Worst Nightmares

NIGHTMARE LAND

Last night was the first night I've dreamt in years. This wasn't any normal dream either. It was one filled with things that only the criminally insane could think of. Funny, I know, that I say that because I would definitely not be filed under that personality in the cold, metal filing cabinet of life. Although maybe after that dream its possible. Well I bet I've piqued your curiosity now haven't I? Well then let me get to my story of this nightmare.

I usually lie awake for hours, tossing and turning in my bed, entangled in my blankets like a fly in a spider web. This night was eerily different. I fell into a deep slumber as soon as my head hit the pillow. I didn't have to fumble with my music. I didn't have to mash my pillow into a ball or go get water because I needed something to do. I went right to bed. I had no idea what awaited for me in the dreamworld. I was only joyous that I would be getting a decent amount of sleep. But that joy was short lived.

For a while I walked on in a black abyss. I could see nothing above, below or to either side of me. Only darkness. There was no sound except for my wet sneakers on the phantom floor. I walked on for what felt like hours. Years! I called for someone, anyone who could tell me where I was or where the exit was.

Eventually I gave up and stood peering around at the blackness looking for any indication of an exit. I was turning so frantically I almost missed it! There! A small light on the horizon. Maybe it was the light in my bedroom! I could wake up and get out of here! I squinted and started running. My lungs burned and my legs ached but I kept running. The light got brighter and brighter as I got closer. I could start to feel my skin warming and turning pink. My body felt like it was on fire and my skin started to turn red. I could feel it start to flake and peel.

I closed my eyes and almost stopped to turn back when all of a sudden my foot hit air. Nothing was underneath me anymore except for more and more air. I was falling. The air was ripped out of my lungs and my screams were lost in the whirling winds around me. This went on for ages too. Just me and the fall. Eventually I stopped screaming and just wanted it to be over. I wanted to meet whatever hard surface was at the end of this fall and wake up.

As soon as those thoughts crossed my mind it stopped. I dared to open my eyes and found myself sitting in my history class. Of all classes! I had dream about this one!? I looked around me to see everyone staring at the teacher with half-lidded eyes as usual. They had no idea what I had just been through! I looked up to see the plain white ceiling. No dark opening that I had just fallen from. I let out a sigh and looked down at my notes. I almost thought it was a joke. I flipped through my notebook frantically but all of the pages were the same two words. They got darker and bolder and started bleeding through the paper. Nightmare Land. Nightmare Land! NIGHTMARE LAND! NIGHTMARE LAND!

The sound of nails on chalkboard makes me snap my head up towards the board. There words are written over and over again mixing into a jumbled mess. There's a deep gash in the board like huge class tore at it. My teacher turns and mumbles something. I look around hoping someone heard him and would answer but no one was there. Everyone had vanished and so had their desks. I was the only one and he was coming towards me. His eyes rolled back and spittle edged his lips as he started morphing. He grew in size and started growing claws right in front of me. He kept growling the same words over and over again until it was just an incoherent mess. Fear him. Fear him! FEAR HIM! FEAR HIM!

I jumped out of my seat and ran. My sneakers pounding down the hall unknowingly taking me to HIM. I bursted out the front doors and stopped dead in my tracks. The sky was blood red and the air sticky. Big creatures lumber around picking screaming people up and then spit out red and drop the carcass. The red splays on my face and hands as I try to block it. I turn my hands towards me to find the warm liquid dripping down. Blood. I wiped my hands on my jeans and started walking down the steps. Burning buildings loomed and some about ready to collapse. Nightmare Land.

And in the middle of it all was a menacing pyramid shaped building. That was where my feet led me. It was like a magnetic pull. I had to go there. To HIM. I found myself standing at the front of the structure awestruck. It didn't have a door. But one opened anyways. Two great doors opened and I leaned forward...

To sit upright in my bed with sweat-soaked pajamas and a small piece of notebook paper tacked to my door. I stand up and walk to the door on shaky legs. I untack the paper and my legs give out.

WELCOME TO NIGHTMARE LAND.

HE KNOWS YOU

AND KNOWS YOU WILL BE BACK.

FEAR HIM.