The Dream Catchers: PRESTORIA Series Book 1 Read online

  PRESTORIA

  Book One : The Dream Catchers

  Copyright © 2021 J. U. Menon

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any manner, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in book reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For information contact :

  http://www.jumenon.com

  Book Cover Design by ebooklaunch.com

  ASIN : B096WRWHWF (Ebook)

  ISBN: 9798500660497 (Paperback)

  First Edition: June 2021

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1 | THE BIRTHDAY DEBACLE

  Chapter 2 | THE NEXT ENCOUNTER

  Chapter 3 | PRESTORIA

  Chapter 4 | THE UNEXPECTED CATCHER

  Chapter 5 | THE ARMOR

  Chapter 6 | THE THASKER

  Chapter 7 | THE VYALA’S CHALLENGE

  Chapter 8 | TRELLEES’ REVENGE

  Chapter 9 | THE PINK FENCE

  Chapter 10 | THE TRAITOR

  Chapter 11 | THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

  Chapter 12 | THE COFFEE SHOP DETOUR

  Chapter 13 | THE COMMONPLACE NIGHTMARES

  Chapter 14 | THE TRAVELLING CIRCUS

  Chapter 15 | THE SUSPICIOUS AUNT

  Chapter 16 | THE FINAL CHALLENGE

  Chapter 17 | THE VETALA’S RIDDLE

  Chapter 18 | THE DUEL

  Chapter 19 | IMPENETRABLE FLAMES

  Chapter 20 | HOME

  GLOSSARY

  SIGN UP FOR J. U. MENON’S MAILING LIST

  About the Author

  To my parents, who told me stories, encouraged me to dream, and supports me unwaveringly in all my adventures.

  Chapter 1

  THE BIRTHDAY DEBACLE

  Radhika blinked as a streak of sunlight fell against the open book on her lap.

  Sitting cross-legged amidst the books and papers strewn across her bedroom floor, she glanced up at the skylight framing the bright orange and scarlet hues of the evening sky. She turned her attention back to the book, her weary eyes tracing the words now framed by the thin sliver of light.

  ‘Your dreams only show you faces you have seen before,’ the book declared. ‘The human brain is incapable of inventing new faces.’

  But a strange unfamiliar face had appeared in her dreams...

  Images of a rusty brown top hat and tailcoat flashed through her mind.

  Radhika let out an exasperated sigh.

  Over the past week, she must have poured through at least a hundred books in the public library, hoping to find an explanation for the strange goings-on in her recent dreams. But as the pillar of books beside her had grown, her face had grown correspondingly longer.

  She yawned and flipped through the pages.

  It was then that her eyes fell on a single word scribbled against the margin:

  PRESTORIA

  “RADHIKA?” her aunt called from downstairs.

  “Uh - COMING!”

  Radhika scrambled up, intending to add the book to the pile beside her, and then hesitated.

  Opening it once more, she ruffled through the pages. But there were no further scribblings in there – not even an underline.

  Prestoria.

  The word seemed intensely familiar – as though it was something she had read about a long time ago and since forgotten.

  “RADHIKA, WE’RE GETTING LATE!”

  “COMING, MAUSI!” She slammed the book shut and dropped it on her bed.

  As she bounded down the stairs, Radhika's thoughts turned, as it so often did these days, to her recent dreams. It had all started a month ago when the funny old man had appeared in her dreams for the very first time. She remembered it quite vividly because she had dreamt of her father yet again. In the dream, she was in the living room of her old home, playing a game of chess against her father when she noticed a movement by the glass sliding doors to the balcony – the man stood leaning against the doorway, scribbling furiously into a notebook. She jumped up in shock and the dream dissolved, taking the old man and her father with it.

  Two days of dreamless sleep later, he put in an appearance in her dreams yet again. This time, she had dreamt that she had forgotten her math homework at home. She walked into the classroom nervously and made a beeline for the teacher's desk – only, the person behind the desk was not her math teacher. The funny old man glanced up and smiled as she approached him.

