Dr. Ha! presents Ha World “The Dream"

 The Dream

“The square door in the middle of the platform opened slowly letting out the cries and screams. Darkness filled the abyss above and below, only the roars from the creatures looking down from the cliff's slope could be heard. That’s when they began to climb out. Thousands of them, clawing like crabs from a barrel. Grappling and stepping over one another onto the platform. Mounted fires surrounded the hill of the moated platform, smaller creatures mounted the backs of the clenched teeth beast. Blinded by fear and despair from whatever came before this, many rushed towards and off of the ledges, shoving without care into the murky waters. Some drowned others climbed the dirt hills only to feed the beast their fear and limbs. 

The guards sat stoic and aloof as if this was mere routine. Above it all sat a shadowy figure on a throne. His chair hovered like a spacecraft, his face unrecognizable, transparent like a ghost. Was this the grim reaper? Many of the remaining once faced with their options started to turn back. Jumping back into the abyss, while others sat on the platform in cradled terror, some even dropping to their knees in praise to the throned figure. Eventually the bridge was dropped; one crossed and they all would follow suit, forming an orderly line across and up the winding cliff. Shuttles arrived and they packed them by the 100’s.”

 The narrator ended his dialogue and I rose.  First stretching my arms toward the ceiling then wiggling everything that could wiggle starting with my wrist down to my toes then shaking my legs out before standing. I slept for hours. The new bed went perfect with my new condo. I had just moved to Washington D.C. from Phoenix, Az and I was excited to say the least. My name Is Sam and I am 23 years old although my dating profile says I am a 6 '6, African and German blooded christian male from Mississippi , writer and dog lover. Ironically I have been to neither Africa nor Germany.  

I also do not have nor have I ever owned a dog.  Or any pet for that matter, I did once have an African Sulcata Tortoise but one day while I napped under the sun it ran away. I had been having that same dream every night since I moved in and I understand that most people in their right mind would be freaking out but as a writer of horror I was thrilled. I think it is my subconscious trying to lead me to my next book or maybe it’s my life In the underworld as a captured slave of some sort? Yeah, right? Me a slave to demons and beast unseen, this is absolutely the idea of my new novel. I made and ate dinner quickly, took my cold shower and prepared myself for what seemed to be the best part of my days lately, bed. The air condition partnered with the fan and an opened window set the tone completely for sleep.

“Move it! One, two, three, four to the boats!” The stench of the air was so foul before but had now camouflaged with the vision of the setting; death was obviously the owner of this place and if not it was a for sure tenant. A stick hit me in the back of the head and I fell to the volcanic like gravel path towards the approaching vessel. “Move! Hue-man!” Afraid to make eye contact I kept my head down while I struggled to my feet. Unable to overcome the blow to my head I wobbled before feeling a strong grip, firm but courteous under my arm. I looked up to see a man skin gold, hair wool with eyes wide full of fire and remorse. “I am De”Vante, follow me,” he said. I moved instantaneously. We shuffled onto the vessel shoulder to shoulder thigh to thigh until the row was too stiff to move. This continued for what seemed like forever, the door clanked and the boat pressured off. De’Vante began to speak quietly “no need to worry, I know where we are and I know how to get us out of here.” I couldn’t stop sobbing and trembling and figured he was saying this to calm me, but what would this man care to calm me about? Yes, he may have helped me to my feet but that is what slaves do so that the collective wouldn’t bear the consequence. Those eyes, the assurance lied within his eyes. I remembered them and paused my sobbing and for a brief moment I believed him. “Wie heißen Sie?” he asked. “Simon” I answered like a part of an assembly. “

“Are you German?” I murmured. “No, not at all. Tell me Sam, is there any memory you hold dear to you that you can remember right now?” I searched my thoughts and couldn’t think of anything. I could not remember how I got here or where I had been before. “I don’t speak German either, I don’t know where I am or who I am. Simon is my name for sure but I do not know him.” “That is ok, we will use my memory. First we need to get away from the overseers.” The boats were loud, screams and wails. Men fighting one another for spacing and pushing one another from the boats into the murky black waters. The guards did nothing to stop the commotion, again like it was routine. De’Vante looked over to the man next to us who sat adjacent to the door of the boat. He gently touched the man's knee and said “Brother, do you wish to leave this place?” The man swatted his hand and with his shoulder he dipped into his body pushing him towards me. “Get your fucking hands off of me nigger!” The man adjusted himself again to his new created space. De’Vante apologized to me. “Forgive me Simon.” And then like lightning he struck the man’s head and in the same motion dumped him over the boat. The strike noted a guard and he watched the tossing incident happen. His eyes squint and sharp, dug deeply into his reptile-like skinned face. He threw what looked like a smirk at us and then forgot. This allowed the redefined space to open until we now pushed against the door of the cart. De’Vante dipped his hand into the lagoon and allowed his finger to brush the waters. Without a word he gripped my wrist and began to talk in a patois tongue like language. This is what I could pick up. “And left behind I was there again, abandoned and broken. Betrayed by the very ones who said they would protect me, backstabbed and belittled by those I gave my heart to!” His voice deepened and grew stronger and louder. “Still I rise, with a grain of faith creating beaches and mountains to my God again. Creating valleys, rivers and oceans to lead me to my god again! To the underworld I go and back to heavens skies I go back. Not of vengeance but of voyage! I go back to free my brothers , to free my sisters from tyranny and tyranny. Simon with me, we will be free! We are free!”  The hairs on my arm began to stand and in the trembling of my hand, calmness overtook me. A brush of air pushed upwards my face but there was no reason for it.  There was no wind here, there was no light but a beam filled my eyes and the vessel began to shake. He continued “by the grace of my ancestors who watch over me, where the ceilings are painted with rainbows and the trees have faces I vow I have seen their eyes!  I will not be condemned nor held against my will, for the lord has assured me salvation in this and every lifetime to come!” Then he looked at me and asked “Do you believe Simon? Do you believe you are a free man? Do you believe that God has saved you?” “Yes!” I answered. “Yes I believe that God is with me now I feel him!” “Then so be it!” He took his last words with him along with my hand and we went into the waters.” I would awaken drenched in sweat, shivering. I urged to the bathroom and began regurgitating my last meal followed by the remaining linings of my stomach. Now hunched over the toilet in my lit bathroom, I saw it. Squirming in the toilet bowl, there was a worm. A parasite circling the food particles, swimming in the toilet now. I flushed it, washed my face, brushed my teeth and went into the living room to pray. I was sure to make my forehead touch the floor while thanking God. Once finished, I went into my work room, sat at my seat and immediately began to write.