The horror of the scene before me would haunt any normal man, it did me, when I was a normal man. Dead men lay all around, Engulfed in the darkness of their own blood. So violent was the death of these men, my attempts at discerning their identities was useless, and I stopped trying long ago.

What happened here? Though I've seen this so many times, I was no closer to finding out the purpose, the meaning, or the cause of this nightmare. Yet, somehow, I remember the attack, or at least I remember being here for it, but absolutely nothing else.

I looked in every direction, going through the motions, the silent, stormy sky dimmed the only light source, a countless number of horrifying corpses stretching in all directions. It was impossible for me to tell where I was, there were no landmarks, nothing but the sky, and the bodies.

For some reason, I knew there was something different this time. Every time I'd been here before, everything seemed exactly the same, this time, something changed. I knew I had to find it, knew something terrible would happen if I didn't, something that would make the scene around me pale in comparison.

It was then that I saw it, the shadow that would cause me the pain I feared so. It was all around me, my conviction was overpowered by fear, I fell into the fettle position, shut my eyes tight. But the darkness I created only sharpened the figures image.

It loomed over me, its body created from the very darkness it was surrounded, in turn, the darkness that surrounded it was part of him, impaling into my body, my mind, my soul. It told me that my time was over, it would take over from here.

My fear turned to courage, for I could not allow such darkness to take me. “You wont have me!” I screamed into the darkness that surrounded me .

I could hear it's laughter enter the wounds it had created, entering my body, mind, soul once again, and I felt defeat, more powerfully than anything felt previous.

I lifted my eye lids, to plead to my captor, but when light struck my eyes, it had gone, and I sat in class, professor Shelton rambling on and on.

“You fell asleep again?”

“Can you blame me?” I said, still contemplating what I had just seen.

“Another nightmare?”

The voice seemed concerned, but I didn't bother myself with who, or why. “Yes.” I responded mindlessly.

“Why don't you talk to the school psychologist?”

“I want to figure it out on my own.”

“Quit being so proud.”

“It isn't pride, simple curiosity.”

“Maybe you would enjoy discussing it with him.”

I lay my head on my arms again.

Why does the professor let me sleep? I can't be hidden well here, every day, always asleep, in his brightly lit classroom.

“You aren't going back to sleep are you? No way you're tired.”

“I want to see what happens next.”

“Please, pay attention!” It was professor Shelton this time.

I look up, he was looking right at me, I was shocked, I must have looked like it, judging from his next words.

“I don't want you to go dream chasing in my class.”

“Fine.” I said, standing to leave.

“You think you can do whatever you like?”

“Absolutely.” I grumbled as I stepped through the door.

I could hear footsteps behind me, Must be Claudia, I thought to myself.

“What is with you today? You're so irritable.”

“I haven't been sleeping too well. What's it to you?”

The footsteps stopped, she must have been hurt.

After a few moments of me walking ahead, there was a rapid succession of steps behind me, until my face was in her hands, forcing me to look at her.

Her eyes were on the verge of tears, cheeks red. “Look at me! Tell me what is wrong!”

I looked her in the eyes for a moment, then gently pulled away, she let go, I started walking away. “Maybe I will go see the psychologist, thanks for the suggestion.”

“You're welcome...” Her voice was tight, and forced.

I walked into the office, the secretary looked at me, her cheerful face angered me.

“I'm here to see Dr. Steingburg.”

“Do you have an appointment?” Her voice squealed in my head, reverberating over and over, digging deeper and deeper each time.

“No, I don't. I seem to be...depressed or something.”

“Well, have a seat, I'll see if he is available.”

I sat on the nearest flowery chair, letting myself sink deep into the cushion, and looked around the room. I couldn't believe how dizzying it was, so much clutter, left out, nothing had its own place, nothing was organized at all. Normally I would be fretting over putting everything in a specific spot, but all I could think about was throwing the nearest clown figurine at the secretary as her cartoon voice squeaked to the Doctor over the phone.

Realizing what I was thinking, I forced myself to think something else, this proved extremely difficult. I couldn't stop the violent thoughts, I had to destroy something, so I forced myself to imagine the clown strangling the tiny horse standing next to him, then the Ferris Wheel in the corner exploded, sending body parts from all the riders across the room. Heavy pieces of machinery landing on various other cute figures all over the room.

“Excuse me?”

I couldn't help the shaking when I turned my head to her.

She looked frightened, “I didn't get your name.” Despite her fears, she didn't seem capable of changing that painful tone.

“Al.”

“Is that short for something.”

Mental note: never give her excuses to speak further.

“It is short for Alenest.”

“Oh that's an interesting...” She stopped when she saw my face.

I turned back to the carnage I had created, something I had not expected had happened. All the dead plastic figures had turned to zombies, and were munching, or chasing the remaining living figures.

I could feel a smile spread across my face as a particularly small figure had jumped to the neck of a Paul Bunion figure.

The military pulled in, lobbing grenades, and firing high powered riffles into the crowds of ferocious zombies inching their way toward them. Several crimson explosions, followed by crimson mists, and crimson rivers.

Then, I saw the face of one of the remaining living figures. She was clutching a tall man, with pure black hair, her face was covered with tears, she was saying something, I couldn't make it out, the noise was too much. But when she said it, the man she was with held her tight, just as the zombies overtook them

My heart fell, I could feel sadness force its way into it.

