Dream Master

Through a narrow gap between curtains, dim light shone from a neighbouring street lamp and into a shadowy bedroom, adorned with antiquated furniture. Objects stood shadowed in corners, shaded between a murky light and the darkness. Apart from the harmonious and melodic ticking of an old wall clock, the room was silent.

Sprawled upon a large bed, within the darkest corner of the room, lay a motionless body, asleep and silent. Bedclothes wrapped the body tightly and then overhung the floor. Upon the wall opposite the window hung a large circular mirror, framed with tarnished brass. The shadows reflected by the glass made the object resemble a mysterious dark void.

Suddenly the body upon the bed twitched, became aroused, and turned over. The eyes of a man opened and looked upon the ceiling, his face distressed and angry. He turned again, closing his aching eyes. He fumbled with the bedclothes to bring comfort, but this proved useless. Some tormenting fear agitated him and he cursed his thoughts and actions. Opening his eyes again, he searched the room and noticed the foreboding darkness reflected by the mirror. Suddenly, as he watched, a mist assembled within the mirror and swirled like a whirlpool. As it formed more densely, it poured from the mirror and onto the floor. Within seconds, a layer of mist had formed above the floor and started to advance towards the bed. Bewildered, he sat up, rubbed his eyes and looked closer upon the creeping mist. As a cold breeze circled the room, the mist glowed brighter and from that he realised he was not dreaming. As the young man pulled himself from beneath the bed sheets, he looked upon a floor now engulfed with mist. Abruptly, the bed jolted and lifted a little, before turning somewhat. Bewildered the man decided to jump from the bed, but in return a power hit him, catapulting him back upon the bed and against the headboard. Unsure of what would happen next, he knelt firmly, grasping the bed post. However, the bed then began to toss about as if it was upon a stormy sea. Steadily, the bed rose higher and jolted more vigorously.

Swiftly from within the shadows of the mirror, the mist expanded and formed a glowing vortex. Within seconds, the man looked now, not at his room, but at a tunnel of revolving mist. About him the mist spun faster, and he suddenly realised he was being drawn into the tunnel. The man held onto the bed frame and hid his head within the pillow until he heard screams bellowing his name. He looked up and recognised faces formulated within the whirling mist; somehow these were plagued by misery and torment. As the bed started to accelerate down the tunnel, the faces span, circling him, calling for help and reassurance. Once again the man buried his head within the pillows, wishing the nightmare would stop, but felt the bed begin to spin. Suddenly, the man lost grip from the bed post and he was thrown into the swirling mist.

Wet and covered with soft debris, the man found himself upon firm ground. For a moment he lay dazed until his eyes could focus upon the surroundings. He pulled himself up from a woodland floor, coated in mud and leaves. The frosted floor glistened and his warm breath exhaled into mist as he shivered, feeling the cold upon the wet of his pyjamas. Although confused and sore, his sense of fear returned and warned him to flee. He looked about himself searching for routes to escape. Escape to where, he thought? And then he thought he saw something in the trees, watching him. Although his body shuddered and he felt his heart racing, he shot to his feet and ran.

Awkwardly, his feet trod upon the uneven floor. Numerous times his strength crumbled and he fell, but quickly he crawled back to his feet and continued. His hands and face stung as they were scratched by tree branches and shrubbery. The cold was intense and his feet throbbed although covered with thick socks. Pausing momentarily, he glanced behind him. The scenery seemed to be scrutinizing him – the shadowy trees, the bushes; the distant darkness. Suddenly everything about him felt evil and the eerie silence became intolerable. With clothes torn and muddied, he again began to run until his foot became snared in the bracken below and he fell. Rolling upon the cold earth his mind became faint and eventually his consciousness escaped him.