The Dangers of Dreaming

My feet shamble forward, the jeans making it harder as they slide down my legs and eventually tangle around the ankles. Violently kicking them off, they hit the wall, slide, and crumple on the floor with the jingle of coins and keys.

Now completely bare, that last effort of movement and the exhaustion of the day weighs heavily on me until it pushes me down onto the bed. The pressure doesn't leave but brings an added comfort against the soft mattress under me with thoughts of sleep drawing closer.

As I drift off I make out the slight feminine figure of a shadow against an unknown source of blue light portraying on the surface of the wall from the foot of my bed: slender neck, curvature of the chest, and the the slight roundness of a pot belly. My mind carries no heed to malicious inquiries or thoughts of foreboding while watching, but a sense of panic quickly rises as the ethereal shape of the shadow starts to slowly turn its head. Thoughts stop; seconds become hours; fear holds the body down.

She starts to lean forward. The form almost viscous in nature as she peels gently and silently. The apparition looks even larger once it's free from its bonds and hunched over me. The shade slowly makes its approach with groping hand leading, and in my paralyzed state I notice the shadowy tendril of a hook clutched in the other. If colour could pierce through such darkness I'd imagine it to be stained with hues of drying red.

In cold, dead silence I watch in horror as this faceless butcher with no emotion reaches for me. A chill touches sharply against my neck as its fingers almost clasp around, but suddenly a light from behind followed by a loud chime breaks me from my frigid hypnosis. Grabbing the bokken by my bed I swing with full intent to drive the wooden sword into it, but slice through air. The force of my right arm sends me over the bed, and all my extremities sprawling against the door. I quickly scamper up and flick on the lights. Nothing is there. With weapon still in hand, I walk to my cell phone that had gone off.

Sorry you don't feel so well. Hope you get better – Cat

Lights off, hop into bed, close my eyes but soon they open again, and there is the blue light. With it remains the shadowy figure and her protruding stomach against the wall.

My feverish mind will not rest well tonight.