Read The Remedy Files: Illusion for Free Online Page B

Gavin was at when I saw him earlier. When I look up, even though it feels like months- no, years- have passed to move this far, I’m right on my location. But Gavin has once again disappeared.
    Instead, a new movement catches my attention. The man in the colossal tree has crawled down and is standing right in front of it, his bare feet leaning over the edge of the steep hill that leads up to the tree. The sun is glaring down on him, illuminating him in such a way that makes him look like a dazzling otherworldly being.  He seems slightly taller than Gavin with broad shoulders yet a strong, lean body. His hair is cut much shorter to his head and his face looks as though it could have a slight shadow but not near the beard that Gavin has. I get the feeling that he’s kind and not a threat like I had previously assumed. But I still don’t know who he is and whether or not I can trust him. I can’t see his eyes to know for sure.
    “Evangeline…” In the distance at my right, Gavin emerges once again. He’s standing on a brand new path that I’ve never seen before. It’s a smooth brown road that stretches out behind him into a new forest of trees. Again, he’s motioning me, impatience crossing his face, not understanding why I can’t move any quicker to him. 
    The rumbling that I’ve been trying hard to block out is now so loud and apparent that my body looks as though tremors have overtaken me. The only way I’m managing to remain standing is because my legs have become weights that keep me glued to the quaking ground.
    The man from the tree is now leaning down, reaching his hand to me. A part of me wants to run, jump up and take his hand, disappearing into the angelic tree that has captivated me from the moment I first saw it. The other part of me that I’ve known for so long wants to follow Gavin because it’s ingrained in who I am; the first and only actual choice I’ve ever made in my life.
    I can feel it. It’s getting closer. I don’t even bother turning around. Giving Gavin one last look, I know there’s no other option. There’s no more time to run. I stiffen in anticipation of the machine’s insurmountable weight to come crush me, making me a part of this ground that I’ve spent so much of my life running on.
    My hair wraps around my face as the strong movement of air encompasses me and the large steel machine rushes by, inches from grazing my skin. Suddenly everything turns so very dark. I see the faint outline of the machine in front of me. But the sound is not as loud. The whistling is sweet sounding, almost calming.
    “Evangeline….” Someone calls my name. “Evangeline…”
    I open my eyes to see a glossy vaulted ceiling fifteen feet above me. It’s familiar. The fog slowly clears from my head.   
    “Evangeline…”    The whistling is in my ear again. I sit up quickly, tangling myself in bed sheets as I push my body to the end of my bed.
    Jacqueline erupts into giggles on the floor. “I have never seen you sleep so hard before! You completely slept through the alarm!”
    It takes me a moment to fully let my mind adjust to the reality in front of me. To the right is my brown wooden dresser. Above it is my arched mirror with a crack in the lower corner from a brush that I threw a little too far, hitting the mirror instead of landing on the dresser. I never reported that to the cooperative and the room maids must have never said anything either as I was never punished and it was never replaced.
    I look down at the dark blue wool sheets that are wrapped around me. I am in my bed. There’s no Gavin, no man, no threat, no choice. Realizing I had been holding my breath, I exhale. That dream was completely different than all the others I’ve had. I wish I could tell Jacqueline about it.
    “Here, I’ve already picked out your outfit for you.” Jacqueline once again laughs as she throws a white polo and hunter green pants at me.
    Jacqueline always finds humor in our outfits. She