They may seem real

A ubiquitous fog dulls your senses. Your hands are gripping the leathery steering wheel of an old vehicle.  You can just barely make out the scenery outside of your space; a dusty road lined by abandoned buildings. The structures darken as they meet the sky - the silhouettes of their crests are contrasted by a fiery red horizon.

A burgeoning sense of fear permeates through your body. You’re alone, and it’s after you.

The will of your enigmatic predator is unpredictable, and you can’t help but feel its gaze eclipsing your mind.

The relentless sense of insecurity forces you out of the car and into the dark cityscape. The air here is thick and musty. As you helplessly turn towards the sky for answers, your eyes fix upon a tattered billboard, whose towering presence emphasizes just how vulnerable you are.

A crumbling schoolhouse stands on the other side of a neglected basketball court.  Sensing salvation, your body drifts towards the ruins. The atrium is obscured by darkness, the numbing fog’s presence even more prominent. Surrounded only by debris and darkness, a feeling of loneliness washes over you.

“What have I done to deserve this?” You think to yourself.

“It is not something you did. This is not about you.”

Over a collapsed beam, a single ray of light creeps through a crack in the ceiling.  Nested at the base is a small plant, its stem and leaves glowing in a brilliant turquoise.

Your mind pleads, “How is this not about me? I don’t feel well.”

The stem curls slightly, and appears to convey an ethereal message: “There is so much more than you can even imagine. Just keep fighting.”

It’s glow fades as the light dissipates before you. With the sense of urgency fading, your body floats outside into the center of the court. With both feet firmly planted on the cracked asphalt, you gaze up at the imposing billboard. Manifesting on its surface, your fate is plastered against the sky.

It’s the corrupted, bloodshot eye of your enemy, and it’s staring into your soul. Your nerves freeze as your breath escapes you. You helplessly twist around, and find that you stand before the shadow of your nightmare.

Your heart jumps. The only thing you feel is your sweaty palms gripping the sheets. It was only a dream.