Skip The Budgie

My first dream was of being back at work in St Pauls, only we were in a different building. I was telling the dumb blonde one exactly what I thought of her, when someone came through the door. Blondey disappeared, as she was wont to do when work came a-calling and I was left to do my job as receptionist. The man was very afraid, it appeared he was running away from the Police. - I've killed a man he said. I tried to get him out of there, then decided to call the Police. He attacked me.

I woke up, and drifted back into the same dream.

This time the rest of the team were there. I tried to tell them about how blondey hadn't helped me and we had a fight again. Everyone went home and I was left to close up. Someone came through the door. He was a big man, Tony Soprano type, but English. Very friendly, his associates secured the building. He had armed guards outside covering all the entrances, hidden from sight. They pretended to be interested in my work, but soon demanded that I give them everything in the building. - We don't have anything, I said. We're closing for good this time. - What, no furniture, no money, no FOOD? - No. - Well you'd better find some then, he yelled, throwing me against the wall.

This time when I returned to the dream they were downstairs, talking. I found a freezer full of cheese and sandwiches, like the one in a newsagents. The building had grown, and I knew that I could not tell anyone why they were here, or who they really were. J9 came into work, for it was the next day. - We have guests, I said. - They're having a meeting. But I knew it was much bigger than that. I wanted to tell her, to call the Police, but I knew they would kill me so I said nothing and took them some food. He acted like my friend, like he trusted me and told me things I didn't want to know, asking my opinions on things I didn't understand. They were waiting for something, someone.

One of my friends had disappeared. I panicked and woke up, gasping for a drink.

She'd gone alright. One of the lackeys looked particularly smug, a Nikita-type assassin. She smiled at me. - You're next, her smile told me. I realised if we were going to survive this, I'd have to do something on my own. After gaining his trust, I got to spend more time with the leader. Sure, he threatened to kill me often, and I knew that they couldn't leave me alive, when it was all over. I began to fomulate a plan. When everyone had gone, I would sabotage their work and get help.

The building had grown again. They left me in charge, knowing I wouldn't try anything stupid. I ran down the echoing halls underground and bumped into K, who demanded to know what I was doing. This would ruin everything. I had to get her out. If everything else failed, I had to at least save her. She followed me as I scoped out the building, sensing something was wrong. I took down the guards and called the Police. In a quiet moment, we sat down and I explained to her what was going on and what I was going to do. A shadow materialised into a man. He'd been there the whole time! - You have betrayed my trust and now I'll have to kill your girlfriend like that other tramp you blabbered to. I went cold, swallowed. - she's not my...

A loud explosion indicated the arrival of the Police. Special forces. We ducked and covered, dodging the falling masonry as best we could. I took her hand.. - Follow me! I shouted and leapt across a three-storey drop. I could see light ahead. The ceiling buckled and split open, shells rained down and we ran towards a girder that had fallen through the hole. I pushed her up in front of me as camouflaged arms reached in and pulled us out...