Game Over. Game Over. Game Over. Game Over. What the… Why is every single game in this arcade saying, “Game Over?” Crazy man.

“Hey Glenn. Why are all the games saying ‘Game Over’ in that strange red glow?” I keep looking around, but every single one says it. Even the pinball machines. That is so weird.

Glenn does not answer, so I look for him. “Glenn? Glenn? Did you do this? Is this your idea of a practical joke? That would be pretty cool. I mean hacking all these machines at one time to prove your chops. That is pretty… Yeah. Pretty cool. If… it… was you. Hey, man. You’re really freakin’ me out, dude.”

I decide that Glenn must have left. Which is strange. But I decide that I need to leave too. I look every which way as I go through the rows and rows of arcade games. That eerie red message is on all of them. Game Over. Some of them blink too. But they are all in that same deep red. Red that reminds me of blood.

I get out into the street without incident. Everything feels normal. I take a deep breath. The air is cool and refreshing as opposed to the stale air inside. Which was weird. It can get stale in there when tons of people are playing, but… Now that I think of it, that was weird too. Nobody in the arcade on a Friday night? And so close to the University? Ah well.

I start to walk home. It seems pretty normal at first, but then I notice that I am all alone. Nobody on the street. No cars. No pedestrians. Nobody. When I get to the first light, there is no pedestrian warning. Instead, it is flashing “Game Over” in that deep red. Flashing. Flashing. Flashing. What is this?

Then, I hear footsteps behind me. I am so relieved. Another person is out here. I turn to see if it might be somebody I know. Instead, I see two glowing red eyes from under a hood. Somebody all dressed in black. A cape with a hood! This cannot be good. I turn and start to run toward my house. I hear the footsteps running behind me. No way am I turning to see if he is catching up.

Every crosswalk has the same flashing message. Is my game over? The footsteps are getting closer. I know I shouldn’t, but I look back. And I trip. I’m gonna die.

But I never hit the ground. Instead, I wake up. I am in my bed. Sweating. It was all just a dream. Oh thank goodness. I sit up and notice my computer screen. “Game Over.” I have to smile and chuckle to myself. That screen must have been the cause of my nightmare.

I swing my legs to get out of bed to get a drink of water. And that is when I see them. Those red eyes beneath the hood. I scream.