Dream - 28.11.24

(Josie Sayz: I had this incredibly weird dream a couple of weeks ago. It scared me awake and my heart was racing in a complete panic. I have no idea why I dreamt this. The only way that I could figure out how to write it was in my Arcturus High characters. Before you read this, I have never met the character who is Professor Steinin, nor does he exist. He appears to be a cross between Professor Oak (from Pokémon), Doctor Nerdnick (from an episode of ‘The Super Mario Brothers’ cartoon from the 90s) and for some reason, the build (but certainly not the personality) of Vash the Stampede (from Trigun). I have no idea why, as I have not seen these cartoons in a very long time. It is, also, odd that this is the second dream that I have had in a week, where I traumatically watch someone purposely want to die by peacefully downing themselves. Also note that I am aware that YouTube didn’t exist during Caitlyn’s time at Arcturus High (my time at school) nor did we have a laptop or the internet then and the Australian artist mentioned is my age, so they wouldn’t be vlogging about UK visits. Anyway, my brain just decided to mash up a really random timeline of events. Enjoy!)

 

A blur of white raced through Arcturus High’s main hall. All heads turned towards the room enterer. Caitlyn’s eyes widened, as she saw a pale, saddened Mr Farante, the assistant deputy head teacher. Mr Llewelyn, who was stood centre stage, giving his assembly on his favourite musician Perry Como, whose song 'Catch A Falling Star' the students listened to every day, when arriving into assembly, turned to face his assistant. The two shared worried glances, before Mr Farante nodded at Mr Llewelyn, who continued on with this assembly. During the silent exchange between the two senior members of staff, Caitlyn trembled, as an icy cold shudder shivered through her spine. A knot formed in her stomach, as her eyes remained fixed on Mr Farante. She watched his sunken posture and fixed stare at the carpet, while he held his hands behind his back and appeared to be trying to calm his nerves, as he stroked his thumb, in a rhythmical manner, against the back of his hand. ‘Something bad has happened again. I know it has,’ Caitlyn realised. ‘I just hope it isn’t magic related this time.’ The sinking feeling in her chest, and shudder she sensed gave her no indication, however, as Mr Llewelyn continued his assembly, she felt a peculiar sensation, as though something were missing.

As Mr Llewelyn’s speech and PowerPoint presentation came to an end, he and Mr Farante exchanged nods, and the deputy’s assistant leapt onto the stage. Retrieving the microphone from the older gentleman, Mr Farante looked over the sea of students. “Can Professor Steinin’s form group go straight to your form room from here,” his tone, Caityln noted, was dead serious. As Mr Farante’s eyes met Caitlyn’s, she forced a swallow. “Your teachers have been notified of your immediate absence.” The two teachers shared stone expressions, as Mr Farante returned the microphone to Mr Llewelyn.

“Years nine and eleven, I wish you a prosperous and may you succeed in all your desire before it is too late,” spoke the school’s deputy head teacher, in a grave voice. His tone was enough to cause Caitlyn to shudder once more. The morbidity of his tone tugged at Caitlyn’s chest, causing her to feel that something was missing.

As years nine and eleven were released from assembly, Caitlyn clutched her books tight to her chest. Keeping her head low, she raced out of the school hall and down the English corridor. With her mind so focused, she did not even think to look out for Bert, to warn him of the icy shudder she had felt. Arriving at her form room, the classroom door was already open, and a few members of her form group had already found their seats. A small, brief sense of relief washed over Caitlyn, as she took her seat besides Artie and Miraj. In front of her, Caitlyn saw the same morbid expression on Mr Heekin’s face, as he sat in a chair facing her and the rest of their form room.

A high-pitched giggling squeal sounded, as Darcia and Samantha entered the room together, linking arms. They began sniggering, as they took their seats on the other side of Caitlyn. Mr Farante, who had stood with his back to the students, with his right hand gripping his left wrist, turned on his heels and glared at them. As the last of Caitlyn’s form group trailed into the room, their head of year, Mr Ahmed, swept inside the room and closed the door behind himself. The three teachers exchanged morbid glances, before Mr Farante faced the students and announced, “As many of you may be aware, Professor Steinin has been absent these past two days.” He paused, as many of the pupils nodded. “I am afraid we have some bad news…” The trembling in Caitlyn’s chest raced faster. Her eyes flickered from each teacher in turn, before resting upon Mr Heekin. The young teaching assistant’s eyes met Caitlyn’s. Tears sparkled in the inner corners of his eyes. He looked heartbroken. A spiralling knotted in Caitlyn’s intestine. Mr Farante’s pause felt like an eternity. “Professor Steinin has passed away,” Mr Farante told them, in a gentle voice.

