Most Unusual... A Dream Fic

Sunday, October 6, 2011

Most Unusual…

I dreamed I was in a huge dark place, and there was a bridge crossing over a small river. On the other side of the bridge, I could see colored lights flashing and people dancing to the thumping of loud music. My Grandma was there, and she kept telling me to go across the bridge and join them. She said it kind of like she was scolding me. "Amber, go on over there with those young people. It'll be awesome!" I rolled my eyes. She was one of the people who was always urging me to go out and "make friends"; but I couldn't help smiling at her famous catchphrase of "awesome!" So, to make her happy, I finally did.

As I crossed the bridge, I grimaced as the music grew louder. It was like a nightclub; a dark place with bright neon lights flashing and loud music blaring. I walked around a little bit, and people began to notice me. I was clearly out of place. Everyone else was dressed nice, in prom or cocktail dresses, while the guys wore tuxes or suits and ties; but I was just in my normal skinny jeans and black shirt. People threw glances my way as I passed, but I only stood out because I was so dressed down. The girls looked me up and down, as if they were saying, "What is she doing here?" I was growing more uncomfortable by the minute, and wished I had never crossed that stupid bridge.

Suddenly, a tall skinny woman approached and started making a fuss over me. "What in the world…?" she said. "You can't walk around dressed like that! No, no, no, it just won't do!" So she grabbed my wrist and pulled me along beside her as she guided me through the crowd to what appeared to be a huge department store. She pulled a dress from one of the racks and instructed me to put it on. After squeezing into the tight dress, I hesitantly stepped out of the dressing room. It was a long black dress that came all the way to the floor, but it had a huge split up one leg, and it hugged my body, showing my curves. It had a lacy neckline and a deep v on the back. I felt very exposed and uncomfortable, but the woman took my old clothes and wouldn't let me change back. She also made me put on a pair of strappy high heels that I could barely walk in. Then she put me in a barber's chair and began to fix my hair. She straightened my curly dark brown hair and pulled part of it up on top of my head away from my face, although a few strands of my short bangs hung down. I was starting to feel like I was on one of those makeover shows, except I had no choice or say-so in what I looked like. But then she did let me pick out some jewelry, so that made me feel a little better. I chose a diamond necklace and matching bracelet, and some dangly silver hoop earrings. When I was all ready, the woman pushed me gently out the door and said cheerfully, "Ok! You're all set. Now go mingle!"

I kept pulling at the neck of the dress, still feeling very self conscious about having so much of my skin showing. As I walked down an ornate, curving staircase, people began staring. I recognized several people from my old high school, and felt myself blushing when they did a double take and recognized me. As I walked by, I heard them whispering to each other. "Oh my gosh…is that Amber?" I hadn't seen myself yet, but as I passed by a mirror, I blushed and crossed my arms in front of me, trying to cover myself up. This was such a bad idea, I thought. A group of girls came up smiling, and hugged me. "Hey, Amber! How are you? You look great!" But I still felt so embarrassed.

As we made idle chitchat, our little group came up to a bar, and everyone began ordering drinks. The bartender was tall, with short dark hair and gorgeous blue eyes, and I spotted a tiny diamond earring as it sparkled in the light. He came over to me and smiled broadly. "What can I get you?" he asked.

"Uh…n-nothing, thanks. I'm good." Everyone looked at me funny, and I felt my face grow redder. "I-I don't drink. Sorry."

I heard someone whisper "Goody Two-Shoes" as the others snickered or rolled their eyes. The bartender looked at me quizzically. "You sure?" he asked.

"Um, yeah, I'm sure."

He gave me a suspicious look, but then shrugged. "Alright," he said. "Just let me know if you change your mind." I nodded in thanks, and stood up and walked away as swiftly as I could in those awful heels, feeling extremely embarrassed.

I walked around the dark place, trying to find the exit. I'd had enough humiliation for one night. As I passed by the other people, they still stared at me. The girls would look me up and down and roll their eyes. Surely they weren't jealous though…were they? The guys would stare too, but then their dates would pull them away or try to distract them.

All of a sudden, this man appeared up on the main stage, and took one of the microphones. He was a sharp dressed man, and, strangely enough, his appearance and personality reminded me a lot of Jim Moriarity from BBC's Sherlock.

"Is everyone having fun?" he asked, gesturing grandly.

Everyone around me cheered as I folded my arms grumpily.

"Good," Jim said with an evil smirk, "because the fun is just beginning. Now that we're all here, it's time to change things up a bit. We've been entertaining you all evening…now it's time for you to return the favor." the crowd quieted down, and everyone, myself included, began to grow extremely nervous as a dangerous look came into his eyes. One couple tried to break away for the exit, but two guards intercepted them. The were holding long poles, and when they touched the two people trying to escape, blue streaks of electricity shot out, and the two collapsed on the floor. Everyone in the room gasped, and a few screamed.

