Dead Dreams
By Emma Right
Blurb:
Eighteen-year-old Brie O’Mara has so much going for her: a loving family in the sidelines, an heiress for a roommate, and dreams that might just come true. Big dreams--of going to acting school, finishing college and making a name for herself. She is about to be the envy of everyone she knew. What more could she hope for? Except her dreams are about to lead her down the road to nightmares. Nightmares that could turn into a deadly reality.
Dead Dreams, Book 1, a young adult psychological thriller and contemporary mystery.
Book Trailer
Prologue & Chapter 1
Prologue
They say each dead body, a human corpse, has
a scent all of its own, a sweet-sour smell. A cadaver
dog picks up the odor as clearly as a mother recognizes a
photo
of her child. Of course,
I wouldn’t know, for I am no dog. I might as well have been, the way I’d stooped to yield to my basic instincts. My mind wandered to her,
what her unique smell would be when, and if, they ever were
to find her.
a scent all of its own, a sweet-sour smell. A cadaver
dog picks up the odor as clearly as a mother recognizes a
photo
of her child. Of course,
I wouldn’t know, for I am no dog. I might as well have been, the way I’d stooped to yield to my basic instincts. My mind wandered to her,
what her unique smell would be when, and if, they ever were
to find her.
After what happened, I decided to write out the events that led to that day and details in case I’d missed something, or might need it for defense, or in case they found me dead.
My relatives might
need to piece together
the things that had spiraled out of control, if they wanted to put me to rest, to forget me altogether. That would be least painful for them. I nodded to myself as I sat in the car.
I thought of my most favorite girl in the world: Lilly. At least
Lilly’d have my dog,
Holly, to remember me
by.
My relatives might
need to piece together
the things that had spiraled out of control, if they wanted to put me to rest, to forget me altogether. That would be least painful for them. I nodded to myself as I sat in the car.
I thought of my most favorite girl in the world: Lilly. At least
Lilly’d have my dog,
Holly, to remember me
by.
My friends used to call me Brie, short for Brianna.
But, I could hardly count anyone a friend any more. I’d have to resort to
back-watching if I wanted to survive.
But, I could hardly count anyone a friend any more. I’d have to resort to
back-watching if I wanted to survive.
It started on a warm April afternoon. Gusts of wind blew against the oak tree right outside my kitchen balcony, in my tiny apartment in Atherton,
California. Sometimes the branches that touched the side
of the building made scraping noises. The yellow
huckleberry flowers twining their way across my
apartment balcony infused the
air
with sweetness.
California. Sometimes the branches that touched the side
of the building made scraping noises. The yellow
huckleberry flowers twining their way across my
apartment balcony infused the
air
with sweetness.
My mother had insisted, as
was her tendency on most things, I take the pot of wild huckleberry, her housewarming gift, to my new two-bedroom apartment. It wasn’t really new, just new to me, as was the entire experience of living separately,
away from my family, and the prospect of having a roommate, someone who could be a best friend, something I’d dreamed of since I
finished high school
and debuted into adulthood.
was her tendency on most things, I take the pot of wild huckleberry, her housewarming gift, to my new two-bedroom apartment. It wasn’t really new, just new to me, as was the entire experience of living separately,
away from my family, and the prospect of having a roommate, someone who could be a best friend, something I’d dreamed of since I
finished high school
and debuted into adulthood.
“Wait for me by the curb,” my mother said, her
voice blaring from the phone even though I didn’t set her
on speaker. “You need to eat better.” Her usual punctuation at the
end
of her orders.
voice blaring from the phone even though I didn’t set her
on speaker. “You need to eat better.” Her usual punctuation at the
end
of her orders.
So, I
skipped down three flights of steps and headed
toward the side of the apartment building to await my
mother’s gift of the evening, salad in an á la chicken style,
her insistent recipe to cure me of bad eating habits. At
least it wasn’t chicken soup double-boiled till the bones
melted, I consoled myself.
skipped down three flights of steps and headed
toward the side of the apartment building to await my
mother’s gift of the evening, salad in an á la chicken style,
her insistent recipe to cure me of bad eating habits. At
least it wasn’t chicken soup double-boiled till the bones
melted, I consoled myself.
I hadn’t waited long when a vehicle careened round
the corner. I heard it first, that high-pitched screech of brakes wearing thin when the driver rammed his foot
against it. From the corner of my eye, even before I turned to face it, I saw the blue truck. It rounded the bend where Emerson Street met Ravenswood, tottered before
it righted itself and headed
straight at me.
the corner. I heard it first, that high-pitched screech of brakes wearing thin when the driver rammed his foot
against it. From the corner of my eye, even before I turned to face it, I saw the blue truck. It rounded the bend where Emerson Street met Ravenswood, tottered before
it righted itself and headed
straight at me.
