POST 1 - EMILY

The nightmare.

I open my eyes to find myself in a dark room. I realize it is my room but it feels strange like the walls are perhaps cardboard propped up in front of watchful eyes. I sit up in my strange bed, unfamiliar with the faux similarities of the room compared to the cozy sanctuary I fell asleep in. I look around more carefully. I am still unsure of whether I am dreaming or perhaps I just have sleep in my eyes that muddles reality. My mind can’t focus and details elude me, shifting their forms before I turn to see them. The shadows in each corner of the room are not black but describing the color is difficult. Menace has no color, but rather a feeling. It is brooding and fluid, dangerous and fascinating. I see the darkness thicken, slowly at first just in the corners then rapidly engulfing more and more light until I am pooled by living ink. I force my limbs to move and shift my weight towards the edge. My feet land unevenly on the floor as I imagine something sinister under the bed waiting to grab and drag me under. I stand still as a statue, frozen by the chills crawling up my legs. I know I have to move and get out of this room. There remains a single source of gloating light, coming from under the closed door. The light retreats; the room feels cold and wet like the bottom of a pool. The shadows chuckle; I dive for the door.

Out of breath I gasp in the hallway, not remembering how I opened the door or if there even was one. I am still in my house just two doors away from my parents’ bedroom. My family hangs complacently in pictures on the walls. They have no eyes but smile just the same. I am standing heavily now unsure of my next move, temporarily safe but wary. I feel a presence just out of sight and imagine the worst. I want to run or shout for help but my legs are rubber and my tongue missing. There is no one to hear me. I turn the corner and see the nightmare waiting for me.

It has no shape or name but quivers in anticipation. Its body is only made of emptiness and eyes that devour. I open my mouth in surprise and the thing scrambles up the front of me, blurring my vision with terror. The fright enters my lips, slipping down my throat with the evil elegance of a snake. Sudden anger coils inside me, searing my insides with the pure venom of hate and malice. Every painful memory I ever suppressed comes fresh up my spine pouring sadness and despair into my mind. I fall to the floor and convulse uncontrollably. My muscles writhe and try to ring out the pain by twisting violently again and again. My head pounds into the wall bringing bright spots to my vision. I gasp and wretch emptiness. My heart sputters and I stop all movement, no longer wanting to win, just wishing for an end to all the pain. The nightmare finally reaches the outlands of my consciousness. My soul struggles pathetically before giving in to the surety of death.

I open my eyes to find myself in a dark room.

Written November 1, 2010.

Inspired by a Laffy Taffy wrapper: "When is it bad luck to meet a black cat? When you're a mouse."