"Now, now," Jim said, "no need to be alarmed. Just simply do as you're told, and no harm will come to you. First off, I want you all to choose a partner and line up behind this door in pairs. Choose wisely…because you'll be spending quite some time together." With that, the man disappeared.

We all glanced at each other nervously, but seeing the guards closing in on us with their electric poles, we quickly headed for the double doors in pairs. I looked around, and even approached a couple of guys, but they all ignored me and chose someone else. I gulped nervously. What if no one picks me? Or what if there aren't enough people to go around and I'm the only one left? What will happen to me? I shuddered in fear.

But finally, I saw a young man approach me. He was very tall and thin, and had wild, sandy, light brown hair. He was wearing dark brown pants and a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a light brown waistcoat, and a bluish green cravat. As he came closer, for some reason, he seemed so familiar…As I looked into his sharp emerald green eyes, I gasped softly. No, it couldn't be…It looked almost like…like…Basil? Basil of Baker Street? But…but he was supposed to be a mouse!

"Would you…" he said softly, then cleared his throat. "Ahem…um, w-would you like to be my…um…"

I felt my heart begin to flutter at his British accent. It was him. I don't know how it was possible, but this was Basil, in human form.

"Y-Yes," I answered shyly. "I'd be delighted."

He sighed with relief and smiled at me gratefully, though there was a slight sadness in his eyes because of what was happening. He offered his arm to me. "Well, shall we?"

I nodded with a slight smile as I took his offered arm. I was still frightened about all that was going on, and at not knowing what was going to happen; but despite the circumstances, he smiled down at me, and I felt much safer knowing that I was with him.

As the line progressed, Basil and I watched each couple enter one at a time through the double doors. As we awaited our fate, Jim stood off to the side, watching us all, and an occasional evil chuckle would escape his lips. Suddenly he made eye contact with me, and I froze in fear as he studied me. As he smiled evilly, I clung tighter to Basil's arm and turned my head away.

"Sh, don't worry," I heard Basil whisper as he placed his other hand on my head, running his fingers through my hair softly. "It will be alright." I looked up at him, and despite his reassurances, I could tell that he was just as nervous as I was.

As we came closer to the two doors, my heart began pounding louder and louder, and I heard Basil's breathing beside me increase as well. Soon, we were the next ones to enter. I looked to Basil nervously, and he attempted to smile. But we were both afraid of what might wait behind that door. Suddenly, it was our turn. Jim appeared behind us. "Let the fun begin!" he cackled as he shoved us through.

As soon as Basil and I entered the double doors, it was as if we no longer had control over ourselves. I gasped as my legs began to move of their own accord and I began running, and Basil looked just as surprised as he began to do the same. It was as if some outside force was controlling us. We ran across what appeared to be a huge stage, and I could see a large audience in the stands clapping and cheering as we all took our places on stage, still having no control over what we did. And suddenly…we all began to dance.

Yes. Dance.

It was the strangest thing I'd ever experienced. I'd never danced a day in my life, unless you counted Zumba, which was more like aerobic exercise. But now here I was cavorting about on stage like I was in some Broadway musical. As I whirled by the other dancers, I spotted Basil, who's eyes were wide and cheeks red with embarrassment.

"What's going on?" I yelled as we came closer together.

"I-I have no idea!!!" he shouted back. He suddenly grabbed my hands and twirled me around, as did all the other male dancers with their partners. This was all just so bizarre. As I glanced out into the audience, I spotted Jim, who was urging the cheering crowd on. My blood boiled and I growled in frustration. Now I understood what he had meant back when he was on that stage. This was all a set up. He had organized this party to lure all these people in, and was now using us as his entertainment. I felt so stupid dancing around like an idiot, and I could tell Basil felt the same way, as did most of the other dancers.

But I also began to notice something else. As I passed the other dancers, I noticed that their eyes seemed almost glazed over, and they had smiles plastered on their faces. I tried talking to several of them, but no one seemed to hear me…except Basil. Though we couldn't control our movements, Basil and I could at least talk. I had a nagging thought in the back of my head, and as Basil came near me, I asked him, "Did you drink anything back there?"

"No," he answered, taking my hand in his. "Why?"

"It's the drinks," I explained. "I didn't have one either…But look at them. The drinks have effected their minds somehow."

"If we didn't have a drink, then why can't you and I move on our own?"

"I don't know-- oh!" I squealed as he lifted me up into the air and twirled me around.

"This is getting a bit ridiculous," Basil said with a huff.

"I completely agree," I replied, rolling my eyes.

Though I had no control over my body, I still felt myself growing tired. It seemed like we would never stop. But finally, the cheerful happy music ended, and we all took a bow against our will. As the crowd clapped and cheered, I glanced at Basil out of the corner of my eye. Sweat was running down his face, and he panted heavily, and I felt sure that I must look the same as my sides burned from the effort.

