oneshots

Dreamcatcher

*this story is a collab

"yes I'm on my way, I just...", words stuck up in your throat as your eyes wander off into the distance unpredictably setting on a glimmering object.

"Yeah.. I'll talk to you later, bye", the phone in your hands, held firmly a minute ago, smoothly traced your skin before falling into your hands once again.
You followed where your trance took you.

"Good morning madam, which one would you like to buy", it was an old lady, haggard in manner, bent low at the waist holding a wooden stick in one hand pointing it over to a small shop of collectibles, which appeared to be thrifted.

She had a roadside display of items over a box covered by a mesh knit cloth. Antique looking items as well as stone rings and shimmering pendants glorified her shop by the gift of sunlight.

"What does this happen to be?", you asked.

The woman thought to herself for a moment and as soon as a thought seemed to have struck her, she cleared the ambiguity with a weak smile.

"Ahh.. This one is a dream catcher."

"it's so beautiful."

"yes.. The crystals are glimmering in the sunlight, reflecting it like stars.
I'm sure if you put this in your room, it will feel like you are in a different dimension.", she laughed heartily at her metaphorical comprehension.

"I feel like this one has enchanted me.
I'll buy this", just as you were paying the lady distracted by other customers, you received a call from your best friend.

"yah yah I'm there", you hurriedly grabbed the yellow poly bag thereby leaving the said amount of money on the old woman's box.

After a minute or two, she raised her eyes only to spot the pink polybag still being placed there.
And that is when fear took over her...

What's done cannot be undone now.
.
.

Your pov

"According to Indian legends, if you hang a dreamcatcher on the headboard of the bed, the bad dreams get caught in the web. The good dreams work their way through the hole in the center, rest on the feather like a dew drops, and evaporate to the Great Spirit in the morning sun.", my best friend said on the phone.

"It really feels like this dreamcatcher has enchanted me.",

"bruh Since they have the power to control dreams, they will surely prove to improve your sleeplessness haha."

"I wishh. I don't really believe in all these, but I guess I'll give it a go.", I finally bid a goodbye to her and returned home after attending an office meeting.

What a long hectic day.
I can't wait to sleep tonight, I thought.
I went into my room, excited to hang my newest possession only to find out some uncommon changes in it.
Unlike the multi-colored one I chose, this one was dark purple colored bearing crystallic beads at the end of the strands instead of feathers.
Though this was not what I bought but it had a mysterious charm of its own.

I definitely can't go back now to return this.. Guess I'll pretend this was the one I liked.
It's beautiful itself.. No problem,
After consoling myself I went to bed.
.
.
"haaa" "noo" "please"

I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night panting heavily from all that running.
Running?
But I was asleep.

As I calmed myself I realized that I had a dream where I was being chased by..
Someone
I cannot fathom his face too.
I only remember his black and white attire... And the smoke..
Weird.

"Please Dream catcher get me some bomb sleep", I joined hands at the object as my heartbeat began to downpace.
Once again I drifted off to chase my slumber.
.
.
The same dream appeared on the next night.
Only, the man was closer to me than last one.
In my last dream, he was chasing me but today, it felt like I was weak in front of him.
If not for my haphazard running, he was right about to grab a hold of my t-shirt with his long hands and nails painted... Black.

That's when I woke up;
Beads of sweat traced the side of my face as I pant from the endless running yet again.
My feet feel unusually sore as if I actually ran the distance.
I threw my head in hands, hoping to wake up from this unbearable fear.

I wish to obtain an answer to my lucid dreams.
Who is he? Why is he bent upon chasing me?
And most importantly,

Why does it feel so real?