Spirit Harvester

Chapter 8

Clive dreams

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I woke up. I find myself in a weird place. This is my bed in my parents's house.

Weird! I should be in my house. Anyway, rather than moping on it, I get up. I look at the clock.

6 in the morning. I have to report to the mine at 7:30. I have time.

I go downstairs. No one is up yet.

My parents work till late at night. So they get up late.

I wash my face and get ready to jog.

I jog everyday for about an hour.

I cover most of the city. So I think I run more than 10 kilometers.

I have continued this schedule since middle school.

So even in high school, I do this.

Today is Saturday. School is closed. So I can go to work.

After the jog, I get back home. I take a shower and prepare my breakfast.

My parents are still sleeping. I have thought about it. Maybe it's about time I get my own apartment.

It's uncomfortable being with my parents. Also, the work is going well.

I can pay for my necessities with my own money.

Let's talk about it later.

I go to the mines.

It really is close from my parents's place.

I report to them and get in my gears.

A heavy lead jacket and radiation proof suit.

The mine I work in deals with radioactive metals.

So I have to wear those. Because of the radiation, most workers quit.

So only a few regulars are working with me which led to the increase in pay.

Pay is decent, work is physically challenging but I enjoy it.

In this day and age, it should be done by robots. But due to the radiation, robots don't function well.

A few accidents have occurred and after that, they stopped using robots.

The working hour is 6 hours. I will he free before 2.

What will I do today? Let's house hunt.

I need to look for a decent house.

I look for a house. I walk around the town and look.

But no one is willing to let me rent it.

I am infamous. Because of that one incident.

I feel like I went overboard that time but I am not guilty.

Still, fear is something that holds you hostage.

You cannot break free.

So their fear is justified. I haven't given up hope yet. I will find my home.

And after searching for a long time, I found it.

My dream home. It's a newly built apartment building.

Searching for tenants. I contact the owner and he said ok.

That easily. Apparently a construction company has opened this. So they don't care about the tenants.

The rent is reasonable and place is nice.

A little far from the mines but I don't mind.

I completed the paperwork for the room.

I get back home. During dinner I ask my parents.

"I will move out. I have found a room. So be my guarantor." I ask them.

"Moving huh? Well no problems here." My dad tried to sound indifferent but I know.

I imagined him making the guts pose in his mind.

He signed papers and with that I am good to go.

I move out the next day.

My first step towards freedom. I was free from the beginning but somehow I felt restricted.

With this, I won't have to face my parents. I can work and pay for myself.

I can cook for myself. My grades are average and my reputation is bad.

But living like this for the past seven years, I got used to it.

The kids in my class still give me dubious looks.

But no one messes with me. Was that thing really this terrible?

I just keep mining while thinking all this stuff.

When I stopped to look at my clock, it was already late. My shift has ended more than an hour ago.

I put down my pickaxe and leave the mine.

But what was there was something I had not expected.

A burning land. Destruction everywhere. That shook me a bit. But I was surprisingly calm.

So calm that a part of me even said,

'Are you even human?'

I could hear that in my mind. So I laughed.

And with this the dream ended.

I woke up. That was a dream? It felt vivid and really real.

I could see Hazel beside me, sleeping. It's morning. Light is entering the room through the curtains.

I haven't seen a dream for all this time.

But being here is probably the reason why I saw one.

I get up and look at the clock.

It's 6 in the morning. I take a look at my phone.

It is connected to the main data center and sends me information.

I see that one satellite is picking up a signal.

Something is approaching this planet.

So I guess, the invaders are finally coming back.

Now the real fun begins. But I have to be careful.

I don't know if they know about me. What'll they do is another matter I need to be careful of.

But I won't die. I want to see them first and if possible, go to their home or planet or whatever.

Call me a madman or freak, I am doing this. So let's get ready to welcome the guests.