  “Mr. Winters!” Radhika had gasped. He had never mentioned his name and yet, instinctively, she knew that was who he was. He gave her a toothy grin and she woke up, staring around wildly and covered in sweat.

  Mr. Winters proceeded to appear in her dreams sporadically for the rest of the month. Radhika dreamt of her parents often, having lost them just a year ago, and he seemed to appear in every single one of those dreams. In some, he would be scribbling furiously into his notebook, while in others he would simply watch her from a corner. Whenever she tried to approach him, she would wake up abruptly.

  Radhika had lost count of the number of nights she had lain awake in bed, too scared to fall asleep in case he appeared in her dreams again. This was why she had begun to seek refuge in the library after school, hoping that hidden among its many rows of books might be the answer to why he kept appearing in her dreams. But the library had not lived up to her expectations this time.

  She walked into the kitchen where her aunt Shruti was bustling about, talking on the phone. On the counter were a birthday card and a box containing cake. Radhika had almost forgotten it was her grandmother’s birthday. Shruti waved and cupped the speaker of the phone to mouth, “Where were you?”

  “Reading. Sorry.”

  “Hi Maria, yes I’m here,” Shruti said into the phone as she gestured frantically towards the card and turned away.

  The face of the card had a picture of a beagle similar to the one her grandmother, whom she called Nani, used to own several years ago. A thought bubble by its head declared 'Woofy Birthday!' Radhika chuckled as she opened the card. This was just the kind of silly greeting Nani would like.

  Beneath Shruti's birthday message in neat, cursive handwriting was a messy scrawl with what looked like a chocolate-y thumbprint that someone had tried to wipe off hastily. Radhika added her own birthday wishes and stuffed the card into the envelope. She then proceeded upstairs to quickly freshen up and comb her hair before her aunt got done with the call.

  “We’ll be there in half an hour,” Radhika heard her aunt say from the kitchen as she bounded down the stairs. “Is that ok? Yes, we’ll be quick. Thanks, Maria.”

  Shruti placed the phone down and picked up the cake and the card.

  “Ok, we have to leave right away. Where’s Aarav? AARAV!” she yelled up the stairs.

  “Coming...jeez...” Radhika's little brother dragged himself down the stairs, his hair unkempt.

  “How was school today, you guys?” Shruti asked as she smoothed his hair down and the three of them filed out the door. Aarav ruffled it again while Shruti fumbled around in her handbag for her keys.

  “Fine,” he answered.

  “It was ok. I have a Biology test the day after tomorrow,” Radhika replied. Aarav made faces as he imitated her soundlessly.

  “Uh-huh, that’s great,” Shruti replied, preoccupied.

  The three bundled into Shruti’s red sedan and headed off towards the nursing home. The rush hour traffic meant that it took thirty minutes longer than usual to get there and Radhika watched her aunt tapping the steering wheel nervously every time they stopped.

  Eventually they arrived at the nursing home. Parking haphazardly in one of the visitors’ parking spots, the three hurried out of the car and into the building.

  “Sorry we’re late. Ma is not asleep is she?” Shruti asked breathlessly as they approached the familiar receptionist.

  “No, Maria's been keeping her occupied. Mrs. Anand has been in a great mood all day. We’ve told her you are coming. This way,” said the receptionist as she led them past the reception and down a corridor. She stopped in front of a door at the end of the corridor and knocked once before opening it.

  Shruti and the two children walked in cautiously.

  The room looked very much like it had done when Radhika had visited Nani last month. A twin bed and an armchair were pushed up against the wall to their left. On this wall were framed photographs of Radhika, Aarav, Nana who had passed away ten years ago, Shruti with Radhika’s mother, and the children’s parents at their wedding. A small television sat blaring atop the chest of drawers to their right. A vase with fresh flowers stood by the television next to a couple of birthday cards, which Radhika guessed were from people at the nursing home.

