Something's Missing

My eyes open and the world looks so vibrant but for a moment. The light shining in through the blinds flickers between a vibrant yellow and a dull grey. I slide my feet out of the covers and prop myself up, blowing my nose.

I look down and see that there is a strange black tar on my chest, no oozing out of my chest. I reach my hand down and touch it, the tar sticking to my fingers and spreading across my hand. I let out a deep sigh and stand up, stumbling around the bed, grabbing my towel, and heading for a shower.

The water is hot and burns my skin for but a moment. The clear water running grey and washing the tar off my chest. I no longer feel the water cascading across my chest but I can see my skin turning a vibrant red color, telling me that I need to get out. I drearily turn the faucet and the water ceases its cascade. My chest is red and barren for now...

I grab a shirt from my drawer and a pair of cargo shorts. Getting dressed takes but a few moments and i soon find myself sitting at my dining room table, pouring knockoff cheerios without the honey.

I look over my shoulder at the living room and see a trail of black tar across the floor and shrug. A knock on my front door catches my attention and i place my spoon down, rising to my feet slowly, as if massive weights hang from each of my shoulders, chains attached to a dark black tar sucking link by link down into the floor.

For a moment i can see the chains, the black tar, and how it is pulling me down towards the floor. Then it's gone and i am standing at my front door, wide open, speaking with someone with a name tag.

It looks as if a hole has been dug in my yard but i can't quite tell why. Something about a fifteen thousand dollar bill and tainted soil.

Suddenly i find myself sitting on my back porch and its evening. A fire is burning a few feet away from me, and i am alone. I don't hear any noise coming from next door, i don't even hear any of the crickets that should be chirping this time of the year.

I look down at my chest and see black tar leaking out, but something more is there. I see a small flicker of light, shining through the bubbling tar that is oozing out of my core.

Then it hits me. I can't just give up like this. I can't... Then my eyes see it. The fire in front of me dims and from the ashes bubbles up that deep black tar. Popping and sizzling from the heat of the flames. It spreads up and outwards.

I see if moving towards me and i feel something driving my legs to move. I fall backwards out of my chair and a sudden need to run washes over me. I can't let this thing get me.

I scramble to my feet, glancing over my shoulder at this mass of bubbling tar that lights the grass it touches on fire. It pours forth in my direction, unerringly coming for me.

The tar pouring forth from my chest catches on my boots and prevents me from taking another step. I reach out and wipe away at it frantically. Finally able to peel my boots off and dash to my back door.

I slam the door shut and see a few beams of light flickering from inside the bubbles popping from my core. I can feel the mass outside calling to the mass within me. Tar seeking tar, and it felt so strong.

I watch as the tar reaches my back door and begins oozing its way up the rear wall of my house, covering over the window that was providing me with a window to see.

The tar bubbles out of my chest and covers my shirt and shorts, trying to glue me to the landing as to prevent me from fleeing any further. Why not ... there's something chilling about letting go and allowing these two tars to combine .. as if they had been one in the same from the very beginning.

That light within my core flickers outwards again, burning away the clothes on my form and freeing me from the bonds that pinned me at the back door.

A sudden need to move wells up from within me. I find myself desperately trying to run through my kitchen. Looking over my shoulder as the back door caves in to the searing hot black tar. It rushes in my direction, slamming against the kitchen wall as i book it down the hall to my bedroom and slam the door behind me.

I can hear it suckling down the hall. I can hear fires lighting, my possessions burning, all my things being devoured by this malevolence.

I don't know what to do. Everything is being taken from me. I'll have nothing left. Why should i keep on fighting against what is happening to me. I don't think i am strong enough to make it through this.

I stumble back and fall across my bed. The black tar from my chest oozing out and coating the bed in which i lay.

The door crashes open as the room fills with the searing black tar. I can feel my skin burning, bubbling... my mind races for but a moment and then nothing.

I am floating in nothingness. This is how it should be... i have returned to whence i came...

That's when i hear it. A loud voice. "Not Yet" booming through the darkness. Then a light brighter than anything i have ever seen washes over me.

I lurch awake. Covered in sweat. The rays of first light coming in through the window. I can feel my heart racing from that nightmare. That couldn't have been anything more than a dream.. a nightmare.

I throw my covers down. My blue sheets now a dark and infinite black... Was that really just a dream...