This is a short story I wrote recently. Any thoughts, opinions, or criticisms are more than welcome.
Good. She escaped. She didnt move; she couldnt. Keya could do nothing but lie in bed, trembling from relief. It had been closeit had almost gotten her. She regained feeling in her body as she rested, unable to do anything but breathe. Her arm hurt. It was no surprise. Gently, she touched the wound and cringed at the pain. It was no illusion. It always happened this way. Keya got out of bed, careful not to hurt her bleeding arm. Once she was up, she steadied herself and inspected the gash.
Why could she never defeat that nightmare? Why did it insist on destroying her? Was there nothing she could do?
Apparently not, she decided as she wrapped her arm. Right now, it was up to her to survive, to live through night after and night, to suffer this pain. Maybe one day she could overcome it, but not now. She was too weak, too frail, too fragile. All she could do for now was fight.
Try to fight.
She was late for school. As quickly as she could with her wounded arm, Keya dressed and ran downstairs. Hi mom.
As always, her mother asked the dreaded question. Did you sleep well?
The formless creature that had chased her through her nightmares invaded her memory. Of course she didnt sleep well. When had she ever slept well? But her mother didnt know that. Her mother didnt know that even as they spoke Keya carried scars from countless terrors attacking her in her dreams. How could she know? Yeah. I slept fine.
Thats good. Now hurry up and eat breakfast.
It had been like this for as long as Keya could remember. Again, Keya had lied. Again, Keya had shut herself off from the one person who could help her.
This wasnt normalKeya had known that ever since she was a child. She shouldnt be having these dreams; she shouldnt be suffering like this.
What would happen if she told them? What would happen if the world knew of the pain she went through night after night? Could they help her? Maybe.
She tried to focus on her breakfast, but it was pointless. That creature, that monster, that dark shadow from her nightmare haunted her. This was not right. She was awake - the dream should not be able to touch her here. But there it was; a cold grasp that seized her and wouldnt let her breathe. She was being dragged back into the dream, swallowed by the nightmare. There was no escape; she could only submit to the agony. She could only embrace it.
You are ours, the voiceless chill said. They were right, and Keya knew it. She was theirs, their prisoner to torture however they wished. The kitchen vanished, and Keya was standing in a forest.
The forest felt dark, like midnight in the middle of the day. The sun cast a shadow on the cold land. The world was drenched in pain. A dead breeze blew, warning Keya that danger was on the way, but she could not move.
This was the forest of her nightmare. The chill attacked Keya, binding her, reminding her once again that she was their prisoner and there was no hope for escape.
Keya already knew that it was hopeless. Even if she could run, there was nowhere to goher captors owned these woods. The air was heavy with their anguish, the agony cut like a knife.
Her blood spilt onto the ground, the only flash of brightness in the forest. Keya stared at it for a moment before she felt the searing pain in her side. But she couldnt move. She couldnt fight.
She could only submit. Let them do what they wanted to hershe didnt care anymore. They could have her body. They could have her mind.
Another slash cut at her leg. Keya fell to her knees. Her back, her face, her hands. All burned with the aftermath of their cruel strikes. Countless forgotten scars rebelled against the torture, but Keya refused to cry for deliverance. She deserved her suffering. This was her punishment. If only she hadnt tried to fight this on her ownbut it was too late now.
She felt another gash at her neck. They were going to kill her. Keya didnt care; she couldnt care. What right did she have to complain? Who could hear her now?
It was too late. There was no hope; there was never any hope. There was only .
Wait. Keya fought to raise her head. What was that? Something glimmered in the distance, like a long forgotten dream.
No, this nightmare was the dream. But if this was the dream, then what was that? Another dream? Or maybe it was something else.
This torture was no longer good enough for Keya. A longing was stirred within her, a yearning to be free. A desire to once and for all escape this nightmare that had haunted her since childhood, this dream from which she could never fully wake up.
No, she heard the forest whisper. Shes ours. The binding cold tightened its grip, and Keya cried out in pain. Maybe it was hopeless after all. Where had those futile thoughts of freedom come from? The very blood in her veins ached, longing to be spilt. This darkness would give her what she wanted. It would slowly cut her away until there was nothing left to scar. That was when she would truly be free. Death was the only way out of this nightmare; she realized that now.
Let her go! a new voice commanded.
No! Keya could not speak, but thought the words with all her strength. Dont let me go! What right did that new voice have to take her away? Didnt it realize that she needed this? Didnt it understand that this was her future? Her life? Her death?
She doesnt want to go, Keya heard her tormenter reply.
She does. The new voice took on the shape of a man. She just doesnt realize it.
Shes mine!
Thats right, Keya thought, reveling in the pain of a new wound. I belong to you. I am yours. Take me. Consume me. Destroy me.
Good girl.
She was drowning in pain. She couldnt tell where the darkness had struck, or what it had done to her. Was the blood on the ground fresh? Or was it the blood of the previous strikes? Was she bleeding? Was she alive?
You see? The cold hissed. Shes mine. I can do what I want with her.
