Autumn leaves crunched under my feet as I entered an old bookstore. A bell on the door announced my arrival. Old wooden shelves were overflowing with books stacked up to the ceiling. Ladders and step stools were randomly placed in the aisles. The scent of old books and a couple of gray tabby cats greeted me before the wizened shopkeeper did. He was a thin man with glasses perched on the end of his nose and a shock of white, unruly hair. He directed me to a miscellaneous section of used books. In perusing the selection, I was able to find what I had been looking for: A Guide to Interpret Dreams. The book was an old brown hardcover with pages yellowed with age and gold embossed lettering on the spine. I paid for my purchase and gave a farewell pat to the cats before I left. The wind blew leaves across the sidewalk as I zipped up my fleece jacket and stuck my hands into my pockets. The weather was getting colder as Halloween was rapidly approaching. Pumpkins, witches and bats littered the storefronts.
When I got home, I changed into my comfy flannel pajamas and sat down in my favorite rocker, pulling a fleece throw over my lap. I held the book in my hands, studying the worn cover. I had been having a reoccurring dream as of late, where I am alone on a dark night. The only thing I could remember about the place was it was some kind of timeworn courtyard with a tiered stone fountain that featured a rather large water basin. It reminded me of a wealthy European estate, built around the turn of the last century. As I opened the book, I wondered if it would provide me with answers. After reading a few pages about symbolism, I began to feel drowsy . . .
I find myself in the dark of night, in the courtyard of my dream, wearing only a white gown. I suddenly sense I am no longer alone. I am frightened because I know a man is looking for me and what he wants from me. I’ve dreamt of him before. His seductive lure beckons me. I cannot escape him. Out of the darkness, he emerges. His pale skin is a sharp contrast to his midnight black hair and cloak. He takes a step towards me. I back away into a hard stone surface. I look behind me to discover it is the fountain. I look into the water, and I suddenly see myself asleep in my home with the dream book.
It's only a dream! I tell myself.
I attempt to open my eyes, but they feel as though they are glued shut! I look back at my pursuer, who is closing in faster than humanly possible. Was he not just ten feet away? He is right in front of me! I will not run. That will only entice the hunter in him. Besides, I have nowhere to go. He would catch me before I could take one step. If flight is out of the question, the other option is to confront him.
"Why are you keeping me here?!" I demand.
He smiles, and I can see the hint of a fang glinting in the faint moonlight. His dark eyes heighten with a hint of crimson.
A scream builds in the back of my throat, but I suppress it. He wants me to fear him. I attempt to open my eyes again, but I cannot. No, there’s another way.
He reaches out to touch me. I tumble backwards into the frigid water of the fountain.
I woke up in my chair, with the dream book in my hands. I struggled to catch my breath. My clothes were dry, but I was still shaking from fear and the thought of the chilly water. It was only a dream; just a dream. I went to the bathroom to splash water on my face. As I stood in front of the mirror, drying my face, I discovered two small puncture wounds on my neck!
