[OLD] Deep Underground

23. Scraps

I was running.

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, my lungs burning for air.

I couldn't stop; not while He was behind me.

I jumped over an overturned table and rounded a corner, just barely keeping my balance.

I could hear his maniacal laughter echoing through the facility.

I turned into a hallway and briefly stopped.

There were six doors.

I tried the first door but it wouldn't budge.

I tried the second door and it was locked.

The third and fourth doors were stuck as well.

As I rested my hand on the knob of the fifth door, a cacophony of screaming broke out from the doors around me.

Loud banging noises, pleas for help, wails of agony, harshly whispered promises of revenge.

I jerked away from the fifth door and ran toward the sixth door, doing my best to block out the shrill noises around me. I turned the knob, and the door opened.

I turned my head toward the start of the hallway a little ways back. My eyes widened.

His shadow was just barely beginning to round the corner.

He laughed again, this one tinged with a robotic undertone, but no less psychotic.

The shrill childish screaming around me rose in volume.

With no hesitation I ducked through the door in front of me, shutting and locking it once I was inside.

The noises were more muted in this room. It was as though someone had filled my ears with gauze.

I took deep breaths, trying to calm my frantic heartbeat. My arms shook as I braced them against the door.

I turned around, closing my eyes, and slid down to the floor, letting my exhausted legs finally rest.

The muffled noises abruptly cut off, leaving me in an unsettling silence.

Something wasn't right.

I slowly opened my eyes.

I stopped breathing.

He stood above me, blood-stained axe raised high.

With an insane laugh, he swung downward in a deadly arc toward me.

I woke up screaming.

Trying to calm my erratic heartbeat, I took several deep, shaky breaths. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall by my bed.

That dream was vivid. Way too vivid.

Somewhat shakily, I pulled back the covers on my bed and swung my legs over the side. Sitting, I checked the time on my phone. It read 9:23am.

I rubbed my eyes in exhaustion before standing up. If I wasn't going to get any sleep with these nightmares, then I may as well get some caffeine in my system.

After shuffling over to the kitchen I began making myself some coffee. I wasn't hungry at the moment, so I decided not to go for any breakfast just yet. Once the hot beverage was finished, I waited for it to cool somewhat before taking several large gulps of it.

After a moment, I stopped chugging the drink and took a deep breath. I yawned slightly.

Making my way over to the living room, I flopped onto the couch and picked up the remote, lazily flicking through channels. After a moment, I settled on one at random. Putting my coffee down on a side table I relaxed into the couch, watching the television, but not really focusing on anything in particular.