The Dream

chapter 1

It's been nine days since I've slept. I know that sounds insane, but it's the truth. Every time I try to close my eyes, I see them. The figures in the darkness, waiting for me to let my guard down.
I've tried everything to stay awake - coffee, energy drinks, even cold showers - but my body is starting to shut down. My hands shake uncontrollably, my thoughts are scattered, and my vision is blurry.
I don't know what they want from me, but I'm afraid to find out. They smile at me in the darkness, taunting me to sleep. I can't give in. I can't let them take me to that place again.
The dreams are the worst part. They're so vivid, so real, that I can't tell where the dream ends and reality begins. In the dreams, I see things that I can't explain - creatures with twisted limbs, faces without eyes, and a darkness that swallows everything.
I know that I can't keep this up forever, but I don't have a choice. If I fall asleep, they'll take me to that place, and I don't know if I'll ever come back
I started to hear the Tic Tac Tic Tac clock all of a sudden, a sound that grew louder and more intense with every passing second. I closed my eyes and let the noise envelop me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a strange room. The walls were painted bright red, and I was lying on a bed, my hands and feet bound tightly.
At first, I thought I was dreaming, but the feeling of cold metal pressing against my wrists and ankles told me otherwise. I tried to scream, but my voice caught in my throat, and all that came out was a hoarse whisper.
That's when I saw her, a woman with no features, no eyes, nose or mouth, just a smooth, pale face. She approached me slowly, her body moving in sensual ways. She climbed onto the bed, straddled me, and started to force herself upon me.
I tried to fight her off, but it was like I was paralyzed. My limbs wouldn't obey my commands, and my mind was foggy, as if I was drugged.
The woman laughed at my struggles, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down my spine. That's when I noticed her neck, and the gaping maw filled with razor-sharp teeth. She was a monster, a demon, and I was trapped with her.
The room was suffused with a red glow, and in the distance, I could hear the sound of a violin playing. It was a familiar tune, Tartini's "Devil's Trill Sonata," but played in a twisted, discordant way.
As the music reached its climax, the goat demon appeared, playing the violin with manic energy. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and it cackled with delight at my predicament.
When the song ended, the woman's mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth. She leaned in, ready to devour me, and I felt a sharp pain in my neck.
Suddenly, I woke up, drenched in sweat, and gasping for air. The alarm clock next to my bed was ringing loudly, and it took me a few moments to realize that it had all been a nightmare.
But the pain in my neck was real. I reached up to touch it, and my fingers came away wet with blood
I stumbled out of the bath, shivering despite the hot water. My whole body ached, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been haunting me since the nightmare. As I dried myself off, I winced in pain as I touched the wound on my neck. It had been bleeding again, and I knew I needed to get it checked out, but I couldn't find the time or energy.
Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already 7:30. Time to get ready for work. I tried to ignore the fatigue that weighed me down and the hunger pangs that gnawed at my stomach. I knew I had lost my appetite since the dream, but I couldn't afford to miss a meal.
As I walked to the office, I felt as if I was moving through a thick fog. The world around me seemed muted, as if I was seeing it through a veil. I tried to focus on my work, but my mind kept wandering, and my hands shook as I typed on the keyboard.
My manager noticed the change in my behavior and called me into his office. "What's going on, Tali?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. "Your work has been slipping, and you look terrible."
I forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a bit tired."
"Is it the workload? We can take some of the pressure off if you need it."
I shook my head. "No, it's not that. Just some personal issues that I'm dealing with."
My manager looked at me skeptically. "Well, we can't have you underperforming like this. Take the day off, get some rest, and come back when you're feeling better."
I nodded gratefully, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. I needed the time off, but I also knew that I couldn't afford to rest. The dream was still haunting me, and I needed to find a way to confront it.
As I walked out of the office, I saw my sweetheart waiting for me outside. She looked at me with concern and asked, "Tali, are you okay? You look terrible."
I tried to smile, but I knew it was a feeble attempt. "I'm just a bit tired. Work's been hectic."
She took my hand and led me to a nearby coffee shop. "Let's talk," she said, her eyes searching my face. "You can't keep going like this. You need to take care of yourself."
I sighed, feeling a lump in my throat. "I know, but it's not that simple."
"What's going on, Tali? You can tell me."
I hesitated, unsure of how to explain the dream to her. "It's just this nightmare I've been having. It's been keeping me up at night."
"What kind of nightmare?"
I looked away, feeling a flush of shame. "It's hard to explain. It's like I'm trapped in a different world, and there are these...monsters. And they're trying to hurt me."
My sweetheart looked at me with concern. "Have you talked to anyone about this? A therapist, maybe?"
I shook my head. "No, I haven't. I don't want people to think I'm crazy."
"You're not crazy, Tali. You're just going through a tough time. You need to take care of yourself, and that means getting help if you need it."
"I nodded, but deep down, I knew no one could save me from this horrible nightmare," I said, as I looked down at my hands. "Well, I guess I'll go to a doctor."
My girlfriend reached out and took my hand. "Tali, I know this is hard for you, but you don't have to face it alone. You could try talking to a therapist, or even just a friend. It might help to get it off your chest."
I wanted to agree with her, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. The thought of being judged or pitied by others was too much to bear. "I don't know if that would really help," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Please, Tali," she said, her eyes pleading with me. "You don't have to suffer in silence. I'm here for you, and I'll support you no matter what."