Warning- Contains strong language

Night Terror

© 2006 Eugene N. Erno

Helpless.

Nathan lay paralyzed on the edge of sleep. He could not move limb or finger. He could not work his mouth to cry out. He was aware of the room around him and of the sound of movement in adjacent rooms, his stepson. He could feel the touch of his wife’s naked flesh against him. He was aware of the dog sleeping at the foot of the bed. He knew exactly where he was, but it was all twisted and surreal somehow.

It was coming...again. He could sense it his mind, see it in the deepening shadows of the room. It would come, bringing before it a wave of fear so palpable that it would threaten his very life. It was evil, the very essence of it. While it never took shape or physical form, Nathan knew without a doubt that it was the embodiment of the source of all things malevolent.

The familiar rush of sound began in his ears, building like a tumult of wind and rain until it became deafening and he could hear nothing else. He sensed the shadow beginning to rise behind him. Desperately he tried to move some part of his body. If he could move a little, he could snap himself out of it. If he could make a loud enough sound, he could wake his sleeping wife. She could shake him back to reality.

“Unnn.” A low moan escaped his lips, all he could manifest of the scream for help he was trying to muster. Help! Oh God please help me! He could hear himself within his mind, but he knew the sound was not coming out right. Help! God damn it! Help me!

The formless shadow loomed up over the bed, dark wisps like tendrils reaching out to surround his mortal soul. It had come to take him. He was sure of it. He heard the foreboding voice in his mind.

“Nathan...Nathan” it droned.

No!

Surely his heart would soon stop from the fear he felt. He continued futilely to try to move and bring himself out of it. It was useless. The blackness would permeate him and claim him for its own. It would be the end for certain this time. There was nothing he could do.

With all the strength in his body and all the will he could summon to himself, he made one last effort to scream out. Help! Oh please, somebody help!

“Hnnnnnnnn!” he managed to get out. It was enough. Soon his body shook from an unseen force and he was snapped back to reality, the shadows of the room receding, the power of his dark foe dwindling into nothing. His wife’s face looked down upon him curiously and the room appeared as it should.

“Nancy” he breathed, beads of sweat upon his forehead.

“You’ve had another episode?” She asked, wiping his brow and kissing him lightly.

Nathan nodded. ‘Episode’? Was that what it was?

“Go back to sleep dear,” she reassured. “It was only a dream.”

“No,” he said under his breath. “Not a dream.” Nathan sat up and found his sweat pants near the bed. He rose and went to the kitchen to make coffee. It was going to be a long night.