It happens again and again. Every night is filled with unending chaos. I always end up waking in cold sweats. Trembling.

This time I’m sent to the underground arena. Looking at the beginning of the arena I could see the numbers count down from 10. I could hear people cheering and see twisted faces. My heart skips a beat as the other gate slowly opens. A fuzzy creature of a million eyes and long dangly limbs looks back at me. I clutch onto my weapon. A single small knife.

I scream as I feel the way teeth sinks into my leg. I watch hearing the loud cheers, feeling the way my legs can’t catch up. Watching as lines upon lines of neon green pus quickly fills me. I scramble back trying to move my arms only for the sharp legs of the creature stab me. It’s mouth opens and I’m suddenly falling.

I watch as I step off the nine story building. My body spins down from the sky into an open ocean.

I’m drowning, coughing up water as my arms tries to move to lift itself up. I could hear the waves crashing upon each other. Slowly a ship comes into view. I watch as the men laugh at me.

They point before their captain turns to look at me.

“Get him up boys!” He shouts.

They reach their hands down grabbing and pulling me up.

I’m shoved on board and I cough up water. My throat burns as the men stare at me.

“Get him in the cell,” The captain replies.

I try to fight back but they all crowd upon me.

“Search his pockets! He may have something useful!” The captain commands.

They search me finding a map with an infinity number on it and a gold coin.

“We just hit the jackpot!” The captain cheers. “Send him off!”

The floor opens under me. I scream thrashing about and I could no longer see. I can hear the announcer, smell popcorn but I couldn’t move.

The announcer begins to speak. “Last show of tonight act 7!”

I struggle and my feet begins to kick as I hear the sawing of wood. I cry out but no one stopped to help. “Please!” Nothing.

My head spins and I feel a painful eruption before I awake at a hospital.

I look at the nurses running around. People with circus animal heads. A colorful children’s room. A hopscotch laid on the floor. Building blocks.

The nurses begin to pick up each children consoling them before handing them back to their mothers.

“One, two, three, four, five, six? When did you come here?” They ask all their heads turning towards me. “We only have five parents here,” Their voices turns into whispers only it becomes louder and louder.

The sense of dread of not belonging or feeling wanted growing stronger. I close my eyes screaming.

I end up crying as I head to school. My bus pulls up and I head to school. I duck my head down noticing four girls who began to stare at me. Pulling up my hoodie. I try to play a song and the girls shoots me a look. I try to ignore them but their stares, whispers and laughter become stronger. I run out of the bus crying.

Three spotlights shine upon the vast stage. Milllions of stares seem to be watching me as my fingers awkwardly work on the piano. The whole room was silent as the wrong key is pressed again and again. Suddenly I slam on the piano breaking it. “I’m done!” I shout kicking and screaming.

Security guards flank the stage pulling me up and out. I begin to struggle kicking and screaming. “Every night! I’m done with this! I can’t stand it! You all stare at me like I’m some idiot! I can do better!”

“Than do better,” Their voices echo as they stare at me. Their arms crossed as they stare at me.

“What?” I ask confused.

“Than do better,” They reply opening the door for the stage.

I walk in noticing how the room was silent now. Their eyes lingers on me. I look at the sheet. Ignore them. Play what you know. The notes and keys becomes clearer as the notes slowly work together. The spotlights slowly lines up until all three scattered beams became one. I hear applause and the door swings open.

I carefully walk towards the other exit. Peeking out im met with the faces of the other students. I climb on the bus sitting down.

The girls come over whispering and laughing.

I turn towards them. “What are you laughing at?” I ask.

“This,” They reply turning over their phone to a cat playing with a laser.

“Oh how interesting,” I reply and the bus stops.

“This is your exit,” The bus driver replies.

I get out staring at what seems to be a school. One that looks like a cartoon. Slowly I approach it and enter through the front doors.

“Hello there,” The elephant nurse says looking at me. “Come into the circle and wait for your caregiver,” They reply.

I slowly come into the circle sitting down.

“One, two, three, four, five, six? We only have five parents,” They whisper.

“Sorry my parent is a bit late,” I reply.

They look at each other whispering.

A hint of dread hits me but just as I say that a male figure with a teddy bear head arrives. “Sorry I’m a bit late,” He replies.

“Oh here’s your child. Well behaved,” They reply sending me off.

I stare up at my father figure who scrambles off home with me. I wander around my room looking at my pirate themed room, a play piano in the center, my backpack lays on the floor, and my lion plushie laid on my bed.

I turn to look at the picture book picking it up. I’m slowly transported to that world. I panic hearing the sawing of wood cutting away. My head spins and I’m suddenly flipped over. I yelp as I fall landing on a soft plush carpet.

My dad taking away the book. “Your bubble bath is ready,” He says directing me towards it.

I slowly get up following him. I get in watching as he places toys in the tub. I watch as a pirate ship slowly goes by.

Soft strawberry scent was soon replaced by the salty scent of an ocean. I blink looking up as I hear footsteps echo against wooden floorsteps.

“Search his pockets! He may have something useful!” The captain screams.

“Wait I do and I can help you find it!” I yell. I stare at the men with my hands up.

They stop.

“Well hand it over than,” They reply staring at me.

I hand over the map and coin.

One of them whistles grinning. “And where exactly is this?” They ask.

“Let me out first and I can navigate you to it!” I shout.

They exchange looks upon each other.

“Do it,” The Captain speaks up. “Out. Show us where,”

I scramble to my feet and onto the deck. I point and an island comes to view.

They crew watches seeing a coliseum slowly come to view. Docking their ship they slowly file out.

“Halt! Who are you?!” A soldier asks turning towards them.

“I’m entering the tournament and they’re here to watch and bet on me,” I reply.

“Ok,” The soldier replies.

I slowly approach the arena.

“Wait here,” The captain stops me. He throws me one of his men’s sword. “You’re gonna need it lad. Especially if we’re betting on you,”

“Thank you,” I reply as I begin to head out. Clutching the sword in my hand I approach the gates. The creature lies staring at me.

I stare back. As I approach I immediately go to work on its limbs. Every dream is a reflection of your mind. If I wanted to I could destroy the creature. I close my eyes focusing. I could feel the way its legs tapped closer and closer. When I open my eyes I could see the crowd’s faces clearly. Hear their cheers. I look towards the creature putting out my hand. I close my eyes and it stops.

The ugly creature kneels before me staring back at me. I stare silently and everything seems to stop. Frozen in place. The imagine slowly fades away and I’m at the office looking down at the empty sea. Instead of jumping I turn around and head towards the elevator.

There was only one level. I press it and ride up. The levels blurs past me til it stops at the penthouse. I exit looking at the woman at the desk.

Her bun tied neatly, wrinkles across her face and she wore a suit. Her hands typing into a computer screen as she stares back at me.

“Well done,” She congratulates me.

“Is it over?” I ask.

She smiles. “It depends on you,” She replies. “It always did,”

“Wake up,” She whispers. Her voice becomes louder and louder.

I stare in confusion but slowly I wake up.

My mother stares at me. “Wake up you need to take your siblings to school,” She says.

I slowly rising seeing my dad stand in the doorway. “You awake champ? Same dream as always?” He asks me.

“No… no it’s different,” I reply.