A Loop in Time

I jolt awake, every thought in high definition. Though my eyes are open I can't think of why; my heart is pounding, mind empty. It's as if an adrenaline hypodermic needle was emptied into my carotid. I strain into the complete darkness, my fear rising like a lump in my throat, engulfing me more and more with each breath. As I looked down, I could feel my heart pounding with anxiety. My hands were drenched in gory blood, but I didn't have a chance to ponder about it because then I heard it.

I heard his raspy voice, the kind with a rich timbre, that binds your soul to a single moment in time. My head jerked up as I searched for the source of that voice. My mind was always playing tricks on me, but this time I sensed a presence that I couldn’t deny. I saw a shadow above me get larger, but just as I turned around to look, the shadow was behind me again.

What was going on? Was I hallucinating? Was it just a figment of my imagination? Or was he really here? Now it was my eye’s turn to start playing games on me because suddenly he was in front of me again. This time he grabbed me, forcing me to stand. He pulled me under his shoulder, my eyes widening in horror as the outlines of my arms, legs and head disappeared into the light. What was it with this guy and shadows? Then the thought hit me, "Maybe it was just a dream, so why aren’t I waking up?"

The man in black seemed to be reading my thoughts; he forced me to walk directly out a window and there I fell into a world of unknown.

Then I suddenly jolted awake...