“He will see you now.” Her voice pleased me now, what was different?

I rose from my seat, walked to the door of the office, and just before I turned the silver door knob, and as walked in, I whispered, “Why did I just see Claudia die?”

“Well, hello Alenest! It is nice to see you.” He walked up to me, his hand extended toward me

I didn't say anything, I slinked passed him, and lay on the therapy couch. I couldn't help but shut my eyes.

I could hear him sit down on his own chair. “Alright, what is bothering you?” His voice was extremely happy, not piercingly so, but you could tell he was content with his life.

“My girlfriend says I need to talk to you.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“I sleep during class.”

“Which class?”

“Economics, with professor Shelton.”

“I can't say I blame you there, is there anything else that would cause her to...”

“I do it on purpose.”

He hesitated, I could hear him scribbling on his note pad. “Are you just too tired for class? Or is there another reason for you to sleep during his class?”

I started to say “I want to see why all the people were dead.” But thought better of it. Not because I was embarrassed, or scared of what he would think, I just decided that I didn't want him to have it too easy. He should work for it.

“I've been dreaming.”

“Anything specific?”

“Yes.”

“How often do you have these dreams?”

“Every time I sleep.”

“Do you like these dreams?

“...They interest me.”

“What about them interests you?”

“There is a shadow.”

“What kind of shadow.”

“A figure.”

“Human?”

“I don't know.”

“What does the shadow do?”

“It can't tell.”

“Do you think it does anything?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think it does?”

“Kills people.”

The scribbling stopped, a hard swallow could be heard from his neck. After a few moments, the scratching on paper continued.

“Who does it kill?” His voice was surprisingly unchanged, just the slightest hint of a quaver.

“I can't tell.”

“And why is that.”

“Their bodies are unrecognizable.”

He was obviously at a loss, he didn't say anything for a few minutes.

I started to fall asleep, I felt the room full of the dead bodies start to form around me, but I couldn't see anything yet, then, I saw her face again, crying, she whispered to me “You're hurting me Al!”

I sat up suddenly, eyes wide.

“What is it? Did you have another dream?”

I completely ignored the question “What am I doing? Where is Claudia? I need to see her!”

“I'm sorry, but I have to go.” I said, exasperated. And sped out of the room.

I plugged my ears as I passed the secretary desk, and just as I thought she has said something to me. Even with my fingers in my ears, it caused mental pain.

Once I reached the hallway, I stopped, “Where am I going?”

I turned my wrist watch upward. “She's probably still in class.”

So I sprinted back to class, it was close. A moment later I burst through the door, ignored the professor teasing me for coming back, and scanned the room for Claudia, she wasn't anywhere.

“Where is she?” I commanded to the professor.

“Who?”

“Claudia.”

“I sent her home, she was in a fit of tears.”

I had a lot to say about his choice on handling a hysterical teenaged girl, but I had to get to her, before....I had no idea.

I surprised myself with the speed I traveled, I was outside the school before I knew it, and was well on my way before I started to feel fatigue.

I managed to arrive at her door before gasping for breath, recovering after only a few deep breaths. I would later marvel at my sudden endurance, but I had to concentrate on what is important.

The door opened, I hadn't even knocked yet. It was her mom.

“Oh, hello Al.” She had extreme contention toward me. “What do you want?”

I wanted so badly to ignore her too, and simply ring the doorbell, as though she hadn't opened the door yet, but I knew that wouldn't get me what I wanted. “I need to speak with your daughter.”

“Well, she doesn't want to see you.”

Forcing myself not to criticize the cliché that was this conversation, I simply told her, “I offended her, I'm certain of it. I wasn't in my right mind, I need to apologize to her.”

She eyed me, her hatred faded slowly, as realization came into her eyes. “Yes, you must make things right with my daughter.” She said this very slowly, her tone empty.

Only focusing on what I wanted, I ignored her strange behavior, and I went strait for her room, and just like before, the door opened before I could knock.

Claudia was standing before me, her face red, and wet. She covered her face with her hand, and continued sobbing at the sight of me.

Before I knew what I was doing, I had her in my arms, and held her tight. “I'm sorry.” I whispered into one of her ears.

She forced her hands out from between us, and wrapped them around me. I could tell she wanted to say something, but couldn't get the words out.

“Don't say anything. I was...I don't know what I was thinking,” I pushed her away gently, so I could look her in the eyes. “I have been feeling very strangely, I couldn't think rationally. But then I realized what was important to me, that made me happy, it was you, the thought of your sad face made me realize what I had done. I...”

“I love you too.” She was smiling, more tears streaming down her cheeks.

I pulled her to me, and held her tight, a single tear could be felt falling down my own cheek. “You are the single greatest thing to happen in my life.”

“I want you to know, I am going through something, and I don't know how long it will be until it is resolved.” I said not letting her go, I could feel her still pulling me close. “And I don't know if I can get through it without you. So....if I say something, or do something....please don't give up on me.”

She lifted her head from my chest, still holding each other tight, looked me in the eyes.
“Within reason.” She said, a teasing smile spreading across her face.

So I leaned forward and kissed her.

Then a thought came to mind, suddenly, and without reason, “I must get rid of this bothersome girl.”