Chimera

Vanilla #18 - a dream/nightmare/trouble sleeping

            Luna was walking down the street heading to school. She was tired, as if she had not slept well the night before, when she was sure she had slept soundlessly. The world seemed a little off today, like something was wrong, but she could put her finger on it. All she knew was that she was running late and had to get to school. Her teachers would kill her if she was late again and there was no use in graduating if she was not alive. Adjusting her backpack over her shoulder she walked a little faster knowing that even if she sprinted she was going to be late.

            Then she heard it. It was a small sound but it made her skin crawl. It was the sound of nails on pavement and it made her stop dead in her tracks. There it was again, that sound of nails scraping along concrete, on asphalt, on the road, and it sounded closer this time. Swallowing the lump that was growing in her throat Luna started to walk again but this time at a much faster pace. Yet no matter how long she walked or how fast the sound was always right behind her; that scratching sound that was making every hair stand on end. The sound was closer now and she stopped, breathing heavily, trying to slow her heart.

            “It does not matter how far or how fast you run” a voice behind her grumbled, “because I am going to catch you.” Turning around Luna saw it. It was twice as big as the biggest bear she had ever seen with a head that resembled that of a lion. Long, sharp nails, probably four inches long or longer, came from each paw as it walked in four legs toward her. It stood up on it’s back legs and beared its teeth for her to see. “See? I caught you.” And with those words it let out an unearthly roar and Luna covered her ears without even thinking twice. Sharp teeth glittered in the morning sunlight and she wanted to scream, she wanted to get away, she wanted to run for her but Luna could not make her limbs move. All she could do was stare in horror as the roar ended and the creature made its way toward her.

            “Somebody help me!” Her words seemed lost in a silent chaos as the creature swiped at her nails coming in contact with flesh and she screamed as white hot pain spread throughout her entire body.

            Luna woke up immediately; she was covered in sweat and breathing hard with a racing heart. Running fingers through her hair she tried to slow her breathing as she pushed the image of that thing out of her heard. It reminded me of a chimera; those things that have the body of a bear, the head of a lion and the tail of a snake. Why would I dream about one? She thought as she lay back down in bed. Her heart slowed, her breathing evened out, and she found herself falling back asleep yet the sound of the roaring that creature made echoed in her mind the rest of the night.