The Dream

The dream started as it always did.
 
Samantha saw the face of her brother, John. He looked tired, worn, as if he had been fighting for hours. Strain creased his face as he fought against a monster Sam barely saw. In previous dreams, the perspective pulled back from John’s face as the creature ripped into him. Snarls came from the muscled monstrosity, and bits of bloody meat and putrid breath sprayed John’s face. Her brother was being taken from her again.
 
Only… this time was different. As the perspective pulled back, Sam could see John struggle, not against a monster, but against the heavy chain locked around his throat. The chain yanked sharply, bringing John to his knees.
 
“Come now, my pet. Haven’t you learned that your exertions do no good?” A tall, lean man of regal demeanor sat upon a throne of gold, with the heavy iron chain wrapped languidly around one hand. Bored dismissal dripped from his voice. His features blurred, though his skin was eerily in focus, skin the color of black marble with sickly yellow veins of tarnished gold that seemed to grow out of the golden throne. “Your brother has done so much better in his time with me. He barely even fights anymore.” Sam’s gaze drifted to the bearded man chained opposite her brother. She should know him, shouldn’t she? He looked so familiar…
 
The pharoah’s eyes snapped towards Samantha, showing interest for the first time. “Ah, there you are. You can rejoin your brothers, you know. Join them at my side, as my servant, until every star is snuffed out.” The eyes bored into Sam, ripping into her soul. “All you have to do is open the gate.”
 
Sam bolted upright, back in her own room. The clock read 3 am, only an hour after she had gone to bed. The city lights flowed through the window shades, casting shadows across her bed and nightstand. A police car sped by, flashing lights shifting the colors of the room: red, blue, white, then red again.
 
A kaleidoscope sat upright by the clock.
 
From the other room, Reece screamed.
 
Work written by Evan Foster,
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