The Test

Dante 1

I keep having the same dream and I can't seem to figure out why. I'm moving forward through a crowd. Everyone is panicking. Why is everyone so scared? It's crazy how violent people can be when they are fearful. I think that's the question. What are they fearful of?

 The crowd is trying to push inside a tunnel. A tunnel that looks like it never ends. Law enforcement pushing people back. They have been there for hours. Riot gear weighing them down, limiting most of their movements.

 When I finally get to the front of the crowd, everyone stops. I look around seeing everyone just standing there looking into the tunnel. Even the policemen are turned around looking. Staring and petrified as if they were turned to stone.

 All I can hear is the sound of the wind. The trees around us dance. I finally look through the tunnel and...

I always wake up covered in sweat. Heart beating fast. My body is acting like I was there in that moment.

 Something isn't right. That uncomfortable feeling like when you try to go to sleep at a hotel, knowing that it isn't your place. As soon as I awoke, I knew that this was different then what I'm used to.

 It's so dark in here. My eyes are on autopilot searching for any source of light. This darkness is maddening. Where am I? The feeling of fear is burning in my chest. My body is going against the instructions my mind gives it. Calm down, Dante. Try to remember.

Wait, hold on. I hear voices. Two people? No, three. I can hear the difference between them. One woman. Two men. One of the men sounds younger than the other. Around my age. I just can't figure out what they're saying.

Then it happens. The thing I feared the most while in this situation. Light. It dissipates the darkness instantaneously and pierces my eyes at the same time. I can't help but to put my hand in front of my face. The light carries too much power when one has been submerged in darkness for so long.