The Real Nightmare

The Real Nightmare(Rohan Saha Turai) Everything had been darkened around me and surrounded by a ghostly coldness. I had heard some murmuring inside my heart: “You must take the vengeance. The man killed him and you know it.” I hadn't known where I had been unless for a blaze of yellow flame had highlighted the words “St. Peter’s Graveyard”. How had I come here? Suddenly a buzzing of alarm clock had reached my ears that had seemed to come from the outside world…

“Oh shit! What is this bright speck of light?” A torturous feeling raged inside me. The crime scene of my friend was still vivid in my eyes and the words in the letter resonated in my ears: “Your friend will be murdered on 21st May! Save him if you can…” I took a look in the calendar and was anxious to see today was the day.

“Help!” my friend had cried. I had seen his body shivering with pain and his dress had been covered with blood. I had tried hard but my body had been rigid and his figure had been moving further and further until he had stood lifeless in front of a tombstone in which had been inscribed his name. I had seen his spirit trapped in a bottle which had been in the ugly hands of the creature.

Every time this dream came into my eyes and I got agonized by some unknown feelings. Why was I dreaming such a horrible thing? Why in the world would he be murdered? And why would his own uncle murder him? The next moment what I saw was astounding.

“Leave him,” I had shouted; my voice had reverberated through the emptiness.

“He is dead forever. No more you will see him in your dreams,” with a wicked smile the face of the creature had come out.

“Why…?” tears had come out of my eyes.

“Forget what is over. Try saving him in the real world,” the creature had handed out a letter to me and had said “21st May…remember the date.”

All the surroundings had got dark and there had been the echo of the last words spoken by the creature and its evil laugh. I had suffered a lot…

The letter! How did it come here on my desk? It was in the dream; how could it become real? Oh no! Was John really going to be …?

Cring, cring …

“Who is this?”

“Don’t forget the date – 21st May.” a voice spoke out.

“Hello, hello…” the phone went dead.

“My friend, help me. He is going to kill me. Help!” the words were striking in my ears and I was being tormented a lot. It was as torturous as the fire of hell. It was getting more and more agonizing. “No, no, no…!” everything went blur…

“No! John, come back,” I’ve found my hand stretched out. Now the world is more lifelike than before. I have found myself covered with perspiration. What a nightmare it was and it has taken only five seconds for this whole thing! Oh! I myself could hear a sigh of relief beating in my heart. But a phone call has changed the whole thing.

The date is 21st May, 2012. I am standing in the St. Peter’s Graveyard, in front of John’s tombstone. My nightmare has changed into reality! John is dead on the same date. Something draws my hand into my pocket and what I see is more surprising: a note that contains the words “You have failed to save your friend…” I look at John’s uncle and he gives the same wicked giggle…