Broken Dreams (The Chronicles of Mara Lantern, Book 5) (32 page)

“Dad?” Mara asked.

“Yes, dear?”

Nodding to Sam, she said, “Who is this?”

And before he could answer, she glanced across the study, and her eyes widened. “And how did we get two Pings?”

* * *

Mara’s eyes fluttered open, and she felt great, like she’d just had the best night’s sleep of her life. As she lifted her arms to stretch, her knuckles rapped a smooth, hard surface, and she realized where she was—inside the receptacle. Below her, Dr. Canfield stood at the console, tapping the screen with one hand and holding up a finger with the other. She mouthed the words,
just one moment
, but Mara could not hear through the transparent walls of the stasis tube.

The front half slid open, and warm air rushed over her body. Looking down, Mara realized she was in her jeans and polo. She felt the Chronicle in her pocket.

She was back. In her body. Well, in her synthetic body.

The doctor walked up the steps of the pedestal on which the tube sat and extended a hand to her. “How do you feel? Are you dizzy or lightheaded?”

Mara took Dr. Canfield’s arm and said, “Not at all. I think I’m a little disoriented, but that’s just switching from being over there to being over here.”

“Over there?” the doctor asked as she led her down the steps.

“You know.”

“Over there in the so-called dream realm, you mean.”

“Yes, but we don’t need to have a debate about it. Believe whatever makes you comfortable.”

“I’ll do that,” the doctor said. She punched a button on the console, and the front half of Mara’s receptacle slid closed, and the screen went dark. Nodding to the three receptacles next to Mara’s, the doctor asked, “What are your plans for them? When do you intend to take them home?”

Mara marveled that she felt no stiffness at all as she walked to the tubes containing Ping, Sam and Abby. Looking up at them, she felt a wave of affection she couldn’t quite explain. She smiled and said, “I told them they could stay for one more day.”

“You told them?”

“Yes, in the so-call dream realm. I told them they could stay for one more day, and then I would take them home. Is that a problem?”

“Actually that’s ideal. You see, we need to discuss a little problem that occurred last night. It might be best to wait until you have been animated for a while.”

“I feel fine. What could have happened last night that involves us?” Mara asked.

The doctor looked down at the pad she’d picked up from the console and then back at Mara. “It doesn’t involve you, meaning the four of you, but you personally.”

“Okay, spit it out. What’s the problem?”

The doctor bit her lip. “I’m not sure how to say this, but last night someone broke into the morgue and stole your cadaver—your biological body.”

Thanks so much for taking the time to read
Broken Dreams
. I hope you enjoyed it. If you find yourself with a few free minutes, please consider writing a short, honest review of the book on Amazon. It not only helps other readers discover the book, but gives visibility to a new writer.

Thanks again.

_______

The Chronicles of Mara Lantern
on Amazon:

Broken Realms
(Book 1)

Broken Souls
(Book 2)

Broken Dragon
(Book 3)

Broken Pixels
(Book 4)

Broken Dreams (Book 5)

Learn more about the books at my website.

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