No. Even Keya could hear the anger in his voice. I will not let you kill her!
Who was this man? Why did he think he could take her away? Why couldnt he just leave her to die in the grasp of her saving tormentor?
Go on. Try to save herI will devour you like I have done to her.
He stepped forward. You cannot destroy me. You know that. The light around him expanded until Keya could not see him in the midst of it. The nightmare shrieked and dug its frozen claws into the core of Keyas being. She could not see, she could not feel, she could not breathe. She could only hold on with one last glint of hope. She could only hold on with that last hint of herself, crying out to be rescued. She didnt want this anymore. She didnt want the pain. She didnt want the despair. She didnt want death. Keya wanted only to live through this dreadful nightmare.
But was it too late? She had given in; she had given herself to the pain. She had made a deal with despair, but now she wanted to be rescued. Was that allowed? Could Keya take back what she had given to the nightmare?
She was going to try. Even if she failed, even if she fell into the darkness the nightmare had prepared for her, she would not leave this world as his slave. She would not leave this world without a fight.
Let. Her. Go.
Please, let me go. Every word gave her more strength, more confidence. Let me go! she shrieked, struggling against the terror that held her fast. Let me go!
Never! His grip weakened, even as he spoke. She gasped for breath. She was alive. Was freedom possible? Could she actually live through this nightmare to see the dawn?
Release her!
His words had power - power to make the nightmare tremble at his command. His voice infused her with hope, and the strength to survive.
The strange new man looked at her, met her eyes for the first time. Trust me.
It was all he said, all he needed to say. Keya nodded. She could do nothing else. She had no other choice, no other hope. All she wanted was to have this man set her free, to be freed from this existence - not through death, but through life.
She shouted. No words could express her need; no words would do the longing justice.
The pain stopped. The nightmare faded away, pierced by a brightness she had never known. The sun lit the forest, as if it too had been released from the bonds of the nightmare.
Keya fell to her knees, still surprised at the lack of pain. The wounds were gone, the scars faded. Was that it? Was this freedom? She looked up at her savior and gasped.
He was smiling, but she couldnt imagine why. He was covered with blood flowing from a network of wounds. She realized that marks she saw were here own, that he had taken her injuries onto himself. Are you .
Im fine, he said. His voice was strong and gentle, hardly the same person who fought her nightmare. It was just something I had to do. Every one I can save from him, it has to be worth it. He lifted her to her feet and led her home.
As she crossed the border back to the kitchen, she heard his voice echo Its always worth it.
Nightmare
Copyrighted 2007 by Sarah Haines
Copyrighted 2007 by Sarah Haines
Good. She escaped. She didnt move; she couldnt. Keya could do nothing but lie in bed, trembling from relief. It had been closeit had almost gotten her. She regained feeling in her body as she rested, unable to do anything but breathe. Her arm hurt. It was no surprise. Gently, she touched the wound and cringed at the pain. It was no illusion. It always happened this way. Keya got out of bed, careful not to hurt her bleeding arm. Once she was up, she steadied herself and inspected the gash.
Why could she never defeat that nightmare? Why did it insist on destroying her? Was there nothing she could do?
Apparently not, she decided as she wrapped her arm. Right now, it was up to her to survive, to live through night after and night, to suffer this pain. Maybe one day she could overcome it, but not now. She was too weak, too frail, too fragile. All she could do for now was fight.
Try to fight.
She was late for school. As quickly as she could with her wounded arm, Keya dressed and ran downstairs. Hi mom.
As always, her mother asked the dreaded question. Did you sleep well?
The formless creature that had chased her through her nightmares invaded her memory. Of course she didnt sleep well. When had she ever slept well? But her mother didnt know that. Her mother didnt know that even as they spoke Keya carried scars from countless terrors attacking her in her dreams. How could she know? Yeah. I slept fine.
Thats good. Now hurry up and eat breakfast.
It had been like this for as long as Keya could remember. Again, Keya had lied. Again, Keya had shut herself off from the one person who could help her.
This wasnt normalKeya had known that ever since she was a child. She shouldnt be having these dreams; she shouldnt be suffering like this.
What would happen if she told them? What would happen if the world knew of the pain she went through night after night? Could they help her? Maybe.
She tried to focus on her breakfast, but it was pointless. That creature, that monster, that dark shadow from her nightmare haunted her. This was not right. She was awake - the dream should not be able to touch her here. But there it was; a cold grasp that seized her and wouldnt let her breathe. She was being dragged back into the dream, swallowed by the nightmare. There was no escape; she could only submit to the agony. She could only embrace it.
You are ours, the voiceless chill said. They were right, and Keya knew it. She was theirs, their prisoner to torture however they wished. The kitchen vanished, and Keya was standing in a forest.
The forest felt dark, like midnight in the middle of the day. The sun cast a shadow on the cold land. The world was drenched in pain. A dead breeze blew, warning Keya that danger was on the way, but she could not move.
This was the forest of her nightmare. The chill attacked Keya, binding her, reminding her once again that she was their prisoner and there was no hope for escape.
