Bogeyman » Nightmare Self-para
Exhaustion weighed heavy on the Dragons shoulders as she exited the dance studio, her bag seemed to weigh more than usual as it tugged download, digging almost painfully into her flesh. In her exhausted daze, she couldn't for the life of her remember what she had been working on that evening, or even how long she had been in the dance class room.
Judging by the darkness that surrounded her, and the tepid night air Shinhye could only assume that tonight like so many others would prove restless and disappointing. As she walked out of the comforting glow of light offered through the Windows of the main campus building the petite girl had the Sudden sense that something wasn't quite right though she couldn't put her finger on why that was.
Each footfall echoed, hollow and daunting. Daring her to go forward while at the same time warning her against it. The brunette couldn't understand what was causing her unease, after a month at the academy, nothing had caused her to feel so on edge as she was feeling this evening.
Moving to adjust the strap on her aching shoulder, nothing but the soft knit of her sweater met her fingertips, and the girl turned her head, starring in confusion at the bare shoulder. The pain was becoming more intense, harder to ignore and she wondered if maybe she hadn't gotten hurt doing dance practice as nimble fingers clutched her shoulder, a soft whimper escaping her lips. She just needed to get to her dorm room, maybe Taemin would take a look for her, and tomorrow she could get to the nurse.
Continuing to walk, she noted how dark it had suddenly become, the temperature around her seeming to plummet, causing the Dragon to shiver, arms wrapping tightly against her body, her ribs a solid pressure against her forearms as she walked, the echo of her footsteps becoming louder and louder, until they were defining. "Don't go that way". The voice caused her to jump, shocking rocketing through her limbs, causing the girl to go still, arms dropping to her sides. She was dreaming. Every fiber of her being begged her to wake up. This was one of the new nightmares. The linger ones that scared her even during the waking hours.
As she stood timorous, Shinhye became aware of a soft sound. A revolting thwack that reverberated softly, getting stuck in her mind. A few delicate drips were shattered by a drip that was heavier, like water dropping into a pool. She felt paralyzed, stuck watching as her breath rolled from her lips in a billow of condensation that reflected a light that she couldn't find.
A gurgle left her lips as she tried to speak, to gasp, to say anything, but like the rest of her body, her vocal chords failed to rise to the occasion, throat constricted in terror. What do I do? Her thoughts echoed so loudly in the silence, the soft dripping feeding the apprehension in her blood. Somewhere in the darkness a door creaked, slamming closed. "Run," the voice urged. "RUN!" Her legs trembled, wide eyes staring into the inky black before her. She could feel it. What ever 'it' was it came towards her, its very presence pushing down on her one, surrounding and enveloping her.
Hearing another drip, she managed to tilt her head downward, staring in morbid wonder as dark crimson liquid rolled down her arm, collecting on her finger tips in droplets before cascading to the ground, smacking the cement in a nauseating melody that had her breath coming in short panicked gasps. As a frozen putrid breeze picked up, she could smell the metallic twang of blood. "Don't just stand there, run!"
Something inside of her seemed to snap to life, and she quickly turned on her heel, ignoring the pain in her shoulder as she charged in the opposite direction. The presence was closer, closer than was comfortable, and with it came a smell she couldn't place. A strong putrid stench, like rotting meat It was a smell that soured her stomach, each breath making the girl gag as she tried to run faster, pushing her legs to move as the night air clung to the exposed skin of her face, neck and hands and seeped through the wet wool of her sweater.
Hurry and wake up, her mind echoed. Just hurry and wake up. But her body seemed to have another idea. She ran for the light that still shone out the window from the main building. In front of her she could clearly see the dance room, the window on the second floor a soft glow from inside beckoning her inside, to safety. To freedom.
She cried out, toppling forward as her cries echoed in her ears, hitting the pavement hard. She could feel the flesh tear on her palms, hissing in pain as her knee knocked against the blacktop shooting a mind numbing ache up her spin. The Dragon's body ached as she managed to slowly roll over. Her hands felt hot and numb, immobilized by the fresh injuries and she didn't even try to move them. She could tell there was something wrong with her knee, but she didn't dare to look, eyes rolling upward to examine what she had tripped on.
A scream died in her throat, leaving her alone with the hallow beating of her heart filling her ears as she stared dumbstruck at the cold dead eyes that seemed to be watching her. His body, so poetic in motion was broken, twisted and contorted, a pool of blood cooling around him. Hair that was usually so perfect was matted and spiked, sticking up in every which way a chaotic patter that seemed to have no reason, too dark against his bloodless skin that shone orange in the fading light.
There was a frozen fear in his eyes that made her feel her tremble. "Keep moving," the voice urged, but she was beyond the point of being able to escape. Tears streamed hot down her cheeks, burning the frozen skin. Through the the sound of her heart beat she was aware of a soft scraping that approached from the darkness. The being she had been running from just a few moments before was close, so close the air was turning putrid. Motion caught her eye and she looked down, watching in disbelief as the body started to twitch, a rush of breath and the crack of broken bones in motion filling the dead air as it started to crawl towards her, dead eyes fixed upon her face as locked fingers clawed at the cementer dragging the broken heap towards her.
Shinhye pulled herself back, determined to avoid the groping hands each move shot pain through her leg, and she grit her teeth, frantically pushing herself backwards until her back collided hard with something solid. A low growl filled her ears, she could feel the vibration against her back, she sucked in a breath, as a hand gripped her watery eyes going wide with shock as she felt deathly cold hands grip her neck, the stench so thick in her nose she gagged feeling the needle fine points of claws pricking her skin. This is a dream. But even in her mind her voice trembled. Its just a dream. Wake up, Shinhye. Wake up.
She felt one of the hands tense, slipped to encircle her throat. Wake up. The fingers curled, claws causing her to shiver as the other used her legs to drag himself closer, and closer to her. WAKE UP. The claws pierced the top layer of flesh. "Why don't you die?"
Shinhye awoke with a scream, sitting straight up as she pushed herself off the mattress tumbling to the floor in a heap of sheets and limbs, beads of sweat clinging to her skin as she shook, breathless panicked sobs filling in the empty room...