knew that thing would become my new torment.  "Why did she make you come?"

I measured my words carefully. He already knew that, of course. They had talked before through phone. "She is worried I might need help, and wouldn't take my word when I said I do not."

"We all need help sometimes. We just need to admit it when we do, swallow our pride, and ask for it."

"Hm. But it's pointless to accept help when one doesn't need it, isn't it?"

"Not really. Even if you don't need it, it doesn't mean it's bad for you."

I growled quietly. A mental chess game had formed between us, and I wasn't going to lose. However, it seemed like he was going to badger me until I did. I cracked a smile upon thinking of that pun, but I regained my focus.

"Sometimes what you need is to be left alone. Help can become harmful, just like a medicine can become poison."

He smiled with the same amused grin as that fox of before. Maybe a bit less arrogant, but still similar.

"So is that what it is for you? You don't need any help?"

A trap. I thought carefully of my next move. Saying that I did not would make me fall for it, so I had to specify. "I don't think that any external help would do me any good with my situation."

"What situation?" DAMNIT

"Uh... my hypothetical situation. I mean, my current state. I'm alright, okay?"

"But, what does your mother think you need help with?"

"I asked her the same, and she wasn't clear. Apparently she isn't sure or doesn't know." As all mothers, she had some sixth sense to know when something's not well. However, she wasn't very good at determining what exactly.

"Well, anyway... I think the time's up" I said, looking at my phone. As good moment to end it as any. The badger mumbled something, but didn't protest any further. "Alright. Since we had so little time, how about we book another session? Next week."

"Uh..." Had to think of an excuse, and fast. "I don't think..."

"I'll ask your mother, then" What the hell? Using that woman as a weapon was a dirty trick. I didn't expect anyone to do that since I finished high school, one year before. "Fine, next week. Same time, same day." I grumbled, stepping out of the room.

I went to the bus station and bought a ticket home while thinking of all that happened. Most days were boring and dull as hell, and could be summarized in "Computer, eating, sleeping, repeat." But today had been different, for once. Although I was deep in thought, something outside the window of the bus caught my eye.

Although it was already nighttime, a mass of people was gathered in the street. Some were holding signs, while others were shouting with their megaphones. Some kind of manifestation, apparently. I opened my mouth, perplexed. Some of the signs had "Humans first!" written on them. What the hell was that about? Of course, none of the participants had fur, tails, feathers or scales. Despite the noise, some of their shouts were very clear.

"We're sick of being second-rate citizens! We built this civilization, yet we're treated the same as those animals! We demand change! Humans first!"

I was shocked. That was so stupid. Weapons-grade stupid. Had those guys opened a history book in their lives? The last civilization made up exclusively of humans had died out seven hundred years ago. If I remembered clearly, they were the last species that refused to work or live equally with other sentient races. Well, the second to last, only beaten by some uncivilized tribe of turtles. Of course, most kingdoms had been racist in the past, as some only allowed canines, for example, or enslaving some others, but that had stopped centuries ago, since they all had to open up sooner or later.

I couldn't understand their point. Sure, humans had been there for more time than the rest of species, and they had built more cities, but that was about it. Didn't they come from apes, too? Besides the lack of fur, they didn't seem that different from anthro monkeys.

The crowd kept advancing until dissappearing from my sight, but I couldn't get it off my head. Bunch of weirdos. It didn't really matter: even though there were more humans in society than other species, being up to 27%, they probably wouldn't be able to pull off anything or make it into the government. 

I arrived home, but it didn't seem like my mother was there, so I boiled some water and prepared some instant noodles for myself. It was a bit early, but I felt tired, so I decided to go to sleep anyway.

That would be the last night in which I wouldn't dream.