Everything is pitch black beyond the blue shimmer of the brick walls on either side of me, keep following the lights – that’s all you do for now. Feels like my larynx were decomposing from the inside out. Until that’s gone I shall try nothing at all. The walls at the end of the horizon behind me a hundred feet away start melting into the darkness as I look back. My form freezes as I perceive their texture starting to form waves, which before I know it become seemingly real waves. My imagination was killing me. At least these waves were blue – they would wash away all the black.

I turned around and started following the trio of orbs again (they had started off without me), as I noticed the sound of the wave coming nearer – it was bigger than before. I made a run for it but stopped after a slowly started sprint. I had to give up. It was inevitable and unavoidable. I looked around and noticed my companions circling my chest in protection and in the same formation as before. Gray facing the wave, blue to my left and yellow further behind me on my right. Odd and kind, hmm – might as well enjoy the sight; The wave was coming nearer – almost upon us. It was going to crash, about to crash. And then it happened.

Engulfing us all. Waterproof guides I see. ‘What other features do you guys have?’ I said sarcastically. No response must be some kind of response. We were under water, I held my breath for as long as i could, staring into the vastness of my surroundings – just clear blue. I couldn’t hold on to them – bubbles were escaping my lungs – I was drowning. Get it over with already! You still haven’t managed to kill me?! Here’s your last chance!

I looked down at my feet – that is where I would sink to, but I found the blood cloud they were supposed to be in disappearing. The floor under me was falling away into the abyss. I looked up. Light beams were entering at the surface of the water. I noticed a finned outline of something humanoid. It swam away beyond my view and slowly appeared again to my far left.

Long hair, brown and floating. Glad mermaids turned out to be real. Her tail was colourful and the flow of her movement was graceful and alluring. She was coming closer. She was slowing down, reaching out her arms towards me – pulling me towards her. Our lips lock as she blows air into my lungs.

A rejuvenating experience. My pain subsides – like taking a deep breath. My health restored by A kiss of life. I feel muscles in my neck forming, slits opening. The water in front of me turns red. Her face was no longer visible through my blood. She had given me gills, but failed to close up the stitches – a view of my DNA, in plain sight. This was my life force and it was running out!

My pupils widened as I saw arms grabbing my neck. Her face had reappeared from all the red but not the same way it used to be. It was contorted and twisted. She looked insane, she was screaming at the top of her lungs. It felt like murder. Her words started slowly making sense. She was helping me. ‘All you have to do is believe! Believe – that’s all you have to do! Believe! Please! I can’t hold your throat closed forever!

I set my head on straight. My vision around me returned to blue – my lost blood was returning to me. I had full control once again. ‘There we go, I’m so glad your back!’ This was an underwater heaven. Under my feet was now a city of my dreams and at my arm the woman to complete it. Almost too much. I couldn’t take it.

My eyes flicker before someone switched out the lights.

Dream end.