  Nani herself sat in a rocking chair by the foot of her bed, fumbling with her prayer beads. Maria – Nani's caregiver, sat at the edge of the bed, patting her arm and talking to her soothingly.

  “Look who’s here to see you, Mrs. Anand,” said Maria smiling, as she caught sight of Nani’s visitors.

  Nani did not take her eyes off her
prayer beads and muttered something to herself. It was difficult for Radhika to see Nani like this. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's a year ago, and had to be moved to a nursing home after she had walked out of the house while Shruti was at work, and couldn’t remember her way back. Thankfully, a neighbor had recognized her and brought her back home safely. Radhika now caught random words - ‘blunder’ and ‘fire’ and ‘years’ from Nani’s mumblings.

  Someone brought in a little side table and set it down in front of Nani while Shruti took the fruit cake out of the box and placed it on this table.

  “Happy Birthday, Ma.” Shruti kissed her cheek, but Nani did not pay her any attention and continued to mutter to herself.

  Maria struck a match and lit the candle atop the cake.

  A sudden change occurred in Nani. One moment she was mumbling to herself and the next she was ogling the cake in fear.

  “No,” she whispered as she struggled to push her chair backwards. Her prayer beads fell to the floor. “NO...”

  She looked up and her eyes fell on Radhika. She breathed in sharply.

  A frail arm reached out and grabbed Radhika’s wrist with unnatural strength, nearly upsetting the cake in the process.

  “Don’t worry, Aditi! Keep close...I’ll get you out safely.”

  Radhika turned towards her aunt in confusion. Aditi was Radhika’s mother’s name.

  Maria was quick to act - she doused the candle and moved the cake away.

  “Ma, are you ok?” Shruti asked, kneeling down beside her.

  Nani was breathing heavily as her eyes darted around the room.

  “What’s going on?” Shruti asked, turning towards Maria.

  “I don’t know. She’s never been like this before.”

  Nani motioned with her finger for Radhika to come closer.

  She bent forward.

  “Don’t worry,” Nani whispered in her ear, “I know the way out of Prestoria.”

  Radhika gasped.

  “What – what’s Prestoria?” she asked, her voice shaking. But Nani did not seem to have heard her.

  “I know the way,” Nani repeated. “The door is close by. I can sense it.”

  Maria and Shruti exchanged confused glances.

  “You are out now, Mrs. Anand,” Maria said as she too kneeled down beside Nani. She stroked Nani’s arm gently. “Look, you are back in your room.”

  “I am?” Nani’s bewildered eyes found Maria, who nodded.

  Nani looked around, registering the room for the first time. She placed a hand on her chest and smiled.

  “See? I told you the door is close by.”

  “Yes, you are safe. You should rest now, sweetie.”

  Nani nodded like a child and leant back in her chair. Her eyelids drooped. “Yes... I feel... tired.”

  “You should probably leave,” Maria whispered to Shruti. “I’ll call you in an hour with an update.”

  She gently pried Nani’s fingers off Radhika’s wrist, and Shruti led the children towards the door. Nani, her silver hair coming off her neat little bun and her red checkered shawl falling off her shoulders, was rocking lightly in her chair.

  “Happy Birthday, Nani,” Radhika muttered awkwardly as she turned to leave.

  “Yeah, Happy Birthday,” Aarav murmured too, as they closed the door.

  The drive back home was silent. Shruti’s knuckles were pale against the steering wheel and her discreet attempts to wipe the tears flowing down her cheeks were not lost on Radhika. Nani had barely recognized Shruti today. That was a first - Nani always recognized her. And why had Nani mistaken her, Radhika, for her mother? They looked nothing alike. Radhika had not inherited Ma’s sleek straight hair or her button nose - those features had gone to Aarav. Radhika had her Papa's thick wavy hair and aquiline nose although she did get her grey eyes from Ma, who had inherited them from Nani.

  The three had a quick dinner at a local eatery. All of them had a lot on their minds but precious little to talk about.

