DREAMS

I sank deeply into my own world which was filled with darkness. I didn't know where I was going, where I came from or who was chasing me, all I knew was that I had to run. My heart raced uncontrollably; I felt my palms become wet and my head too. My legs were already getting weak but I just couldn't stop.

Suddenly, I heard a voice call out. "Precious! Precious!!" I stopped immediately and looked round but I couldn't see a thing. It was all dark, I couldn't even tell what I was standing on nor could I tell which way to go; all I knew was I felt the right path under my feet.

'That voice...' I said panting real hard; I knew it sounded familiar but whose was it? I didn't hear any voice again so I continued running.

'Precious!' I heard again but this time instead of being terrified, I felt calm. I stopped and looked around. Soon I saw something: huge and for an unknown reason, frightening. I fixed my gaze on it as it came closer. It flashed its angry red eyes at me and gave a smirk which sent chills running down my spine. Now it was closer than ever; it stood before me with its height more than mine. I felt tiny before it; it had the legs of a horse and its upper body was covered with scales of a fish. Its face was of a buffalo. It hissed loudly: I covered my ears and eyes, screaming loudly.

'Hey, Precious! Precious!!' A voice called out. It was Samuel; he starred at me, confused. I hugged him happily, feeling a sense of safety, why? I didn't know. All I knew and all that mattered was I with him. He smiled at me and brushed his fingers through my hair. 'It's okay baby.' He said calmly and took me by my hand and led me towards the school's hallway.

As we walked past every student, I felt irritated at some point and scared. Suddenly, I was back in my former world running again for my dear life only this time there was actually something behind me-The Buffalo- It galloped angrily behind me. I was scared, terrified, frightened: name it all. I just wanted this unending chase to just invent an end. It drew closer, closer and closer. I could feel its heavy breath on my neck. A tear stung my eye at the thought of dying if I ever got caught.

'Bam!' was the sound I made when dropped from a mountain to the lower side. 'Light!' I shouted joyously, I could see the light at last. I looked behind me-nothing. Before me was a spring which shone like crystals. I drank out of it and washed off the heat on my face and neck. The white dress I wore was torn and dirty too but that wasn't what had my attention. The curtain at the other side of the spring was what drew my attention. It hung in the air with nothing holding it. There were trees on the other side: trees with leaves and fruits which looked beautiful but the side I stood at, was blank just the light and the ground. I crossed to the other side out of curiosity and maybe I might just get an answer to all the questions that had been taunting me. I pushed the curtain aside slightly and peeped through there was nothing but just fog. Weird, it was foggy behind the curtains but clear with trees of different sizes beside it and behind it when closed. I'm only going to figure out this mystery if I take a step in. I walked in expecting something extraordinary-not that this wasn't enough- to happen but nothing happened so I continued moving. I put out my hands to guard me as I walked which was almost as useless as my eyes being opened.

Suddenly, I fell uncontrollably into something which seemed to be an endless pit. The ride lasted long enough for me throw up as many times as possible. Soon, I landed on a soft spot and by a soft spot I mean it ironically. The pain was unbearable. I didn't know why but I was in my classroom which was okay except for the fact that it didn't seem like it. The chairs were different and so were the seat arrangements. I got up from the chair I was seated and tried to shake off the aching feeling I felt. The school was quite empty and silent. It was late and I was at school, why? I opened the first door I got to and peeped into it. It was the Principal's Office. I entered quietly like I didn't want to wake anyone up-who? Surprisingly, there were some weird looking artifacts in there on his shelf. I picked up one of them which looked like the head of a buffalo and read the inscription on it. It read thus, 'Those who run away from a problem shall forever be a COW-ARD.'

'What does that mean?' I asked myself like I actually knew the answer to it but it did baffle me –the Buffalo's head- but why? 'Mmm, time will tell.' I said and dropped it back. I left the room leaving the door slightly open; I walked slowly towards the cafeteria which was weird 'cos the cafeteria was never close to the Principal's Office. I entered the hall with ease as the door was widely opened. 'It was empty, strange.' I said and kept on moving. Shortly, I felt my skin become hot. Someone or something was breathing on my neck heavily and it sent goose bumps running across my skin uncontrollably. All of a sudden, I felt cold and unable to breath; I wanted to scream for help but I couldn't. It was like my throat was shutting down and I was stuck to the ground. The heavy breathing continued and the only word that came to my mouth was 'Mom'. I turned my head slightly to see the bulging red eyeballs staring at me evilly. It licked its lips and laughed loudly like a villain would at their prey in movies.

'YOU ARE COW.' It said with a thick masculine voice.

'I am not!" I managed to scream which I was happy about-a little.

'YOU ARE AND I LIKY COWS.' It said and laughed again showing off its slimy fork-like tongue. I started to cry uncontrollably: I tried to fight back each tear but it was like as one fell it drew the other.

'UGHN, BABY COW CRY? HAHA, JUST THE BEGINNING.' It said and smirked at me. It raised its scaly hands to my face and uttered quietly: 'GOODBYE.' As he drew his hands slowly to my neck, I managed to summon up some courage and the strength to scream as loud as I could.

'Mommy!' I shouted and opened my eyes immediately. My face was all sweaty and I had drenched the pillow with my tears. I rose up quietly; I was panting heavily and was scared at the same time. That was when I realized it was just a dream and the sun was already up. 'Phew' I said and wiped my face dry with my hands.

'Precious!' A voice called out. It was Mom and I was so happy to hear her voice and not some strange looking being. 'It's about time you woke up.' She said and entered the room.

'So that was the voice I heard' I thought and smiled at her.