I stood in the middle of a long road. There was woodland sprawling with trees on both sides. The trees were leafless, replaced only with thick fog. The entire landscape was eerie with a dark presence. The trees looked like talons ready to snatch up any who would try to venture through them.
I was motionless on the dirt path road until I heard what sounded like hooves approaching me. I had been working with horses long enough to know what they sounded like, even in my dreams or at far distances. It was just one of those things that cleaning the crap and piss teaches you.
Anyway, I strained my eyes to see what kind of horse coming to approach me. The rhythm of the hooves made the horse sound like it was traveling at a much faster speed, but when I saw it break through the fog, I was baffled. The horse was approaching me at a slow speed. Behind it, a trail of darkness followed. This was no ordinary shadow, it was solid black as pitch and tar. When the horse got closer, it shot off in speed, that was when I decided to make a run for it.
I ran at a snail’s pace down the endless, eerie road as the mare closed the distance. It neighed with a great rage in its voice. I glanced behind me and saw its rider overhead now. He came ready with a sword, curved especially for mounted warfare, ready his swing. I was to be the next victim, for I could not evade his wrath.
In my last moments awake in my nightmare under the pursuit of my mounted assailant, I came to the realization where the head was supposed to be, he had none. I wasn’t sure if it was just a dream or darker spirits had invaded my sleep. Either way, I woke up covered in sweat.
I wasn’t sure what I had experienced, but I wasn’t keen on telling anyone about it. I tried going back to sleep, but between bad dreams, worrying about Elena, and myself, I was kept awake all night. I rose in the morning a nervous wreck.
