CHAPTER 15: OFFER

After finishing up with Atkins, David actually returned to the darkness of his dream world. Instead of going to sightsee other dreams, David decided to just sit in the darkness and plan his next actions. David need to develop some sort of goal or method for utilizing his newly found power in the dream realm. After a few hours of sitting in the dark contemplating his options, David started to feel the urge to wake up.

Sitting up in bed, David looked over to see Karine sitting in the chair next to his bed. She was sound asleep. Looking around, he saw his wallet, keys and phone sitting on the table by the other side of the bed. Reaching down and picking up his phone, he turned it on to realize that he was only unconscious for a little over a day. It was almost midnight on Saturday.

He couldn't help but stare at the woman waiting by his bedside. Did she come here out of obligation or did she actually care about him? David wasn't sure. She did accept his invite to dinner though, so that has to mean something. David knew that he liked Karine. It wasn't love yet, but it was close. She was special to him after all the time they had spent together working on the project.

Hearing a noise, David looked up to see a man standing in the doorway. Startled David dropped his phone which proceeded to flop off the bed and smack the floor with a loud noise. Karine jumped awake at the bedside looking up at David and then to her father standing in the doorway.

Unexpected to David, Karine immediately started crying. Caught off guard by the upset woman, David reaches toward her in a comforting gesture. Just as David was about to touch her, Mr. Carmine stepped into the doorway and spoke in a forceful tone, "Karine."

Still with tears in her eyes, Karine stood up, leaned toward David and gave him a tight hug.

Before David could react, Karine spoke, "I'm sorry, David." Then she let go of the hug and ran out of the room crying.

With Karine's exit, Mr. Carmine came into the room and sat down in the same chair that Karine had sat a moment ago.

Seeing David's concern for Karine, Mr. Carmine sighed before he began to talk.

"Karine is upset because she didn't want you to be introduced to our world. Our world is dangerous and Karine has lost several friends and loved ones to the battles within the Other. It's quite convenient that you woke up just as I was coming to check on Karine. It saves me the time of having to stop by later."

David sat attentively without saying a word, so Mr. Carmine continued.

"The Other is a parallel world to Earth. They both exist in different planes, but seem to have collided regardless of their actual separation. No one really knows exactly how it happened but it has been like this for millennia."

"The Earth has limited access points to The Other. These access points, called Gates, are very valuable because they allow us to travel to and from each world. The Other is full of both resources and threats."

"My Carmine Family controls one of the nine gateways between the two worlds. There are two other family clans that each control a gate, governments that control five gates, and one organization that controls a single gate."

Mr. Carmine's attitude suddenly changed from something instructional to one of fury. David could feel an intent to kill coming from the older man.

"Atkins was one of the many guards my family employed. He was bought by a group of rogue individuals who know of The Other. He was convinced to try to steal Karine away to use as a negotiation tool for their access through the gateway."

"I care about my daughter very much, Mr. Knox. I try my best to protect her. And I will kill anyone that hurts her. Remember that as you go forward."

Changing gears from his threatening demeanor, Mr. Carmine started to talk in the more businesslike attitude that David had seen before.

"You seem to have a special skill of casually walking through mirrors. You have done it twice already. It takes my men some effort to break a mirror, but you seem to have no issue."

"My people have reviewed your background and you check out just fine. I would like to offer you a position with my company, Mr. Knox. I don't know how at the moment but your unique skill could be very beneficial to our operations."

Mr. Carmine paused then smiled, "That and my daughter seems much happier around you."

Mr. Carmine smiled a pleasant smile and said, "I'll leave all the details to one of my assistants who will follow up with you in a bit. Enjoy getting introduced into our world, David."

After that, Mr. Carmine just turned and left the room.

David stood there slack jawed. He thought, "What the hell kind of conversation was that? I get told another world exists. There are fights between groups. He'll surely kill me if I hurt his daughter, but he seems ok that she likes me. And I was basically told that I had a new job....it wasn't an offer."

David decided to get dressed and go look for Karine. Before he could get out of bed, two energetic nurses came bouncing into his room to check on him. Looking at the two nurses, David was shocked. They have horns and red hair.

Seeing the look on David's face, the two nurses giggled and started to explain, "We are part devil, David. The Carmine Corporation put us as healers because somehow we ended up very talented in light magic which is good for healing."

David should have seen this one coming. In the nurse's dream that David peaked in on, the nurse had looked exactly like she does now. David had just assumed that she was dreaming of being a monster in a monster orgy. He didn't know that she was actually a real monster too.

Seeing David still staring at them, the other nurse continued, "You couldn't see our real appearance before because we were wearing amulets to disguise ourselves."

David was floored. He was expecting a few things related to the Other world but nothing this dramatic. He learned more from these two women in a manner of seconds than most of Mr. Carmine's speech.

David learned: This world has beings other than humans. There was something called light magic. And things such as amulets really exist.

"WOW!", David blurted out loud as a if a pressure relief for his built up astonishment.

Just as David was about to ask the nurses some questions, a guard burst into the room.

"Ladies, come quick. I think we just found Atkins dead in his cell. We need you two to come verify."

The two women immediately ran out of the room and into the hall. David was left completely alone.

"Serves that bastard right," David grinned as he thought about the news he had just overheard. This was a final confirmation that his actions in dream world could affect reality. It was also the end to the bastard that tried to kill him twice.

Just as he was about to lay back down and bask in the news, a tall thin man entered the room. The man was dressed in business attire and looked rather normal except for his messed up looking eyes.

"Hello, David. I am Mr. Gauge. I am the general manager for the Carmine Corporation. I am here to give you some employment information as well as a copy of your employment contract for your review. You will have two weeks for review of the contract and to make your decisions."

The tall man continued, "Since you have no assigned duties at this time, you are free to stay in this house for the next two days while your new lodging is being cleared of its previous occupant's possessions. I have brought you two books for reference. The first is a general introduction to The Other and the second is a summary of some of the main activities at the Carmine Corporation."

Mr. Gauge looked at David and asked, "Any questions?"

David laughed and responded, "Tons, but I think it is best that I do a little reading first. I prefer to be at least a bit educated when asking questions. Can I contact you if I have anything to ask?"

"Sure," Mr. Gauge said, "My number is in with the employee information packet."

Turning around to leave, Mr. Gauge stopped in the doorway and paused. Looking back at David he said, "Mr. Knox, you have demonstrated a pretty significant ability that can be of great use for the Carmine Corporation. Based on what I have read in your file, you must have some sort of innate mental strength that is pretty strong. In this world, most people follow the methods of physical improvements as it relates to training and bloodlines. Very few rare individuals have talent in the mental realm. Not everyone can practice mental activities as this is based on luck at birth. Of course, some genetic lines have a higher chance of mental strength, but your blood test reveals that you are 100 percent human. If you would like, I can arrange a mental energy test for you in the upcoming days. The results of the test can help show your true worth to those of us at the Carmine Corporation."

After a few seconds of consideration, David couldn't figure out a reason to not participate in the test.

"Sure," David responded almost immediately, "What can it hurt?"