The screen of the tablet transitioned to a split screen of the news anchor and the guest, a man with disheveled hair and a haunted look in his eyes. The anchor introduced him, "Joining us now is Mr. James McAllen, who has reached out to us with a rather unusual experience. James, can you share with our viewers what you've encountered?"

James took a deep breath, his hands nervously clutching a mug of coffee. He nodded, "Yes, I... I had a strange experience last night. I fell asleep like any other night, but the dream... it was different."

"Different how?" the anchor prompted, her professional demeanor giving way to curiosity.

James' brows furrowed as he struggled to find the words. "It wasn't a dream. It was too real, too vivid. I was in a different world, and it felt like I was physically there, not just dreaming."

The news anchor leaned in, intrigued. "And you say you received messages in this dream?"

James nodded vigorously. "Yes, they were like prompts in a video game. I remember one specifically. It said, 'Welcome to the Dreamverse.'"

The anchor paused, considering his words. "Dreamverse," she repeated, "And you believe that these coma patients we're seeing worldwide are... in this Dreamverse?"

"I... I can't say for certain," James admitted, "But it seems too coincidental to ignore."

The anchor's eyes widened as she processed this information, then turned to address the audience. "There you have it, people. A first-hand account of what could potentially be an explanation for the sudden surge in coma patients. Could this 'Dreamverse' be a clue to the mysterious sleep epidemic?"

The words 'Dreamverse' echoed in the room, bringing a heavy silence with them. Adam's parents exchanged wide-eyed looks, their mouths hanging open in shock. It was as if a cold wave of reality had washed over them, their skepticism replaced by belief.

Adam met their gaze, his expression firm and resolute. Stella, on the other hand, wore a triumphant smirk on her face. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Told you," she said, a note of vindication in her voice. The room remained silent, the grim reality of the news casting a deep shadow over their breakfast.

The screen of the tablet flickered as it transitioned to a split-screen view of the poised news anchor and another guest, the names below identified the man as Lord Dawson, Leader of the Children of the End.

Dawson's face was chiseled and mature, with a dark beard neatly trimmed, framing his steely eyes. His salt and pepper hair was slicked back, adding an air of sophistication to his charismatic aura. He wore a polished black suit, contrasted by a crisp white shirt and a deep purple tie, the color often associated with royalty and spiritual fulfillment.

The anchor, sensing the gravity of the following segment, straightened up, "Our next guest is a man who divides opinion. Revered as a religious figure by some, regarded as a cult leader by others, Lord Dawson, the leader of 'The Children of the End,' has claimed to have predicted the advent of this global calamity. Welcome, Lord Dawson."

The man, Lord Dawson, offered a warm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you for having me, Miss Bradley. Indeed, I have foreseen this day."

To the uninformed observer, Lord Dawson appeared like an empathetic leader, his demeanor warm, his voice soothing. However, to Adam, who had a deeper understanding of the Dreamverse and the current crisis, the man's facade felt hollow and manipulative. Until now, Adam had never seen Lord Dawson in person; he had merely known of his existence. But his intentions to research this man just got pushed up on his priority list.

The anchorwoman leaned forward, interest evident in her eyes, "Lord Dawson, could you share with us your visions? What specifically led you to predict this situation?"

Dawson folded his hands on the table, his eyes seeming to look far beyond the studio, "In my visions, I saw a world beyond our own. A realm where dreams become reality. I saw people from our world being drawn into it, and it was clear to me - we were witnessing the dawn of a new era."

Adam rolled his eyes at the man's theatrical performance, the vagueness of his words only furthering his irritation. He hated how Dawson was misleading the public, spinning tales based on half-truths and using this crisis to swell his cult's ranks. This would undoubtedly make it harder for Adam to gather genuine followers for his own cause.

"But why should people believe you, Lord Dawson?" The anchor asked, her tone challenging, "Many would argue that you're capitalizing on the global crisis for personal gain."

Dawson seemed unfazed by the accusation, smiling benevolently, "Skepticism is a human trait, and I respect it. However, I have nothing to gain personally. All I want is to guide those who are lost, those who seek answers and peace amidst this chaos."

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

The anchor nodded, clearly impressed with his eloquent response, "So, you believe that joining 'The Children of the End' is the path to survival?"

"Yes, Miss Bradley," Dawson responded, his voice full of conviction, "We offer guidance, unity, and an understanding of the Dreamverse. By joining us, people can prepare themselves for the inevitable transition and find solace in our community."

Adam could feel a tension headache building. This man was promising things he couldn't deliver, and the worst part was that people would believe him. He was turning the imminent catastrophe into a spiritual awakening and marketing his cult as the path to salvation. Adam knew he needed to act fast if he was to combat this wave of misinformation and expand his own cult.