Suddenly, Jim appeared on the stage with a microphone. "Thank you, thank you," he said, taking several exaggerated bows. "And thank you, my pets," he said, turning toward us. As he snapped his fingers, we all stood up straight, unable to move. "And now…" he said, turning back to the audience, "for the real entertainment of the evening. Ladies?" Again, he snapped his fingers, and as all the males disappeared offstage, the rest of us girls uncontrollably took our places. A new song began to play, this one much slower than the first, and we began to dance. We twirled around and around, reminding me of a ballet. I almost laughed at myself. I had no idea I was this flexible! But I was still annoyed that I had no control over myself.

As the music progressed, I noticed one of the spotlights seemed to be focused on me, and that I was in the middle of the stage, the center of attention. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and a sort of red glow seemed to fill the room. I was frozen, my arms spread gracefully on either side of me and my head tilted back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Basil begin to walk towards me. I felt more relieved knowing that he was near. But as I watched, it seemed almost like he was stalking me, and I began to grow a little apprehensive. The music began again. I didn't know much about music or dancing, but it reminded me of a tango. Basil stopped suddenly, and just stood still, unable to move. With the same unseen force controlling me, I began to dance around him. What was going on? I felt so embarrassed dancing like this. I looked to Basil for help, but he couldn't move an inch; he just watched helplessly. I bowed suddenly, and to my extreme embarrassment, I heard a couple wolf whistles in the crowd. As I was bent over, I gasped as I felt someone grab me and spin me around, and suddenly I was looking up into Basil's frightened eyes.

"I-I'm so sorry," he whispered breathlessly, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red as one hand traveled slowly down my exposed back.

"It's okay," I whispered back, completely understanding. He would have never behaved this way himself; but with Jim in control, we would have to endure whatever he had planned for us together.

Basil dipped me suddenly, pulled me back up close to him, spun me around once, and drew me close to him once again. As we began to dance, several other couples joined us, though the spotlight always remained on us. We stopped suddenly, just standing there, so close together, one of Basil's hands on the back of my neck as I tilted my head up to him. I closed my eyes as he caressed my cheek softly. I felt my hair fall down around my face as he undid the clip that held it up.

After some time of dancing, we both began to grow tired, but we were still forced to keep moving. I glanced out of the corner of my eyes to see Jim sitting on the front row in the audience. Although we weren't the only couple on stage, Jim was gazing at me hungrily. I gulped nervously, but Basil smiled at me tenderly in reassurance as we continued our dance.

As time went on, I realized…I was actually beginning to enjoy this, even though I had no control. And I may have been mistaken, but it seemed as if Basil was beginning to enjoy it as well. The crowd grew silent, completely in awe of our passionate movements. We continued dancing for some time, and as the song drew to a close, Basil dipped me low. I felt his breath on my neck as my head fell back, one of his hands on my back to support me,. We were frozen in that position as the crowd rose to its feet and cheered wildly. Jim walked up to the stage and took several bows, taking all the credit.

While he was distracted, Basil and I just gazed at each other. With our faces so close together, I parted my lips, but then remembered that neither of us could move. Yet, Basil's brow wrinkled in concentration, and with great effort, he somehow overcame the force that held us in place, and tilted his head down slightly and kissed me. I closed my eyes, completely oblivious to everything except the feel of his lips against mine.

But suddenly, our kiss was broke short as something yanked Basil backwards, and I fell to the floor. I quickly sat up, and gasped as I saw Jim holding his hand up at Basil, as if he had thrown him backwards with just a wave of his hand.

"Naughty, naughty," the villain taunted with a smirk.

Basil stood up quickly and rushed at Jim in an attempt to tackle him, but the villain raised his hand again, and Basil was frozen in place, unable to move.

"It seems we have a rebel in our midst," Jim remarked thoughtfully, pacing around Basil. "Oh, I just despise getting my hands dirty. But I'm afraid in this case, I'll have to make an exception." He snapped his fingers, and two guards approached Basil, each holding one of those electric poles in their hands.

"No!" I cried out. "No, please! Leave him alone!"

Jim snapped his fingers again, and the guards froze in their tracks. He turned around to face me, an evil grin creeping across his face. "Stand up," he ordered, snapping his fingers once again.

I did so, though I had no choice. I trembled in fear as he approached me. I looked to Basil, who struggled as hard as he could against the unseen force that held him place.

"Turn around," Jim instructed, and I turned to face the crowd. My heart pounded as I heard him walk behind me. I was completely at his mercy as I stood frozen in place. I saw him lift his hands up on either side of me, and I shivered as he slowly placed them on my shoulders.

And then…I woke up.