Somniphobia

Chapter 2: The warning

Trigger warning: gore, other unsettling things

??? POV--------

I opened my eyes. The ground was cold and hard. The dirt on the floor was unstable. Wait- this isn't my room; where on earth am I? Wherever this was, it wasn't natural, that's for sure. I stood up, looking around. A few trees loomed above; the bark had a deep purple hue. I was deep in thought as I headed toward the tree, hoping to get some high ground.

'I have never had a dream before, let alone have such a vivid one.... has helping the people here gifted me my emotions?..... I don't feel anything besides..... discomfort,' I thought to myself as I walked. The tree loomed above me as I stopped in front of it. There wasn't any wind, but the leaves were swaying as if there was.

"Better than nothing, I guess," I say to myself as I climb the tree. It was sturdy, able to hold my weight without the worry of a branch snapping underneath me.

There was something in the distance, I don't know what, but it was approaching slowly. I couldn't care less about it as I got comfortable, trying to fall asleep. I turned. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to catch some rest. When I opened my eyes and lifted my head, the thing was quite close now; it wasn't normal. A large jaw adorns its face, made out of mismatched parts. A long claw drags along the floor as it walks on its three crooked legs. It only appears to have one arm, though it seems not to have noticed me. It appears to be probably 7 feet tall. It walks next to the tree, the metal creaking, as it continues along its way, past the tree, leaving three long gashes in the ground from its claw. I stare at it blankly. It might not be a threat... I watched as it walked away, leaving marks on the floor as it went.

"How do I wake up...? Is this normal for dreams?" I grabbed a branch, scratching my forearm with it, surprisingly, no wounds... or even pain. "huh... well, I guess I'll wait here until I wake up. I haven't got anything to do." I wait as I look at the sky, lifeless. I will await the moment I awaken from this pathetic excuse for a dream. "....why don't I ever have fun..........will people even believe my dream..... Well, I didn't have to run for my life, so I guess that's good."

Just as I thought this, I heard a scream in the distance. "Huh- what was that?" I perked up, looking toward the cry. Someone was darting toward me in the tree, the metal thing running after them. Honestly, for being so broken down, it could indeed run! And it was gaining on them! I jumped down, running away to the next tree. "This spot has been compromised."

As I sprinted, I heard another scream and then a guttural ripping noise. The thing was now ripping apart the now corpse. I bolted up the tree as the metal monster finished its job, stained with the crimson blood of the once-living person. It looked around as I hid behind the leaves, not planning on dying today. The thing walked off, dragging the ripped apart body behind it, a trail of sticky blood following it.

I know I'm emotionless and all... but that's messed up. Just as quick as it appeared, it was gone. "okay, I haven't awoken yet, so I'll get to work. This may be my personal stay." I think to myself as I rip a branch off the tree, jumping down and start to dig at the ground with it. It was easier than I thought; the dirt was pretty loose, so it was easy to dig. After a while, I made a small underground base with a trapdoor to hide in. "ok... Now we wait." I say to myself.

After a while, I could hear the claws dragging along the ground. Welp... shit. As the claw dragged along the ground, I could see it poking through the ceiling. I shifted to the corner of the base, making sure to stay away from the claw. The claw hit the trapdoor... and it stopped. 'oh fudge, there's no way I can outrun this thing. Maybe I can run it around the tree?' I think to myself.

For once in my life, I felt... excited.

The claw pulled itself out of the ground. I thought it was gone... BEFORE IT CRASHED THROUGH THE FUCKING TRAPDOOR! I jumped out of the hole, running to a nearby tree. I grabbed the trunk, starting to clamber up it. The thing must have been shocked because it swung at me, barely missing.

"I THINK IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE CHOICES!" I yelled at it as I threw my branch to what I presumed were its eyes. However, it didn't go to plan when the jaws crushed the branch, like paper being shredded to bloody pieces. It swung at the tree, cutting about a third of the way through, I think. "Huh.. that didn't work how I wanted it to... Welp, guess ill die."

The thing ripped its claw out of the tree, swinging again. It'll probably destroy the tree if it swung again.

I ran up the tree, getting higher ground before jumping at the mouth of the thing, diving through the throat and into the beast. Surprisingly I was alright. It didn't seem to react fast enough when trying to bite me with its several serrated teeth. This thing was hollow as I just fell right through, landing on the hard ground.

I looked up, now facing a seven-foot-tall metal being that could tear me apart. It raised its claw, going to swing at me before I ran inside its ribcage, trying to find a weakness. There were gears of all sorts turning. Even though this thing was completely beat up, it was still running perfectly fine. I slammed my branch into the gears, and with a metallic screeching noise, they halted to a stop.

It looked like a creepy statue. Its claw was raised, the jaw was open, dried blood on the teeth and claw. The thing was frozen in place, thank god. Climbing the tree for more branches, I started hitting it and scratching it. It didn't seem to get any damage. I just started jamming more branches into the gears, making sure it wouldn't be able to move.

Kayla's POV--------

I could hear something down the hallway, not sure what was going on. The classroom was empty; not even the teacher was there. I headed toward where the voices were, about to open the door, when I heard someone say "help." Ether it was my stupid brain, or it was the same kid from yesterday.

I opened the door, and what I saw was very confusing. I saw the boy I talked to yesterday, and the other person (i will assume either a girl or doesn't have a gender) was standing over them. A wave of concern hit me as I remembered the whole "don't fall asleep" thing last night.

"I'm working on it," they say as they had two cats in their hands... legit dropping them on the boy.

I shuffled off, not knowing what the hell was happening as I walked around the school. Honestly, the school was large enough for a high school, with many rooms for everything you could want. I glanced inside a room that had its door open a jar, finding a small music room. I smiled slightly, looking behind me before entering.

I closed the door, so it opened a jar again, sitting down on a chair. It was peaceful. Honestly, it was enjoyable to be able to sit in silence without hearing screaming in the background. I grabbed my guitar, playing a few notes before playing the song I had written (song above). It was calming, and I felt free, safe...

After the song, I was tired... I knew I shouldn't sleep, but it didn't help that I kept nodding off! I shook my head, trying to just not fall into the endless void I called sleep, but it didn't work... I had succumbed to the drowsiness and dozed off...

And oh god, I knew I messed up...