The word 'Dream'

The word 'Dream'

He kept walking along the roads, but looking back, found himself again at the gate. What is this gate even here for? Why can't he escape from its vicinity? 

The gate kept calling him back again and again as he tirelessly tried to escape its calling. Strangely, it felt like he tried to do so just once and felt no stress on his body whatsoever. For no reason, he was annoyed to no end.

"Why can't I feel my hands?"

He clenched his fist and let it go. 

Felt nothing but seeing it so.

"Well.. at least I can control my body."

The thought never came to him about his surroundings as his senses were clouded by the thoughts of the gate alone. The gate seemed so lifeless, yet reeked of evil. The twitching omen made him want to cry out loud. But nothing came out from his mouth which could be regarded as his voice. Rather it was like his muscles around his mouth were tightened, leaving him unable to make any meaning of his yells. 

He could only wish it was just a bad dream. 

"No! It must be that I'm dreaming."

Suddenly, rumbles could be heard around the gate and cracks under him. Soon he fell into a chasm before he could even think of saving himself. "Jasen..!" Someone shouted his name while he was being engulfed by darkness. Was there someone near the gates?

"Sigh! I should've looked around a bit…"

The darkness wasn't the end of him. He woke up sitting on a chair at the dining table in his house. Yes, it was the same as yesterday when he was studying hard before lunch. 

"God it was so annoying! Nobody studies for that long like that!"

Things that annoy Jasen are somewhat a nightmare themselves. But this feels like reality, right?

Outside the windows, it was still dark. Jasen sees something staring at him behind the big tree. The area which is almost like an empty field had a little greenery in one spot. And reigning that part was the big tree. He once wanted to build a treehouse on top of it. 

"No dear! It's too dangerous!"

"Why? Mom! It looked like they were having fun in that show."

"It was just a show, honey. That high isn't safe. Sigh… Listen, up there lives something scary you wouldn't want to visit. Mind it okay?"

"O-okay… hhaah"

For a moment, Jasen felt freezing cold as he heard those words from his mother. He could see nothing but a bunch of bird nests and a few squirrels sweeping on the upper branches. But his fantasies led that to otherwise, and something not worth saying.

But then he looked down and behind the stump, there was the same face from his fantasies. He was still shivering, even though he didn't feel cold at all. He crouched down, covering his head. But the presence he felt became stronger and if only he would look up at that moment, would he find himself in a dire state. He dared not to look up. But an unknown urge tried to push his chin upwards.

"No no no! Let it be a dream, a dream!!"

(It was still lunchtime, the sun was at its peak)

A cat was rubbing its neck on Jasen's head. He sprung from leaning and slapped the cat to its fall. It hissed and balanced itself as it cushioned the fall. But Jasen was still alerted, his eyes wide open and heart beating the blood flow quite delightfully. 

"What's wrong Jasen? Why do you look so pale?"

"..."

Mother poured water in a glass and said, "Drink some water, calm down."

"Mom! Am I still dreaming?!"

She giggled and assured him of being in absolute reality. Thus Jasen could, at last, relax his thoughts and be annoyed at his monotonous studies yet again.

But a sudden spark of thought rose and he tried to remember why he was so terrified. Just a moment later, his deep thoughts rendered him shivering in fear, making him cold down to his own two feet.

It was a quick, little goosebump.

(The End)