I took three steps back, fell and scrambled to get
back up as the vehicle like a giant bullet struck the
sidewalk I had only seconds ago stood on. The driver must have lost control, but when he hit the sidewalk it
slowed the vehicle enough so he could bridle his speed and
manage the truck as he continued to careen down the street.
back up as the vehicle like a giant bullet struck the
sidewalk I had only seconds ago stood on. The driver must have lost control, but when he hit the sidewalk it
slowed the vehicle enough so he could bridle his speed and
manage the truck as he continued to careen down the street.
My mother arrived
a half minute later but she had seen it all. Like superwoman, she leaped out of her twenty-year-old Mercedes and rushed toward me, all
breathless and blonde hair disheveled.
a half minute later but she had seen it all. Like superwoman, she leaped out of her twenty-year-old Mercedes and rushed toward me, all
breathless and blonde hair disheveled.
“Are you all right?” She
reached
out to help me up.
reached
out to help me up.
“Yes, yes,” I said, brushing the dirt off my yoga pants.
“Crazy driver. Brie, I just don’t know about this
business of you staying alone here like this.” She walked back to her white Mercedes, leaned in the open window,
and
brought out a casserole dish piled high with something green.
Make that several shades of
green.
business of you staying alone here like this.” She walked back to her white Mercedes, leaned in the open window,
and
brought out a casserole dish piled high with something green.
Make that several shades of
green.
I followed her, admittedly winded.“Seriously, Mom.
It’s just one of those things. Mad drivers could happen anywhere
I live.”
It’s just one of those things. Mad drivers could happen anywhere
I live.”
She gave me no end of grief as to what a bad idea it was for me to live alone like this even though she knew I was going to get
a roommate.
a roommate.
“Mom, stop worrying,” I said.
“You’re asking
me to stop
being your mother,
I hope
you realize this.”
me to stop
being your mother,
I hope
you realize this.”
“I’ll find someone dependable by the end of the
week, I promise.” No way I was going back to live at
home. Not that I came
from
a bad home environment. But
I had my reasons.
week, I promise.” No way I was going back to live at
home. Not that I came
from
a bad home environment. But
I had my reasons.
I had advertised on Craig’s List, despite my mother’s protests that only scum would answer “those
kinds of ads.”
kinds of ads.”
Perhaps there was some truth to Mother’s biases, but I wouldn’t exactly call Sarah McIntyre scum. If she was, what
would that make me?
would that make me?
Sarah’s father had inherited the family “coal” money. Their ancestors had emigrated from Scotland
(where else, with a name like McIntyre, right?) in the
early 1800s and bought an entire mountain (I kid you
not) in West Virginia. It was a one-hit wonder in that the
mountain hid a coal fortune under it, and hence the McIntyre Coal Rights Company was born. This was the
(where else, with a name like McIntyre, right?) in the
early 1800s and bought an entire mountain (I kid you
not) in West Virginia. It was a one-hit wonder in that the
mountain hid a coal fortune under it, and hence the McIntyre Coal Rights Company was born. This was the
McIntyre claim to wealth, and also a source of remorse
and guilt for Sarah, for supposedly dozens of miners working for them had lost their lives due to the business, most to lung cancer or black lung, as it was commonly called. Hazards of the occupation.
and guilt for Sarah, for supposedly dozens of miners working for them had lost their lives due to the business, most to lung cancer or black lung, as it was commonly called. Hazards of the occupation.
And then there were cave-ins, which presented
another set of drama
altogether, Sarah said.
another set of drama
altogether, Sarah said.
I sat across from her, the coffee table between us, in the small living room during our first meeting. “So, that’s why you’re not on talking terms with your family? Because of
abuses of the
coal company? ” I asked.
abuses of the
coal company? ” I asked.
We sipped hot cocoa and sat cross-legged in the
crammed living room, which also doubled as the dining
space. I’d never interviewed anyone before, although I’d
read tips on the
Internet.
crammed living room, which also doubled as the dining
space. I’d never interviewed anyone before, although I’d
read tips on the
Internet.
“I just don’t want to be reminded anymore,” she
said, twirling her dark ringlets round and round on her pointer finger.
said, twirling her dark ringlets round and round on her pointer finger.
“But, it’s not entirely your dad’s fault
those people died of
lung problems.”
those people died of
lung problems.”
“I guess, but I just want to get away, you understand? Anyway, I’m almost twenty-one now. That’s
three years too late for moving out and establishing my
own space.” She took tiny sips of the cocoa, both hands cupping the mug
as if she were cold.
three years too late for moving out and establishing my
own space.” She took tiny sips of the cocoa, both hands cupping the mug
as if she were cold.
I walked to the thermostat and upped the
temperature. A slight draft still stole in from a gap in the
balcony sliding door I always kept open a crack to let the air circulate.
temperature. A slight draft still stole in from a gap in the
balcony sliding door I always kept open a crack to let the air circulate.
“So, your family’s okay with you living here? In
California? In this apartment
that’s
probably smaller than your bathroom?
