Static rang in my ears, bleeding in from the infinite dark void surrounding me.
I never know how I get here—only that it always starts the same way.
Instinctively, I begin to run into the abyss.
Beneath me, a dark, viscous fluid ripples. I can't see it, but I feel it under my feet—cold, clinging, wrong.
My heart pounds. Any awareness that this is a dream begins to fade.
I don't know what I'm running from. I never do.
But I never stop. I can't stop.
Then it comes.
A screech—inhuman and agonizing—echoes from behind.
My legs move faster than they should be able to.
Tears stream down my face as I run, sobbing, choking on the sound of my own breath.
It's a futile cry. No one ever comes.
Something grabs at my back—no, tears at it.
It doesn't let go, ripping fragments of my flesh with it.
But I don't stop.
I won't stop.
Don't stop.
It's the only thought in my mind.
Run—
"I can't," I hear a voice whisper.
It stops me cold.
A familiar voice—so familiar it hurts.
But distant, like a memory swallowed by time.
For the first time ever… I turn around.
There's nothing. At least, not close.
Twenty feet away, a smoke-like shape begins to rise.
It wants to form—but something denies it.
It remains cursed in a swirling, shapeless cloud.
Except for the eyes.
Red. Burning. Locked onto mine.
And in that instant… something ancient tears through me.
Not fear.
Worse than fear.
Something primal.
Something before fear.
It's like he's unraveling me—thread by thread.
My very existence coming undone.
I stumble back, tripping over something that wasn't there a second ago.
The shadow shrieks.
It's coming. Fast. Inhumanly fast.
I scramble, clawing backward, but it's already upon me.
I scream—loud, raw, broken—as I brace for the end.
I felt the scentless, yet nauseating shadow enter my nostrils, forcing its way inside me.
I tried my best—I gagged, coughed, anything to prevent it from entering.
Eventually, I forced it out and was finally able to breathe.
Not that I had the chance to.
I noticed the floor under me was no longer wet, but soft—like a mattress or sponge.
Next to me, there was a light, barely visible through the thick blackness.
It was beckoning me to enter.
The fiend was now neutralizing in front of me.
Strange noises came from it—not like before, but I didn't dare stay to investigate.
I was back on my feet, heading to the only salvation I could see.
The first step I took, there was a shift in the platform I was on.
The floor was now hard, but I pressed forward as fast as I could.
I was inches from the light when I was met with a slight resistance that quickly faltered, but left a stinging sensation on my arm and face.
When I entered the light, I felt a great wind pass through me—like I was falling from a great height—
followed by a harsh landing that forced my knees to bend and curse me.
I looked up.
I was no longer in that place.
Now, I was in a town.
But I did not recognize any of the buildings.
The road was made of polished stone, and the buildings ahead looked to be made of the same material.
I saw a shop up ahead, with flowers decorated and displayed outside.
My help, I thought.
I tried moving, but it was too painful to do so.
I looked at my feet and realized there were shards of glass under my bare feet, and a few had cut into my right foot.
I looked back at the flower shop—
but a shadow, like the one from earlier, was heading toward me from that direction.
Using all my might, I pushed through the lane and began to run in the opposite direction.
At first, the pain was unbearable—it felt as if my leg was broken—
but as I pressed on, the adrenaline took over and I was able to push through it.
Not that it was of much use, as more of these creatures popped up from nearly every street corner.
Most just hovered there, making strange screeching noises.
A few tried to get close, but I didn't give them the opportunity.
Ahead of me, I could see an open field—
as big as two soccer fields—
and beyond that, a forest.
I couldn't stay here, that was for sure.
And the field was too open.
I felt dry grass beneath me as I swayed while running, keeping the shadows at bay for the moment.
One would pop in front of me, causing me to almost fall—but I never did.
I pushed through them, and they shimmered and dissolved into the air.
"Coward," one of the shadows hissed.
"They die. You live," another said as it materialized beside me, forcing me to move faster—bringing the pain in my foot back with a vengeance.
"Coward. Coward. Coward!" it screamed as I entered the forest.
Even though there was still light outside, the trees within made it almost pitch-black.
I continued forward through the trees with difficulty, losing balance and falling many times.
The shadows' taunts still echoed behind me, so I didn't stop.
Dried branches scraped against my skin, leaving deep scratches.
Thorns and sharp rocks stung beneath my bare foot.
I couldn't keep this up for much longer—that, I was well aware of.
Still, I kept moving, hoping to find some form of refuge.
I pushed forward until I stumbled into a clearing.
There, an incredibly large tree stood.
Its roots had erupted from the ground while it was still young and had grown partially outside, giving the illusion that it had tentacles.
I moved closer, squeezing myself between the roots—barely fitting.
But somehow, I did.
Now, I was inside the roots, right next to the thick main stem.
Tired, confused, and afraid, I curled up into a fetal position and covered my ears.