Dark Reflections

Jonathan sat in his therapist’s office, fidgeting with his hands. The room exuded an air of tranquility, but his mind was plagued by a recurring nightmare that refused to release its grip. The dream had haunted him for weeks, and each time he awakened, it left him feeling unsettled and drained.

“I’ve been having this dream,” Jonathan began, his voice laced with trepidation. “It’s always the same, like a Scooby-Doo episode at first. I’m running through an old gothic mansion, clearly haunted, with tapestries and cobwebs. Down the massive staircase I go, with a group of teenagers, or maybe twenty-somethings, escaping from something horrible. But it feels light, almost comical, until…” His voice trailed off as the vivid memory sent shivers down his spine.

“Until what?” Dr. Anderson leaned forward; her gaze filled with concern.

Jonathan hesitated, his hands trembling. “Until this…this demonic woman appears. The others disappeared down the lower stairs. I’m all alone now, terrified. She tries to push me into a huge mirror on the landing. I fight back, struggling for my life.”

Dr. Anderson nodded, absorbing every detail. “It sounds like a terrifying experience. Have you ever tried to confront the woman in your dreams?”

Jonathan shook his head. “No, I’ve always woken up before I could do anything. My wife, Emma, she wakes me every time I have this nightmare. She’s always there to comfort me.”

The therapist made a note in her pad, contemplating Jonathan’s words. “Dreams often provide a gateway to our subconscious fears and desires. Perhaps facing the woman in your dream could help you understand and overcome these deep-rooted emotions.”

Jonathan absorbed the doctor’s advice, seeking solace in remedies like melatonin and chamomile tea. Eventually, he managed to find some respite, enabling him to drift into a peaceful slumber once more.

It wasn’t long before Jonathan found himself once again immersed in the familiar dream. Now, after defining it at the doctor’s office, he literally saw the Scooby Doo cast of characters. It was funny. Was Dafne hitting on him? “I don’t know” Scooby read his mind. Oh, those crazy kids…

There was a crash, followed by a boom. The gang started running down the stairs, screaming in that cartoonish way.  They hit the landing and turned down the final stretch and were gone. He was alone again. This time, however, as he stood before the mirror, a newfound awareness washed over him. He realized he was dreaming and braced himself for what was to come.

The demonic woman emerged, her sinister presence casting a shadow over everything. Jonathan fought back with newfound determination, pushing against her with all his strength. It seemed as though he might succeed, until a chilling touch landed on his shoulder. The woman was now inside the mirror, reaching out, grabbing his shoulders, pulling him in, her arms wrapping around his neck, her grip tightening as she began to pull him towards the dark abyss within.

A sense of suffocation enveloped Jonathan, his struggle to awaken intensifying. The dream world turned pitch-black, and as he finally managed to open his eyes, he found himself trapped in a state of sleep paralysis. The weight on his chest felt unbearable, and a putrid scent filled the air, like the stench of death itself. Panic surged through his veins as he desperately fought against the invisible restraints.

Through his struggling eyelids, Jonathan glimpsed a horrifying sight—a woman, the very embodiment of his nightmare, hovered above him. She drained his life force and consumed his essence, her malevolence piercing his soul. He attempted to scream for help, but his voice failed him. His wife was nowhere to be seen, and he felt utterly helpless.

With his strength waning, Jonathan closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath, and summoned one final surge of determination, bellowing and fighting off the evil spirit, squeezing her presence out of every muscle.

However, instead of continued pain and terror, a profound calm suddenly washed over him. Fear dissipated, leaving him numb to his surroundings – weightless. As he opened his eyes, he found himself floating above the bed. The woman began to fade away, her spirit descending, down into –

Emma burst into the room, drawn by his screams. Concern etched across her face, she rushed to his side.

“Jonathan, wake up! I heard you screaming,” Emma exclaimed, her voice filled with worry.

Amidst the confusion and uncertainty, Jonathan’s voice, detached from his physical body, “Emma! I’m here. Am I dead? What is this? What’s going on? Emma!” Jonathan was unclear if the words escaped his lips or remained a mere thought.

Jonathan’s actual eyes fluttered open, his body stirred, and his hand reached out to comfort Emma. “I’m okay, I’m okay. Just that horrible dream again. But I think it will be the last time. This one felt… final, somehow.”

Relieved, Emma settled back onto her pillow, her weariness evident. “Thank goodness. I couldn’t bear to hear you scream like that again – beyond dreadful.”

Jonathan’s eyes followed her movements, a faint smile playing upon his lips. “Go to sleep. Everything is perfectly fine now.”

Emma mumbled her gratitude and drifted back into slumber. As Jonathan’s body relaxed, an amused chuckle escaped his lips, his eyes turning upward to meet Jonathan’s fading presence. “Emma, that’s not me. Wake up, please wake up,” he pleaded.

Jonathan’s finger rose to his pierced lips, silencing his own plea with a whispered, “Shhhhh…” The last sight Jonathan’s spirit beheld was his own eyes glowing a haunting shade of red, his lips curling into a wicked smile, and his fingers coyly waving goodbye as he faded into the unknown. Jonathan’s body was no longer his.