Nightmare

I stumble down the corridor. Falling. Crashing onto the uneven stone floor. Screaming. Shrill screaming. Who's doing that? It hurts.

I haul myself up onto my knees, realising that everything's starting to blur. Can't see the stone beneath me. I fumble around in front of me, my waiting fingers closing around glass. Metal. I shakily ram the frames onto my face, immediately discovering the difference. Watching as the sharp lines of the floor slither back into focus. The edge of my bitten nails becoming clear.

But I also notice something else. The shadow. Reaching over my crouched form. Throwing me into panic. Don't' dare look behind me to see the shadow's owner, just wrench myself up to my feet and sprint down the corridor once more.

Someone is still screaming. Why won't they stop? All I can hear are the screams and the heavy thud of my feet on the stone.

I keep running. Running... running... running...

Why won't the corridor end? It just keeps going and going. Endless. Legs are growing heavy. Hard to lift. Hard to run/ Can't keep running.

Just as I think I'm going to crash from exhaustion, everything stops. For two perfect seconds – everything stops.

Suddenly the end of the corridor rushes into sight. Too fast. It's coming too fast. It's going to crash into me. I'm still immbolised.

I can't move. I'm going to die. My mouth closes. The screaming stops. My eyes widen in fear before squeezing shut. I wait. But I don't feel anything. Don't feel pain. Don't feel crushed.

Don't feel dead.

I slowly crack my eyelids apart. Open them wider.

I stand in the middle of the corridor. The end of the corridor stands a metre in front of me. With a door in it's centre. I'm not dead.

I stand. Frozen in awe. Mind's not processing much.

But what it does process is the heavy footstep. Behind me. And another. Closer.

I spring into action; yank the door open; slam it behind me.

The room I have entered is bare. Nothing there. Plain. White. Clinical. The light above casting a blue hue over everything.

I tread further inside; stand in the dead centre of the tiled floor.

So quiet.

DRIP

I look down.

There's a single drop of blood next to my foot.

I'm not bleeding.

Slowly tilt me gaze upwards.

Hanging from the high ceiling on long chains are large, metal hooks. On each hook, is a body. Hanging limply. Dripping.

I scream again, so hard that tears flow from my eyes. The screaming grows louder and louder as the room disintegrates around me. Heavy footsteps join the fray. Reaching ever closer. I'm drowning in screams and footsteps and blood. It's growing darker. Darker... darker... darker... I'm still screaming.

My eyes fly open; I bolt into a sitting position. I'm alive. I'm in my bed. My body drenched with sweat and my eyes and cheeks stained with tears.

I choke, the screaming stops again.

I fumble next to my bed for water, downing it in one huge gulp when I find it. I sink slowly back into my pillow, my eyes wide. Staring.

I don't fall asleep again.