Ill Omen

They say you aren’t supposed to feel in dreams. So then why does my left arm hurt so bad? I have barely had any feeling out of it since my injury but now it hurts?

I can’t wake up no matter how hard I try but tonight I know that this is a dream. I rub the top of my head that lingers with the pain of my last attempt at running into a wall to wake up.

I know I’m in the dungeon. This different coloration of stone looks like the fifth floor that I was able to reach earlier today. If I had to guess, if I keep walking this way I will eventually reach the boss door.

Going the opposite direction has been pointless. Every step in that direction is absolutely meaningless. I never leave this spot unless I go the direction the dream wants me to.

I guess at this point this is actually a nightmare?

“Goddess Thia if this is your idea of a joke. I’m starting to get freaked out.”

No answer. That's even more concerning. The only choice I have to go is one direction like I am stuck in some kind of platformer.

I reach the boss door without issue and much quicker than I should have. The doors are large and heavy. When I tried to open them earlier it took a lot of force to do it on my own. That's a different story here in this nightmare.

I gently push open wide the two large metal doors without issue. The room is the same as it was when I got a little peak except there is one glaring difference.

In the center of the room there is a giant crystal breaking through the stone floor. The body of the formation is clear as a window pane. Inside the crystal is a red liquid that is floating in the core like a potion.

The liquid appears thick. Bubbles release from the fluid and dissipate as it reaches the top of the crystal. A tiny stream of smoke releases like an incense candle.

I was so distracted by the new natural formation in the room that I wasn’t paying attention to the Sea King. I had a glimpse of him earlier. My body shudders with fear.

There sitting on a throne is a humanoid monster about two feet taller than Momo just waiting. The body of the monstrosity is muscular. The scales covering its body are a silver with black spots.

The others weren't wrong to describe the thing as a fish. The monster's head is large with a peculiar mouth that opens downward. Adorning its head is a large red frill that matches the smaller one running down its spine.There are two long thin fins that protrude from below its mouth.

Even though the beast isn’t in water all of its features seem to float. The Sea King’s dead eyes show no expression. There is no emotion at all from this thing. It is impossible to read. It is terrifying…

It doesn't help that it reminds me of an oarfish. I am not normally superstitious but it makes me even more worried to try and face the thing. Its features are what made me immediately turn around earlier. Now this thing is choosing to haunt my dreams?

It lifts off its throne like it’s floating underwater. It outstretches an arm pointing directly at me. Bubbles pool around the monster and a hammer of water forms in his other hand.

I’m not sure I am ready to fight this thing even in my dreams. I turn around. The wind blasts sea air in my face. The tastes of salt and soot on my tongue.

There is fire but it produces no sound. The flames are green. That’s not natural at all. I look around.

The flames dissipate. I can hear the wind howling again, but I can barely see anything. The town is back to normal from what little I can see.

There is no light in the town whatsoever. No lamps have been lit. None of the homes have light.

The moon does not shine here.

There is no moon.

I don’t need much light to see the real problem. There is nobody here.

I look. I look everywhere.

No one down the streets.

No one in the buildings.

No one anywhere.

A large gust of wind blasts through the streets. It is so strong I hear the shopping stalls collapse around me and debris flies into the air. The shop signs crackling in the wind. I cover my eyes.

The ground shakes. I can hear the stones and wood splintering. Stone crumbling.

It is so loud I clasp my ears with my hands. This isn’t normal. This isn’t right.

There is a low reverberating breathing. Each inhale vibrates my very core. This isn’t my breathing.

I feel it. Something is watching me. My body starts to react on its own. My breathing increases. My heart beats faster.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The hair on my neck sticks up, not even the gusts of wind can calm them. It sounds like I'm in the center of a storm. Against everything my body is saying I need to turn and see what is watching me.

I turn to see the old church.

The steeple lies in ruins.

A large dragon now roosts on the roof of the structure. I see my reflection in the massive beast's eyes. The color of its scales are shrouded in darkness.

It doesn’t move.

I can’t move.

The fear alone is eating away at me. I know this is a dream but this feels real.

This feels wrong.

I can’t risk it. I don’t want to risk being wrong. If this nightmare can actually harm me I need to be careful.

The dragon has not moved. It stares into me. It is looking for something. Is it something that I have? Is there something inside of me that it wants?

The large beast slams its massive tail into the ground. Buildings crumple from the force of the impact. The ground shutters. The edge of the town collapses into the sea below.

Throughout it all I stay absolutely still. What can I do? I can’t fight a dragon. Besides this is all a nightmare it's going to be okay.

That does little to calm my nerves.

At this point I already realize that magic is real.

Reincarnation is real.

Why can't a dream be real too?

If this really was normal I would have woken up a while ago. My subconscious doesn't usually let me linger. The dragon extends its neck toward me.

The large nostrils blast me with warm air. It singes the tips of hair on my head. It slowly opens its mouth. Everything is telling me I need to turn and run.

“...stay…”

I don’t know what that was but it wasn’t the Goddess. It sounds like a chorus of voices crying out in my head. The beast's mouth moves closer and I shut my eyes with fear.

“...open…”

The dragon is gone.

I can see the town clearly now. The light of the moon illuminates everything it looks larger than it should. The church is back to normal as if the damage has been washed away in moonlight.

The streets are still empty.

“...look deeper…”

There standing in front of the church is something. It is clearly the shape of a humanoid being but they are shrouded in shadow that appears as a black cloak. Their cloak moves in numerous directions with absolute chaos. As if the wind is pulling every fiber in different directions.

The being begins to walk towards me. The thing shutters with inhuman movement, seizes, and twitches with each step. Sometimes it looks like it takes a step forward only for it to be three feet backwards.

This is more than unnerving. I really am in a nightmare.

I takes a step forward, appears six feet behind from where it started and now–

It is right in front of me. I can feel its breath on my skin. My stomach sinks. I think I am going to puke with fear.

“...light can’t reach…”

The being's head constantly twitches and tilts in front of me. It has no discernible eyes or noise. It has a void for a mouth. With it being closer the sound it produces is chaotic with many voices crying out. There is no harmony.

I don’t like it.

“...remember…”

Stop talking.

“...save…”

Please I want this to be over.

“...listen…”

I don’t want to. I don’t want to hear it anymore. I want this nightmare to end. Please somebody–

The being places a hand on my cheek. The hand feels like it is only bones. I should be afraid but the fear has started to dissipate. I am going numb? I don’t understand why this hand is so comforting.

“...remember…”

It doesn't have eyes but I don’t turn away from it any longer. I am no longer afraid. Whatever this thing is, it wants to tell me something. I need–

It is gone. It fades away with the lost moonlight. Clouds cover the only source of light left. I stand still. What is going on?

The sky clears and the light of the moon casts on the church.

The steeple collapses. The doors burst open. A river of blood rushes out from the building. The town is flooding.

The flood finally reaches me. I am overtaken and swept away. I tumble and as the waves push me around. I can’t see anything. All I hear are muffled noises.

I awaken drenched in sweat. There is no light in my room. I thought I left the curtains open to let the morning light in.The sounds of people going about their day help to bring me back to reality. That nightmare felt so real…

Maybe seeing the Sea King yesterday really spooked me. I shake my head. No, something feels wrong about that nightmare. It is similar to the dream I had last time. Why is there always a flood of blood?

I kind of want to go back to sleep. I barely feel like I got any rest at all. Maybe I should eat breakfast this morning. That might help.