Parasomnia

The Best Follows

The art above is not mine.  I would tag the artist, but their name has slipped my mind.  The image depicts a time more traditional than what we are used to.  For some reason, my dream had slipped back into the Victorian Era. 
I presume too much studying on this bipedal beast is the reason for that, for they were discovered in the 1700s.  I'll start by saying, I'm utterly terrified by Werewolves or Humanoid beasts.  Anything that has the ability to think like a human and is equipped with the power of an animal is quite menacing.
Dreams typically last only seconds, but they feel like they last forever.  This is one, I'm assuming, reached the seven second mark, for it moves at an agonizing pace. 
Please, my readers, do enjoy.  Accompany me into my dream realm, and remember, have sweet nightmares.

This was something akin to my happy place.  It was somewhere I imagined I was in.  Nature abundant and no technology to influence my actions.  I paced along a dirt road.  A trail surely made out by horse drawn carriages.  I could see the tracks of wheels embedded into the dirt.  I inhaled, and just as I did, there was a breeze sweeping the land.  I could smell the crips air.  It was so clean, unlike our more modern, polluted one. 
This is so surreal.
It is remarkable, really.  The power the human brain has over you.  It is capable of tricking you into seeing, smelling, feeling, tasting, and hearing things.  Perhaps that is the cause for such vivid dreams? 

"Maria."

A voice called to me from within the trees.  There was a forest, it stretched along one side of the path and a field of wheat along the other.  I turned on the balls of my feet in search for the source of my name.  I could see nothing.  There was only the lush green leaves making it difficult to see into the forest. 
Just as I was about to cautiously step towards the forest, a blue butterfly, tailed wings, caught my sight.  It was graceful.  I wanted to follow it, for I always attempted to capture such creatures, but something kept me looking towards the forest. 
I wish I had heeded the winged being's warning, but I overlooked it.  Still, it attempted to draw me away from my focus, but I brushed it off.  I suppose when it came to terms with my actions, it moved along. 
They say butterflies and moths are drawn to death, but often in an abundance.  The decorate the deceased or soon to be deceased, so one didn't have me worried.  Still, I should've concerned myself with one of such focus. 
It was so vibrant, fluorescent-- It was surely meant to draw me away from something.  By the time this thought clicked in my head, I had already made my way into the forest.  It was unbelievably barren on the inside. 
Maybe it was due to one tree growing taller than the other, and in attempts to reach the sun, blocks out the other's light?  Nature always managed to do this somehow.  It was so beautiful yet so grim.
I stumbled over a stone brick.  It was cut out so perfectly, despite the pieces that were missing.  When I looked it over, I was met with a dirt path that led towards an abandoned village.  My eyes kept following the path, and rewardingly, met a Castle.  I pushed myself up from the mossy bricks and began limping towards the empty walls. 
I could only assume I had injured myself in the fall.  When I made it up to the castle I noticed the wooden doors were still in tact.  I wanted to reach for the hoop that was designed to knock, but I refrained. 
No one would be here?
I knew because it was so silent, abandoned.  I reached my nimble fingers toward the wood, flattened my palm against it, and pushed.  The door announced my presence with an eerie creak. 
I flinched at the noise.  It was so loud, and if anyone happened to be within the walls of this abandoned abode, they would know of my presence.  Still, my body kept moving on it's own accord. 
There was a stretch of dirtied, tattered, and faded red and gold carpet about one hundred yards towards the stairs.  The carpet made its way up the steps, and at the first wall-- A picture hung.  It was torn and had fallen on the ground. 
I began walking towards the stairs and then up the steps.  I pushed past the picture, and made my way up the second flight of steps.  Instead of the Castle growing larger, it seemed to grow smaller.  When I had reached the top, I was immediately met with a door. 
No.
It seemed all too familiar.  My hand moved on its own and pushed the door open.  I expected to be met with the library I had once fled from, but I was met with-- Trees?
I was back outside, and when I turned to search for the Kingdom, it had vanished.  I felt it begin to grow cold.  I brought my hands to my elbows and embraced myself to preserve heat.  It was then when I noticed a flake of white land on my arm. 
Snow?  It was increasingly cold now.  I attempted to find my way out of the forest, ignoring everything until I heard movement.  There was something lurking in the shadows.  I presumed it was paranoia, but I hadn't been focused on anything other than returning to my home?  I halted, and for some ignorant reason, I spoke out.
"Is anyone there?"
My words were met with a response of silent, and as I pressed forward, it did as well.  I could hear its heavy steps closing in behind me.  It had drawn so close that I could feel it's breath on the back of my neck.  I stopped once more, holding my own breath to listen to heaving behind me. 
I didn't look back, I couldn't.  The reflection of the beast in a frozen creek was evidence enough to what it may have been.  I could only stare into the mirror of water as it drew its arm back and struck me.