The park lights blurred before his eyes, their glow stretching into hazy streaks. The distant sounds of traffic faded until he could barely hear anything at all.
A wave of exhaustion washed over him.
Huh?
What's happening?
He tried to force himself to stay awake.
He really did.
But the drowsiness was overwhelming, far beyond anything he'd ever experienced. It seeped into his limbs and clouded his thoughts, dragging him toward an endless darkness.
Wait… Am I falling asleep?
Here?
What the hell is wrong with me?
The woman smiled at him.
"Don't worry. You'll feel much better soon."
Her eyes glowed with an unnatural light.
"You might even enjoy it."
The boy's knees buckled.
As he began to collapse, one of the women caught him and gently cradled his head.
"Good night, little dreamer."
His consciousness slipped away.
Just before everything went dark, he heard her whisper one final sentence.
"Let's see what kind of nightmare we can make out of your beautiful dream."
