Invisible Blood

Never-ending nightmare

My bare bloody feet slightly jutting from the end of our quay, my toes searching for the dark water below. My white sun dress no longer white was draped over me tattered, torn and full of ash smelling of soot. As I think of the reality of my dreams taking life, breathing and suffocating my life. I wondered what could have been if my husband succumbed to his fate my dream foresaw, lady luck was on my side he narrowly escaped it. I was watching the reflection of the blue and red lights flashing in the water below unsure and scared that I might have to fight this dream magic as my mom put it for the rest of my life or maybe I was finally released from them. A strong familiar hand began to rest on my shoulder, releasing me from my trance.

"Baby, they need to take your statement.", my husband Peter softly whispered in my ear.

I turned around to face what my dream had caused. Our beautiful lake side home was now a mixture of fire and soggy burnt mess. All our careful planning just went up in smoke. I sighed.

"Hannah.", Peter said louder this time.

I made myself focus on his face. His strong jaw littered with ashes. I look into his warm brown eyes and no anger lives there, solely worry and love. He brushed a rouge hair behind my ear.
"Okay", I said quietly leaning into his soft touch.

Peter's hand dropped and lightly grabbed my hand and began to guide me over to the flashing lights originated from slowly. The gravel of our walk way to the quay stung my bare feet as it dug into me. I winced a few times, but continued onwards. I could only look at my feet as I walked. I couldn't bring myself to look at the house or my husband. Tears welled up in my eyes threatening to fall as I told myself that I deserved the pain of the gravel.

"Ma'am?", a young man in black uniform asked.

"She's fine.", Peter said ushering me around him.

That was the first time I heard Peter's disappointment. My heart sank and I knew that I was to blame for all this. I just couldn't lift my head to face anything. The stench of the fire reached my nose as I started coughing, a nervous reaction I always had. I felt my lungs slam shut and my eyes sealed completely as my body spasmed uncontrollably. I could feel myself losing grip of reality and could only focus on a mechanical laughter that slightly resembled my own. Then it all went black.

***

The smell of bleach assaulted my nose. I could hear muffled voices, but my eyes refused to open. My mouth felt like boulders to move and my throat was dry and scratchy. Surrounding me was a soft fabric, I could feel it but I couldn't touch it.
'Fail', my voice rang though my darkness.

I knew I wasn't alone. I also knew I wasn't fully awake. This place is where I always dreamt of the dreams that came to haunt my reality. I was shaking and remained quiet, too terrified that if I spoke it would some how become worse.

'Come out and play', it giggled almost singing it.

'No', I responded.

'I know you want to. Remember I will get my way... always do.'

'Who are you?'

'Getting bold are we?'

I remained silent. I could briefly hear my mom saying that it was only real if you let it be. Looking in the darkness once more I narrowed my eyes.

'You aren't real.', I shouted.

'Oh yeah?!'

A burst of light blasted throughout my senses. A beautiful vintage mirror hung in front of me. I looked carefully into it knowing that mirrors sometimes lied, I saw myself reflected back to me.

'I am as real as you'

I saw my lips move but I never spoke. I bit my bottom lip hard.

'That won't stop me.', My reflection spoke again. 'you foolish child.'

'What do you want?', I cried.

'Your life.'

As quickly as the light shone, the light and the mirror disappeared. Leaving me once again to fight though the darkness. I could feel a large hand holding mine. All I could do was squeeze it. It squeezed me back. I could feel the the familiar lips on my forehead as I pushed myself to o open my heavy lids.

"Don't try to talk baby. There's a tube down your throat.", Peter said quickly. "You almost died on me."

Tears stained his face. I saw a fear that was never there before and that's when I realized where I was. The beeping confirmed my fears. Hospitals were the worse for me. That's when my dreams became more deadly.