Nightmare

A Story by SaFur

It was the same nightmare. After 20 years of the same movie playing in my head every time I close my eyes, you'd think I've gotten used to it, but I haven't. I'm hidden in a dark room that is only accessible through a hole in a ceiling. I'm being chased, but I'm not sure by what. When I crawl through the hole, I'm brought to an entirely new house, except it's the guts of the house. Dry wall hasn't been put up yet and by the looks of it, never will be.
The new house is dark and eerily silent. I'm terrified and wish to be in the light again, wish to smell the fresh hair and hear the birds, but I'm trapped. The air is musty, mold spores dance in the thin light strips. I want to hold my breath, not wanting to breathe in the toxins. But as always, I take in a huge lungful of air. I can almost see the mold spores leave the light's stream and race for my airway.
I walk forward, the pit of my stomach growing heavier with dread. I'm going deeper into the maze of this long forgotten home. No more streams of light guide me and now I'm tripping and stumbling until I hit a wall. I pat the wall frantically until I feel a cold knob. I wrap my fingers around the icy brass and turn. The door screeches open and something pulls me into the depths.
I stand alone in the darkness. I wait for my eyes to adjust but they never do. I strain my ears, listening for any type of movement. I wait for what feels like an eternity. Just when I start to think I'm alone, I feel the hairs on my neck stand up. My body breaks out in painful goosebumps and a sharp shiver racks its way down my spine. Hot, putrid breath assaults my nose. A low hum plays in my ears. My mouth is suddenly pulled open and something reaches down my throat, grabbing at my intestines. I feel them uncoiling and traveling up and out of my mouth. I can't breathe and start to panic. The pain I feel is ungodly. Warm, sticky blood oozes from my mouth and nose. I'm dying and there is nobody here to save me.
Just when I feel myself falling into Death's hands, I awake with a start, heart racing and slamming against my chest cavity. My bed and hair are wet from perspiration. I'm breathing hard, almost choking for air. Tears flood my eyes. I'm in my bedroom, alive, intestines where they're supposed to be, but I still cry. Salty tears race down the sides of my face, collecting around my ears and back of my neck. My breath is ragged, but is slowly coming to an even pace.