With a stranger?”
California? In this apartment
that’s
probably smaller than your bathroom?
With a stranger?”
“First off, it’s none of their business. Secondly, you and I won’t stay strangers.” Sarah flashed me a grin.
“Besides, I’m tired of big houses with too many rooms to
get lost in. And, have you lived
in West Virginia?”
“Besides, I’m tired of big houses with too many rooms to
get lost in. And, have you lived
in West Virginia?”
I shook my head. The farthest I’d been was Nevada
when we went for our family annual ski vacation. “I heard it’s pretty.”
when we went for our family annual ski vacation. “I heard it’s pretty.”
“If you like hot, humid summers and bitter cold
winters. So, do I pass?
As
a roommate?”
winters. So, do I pass?
As
a roommate?”
She looked about at the ceiling. I wondered if she noticed the dark web in the corner and the lack of
cornices and crown moldings. I was sure I smelled mold in the living room, too. But I wasn’t in a position to
choose. Sarah was.
cornices and crown moldings. I was sure I smelled mold in the living room, too. But I wasn’t in a position to
choose. Sarah was.
“As long as you’re not a psychopath and can pay
rent.” I returned
her smile.
rent.” I returned
her smile.
“I don’t know about the psychopath part.” She
shrugged and displayed her white, evenly-spaced teeth. “But here’s my bank account.” She tossed me a navy blue booklet with gilded edges and with golden words “Bank
of America” on the cover.
shrugged and displayed her white, evenly-spaced teeth. “But here’s my bank account.” She tossed me a navy blue booklet with gilded edges and with golden words “Bank
of America” on the cover.
I fumbled as I caught it and was unsure what to do. “Should I peek?”
“Go on.” She gestured, flicking her
fingers at
me as if
I were a stray cat afraid to take a morsel of her offering.
fingers at
me as if
I were a stray cat afraid to take a morsel of her offering.
“No secrets. I can
well afford to pay rent.
And, I’m a stable individual.”
well afford to pay rent.
And, I’m a stable individual.”
I flipped the first few pages and saw the numerous transactions in lumps my parents, who were by no means poor, would have gasped at. The last page registered the numbers: under deposits, $38,000. My
eyes scanned the row of numbers and realized that the sum $38,000 came
up every sixth of the
month.
eyes scanned the row of numbers and realized that the sum $38,000 came
up every sixth of the
month.
My mouth must have been open for she said, “You can stop gawking. It’s only my trust fund. It comes to me regardless of where I am, or where I stay. So, do I make the cut?”
I handed the bank book back. We discussed the
house rules: no smoking;
no
drugs, and that included pot; no boyfriend sleepovers or wild parties, which was a clause in my landlord’s lease; and Sarah was to hand me
her share of the rent, a mere $800 a month, on the
twenty-eighth of every month, since I was the main renter and she the sub-letter.
house rules: no smoking;
no
drugs, and that included pot; no boyfriend sleepovers or wild parties, which was a clause in my landlord’s lease; and Sarah was to hand me
her share of the rent, a mere $800 a month, on the
twenty-eighth of every month, since I was the main renter and she the sub-letter.
She didn’t want anything down on paper—no checks, no contracts, and no way
of tracing things back to her, she’d stressed
a few times.
of tracing things back to her, she’d stressed
a few times.
She fished in her Louis Vuitton and handed me a brown paper bag, the kind kids carry their school lunches in. I peeked inside and took out a stash of what looked like a wad of papers bundled together with a rubber band. Her three-month share of the deposit, a
total of twenty-four crisp hundred-dollar bills. They had
that distinct new-bank-notes-smell
that spoke of luxury.
total of twenty-four crisp hundred-dollar bills. They had
that distinct new-bank-notes-smell
that spoke of luxury.
I gulped down my hot chocolate. “Why all the secrecy? I hope your parents will at least know your
address.” I said as I wrapped up the interview. I could
understand not wanting parents breathing down her
neck, but as long as they didn’t insist on posting a guard at the door, what was the harm of them knowing where
she lived?
address.” I said as I wrapped up the interview. I could
understand not wanting parents breathing down her
neck, but as long as they didn’t insist on posting a guard at the door, what was the harm of them knowing where
she lived?
Sarah glanced about the room as if afraid the neighbors might have their ears pinned to the walls, listening.
She leaned forward and, her face expressionless,
said
softly, “My parents are
dead.”
said
softly, “My parents are
dead.”
About the Author
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Emma Right is a happy wife and home school mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, two bunnies and a long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one.Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.
You can stalk, I mean follow Emma here
Giveaway
1 Paperback copy of DEAD DREAMS (DOMESTIC ONLY – ebook for International)
1 Amazon Gift Card for $15
a Rafflecopter giveaway1 Paperback copy of DEAD DREAMS (DOMESTIC ONLY – ebook for International)
1 Amazon Gift Card for $15
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