Eternal Nightmare

I stand staring, my mouth agape at my coffin. The wood is rotten and a dank, cold musky smell seeps from the cedar like water. I breathe in the rancid air and try not to choke on it. I can smell the rotting flesh and hear the scuttle of bugs. I feel a hand grip my heart and silently squeeze. I exhale quickly, my breath coming out of my mouth in a puff of white steam.1

I watch, mesmerized as the steam spirals upward dancing with shadows and melting into pictures. As I continue to stare, the semi-transparent cloud claims the shape of a corpse. It leers at me, its teeth rotten, eaten away by decay and time. A tremor runs through me and I tear my gaze away from the rotten figure and my eyes rest once again on the casket.  2

It seems closer. With a shuddering breath of foul air, I reach forward to the crumbling wood unable to control my hand.  The wood reels away form my touch, appalled at the warmth of flesh. Stealing myself with another choking breath, I throw a glance in the coffin. 3

In amazement I stare back at myself, uncomprehending for a moment…..then I realize, I am staring at a mirror. With clammy fingers I reach forward to touch the cool surface. I try to jerk away as it ripples like water but it holds tight, sucking greedily at my fingers. 4

The cool liquid sloshes over one side, spilling onto the round. From the liquid, mice and rats erupt, swarming around me and clawing at my legs. I try to scream but choke as spiders fall from my mouth onto the ground amongst the rodents. My eyes wide and horror stricken, I glance back down at my arms which are wrapped in tiny silver snakes. I suddenly double over in pain, my stomach ripping open, maggots spilling out. I lay on the ground, to scared and in too much pain to move. 5

I try to breathe in, but more spiders claw their way up my throat. My body gives one last shuddering sob before being completely consumed in the squirming mass. 6

I find myself suddenly able to breathe and move. I sit up, my eyes shooting open. I look around…….I am sitting in my coffin. 7

*Time to wake up.*8