Lucid Nightmare Package

I can't breathe.

I try to concentrate, try to swallow my panic, attempt to move my toe. Wiggle.

I exhale. Im good. I'll wake up now. For sure.

Wake up! I order my brain. Its just a dream, wake the fuck up!

Nothing.

I take stock, move my toes, check. Legs? No. Finger motility? Check. Arms? No.

I move my head, glad that it swivels, i look around.

Im in a bed, no wait. I feel with my hands, the surface is cold.Cement?

I strain my face to one side, yes I am definitely in a cement slab.

I see metal objects, lots of them, on the ceiling, the walls, contraptions I have never seen before. Some pristine, most brown with rust, I think. Its rust, I'm sure.

All these objects have a purpose that escape me, or maybe its my psyche trying to shield itself.

To the right I see knives on a metal table, big knives small knives, curved. Knives are ok, I know knives.

Im okay, its just a dream, albeit a very disturbing one, what with not being able to move and all.

At least I can breathe. Ill just wait, I'm pretty sure morning is coming.

What a damn fine way to start lucid dreaming and be handicapped in it.

My heart starts beating fast..what the? I strain from my invisible bindings, I hear a scraping sound and look sharply to my left, was that door there earlier?

The sound seems to be getting closer, akin to someone walking with a limp no something worse, sounds like a dragging of dead weight.

Scrape..clop....Scrape...clop....drop.

It lingers close to the door, again my breathing stops.

The door creaks open, I can't breathe.

My head starts to pound, how can someone last this long without breathing?Is it all in my head?

A hooded figure comes in goes straight to table, he moves it closer, I notice it has wheels. I still can't breathe.

My eyes are wide open, at least I think they are, I look at this stranger as he sorts through the knives.

Need.To. Fucking. Wake. Up.

He slowly turns and moves towards me and all i see past the hood is a bloodied surgical mask.

I scream.

I hear a concerned voice, urgent, there is persistent nudging. What is that?

I open my eyes and inhale with relief. Im in my bed, my mother looking down at me.

Im safe. Im home.

I look at my mother, tearing up, needing, wanting her hug.

My eyes travel down to her neck, i see the bruises.

The bruises she got when she tried to hang herself three years ago.

And succeeded.

I can't breathe.