Chapter 1 - Mental Patterns

  Henrique, a former construction worker who is currently unemployed, Laura, a composer and pianist who is currently without a lucrative job, and Jo?o, a former boxer, have been selected for the Mental Patterns experiment. I've already looked at their files and they should arrive soon to sign their contracts. Finally, my research can enter the testing phase.

  I begin my presentation on the experiment. Seated at the circular table, the participants watch me, intrigued.

  – Good morning! Ladies and gentlemen, I am Dr. Alice, a master in neuroscience, and I am in charge of this experiment. This research aims to observe the functioning of the brain while we are in a state of rest. Its aim is to discern the effect that the subconscious has on dreams, and how its intrusion affects the conscious. – Everyone looks at me with an expression of doubt. – In practical terms, you should take the experimental drug Sub-C.V.4. This medication will allow observation of the subconscious, through brain radiography. Every working day of the week, you must come to Corvus to take the drug. Immediately after taking it, you should lie down in the closed-field MRI scanner. Sleep, should come on gradually; Sub-C.V.4 will make you extremely sleepy. Please be aware that this work routine must be followed to the letter, we will not tolerate you being absent, if you are without the drug, even for a short time, the experiment will not produce acceptable results. There is no need to worry, if you are experiencing any side effects, please describe them as accurately as possible in your weekly report. Yes, in addition to the experiment, you are also required to write a report. It should be written at weekends, and I will personally collect it on the first working day of the weekend. The report should include information about your experience in your dreams, if you have one, along with the side effect, if you have any. These are the terms, they are written in more detail in the contracts in front of you, as well as the compensation you will receive, in this case the amount is; $1,800. Well, that's the summary of your contract, does anyone have any questions? – I conclude my summary of the roles that participants must perform. I realize that they are still confused, they will certainly ask a lot of questions, after all, it is only natural for them to want to know what we are going to do with their bodies.

  Surprisingly, they don't ask any questions. Everyone quickly signs their contracts.

  – Is that all you need to confirm our participation? – Henrique asks.

  – Yes! I see you've all agreed to the terms. Well, thank you for coming, I hope to see you tomorrow. – I say as the participants get up. Slowly, they leave the establishment, saying goodbye politely as they go.

  Now everything is ready. The team, like me, is eager for the experiment to begin. I have been working on it for years, and now it will finally become a reality. Finally, humanity will be able to investigate the greatest mystery of this world, our mind.

  A week has passed and I confess I'm a little disappointed with the results. The reports didn't contain any relevant information, and brain function remained stable. I believe that Sub-C.V.4 acts more slowly in human brains. Only time will tell if the drug will affect the functioning of the subconscious. In its current state, it is not possible to draw any conclusions about the brain. Now, all I can do is wait.

  It's have been six months since the experiment began. Fortunately, the desired effects have become more evident as the months have passed. Little by little, Sub-C.V.4 has begun to play its part. It is possible to observe the patterns changing as patients enter deeper into their rest, the activation of several hemispheres that were previously unused by the brain is visible. I believe that this distinct set of cerebral hemispheres is the subconscious, or at least the path that leads to it, the key that unlocks the door where this mystery lies. I'll soon have a more precise answer to this question; fortunately, the activity in the cerebral hemispheres is becoming more and more intense.

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  Another month passed, and the patients began to have experiences related to consciousness. While they sleep, they have exotic dreams. These dreams, and the sensations they brought, were recorded in detail in their weekly reports.

  Henrique – Report N.H-28:

  Twenty-eighth week of the experiment, mental patterns.

  Unlike previous weeks, when I just slept normally, this week I realized that I was dreaming. It was as if I was sailing the deep seas of my mind, looking for something, something unknown. That's the best way to describe what I felt.

  Since it is necessary to relate this experience in detail, I will strive to create an account that expresses this event as accurately as possible.

  I woke up in a dark, empty place, empty like the space between the stars. All I did was wander around this gloomy expanse, I felt I needed to find something, but I couldn't say what I was looking for. After wandering for what seemed like hours, I saw a light on the horizon, shining brightly in yellow. As I got closer to this intense light source, I gradually began to wake up. I always woke up before I could reach my destination.

  This was the dream I had for the whole of the previous week.

  Laura – Report N.L-28:

  I confess that I didn't expect to be affected by this drug, but last week something happened. Here I'll tell you about the strange experience I had.

  I opened my eyes and, surprisingly, saw my body lying on the resonance device. This vision quickly dissipated, and before long I was standing in front of the vast universe. Without wasting any time, I began to wander into the unknown. On my journey, I saw the most distant planets, explored the most immense galaxies and the most beautiful nebulae. I wandered through the immensity of space, observing the great cosmos, trying to find something, I can't say what I was looking for, all I know is that it was something unknown, something lost in this immense vastness of space. I traveled through the cosmos for a long time, I have no idea exactly how long, I just know that it seemed like years, probably because my perception of time was altered. After my long pilgrimage, I saw a yellow line drawing between the stars. Following my instinct, I went after the line, but before I could reach the mysterious place it would take me, consciousness returned to my body.

  Jo?o – Report N.J-28:

  The dream hasn't changed much, it's still basically the same one I have whenever I sleep, however, the slightest change that occurred will be described in this report.

  As always, I'm falling, sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness. In the void, I fall aimlessly, without direction, I just exist in the midst of nothingness. I don't bother anymore, I just accept that this is my destiny, however, little by little the emptiness, once immutable, gains color. The black void becomes more and more yellow, the space becomes narrower, I feel like I'm being taken somewhere, I can't say where, unfortunately, I wake up just before reaching my destination.

  --*--

  These reports intrigue me, I spent all Sunday studying them, I barely had time to sleep. From what I've been able to conclude, the patients are apparently being guided, I believe by their own minds, to somewhere, perhaps the subconscious? I believe that this yellow light is the conscious leading them to the darkest part of their minds. Of the three patients, the one who shows the most promise is Jo?o, who has suffered from night terrors since he retired, perhaps he was already communicating with his subconscious on his own without realizing it. Knowing that Sub-C.V.4 is becoming more and more effective, I think we'll soon find out what this mysterious place is, maybe next week?

  Something goes wrong, the patients' vital signs are weakening. What the hell is going on? Maybe this is some side effect? ??I don't know, I have no idea why their heartbeats are dropping. We've shaken them, made noises, now, as a last resort, we're going to administer Adrenaline to wake them up. To everyone's surprise, the medication did nothing. I don't know what else to do, we've tried everything, nothing works, it's like they're in a high-grade coma. They don't respond to anything, we have to keep trying or they will die.