Caitlyn’s world froze. Her heart stopped. ‘What?!’ her inner voice cried. ‘How? He was here, and completely fine, on Monday. How is he gone? He can’t be. He just can’t.’ Her heart began to race. Her breathing grew shallow.

“That is all we know at this time,” Caitlyn heard Mr Farante say, as she shuddered out of her thoughts. “If any of you require some time to process this… we completely understand.” Chatter began to build around them, as the teachers allowed Professor Steinin’s students to discuss their thoughts.

“It’s such a shame,” she heard Mr Ahmed say. “These kids have already lots one form tutor, and now this…”

 

*

 

When Caitlyn arrived home, she refused to interact with anyone. She sat in bed, with her back against the wall and the family laptop on her lap and pretended that she had lots of homework to do. She did, but there was no way that she could concentrate. Clicking absentmindedly on the trap pad, Caitlyn needed something to distract herself. She loaded her YouTube subscription feed and let her eyes dance across the colourful thumbnails. Her eyes widened. Her heart froze. Professor Steinin’s face stared back at her. His wild, white hair, his grey tinted, round spectacles, the white lab coat that he always wore. ‘It’s him. It’s definitely him,’ Caitlyn gasped, as her vision became hazy, as she continued to stare. He was stood beside her favourite Australian artist. Caitlyn shook her head. ‘It can’t be,’ she told herself. ‘It can’t be.’ Allowing her eyes to focus on the screen, Caitlyn read the video title, ‘Meeting My Idol,’ posted on the Australian artist’s vlog channel. A slight frown puckered Caitlyn’s brow. ‘Could Professor Stenin be alive, but hiding in Australia?’ she wondered, as she clicked on the video to find out.

“G’day everyone, welcome back to my channel and today, I am in England, at the ‘Kuttle Town Convention Centre’ to meet my idol, the world-famous inventor, Professor Steinin,” announced her favourite Australian artist. An icy shudder trembled down Caitlyn’s spine. Her heart sank to the depths of her stomach.

‘He doesn’t know…’ Caitlyn realised, as goosebumps prickled her skin all over. ‘The ‘Kuttle Town Convention’ was last weekend.’ As Caitlyn watched the artist’s happy face, as he vlogs he day at the convention, meets his idol, her form tutor, Professor Steinin, and even introduces his eight-year-old son to him. Caitlyn’s vision blurred, as salty water prickled the inner corners of her eyes. She shook her head. ‘I have to tell him,’ she thought, with a gasp, as she paused the video. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard keys. Her shoulders sank. ‘I can’t,’ she told herself, as she shook her head. ‘I can’t tell my favourite artist that his idol passed away over a YouTube comment or a direct message. That’s not right.’ Her eyes flickered back to the screen. Seeing the Australian’s bright smile, as he and his son stood beside her form tutor, made Caitlyn’s heart ache. She stared at Professor Steinin. She stared into the grey tinted glasses that he always wore, so that no one could ever see his eyes. She stared until her vision blurred. Her thoughts vanished. He feelings drained. She felt like an empty shell, as she could do not move, only stare at the laptop screen.

Two icy cold hands pressed upon her shoulders. Caitlyn eyes pierced wide. Her mouth opened, but no sounds came out. A sense of calm washed over her. She could hear the sound of running water. A shudder crept up her spine and Caitlyn found herself stood in a bathroom, staring at a sink, as it filled with steaming water. She tried to move her head to look around, but she could not move. She was frozen, as though her vision was being broadcast to her. From her right, Professor Stenin swept into view. He stared ahead at the sink, as the water neared full height in the basin. A letter dropped from his hands, bearing the Kuttle Town Hospital name. Steam filled the room, hazing Caitlyn’s vision. She tried to squint, to read the letter, but the lens of the vision refused to her read it. Instead, she was forced to stare ahead, at Professor Steinin. With a glazed over look in his eyes, Caityln watched as Professor Steinin stepped, fully clothed, into the sink. “Professor!” Caitlyn tried to shout, but no words came out. Caitlyn’s heart hammered with alarm, as she watched her form tutor lower himself into the sink, shrinking smaller and smaller, until he lay beneath the water. “No! Professor Steinin, no!” Caitlyn tried to scream. Her voice made no sound. Water poured over the edges of the basin, like a waterfall, drowning the professor. “No!” she tried screaming at the top of her lungs, “No!” Silence.

- Josie -