Karma

On the Down Side

The shadow disappears and goes. One moment he's there, and the next he isn't.
But one thing for certain was that it was following me the entire way.
I sensed a nasty aura about him, one that calls for bloodshed.

I was running through a narrow alley, where only two people shoulder to shoulder can fit at a time.But I ran so uncomfortably. I was tired and have been running for so long. My speed wasn't fast anymore. Something about it just seemed like I was...useless.
Like I was a human. And there was nothing I could do about it. My legs felt heavy and my lungs want to burst out of my chest.

The alley gave off a stingy smell, considering that there were tons of trash down there.
Beer bottles, plastic bags, glass, cigarettes, rotten food...
The worst part was that there was no one around with me.
I was completely alone.

"Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid..hehe."
A singsong voice giggled. Shudders were sent down my spine. I kept running, but my legs got heavier.
I felt my heart beating so fast, and yet my legs going slower than a child walking. What is wrong with me?

Bam

A sudden dead end...
I turned around...and there the shadow of a man stood. He had no nose, and no eyes. Just a grinning mouth of fangs.

I leaned against the brick wall, panting. My head hurts and my whole body was stiff.
I extended a hand as I tried to generate lightning into my fingertips.

But it didn't work.
There was no tingly or shocking sensation that was running through my veins.
Instead, all I felt was the sweat that was coming off from my fingertips.

I was useless.

"Don't be afraid...Don't be afraid..." It sang again. My eyes widened as it got closer to me.
It grinned and grinned horrendously, like a crazy serial killer.
My body won't move. I can't even take a step. When I tried opening my mouth, nothing came out but whimpers of defeat.
This can't be happening...

The shadow continued and got closer to closer, until he was grinning right into my face. With a black hand, he wrapped it around my throat as I felt a cold, tightening, and searing pain...

"Fuck!" I hollered, as I quickly sat up and felt my neck.
"It was just a dream..." I realized, when I saw that I was in mattress and my blanket was already kicked off. My pillow was drenched in sweat.

I heard a bunch of shifting from beds as most of them sat up to look at me.
"Sorry. I woke you guys up." I said regrettably.

I checked the time. It was 4 am in the morning, and we usually wake up at around 6:15.
I felt sorry I had to wake them up like this.

"Are you okay Raymond?" One of the girls I didn't know asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

Maybe I should just take a stroll for a few hours. I don't want to sleep again.
I stood up and headed to the bathroom after taking a set of new clothes.

When I stepped into the shower, the only knob I turned on was hot water. I wanted to stay in there forever, but there was a knocking on the bathroom door.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"It's Lilliana's assistant, Elizabeth. I heard the water going nonstop for half an hour now so I wanted to make sure everything was alright before I go back to sleep."

Ah, I'm waking everyone up...
"Yes, sorry. You can go back now." I told her, wrapping a towel around me while I brush my teeth.
I stared in the mirror and looked at my eye bags. We all haven't been able to sleep well with trainings at midnight.