Not Just Another Number

The Dream

Sarah's POV

I stand in a dark, empty void. I look around, confusion filling me. What's going on? Why am I back in the void? I begin to walk around, the sounds of my steps echoing around me.

A cold feeling creeps up my spine. I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing my hands on my arms to warm myself. But no warmth comes. Just like always. I sigh and give up on trying to warm myself.

Maybe if I walk around some more, something will happen. I take a couple steps forward and a low creaking sound fills the void around me. I step back, gasping at the noise.

Suddenly, the void fades away, turning into a sight I never thought I would see again. Blue light fills the area with flashes of red lighting happening every so often. Debris floats in the air and I feel even colder.

The Upside Down.

My heart begins to hammer in my chest as I shake my head. No, we closed the gate, I'm sure of it. Why am I seeing this? My breathing picks up as I try to back away, feeling my hands shake at my sides. The world turns again and I'm left in a room.

I turn around, growing more and more confused the longer I'm stuck here. Pillars of wood hold up the ceiling of the room. "What the hell?" I mumble to myself. Another creak comes from behind me. I turn around and spot something terrifying. I flinch and immediately hide behind an old and rotting box.

I peer over the box's top, looking at the sight before me to make sure my eyes aren't tricking me. Standing in the middle of this room is a man, or at least what has the body of a man. His skin is grey and blue and he doesn't look human. He floats in the air, connected to tentacles coming from the walls and the ceiling.

What the fuck is this thing?! Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to notice me. A sudden pain shoots through my temples, making me wince. The air shifts and turns freezing. So cold that I can see my breath. My heart beats faster, thinking maybe that thing heard me. I look over the box again, but it hasn't moved. I got lucky.

The pain grows worse. I grit my teeth and close my eyes. This is just a dream, it has to be. I dig my nails into the palms of my hands, trying to wake myself up. Wake up, wake up, wake up! Please! I feel a weight on my shoulders, forcing me to open my eyes.

End of dream~

"Sarah, wake up." Steve's voice calls me, waking me from that nightmare. I gasp and shoot upward. My chest rises and falls quickly as I try to get my barings straight. I look around, and I'm no longer in that room. Instead, I'm in my room, at my house, in my own bed, with Steve sitting next to me.

I look over at him, meeting his concerned gaze. "Sarah, are you okay?" He asks, rubbing my shoulder comfortingly. I think back on that dream and swallow the bitter fear that I felt earlier. I nod my head, not being able to find my voice. He looks through my answer easily. "Sarah, it was just a nightmare. You're okay."

Just a nightmare. Right. I breathe in deeply, calming myself down. Steve watches me breathe, keeping me calm by just sitting next to me. "Do you want to talk about it?" I look him in the eye, meeting his caring stare and a whole new fear fills my chest. It was just a nightmare, but he might worry more if I tell him. I think it over for a second before looking away, pulling my knees close to my chest. "It was just some memories from the mall again. Nothing new."

Steve nods, believing my lie, and pulls me closer. "It's okay, we're not at the mall anymore."

"I know." I lean into his hold, relaxing for the first time since I've woken up. Steve pulls us down so that we're both lying down, back to chest. "Try to get some more sleep, we both have work in the morning." I nod with a roll of my eyes and a smile. "Of course because everyone is gonna be asking the new cop for help at every minute." I say sarcastically.

Steve laughs and pulls me closer to his chest. He relaxes easily and falls asleep quickly. I calmer smile rests on my face as I begin to relax as well, slowly beginning to fall asleep.

Something wet hits my pillow.

I look down in the dark and see a dark droplet of something staining my pillow. I furrow my brows and reach up to my face, feeling wetness above my upper lip. I pull my hand back and my fingertips come back wet with the dark liquid.

Blood.

My heart beats a bit faster. That's the first nosebleed I've had in months. I slowly wipe my nose with the back of my hand and wipe my hand on my blanket. I lean back into Steve's hold, feeling that cold feeling creep up my spine once again.

It was just a dream.

Right?