Dream Stealers

The beautiful white city glowed in the soft morning light. Pale sunlight fell on the lovely curves and lines of the Greek-like architecture that stretched without break as far as the eye could see. Overhead the dome of the sky was a clear, very light blue that was almost white. There were no roads or fences in this city; no street lights, signs or shops and not a blade of grass or even a persistent weed could be seen from one end to the other. It was peaceful and silent as it always was at this time of morning just before the City awoke for the day. A balmy breeze wafted lazily around the buildings. The weather as always was calm and mild. There were never any storms here and it never rained. No sound or raised voice could be heard through the wide, beautifully arched windows of one of these palatial homes. The pale light softly illuminated the spacious rooms with their cool white marble walls. The furnishings were clean, creamy whites tastefully interspersed with glowing ornaments and colourful wall hangings of vividly contrasting reds, blues and greens. It was very beautiful and encouraged feelings of peacefulness.

Four people woke simultaneously and began to go about their usual morning routines. It seemed to these four as though this day would be a normal day similar to the many, many days they had had before. Each day they would carefully follow their schedule; waking, eating, enjoying some family time together then departing the house for their various locations around the City. Their schedule was never boring as each day contained a perfectly balanced variety of rest, recreation and productivity.

Outings and holidays were scheduled regularly making their lives exciting enough to prevent their days becoming mundane but predictable enough to feel safe and secure. Why should today be any different? But something subtle had changed that morning, just a slight deviation from the ordinary but it was a beginning of things to come.

The luxurious carpet muffled the footfalls of the family; mum, dad, a teenage boy and a younger girl, as they assembled together for breakfast.

The man sat back in his large, comfortable, squashy-looking chair watching as his family gathered. He was taller than average, solidly built and athletic looking. He had a shock of dark hair, carefully clipped in the square hairstyle that was in vogue just then. It gave his face the appearance of strength, which matched his name, Petra, meaning rock; but his brown eyes were soft as he regarded his family.

He gazed fondly at his partner who was a white-blonde and petite with her long, carefully styled hair rolling down her shoulders in perfect waves. She was beautiful in a Barbie-doll fashion; wide blue eyes and full lips skilfully made up, straight nose and perfectly shaped eyebrows. Any alterations that had been made to her face were tastefully and artfully done. Her name was Amiria.

Petra did sometimes wonder secretly how she might look naturally without the enhancements. On occasions he had strange visions of her with her long hair blowing crazily in the wind, a wind that never blew here inside this peaceful city. Here there was only ever a gentle fluctuation of circulating air. In his imagination he saw her hair flowing around her face instead of in the immaculately neat and tidy style with not a single hair out of place that was usual for her. However he was really very satisfied with his current partner and knew he had nothing to complain about; they were a perfect match - of course.

Amiria had her hands clasped in her lap, sitting a little rigidly as she observed the children. Dayzie was a little blonde version of her mother with her hair in long plaits. Their teenage son, Az, smirked at his mother as he munched on a chocolate bar. Az generally took after his father in looks but where his father’s eyes were a deep brown, his were hazel and sparkling with an inquisitive light. He was the picture of good health as they all were, his teenage body toned and lean.

Chocolate bars were a rare commodity in the City and only available very occasionally. Amiria wondered where on earth he had got it from; it was completely and utterly incomprehensible to her how he might have acquired it.

Az was fully aware of his mother’s alarm that he was breaking rules and crossing boundary lines by eating that chocolate bar, but for some reason just lately he often felt an almost uncontrollable urge to break out of the schedules carefully laid down for him. Even this very minor transgression gave him a small thrill.

Amiria could not contain her concern at his behaviour. “You know that will cost you later don’t you? You haven’t done enough exercise to warrant that treat. Your lunchtime diet will have to be adjusted to compensate, why don’t you just stick to the diet schedule?”

Her anxiety caused her speech to be a little more rapid than usual as she protested with a slightly plaintive note in her voice, pouting her perfect lips.

Az shrugged and licked his fingers as he dropped the wrapper onto the floor. The eyes of his family watched unbelievingly as that rebellious wrapper fluttered downwards.

“I just felt like it” Az muttered and got up, disappearing through the door to his room. “Where is he going?” Amiria questioned Petra petulantly, “We haven’t had all of our morning family time together yet.”

“Let him go Amiria,” Petra suggested calmly touching her arm gently with just the tips of his fingers, “he’ll learn. There are always consequences and sometimes they have to learn the hard way.”

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