DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT actually own anything! Just my bizarre dream okay..?

*My crazy Dream, on Feb. 22, 2003*

It unfolded in my old neighborhood. I was talking on my cell phone to my best friend Brittanie who was afraid for me to go alone. She wanted me to leave my cell phone on so she could be sure that I was alright.

I put the hands free feature on and covered it with my long, dark, curly hair. I brushed all the wrinkles off my light green, silk gown, and set off down the street, unescorted around two a.m. I walked toward the sinister looking mansion, and I began to feel uneasy.

Dark clouds surrounded the area, giving a ghostly aura. I took a deep breath and stepped up the front steps. I called to Brittanie to be reassured she was with me. She responded, though it sounded as though she was eating cereal and watching cartoons, so she was not paying close attention.

My trembling hand reached for the large door handle. I thought of turning back but decided against it. I quickly, with force, pried the door open and stepped inside. Without warning the door slammed shut behind me. There was no turning back.

I was submerged in complete darkness. I became scared. I almost called to Brittanie, but remembered where I was. I heard some distant singing- The most beautiful music I had ever heard. . . . . I knew it, I knew it well. I slipped off my shoes and walked forward on the cold, damp floor. The music urged me forward, I had completely forgotten where I was and forgotten all my fears. Before I knew it large steps were at my feet, the voice was coming closer. I climbed up the steps as quickly as I could. I followed the singing until I reached a glowing, white mirror. I looked deeply into it and slowly and saw only my own reflection. . . . . though I knew there was more. The voice was so close. I touched the mirror, as if pleading to it to show me the angelic voice behind it. And slowly, my reflection began to fade away. A man and a mask appeared within the mirror. I instantly became intrigued by this man and his mask. He seemed to be holding me by such a strong trance, that I was afraid that it would leave me. . . . . That it would go away and I would never know it again.

He stretched forth his hand through the mirror for me to take. I took it without thinking, his hand felt ice cold but I tried not to react to it. He pulled me through the mirror and I found myself submerged again in darkness. The voice stopped singing, and he let go of my hand. I became scared and called to the him to not leave me:

"Please. . . . ." I called, though the words did not leave my lips with as much strength as I had produced them to.

His cold hands took my shoulders and led me forward, then in a quiet gesture he slowly slid his hand down my arm and took my hand, which I had the strangest feeling he kissed. I tried to look at him, though I could not see in this dense darkness. I could sense him watching me; I could feel his eyes following me, watching the expression I had on my face.

The floor was becoming colder and damper with every step I took. He could see it in the expression on my face, so he paused for a moment, knelt down, and carefully placed my shoes on my feet, in a courteous manner, before we continued.

We approached another mirror, this one was dark, and had a melancholy atmosphere about it. I paused, I was ashamed and afraid to confront this mirror. I knew he would discover my secret before we entered this mirror. He had a puzzled, confused look on his face but it did not take him long to figure it out. He pulled the hands-free piece out of my ear and threw my cell phone on the ground. I imagined it broke into a thousand pieces. He became angry with me, and I began to cry, though trying very hard to fight back the tears. He walked away. . . . leaving me alone.

I collapsed on the cold ground sobbing and begging him to come back. After what seemed like days to me, he returned. I apologized to him many times, but he just said nothing. He took my hand and led me in a different direction through the never-ending darkness. We went through some hidden door to the front of the house. There was a slight drop but the he caught me before I could become alarmed.

Raoul was in the front yard mounted on his strong, proud, white horse. He and the masked man argued for quite some time. Raoul became angry and challenged the masked man to a race.a race over me? The race would start when I dropped my handkerchief. (Bazaar, I know!) Raoul said he would win the race for me and then kill the man once he did.

The masked man appeared on a black horse whose eyes were full of menace and hate, though they also looked sad. I never got to drop my handkerchief because Raoul shouted, "Go!" and he took off laughing at the masked man. The masked man's horse tried to go but the rider would not allow him too. I asked the man why he was not going.

"You should be his." He gestured in the direction of Raoul, ". . . . he will make you happier than I could. . . . . he will give you a normal life."

"But I DON'T LOVE Raoul!" I responded, ". . . . . and I wouldn't be happy with him . . . . .and I. . . "

He said nothing for a minute. Then he climbed off his horse and walked toward me.

"He will make you happy. . . . he won't make you cry." He said. He gently caressed my cheek, kissed my forehead, and disappeared. A silent tear rolled down my cheek and fell to the cold world below me.