Escape From Reality

The Accident

Anthony could not forget the first time he met Samatha. He was just a young dumb kid, on the verge of being an adult, not ready to grow up just yet when he opened his eyes one night to see the most beautiful place in existence.

A sandy beach that stretched out as far as he could see and inside it, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was ethereal, a goddess from another world. She claimed she was a real person living in a real world, but how could someone so magnificent be real? He had assumed he was dreaming of course, that Samatha was nothing more than a figment of his imagination.

Many nights they saw each other and had the most magical adventures, did things that were never possible in reality, and while he kissed Amanda in the real world, secretly he was madly and deeply in love with the mysterious woman from his dreams.

With every passing day he wished she was real, wished it with every fibre of his being, begged to whatever higher being he could just escape and travel to that world and lived in it forever, even when his precious son was born he still longed to be with Samatha, closed his eyes every night wishing it was her face he saw next.

This longing panged at him every passing day, grew so strong all he thought about was Samatha that even Amanda started to notice the growing distance between them, they started to argue and fight even over the smallest of things, and as things in the real world started falling apart from Anthony, things in the dream world seemed so much better.

Sometimes in the dreams Anthony would catch a glimpse of a hollow black being out of sight, looming, but it never did anything more than hide in the shadows, so Anthony had foolishly assumed that it was going to stay there. He never expected it to do any real harm to them.

A vacation to the beach changed everything, when he spotted her in the town's supermarket. She was wearing jeans and white tee looking so normal but yet there she stood, as real as ever, staring straight at him with the most beautiful eyes, the same eyes Anthony had seen all too many times in his dreams.

That was the moment Anthony's dream became a reality.

The fights went on behind closed doors but now seeing Samatha in the flesh had made his desire grow stronger, for now he knew with certainty that it is possible to escape from reality and be with the woman of his dreams.

So he did it. He asked Samatha if they could just escape together.

"Let's run away together Samatha. Just escape here forever. What if we just chose to never wake up?"

Samatha shook her head, a thin frown gracing her face as her blond curls swayed from side to side.

"Anthony-you know I can't. I have a life and so do you. We can't live here forever."

"But there must be a way."Anthony grabbed Samatha's hand that fine night in desperation. Samantha didn't pull away so Anthony took that as a sign to continue.

"I don't want to live with Amanda anymore. Whatever love we once had is gone. I love you now. Isn't that enough?" Anthony looked around the beach where he and Samatha had spent many happy times together, and many more to come if she just said yes.

"You aren't happy with your life either. I know you love your family but don't you want more?" Anthony pleaded, a tinge of desperation starting to make its way through, gesturing with his other hand.

"Run away with me Sam. Escape from your boring life. I just want to be with you Sam. I really do." Samatha shook her blonde curls one more time and pulled her hand from Anthony's tight grasp. Anthony's hand felt empty without the presence of Samatha's warm hand.

"I can't. I'm sorry."

The sudden sound of thunder crackled overhead.

Anthony remembered the way Samatha looked up, worry edging on her face.

"That never happened before." She had mumbled, for never in their times together did this happen. Anthony quickly grabbed Samatha's hand again,desperate to convince Samatha.

"Please. We can be happy here together."Anthony begged. Samantha shook her head vigorously just as raindrops started pelting down.

"Anthony,I already told you. My answer is no and that is final."

"Samantha-"

Samantha's eyes looked beyond his shoulder before her eyes widened with shock.Anthony stopped what he was saying and turned around just in time to see a dark looming figure in the distance.

"What-what is that?" Samantha choked as Anthony's hands coiled around her waist by instinct. He pulled her closer to him, suddenly worried.

"I saw them around before, but- they never did anything."

The figure loomed closer. By now Anthony could just make out its features.

"That's not a human."Samantha breathed.

Anthony tugged on Samantha.

"Sam, I think we should go" Anthony eyed the strange figure, abruptly worried about the possibility of it hurting them. Samantha could only stare in shock as Anthony tried to tug her away.

"But how? It's not real."

"Let's wake up for now. We can discuss this further the next time we dream and they're gone." Anthony was starting to not like the look of things. Samatha just stood there, frozen in shock, but turned when Anthony spoke.

"I already told you I don't want to run away with you."Samatha argued. Anthony shook his head, just for a second forgetting their immediate danger.

"I can't live without you Samantha.."Anthony pleaded as he pulled Samatha further back as the monster loomed closer.

"I won't do it." Samatha held strong on her defiance.

"Sam-"

The dark figure was almost towards them now.

"No. I won't ever run away with you. I will never do that."

Anthony felt his frustration growing as the seconds ticked by.

"I just want to escape with you Samatha! Is that too much to ask for?"

Samatha looked towards him with tearful eyes.Her back turned towards the figure.

"Yes."

The monster lunged, its black tendrils stretching towards them. Anthony gasped and tried to pull Samatha back but a tendril looped around her neck. Samantha shrieked as Anthony could only watch with horror as it plunged a tendril directly into her heart.

The tendrils retreated and the monster disappeared into thin air. Anthony breathed heavily, in too much shock to do anything.

"Sam."He croaked out.This was all a dream right? Samatha had to be alright. He hurried over to check for a pulse.

Her hand was now cold in his and he felt around the wrist for a pulse.

There was none.

Anthony woke up in a cold sweat, heart beating furiously against his chest.

When the dreams stopped happening after a week, Anthony had hunted her down in reality in desperation, hoping she was still alive.

Anthony had only found out about her passing away when he found her facebook page, the words "Rest in Peace" bolded on it.

And that was the moment his life ended.