‘This hack is going to cause me so much trouble,’ Adam internally groaned. ‘I need to take advantage of my parents' knowledge and resources if I want to compete against the Children of the end.’

Yusuf appeared deep in thought. After a moment of silence, he finally voiced his concern, "Adam, there's something I can't quite wrap my head around."

Curious, Adam prompted him, "What's that, Dad?"

"Why now?" Yusuf questioned, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Why is this apocalypse happening now, after you've been in the Dreamverse for so long? Did Zara warn you about it? How did this all come to pass?"

Adam hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. His parents exchanged worried glances while the room hung heavy with anticipation. The silence seemed to stretch on, making the air thick with unease.

Seeing Adam's struggle, Stella reached over to him, her hand a comforting presence on his arm. "Adam," she urged softly, "you have to be honest with them. No more secrets."

With a nod of acknowledgment to Stella, Adam braced himself. He clenched his jaw, his gaze steady as he admitted, "I... I'm the reason for the apocalypse."

Adam's declaration dropped like a stone into the calm of the room, its shockwaves reverberating off the walls. His words hung heavy in the air, each syllable pregnant with the weight of his confession.

"You... you're what?" Annabelle finally choked out, her face a mask of disbelief.

"I am the cause of the apocalypse," Adam repeated, his tone steady despite the gravity of his words. "In the Dreamverse, I am what's known as a Dream Child."

Seeing the puzzled looks on his parents and Annabelle's faces, Adam began to explain. "It's a rare title, granted to individuals who have an extraordinary bond with the Dreamverse, who are capable of causing massive changes in both the Dreamverse and the waking world. The first of their race."

"And you triggered this... apocalypse?" Yusuf asked, his voice barely above a whisper, uncertainty etched on his face.

Adam nodded slowly. "When I reached Level 10, the moment of Awakening, I unintentionally set off a chain of events. I wasn't aware of the repercussions until I was told by Zara, and by the time I understood, it was already too late."

His parents exchanged a worried glance. Melissa's voice shook as she asked, "So you... you brought about the end of the world?"

Adam nodded solemnly. "Yes, and it's my fault. But I promise, I'll do everything in my power to make things right."

"But who's this Zara you mentioned earlier?" Annabelle interjected, her face creased with confusion.

"Zara is my caretaker in the Dreamverse," Adam replied. "She informed me about the impending apocalypse, about how Earth and its inhabitants will be incorporated into the Dreamverse."

The room fell into a stunned silence as his family tried to grapple with the enormity of what they'd just heard. Adam's revelation had turned their world upside down, plunging them into an unfathomable reality.

“Is there a chance that she is lying?” Annabelle said

Adam hesitated.

Slightly unsure but he thought back to Zara's stern demeanor, ‘She would never joke about something so serious. She might not care about the earthlings that will die but she cares about me. She might have caused Lancer’s death but she did it for my benefit. She gains nothing for lying to me about something so serious and she stands to lose my trust if she is lying.’ With newfound confidence Adam replied, ”No, it’s the truth.”

The silence in the room was broken by Yusuf, his voice steady yet laced with a hint of despair. "We... We need to prepare ourselves. If what you're saying is true, then we're on the precipice of a global disaster."

Adam's father paused, sweeping his gaze across the room, landing on each person, as if etching this moment into his memory. His eyes bore a seriousness that had been absent until now, his face grave.

"Listen, all of you," he commanded, his voice stern. "What we've just learned about Adam, about this Dream Child title, it stays here, within these four walls. It can't, and I mean can't, be mentioned outside of this room. Are we all clear?"

There was a chorus of agreement, nods, and murmurs. The implications of such a revelation becoming public were too grave to ignore. The knowledge that Adam had inadvertently triggered an apocalypse could bring chaos, fear, and even violence.

Adam felt a chill run down his spine, the gravity of the situation hitting him with full force. He had been so consumed by the guilt of causing the apocalypse, he hadn't considered the repercussions if the public were to find out. He was not immortal on Earth - if people turned against him out of fear or anger, his life would be in real danger.

An overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards his family washed over him. 'I'm so glad I shared this with them,' he thought, a sense of relief flooding him. Even in the face of such harrowing news, they were standing by him, ready to face whatever came next. The journey ahead was uncertain and terrifying, but at least they were in it together.

The room was thick with a tense silence, Adam was the first to break it, "I have a mission," he declared, "I need to recruit ten followers to my cult in the Dreamverse within ten days. If I fail, we all die there."

His parents were taken aback, their eyes widening at the severity of the situation. Melissa sucked in a breath, clearly processing the weight of his words. Only Annabelle remained unfazed, her gaze trained on Adam, scrutinizing his every word.

"We'll help, Adam," Melissa said earnestly, her voice filled with determination. "We'll do whatever it takes."

"Adam, hold on a minute," Annabelle intervened, her tone stern.