The faster he ran, the slower he felt. It followed Paul without seeming to move. Paul had never been so scared in his life as he did at that moment, dashing out from where he did not know, to where he had no idea. All he knew was that It told him to run and he’d be damned if he didn’t obey.
The hallway opened up to a field. At least it looked like a field to Paul. everything was wrong in this field. The grass blades were black instead of green, the sun was full blood red with thick dark clouds revolving around it. The entire landscape before Paul, was quite scary. Unfortunately for him something scarier was behind him so he ran head on into it. The grass blades cut at his legs and he could feel the cuts opening up. Blood trickled down slowly from different slices as he pushed forward desperately. A worse fate awaited him if he slowed down.
He made it about 30 feet into the field before he fell. Due to his exhaustion or fear he tripped over his own feet and went head first down. Paul heard the sinister voice again, too close for comfort this time.
“I’ve got you this time.” It said. Paul turned back just in time to see the figure. It stood 6ft tall and was as wide as board. It spread its knife hands and went in for the kill.
“No!” Paul screamed as loud as his lungs would allow him.
“Paul!” a feminine voice sounded from a million miles away. His consciousness escaped spiralling and swivelling away as if lost in a limbo. “Paul are you okay? You were screaming.”
Paul opened his eyes to see his roommate staring down at him. She looked incredibly worried as her eyebrows creased in a concerned frown. “
Are you okay?” she asked again. “You’re drenched in sweat.”
Paul, still panting heavily, took in the familiar surroundings of his room. The environment helped him a great deal as his heaving began to slow down.
“I’m….” he swallowed hard, not fully understanding his dream or believing his new situation. “I’m fine, thank you” he said finally.
“Well okay. You said to wake you up for your morning class” his roommate said, leaving his room.
“Thank you” Paul called after her as she closed the door.
For the first time in a long while, Paul went down on his knees and prayed.
Of all the classes to have that Tuesday morning, It was Mrs. Zenid’s class, the most boring of all his courses. She droned on about the rudimentary characteristics of systematic analogies associated with the 16th century post impressionist era. The first fifteen minutes felt like four hours to Paul as it usually did and of course, he dozed off. At first, there was nothing. Peaceful darkness comforted his head and silenced the constant droning of Zenid’s monotonous voice. He got comfortable. Quite comfortable. His mistake.
It didn’t come immediately. No, it came a lot slower, making its presence felt before actually showing itself. Paul, in his peaceful darkness felt his space constricting around him. Then he heard the talon blades. The all too familiar clanging that haunted his dreams. He turned left and he looked right but the darkness was complete, giving nothing away. His little comfort zone was fast becoming his cage. It laughed sinisterly, the sound ricocheting from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Paul spun around endlessly searching desperaely but praying not to find. The blades clanged closer than before but he did not see it. He did hear it though. Loud and clear as day itself.
It sounded so close to his ear like it was behind him all along. “Boo.”
Paul tumbled out of his chair, causing the whole class to turn his way. Zenid looked quite annoyed at the sight. She must have thought he was trying to provide the class with comic relief.
“Are you okay, young man?” She asked, masking her vexation.
“I’m… I’m fine ma’am.” Paul said, getting up slowly.
“Then have your seat.” she continued. “It’s rude enough to sleep in my class but to cause a ruckus? That’s intolerable.”
Paul looked from her face, which held a deep frown and some traces of contempt, to the wall clock behind her. There was still four and a half hours left till the end of the class.
“I can’t do this. I can’t” Paul said, snatching his bag and running. He jogged out of the class, running nowhere in particular. All he knew was that he had to stay awake for as long as possible. He knew what awaited him if he didn’t.
Working out always had a way of keeping him awake and alert so he figured he might as well work out as he thought out a way to escape the nightmare race he had been having. He made his way out of the department building and was about heading to the recreation center. When he saw her. The girl that had tricked him into finding that mirror. She stood with a couple of friends laughing at the top of her lungs looking as happy as happy can be. The very nerve of her.
Without thinking about a plan of action, he ran towards her. Rage pure in his heart.