The Dream Book

Nightmares

I scanned my ID across the black scanner, the light went from red to green and the door lock clicked. I swung the black, heavy, metal door open and walked through the other set of doors between me and the entrance to the office. The sun beamed through the glass behind me and swamped the hallways with a yellow glow that bounced off the brick walls and marble floor. I opened one of the other doors and my matte, brown boots clicked on the marble floor, the sound echoed up the tall sitting roof. The sound was quickly drowned out by the sound of people talking to each other as they wondered around the halls, searching for something to do. I quickly joined as I began glancing around the halls, searching for people to speak to.

As I made my way through the cluster, people occasionally ran into me and turned towards me like it was my fault. I made my way towards the cafeteria, still searching the open space. The further I moved, the number of people decreased, allowing me to see and I spotted someone who looked familiar. She stood with her arms dangling by her sides, a red hoodie and jeans with holes in the front and her brownish, red hair laid on each shoulder. She was talking to a group of friends and her expression said she wasn't happy. I began to walk quicker so I could talk to her before class, she happened to glance away for a split second and right towards me.

A slight smile crept onto her face and it seemed to lighten the room and she began to walk towards me. Everything slowed down as I watched a black mass began to swallow one of the hallways behind her. Deep within it, the halls turned into rust, and the paint seemed to peel from the walls and soar upwards. As it touched people, they fell and turned into a brown sludge of decomposed bodies and skin. I began to run as fast as I could but only felt like I was walking.

"Kayley!"

She spun around and began to run, she was afraid, and I continued to run towards her. Everyone else seemed to disappear as it was faster than both of us were, I felt her hand touch mine and in a split second it was gone. A warm, chunky liquid dripped between my fingers and seemed to glaze my hand. I looked down and saw the marble floor in the center of the black mass, the sun was now blocked out and the room became dark. The room smelled of dead bodies and shit, I looked around me, puddles of what were once people scattered the hall. Kayley's bones sat on the floor right in front of me along with her own puddle. The room grew cold and silent, I dropped to my knees and stared at her bones. My hair dangled in front of my ocean blue eyes and matte brown, suede leather jacket, which was stained from exploding bodies.

I spun around and threw up into one of the puddles and it just seemed to combine with the mess. Tears began to fall down my face and onto Kayley's bones, the blackness seemed to fade, and the sun beamed once again.

"Sorry Kayley, I wasn't fast enough..."

I stood up and looked towards the windows, the hallways seemed darker, the silence was eerie. I slowly walked towards the entrance, underneath my boots, bones crunched, and the green sludge squished around. My hair was now dripping with sweat and I heard a voice telling me to wake up.

"Rick, wake up."

I opened my eyes and I quickly sat up, my hair dripped with sweat and my mom was sitting over me.

"You are having nightmares again, I should probably call the doctor—"

"No, I'm fine."

"Okay..."

She moved and wiped the sweat from my face, my hair dangled in front of my face and the room was cold. My body shook, and I moved the blankets over to the side, the bed was drenched in sweat. My mom turned on the lights and I boosted myself up from the bed and zoned out towards a wall.

"Was it the same one?"

"No, it was someone even closer to me..."

"Kayley?"

"Yeah..."

"Have you spoken to her lately?"

"No, she has her own life mom, I don't need to intrude in on her business" I said sternly, still staring at the wall.

"Alright...you should go get in the shower—"

"I've already planned on it."

I stormed off passed my mom and into the bathroom, I looked outside the window just beside the toilet, there was no sun light. I shut the blinds, removed soggy clothes, and threw them on the floor. I looked at myself in the mirror, my black and white beard dripped with sweat, my skin was pale, and my hair was drenched. The cold tiled floor froze my feet and the cold air made the sweat even colder. I spun around, turned the water on and adjusted it to my liking before stepping in. Steam quickly filled the room and felt like a battle between the cold and hot air was swirling around me. I stepped in and immediately the cold sweat washed away from my body and into the drain, giving me relief.