  It was just as the car rolled into their street that Radhika glanced out the window. She froze.

  Mr. Winters was strolling nonchalantly down the street, hands behind his back as he surveyed the houses on either side. He was wearing the very same tailcoat and top hat that she had seen him in, in all her dreams. Radhika twisted around in her seat to watch him walk away. Her neighbor Mrs. Vanderlee marched past him just then, holding her cat, but both didn't so much as spare a glance at this strange man in a strange attire. Can they not see him? Cats are supposed to sense things out of the ordinary, aren't they? But then again, Radhika had her reservations about Bubbles – the cat always looked lost and confused.

  She turned and slumped into her seat as the car turned into their driveway.

  As soon as Shruti parked the car, Aarav jumped out, opened the front door and headed into the living room.

  “Aarav, please come back and take off your shoes!” Shruti called after him. “Don't you have homework to do?”

  “Yeah, but can I watch television? Just for half an hour? Please please please?”

  Radhika ambled towards the stairs leading to her bedroom and heard her aunt sigh. She must have nodded, for Aarav shouted “Thank you!” seconds later.

  “Radhika...are you ok?” Shruti appeared at the foot of the stairs.

  Radhika turned and shrugged. “Yeah...I’m going to start on my homework. Are you alright, Mausi?”

  Shruti pressed her lips together and nodded. “Yeah...yeah I think so. I'll go lie down for a bit. Let me know if you need anything, ok?”

  Radhika nodded once and continued upstairs.

  It had been a long day and she felt glad to be back in the safety of her room. Ignoring the books on the floor, she sat down at her table and sifted through her backpack. A thousand hitherto suppressed thoughts exploded in her head.

  What were the chances that she would come across that strange word in a book, and then Nani would mention it that very same evening? That was so bizarre...

  And she had seen Mr. Winters outside in the streets today.... why? And most importantly, how? How is it that she could see him while she is awake? Wasn't he a figment of her imagination? Or.... she gulped... was he?

  She shuddered as she opened her Biology notes and ruffled through the pages.

  In mitosis, the parent cell divides into two daughter cells, each containing the same number of chromosomes as the parent nucleus.

  In mitosis... parent... Why did Nani get so worked up today? What is Prestoria? And was Mr. Winters and Prestoria related somehow?

  Radhika rubbed her temples. The muffled noises from the television made it difficult to focus. She tried to read her notes once more but after twenty minutes, she had made little progress.

  “Aarav, that's enough! Homework time!” Shruti called from the landing.

  “Please Mausi, five more minutes-”

  “No, not another minute. You have an hour to finish homework and get into bed.”

  The television turned off and Radhika heard angry thuds as Aarav stomped up the stairs and into his room.

  Radhika turned her weary eyes back to her notes.

  “In mitosis, the parent cell divides into two daughter cells,” the narrator declared. On the television screen a large lavender-colored blob appeared with little squiggly structures within it. The squiggly shapes now arranged themselves in a straight line at the center of the blob. She was so glad Papa had gotten her this documentary. She had not understood mitosis when it was taught in class. She turned around to thank her father, who was sitting beside her on the couch. Only, it was not her father.

  “Mr. Winters!” she cried as she jumped up in horror and moved away. For the wizened man had been sitting next to her, legs crossed and shaking his foot as he watched the television and scribbled in his notebook.

  He glanced at her, smiled and stood up. The living room dissolved before her eyes and was replaced with darkness.

  “Hello?” Radhika called out.

  Was he still here?

  She spun around as she heard footsteps close to her, and her eyes flew open.

  Radhika stood up so quickly she nearly upset her chair. She scanned her room in panic. Everything was still.

  She walked towards her bed and plonked down, covering her face. Her heart thudded in her ears.

  “This has got to stop,” she murmured into her palm. With shaking hands, she poured out a glass of water and guzzled it down. The cuckoo clock told her it was nine in the night. The house was silent now.