What dreams may come

[Kate Bishop]

Kate's first day of her sophomore year at New Salem University started with a jolt of panic. Nightmares had plagued her sleep, causing her to wake up late in a cold sweat. In a frenzy, she rushed through her morning routine, barely managing to get ready in time for her first class. Sliding into her seat just as the professor began, she tried to shake off the lingering unease from her restless night.

As the lecture droned on, Kate struggled to stay focused. Last night's dream weighed heavily on her mind, its vivid details still fresh in her memory. She could almost taste the metallic tang of fear, feel the icy tendrils of the forest air, hear the deafening silence broken only by the rustle of leaves underfoot, and sense the oppressive presence of the hunting dogs tracking her in her subconscious.

Then, it happened. Despite her best efforts to stay awake, fatigue overtook her, and Kate drifted into an unintended slumber right there in the classroom. Instantly, Kate was transported back into the dreamscape, the dense forest closing in around her like a sinister embrace.

In the dream, the sleek black dogs, their eyes glowing with a feral hunger, hunted her relentlessly. Their barks and growls echoed through the dense foliage, each sound a chilling reminder of her impending doom. Every step felt like a struggle as thick and gnarled roots tangled around her ankles and branches, sharp and unforgiving, snatched at her clothing and hair. The sense of impending danger was palpable, the hungry beasts closing in with each passing moment.

It was a nightmare brought to life, and Kate's heart raced as she fought to escape the relentless pursuit. Fear and desperation gripped her, each breath a struggle as she tried to outrun the dogs. The dream seemed to stretch on endlessly, a tormenting loop of fear and desperation.

Eventually, Kate jolted awake back in the classroom, her heart pounding in her chest. The professor's voice faded back into focus, but Kate couldn't shake off the lingering terror of her dream. It was a day marked by bad luck and unsettling visions, leaving her yearning for the safety of reality and the comfort of daylight, a stark contrast to the nightmare she had just escaped.

[Kate Bishop]

Kate's recurring nightmares were beginning to take a toll on her. For seven consecutive nights, she ran through the dense, dark forest, pursued by sleek black hounds that seemed to grow closer with each passing dream. The relentless chase was a haunting echo in her mind, and the fear of their hot breath at her heels was a constant presence even in her waking hours.
Each night, the forest seemed to close in tighter around her, the trees crowding together until they blocked out the moon's silvery glow. Kate's bare feet pounded against the forest floor, twigs, and branches snapping under her frantic steps. Her skirts billowed behind her, threatening to entangle her legs and slow her escape.

Amidst the baying of the hounds, a deep, masculine voice called out to her, its words carrying a strange mix of authority and concern. "Abigail! Abigail! It doesn't have to be this way! Where are you?" The voice echoed through the trees, adding to her sense of urgency and confusion. Something about the voice steeled her heart, and made her determined to keep running. 

In one particularly vivid sequence, Kate crossed a narrow stream, the icy water seeping through the fabric of her heady skirts. The cold shocked her system, slowing her down as she struggled to maintain her footing. The stream seemed to deepen inexplicably, pulling her further until the freezing water reached her chest.

Just as panic gripped her heart, something cold and relentless wrapped around her left ankle, dragging her beneath the surface. The sensation of drowning overwhelmed her, saltwater filling her lungs as she fought for air. Everything went black, and Kate's mind screamed with the terror of suffocation.

Each morning, she woke in a cold sweat, her heart racing and her body trembling. The recurring nightmares had become a nightly torment, leaving her exhausted and fearful of falling asleep. Despite her best efforts to shake off the haunting images, the dream's grip on her mind seemed unyielding, a relentless cycle of fear and desperation.