Dreamscapes: The Defector’s Betrayal

Ever get the sense that you’re perpetually in the wrong place and things just aren’t quite right?

I am in the woods, traveling with my friends and my boyfriend Andrew to an AirBnb we’ve booked. When we arrive, we see that the steps of the house are covered in flowers and glasses of champagne. It seems like some kind of photo opportunity, because we end up going around to another set of steps to go in the house, but not before I sneak a glass of champagne. One of my friends gets a weird vibe near a stone patio to the side of the door, but we all shrug it off.

There are three other groups staying at the house, and it is very loud and crowded. People are sitting at 4 different bars that join to form a circle in the middle of the room. We attempt to enter the circle, but a guy stops us and says, “Whoa whoa whoa, that’s not your entrance, you have to go in this side,” as he points to a different break in the circle. We follow his instructions and sit at our bar and start discussing dinner plans. Out the window I can see two Amato’s restaurants right next to each other. Our friends decide to go get food, but Andrew and I are very antsy from remaining chaste so far on this trip, so we decide to meander up to our room.

There are four sets of stairs, each made out of different materials. We attempt to go up some linoleum steps, but a man appears and says, “No, this isn’t your part of the house.” The next set of stairs are light green and cushioned, and we confirm they are ours. We take them up to the second floor, which has several rooms without doors. We find our tiny bedroom and start kissing, making our way to the bed. My whole body feels hot, and I am breathy with desire. We begin to make love, and we’re trying to be quiet, because sound travels in this house. After some time, he finishes. He asks if I did too, and I tell him I didn’t, but it’s okay.

We head downstairs and the vibe has gotten a little strange. I walk past a woman who offers me something. I decline, and as I walk away, I realize her reflection does not show in the mirror next to her. I enter the living room, and I am alone except for an elderly cat who seems very sick. She says in a grave tone, “You must go to Dorrington to find the secret.” A seizure suddenly racks her body, and I am yelling at her owner to come in the room, but as soon as she does, the cat is fine. However, I am imbued with new knowledge, and a mission. I leave the living room to look for Andrew.

The atmosphere in the house has grown downright creepy. The other groups are acting very strange, even hostile. I attempt to find the stairs to our corner of the house, but accidentally go up the wrong stairs twice, and get yelled at again. Chaos is swelling around me. I yell Andrew’s name, but I cannot find him. Suddenly my cousin Jeffrey comes running down the linoleum stairs, wide-eyed and frightened. I yell, “Jeff!” and I grab his hand and we run like the wind out of the house and into the town. The cat follows us onto the sidewalk and suddenly rolls up into a small furry cylindrical shape wrapped inside a paper bag. I pick her up and ask, “Do you want me to put you in my pocket or my bra?” She croakily responds, “Bra,” so I nestle her in between my breasts in my sports bra.

Jeff and I find a van and decide to steal it. Jeff drives while I sit in the back. I ask the cat, “Does this van have a tracking device?” She answers almost robotically, “This van does not have a tracking device.” I let out a sigh of relief. Then I notice a man in the passenger seat, and I recognize him from the AirBnb. “Who is this??” I ask accusingly.

“His name is Trevor,” Jeff says. “He’s cool. He’s defecting.”

We park at a restaurant, and go in to order some food. Suddenly another man from the AirBnb walks in, talks to Trevor, and leaves. “You betrayed us!” I say at once. “You told them where we are!”

Trevor grins and says, “Of course I did!”

“Get the fuck out of here!” I yell. He stands up and leaves, but not before baring a mouth of pointy, razor sharp teeth, and flashing red eyes at us. I now understand why I couldn’t see that woman’s reflection in the mirror — they’re vampires.