Keya already knew that it was hopeless. Even if she could run, there was nowhere to goher captors owned these woods. The air was heavy with their anguish, the agony cut like a knife.
Her blood spilt onto the ground, the only flash of brightness in the forest. Keya stared at it for a moment before she felt the searing pain in her side. But she couldnt move. She couldnt fight.
She could only submit. Let them do what they wanted to hershe didnt care anymore. They could have her body. They could have her mind.
Another slash cut at her leg. Keya fell to her knees. Her back, her face, her hands. All burned with the aftermath of their cruel strikes. Countless forgotten scars rebelled against the torture, but Keya refused to cry for deliverance. She deserved her suffering. This was her punishment. If only she hadnt tried to fight this on her ownbut it was too late now.
She felt another gash at her neck. They were going to kill her. Keya didnt care; she couldnt care. What right did she have to complain? Who could hear her now?
It was too late. There was no hope; there was never any hope. There was only .
Wait. Keya fought to raise her head. What was that? Something glimmered in the distance, like a long forgotten dream.
No, this nightmare was the dream. But if this was the dream, then what was that? Another dream? Or maybe it was something else.
This torture was no longer good enough for Keya. A longing was stirred within her, a yearning to be free. A desire to once and for all escape this nightmare that had haunted her since childhood, this dream from which she could never fully wake up.
No, she heard the forest whisper. Shes ours. The binding cold tightened its grip, and Keya cried out in pain. Maybe it was hopeless after all. Where had those futile thoughts of freedom come from? The very blood in her veins ached, longing to be spilt. This darkness would give her what she wanted. It would slowly cut her away until there was nothing left to scar. That was when she would truly be free. Death was the only way out of this nightmare; she realized that now.
Let her go! a new voice commanded.
No! Keya could not speak, but thought the words with all her strength. Dont let me go! What right did that new voice have to take her away? Didnt it realize that she needed this? Didnt it understand that this was her future? Her life? Her death?
She doesnt want to go, Keya heard her tormenter reply.
She does. The new voice took on the shape of a man. She just doesnt realize it.
Shes mine!
Thats right, Keya thought, reveling in the pain of a new wound. I belong to you. I am yours. Take me. Consume me. Destroy me.
Good girl.
She was drowning in pain. She couldnt tell where the darkness had struck, or what it had done to her. Was the blood on the ground fresh? Or was it the blood of the previous strikes? Was she bleeding? Was she alive?
You see? The cold hissed. Shes mine. I can do what I want with her.
No. Even Keya could hear the anger in his voice. I will not let you kill her!
Who was this man? Why did he think he could take her away? Why couldnt he just leave her to die in the grasp of her saving tormentor?
Go on. Try to save herI will devour you like I have done to her.
He stepped forward. You cannot destroy me. You know that. The light around him expanded until Keya could not see him in the midst of it. The nightmare shrieked and dug its frozen claws into the core of Keyas being. She could not see, she could not feel, she could not breathe. She could only hold on with one last glint of hope. She could only hold on with that last hint of herself, crying out to be rescued. She didnt want this anymore. She didnt want the pain. She didnt want the despair. She didnt want death. Keya wanted only to live through this dreadful nightmare.
But was it too late? She had given in; she had given herself to the pain. She had made a deal with despair, but now she wanted to be rescued. Was that allowed? Could Keya take back what she had given to the nightmare?
She was going to try. Even if she failed, even if she fell into the darkness the nightmare had prepared for her, she would not leave this world as his slave. She would not leave this world without a fight.
Let. Her. Go.
Please, let me go. Every word gave her more strength, more confidence. Let me go! she shrieked, struggling against the terror that held her fast. Let me go!
Never! His grip weakened, even as he spoke. She gasped for breath. She was alive. Was freedom possible? Could she actually live through this nightmare to see the dawn?
Release her!
His words had power - power to make the nightmare tremble at his command. His voice infused her with hope, and the strength to survive.
The strange new man looked at her, met her eyes for the first time. Trust me.
It was all he said, all he needed to say. Keya nodded. She could do nothing else. She had no other choice, no other hope. All she wanted was to have this man set her free, to be freed from this existence - not through death, but through life.
She shouted. No words could express her need; no words would do the longing justice.
The pain stopped. The nightmare faded away, pierced by a brightness she had never known. The sun lit the forest, as if it too had been released from the bonds of the nightmare.
Keya fell to her knees, still surprised at the lack of pain. The wounds were gone, the scars faded. Was that it? Was this freedom? She looked up at her savior and gasped.
He was smiling, but she couldnt imagine why. He was covered with blood flowing from a network of wounds. She realized that marks she saw were here own, that he had taken her injuries onto himself. Are you .
Im fine, he said. His voice was strong and gentle, hardly the same person who fought her nightmare. It was just something I had to do. Every one I can save from him, it has to be worth it. He lifted her to her feet and led her home.
As she crossed the border back to the kitchen, she heard his voice echo Its always worth it.
