The Dream - A Short Story

It was a silent night. As silent as a dead dog’s breath. The streets were empty. Empty, except for one soul. She walked the streets; face down, breath held tight. Her ears perked up at every sound. The clock chimed 2. An odd hour to be walking down the streets. Then suddenly she hears a sound. Voices from afar. Her hands rush into her purse, all senses active. She grabs the pepper spray and looks in every direction. Suddenly, silence. She tries harder to listen. Crickets buzzing, the soft patter of rain, and something she couldn't quite distinguish. That something increases in pitch. Someone’s screaming. The sound of rape. It grows louder, more intense. She can hear it all around her. She’s blocking her ears. And then, as if all of a sudden, nothing. No sounds. It gets quiet, very quiet. Until she can hear footsteps. Clap, clap, clap. The sound of a death knell. Someone was approaching, getting closer and closer. Her hands clench the pepper spray tighter. Nails scraping against its metal surface. The footsteps grow louder. Her fingers seem frozen on the spray, she can’t move them. From the darkness comes a hand. It touches her like a small gust of wind. Then there’s another hand, this one grabs her ass cheek. Then another grabs her left tit. And she’s frozen, unable to defend herself. Then the hand gets bolder. Soon she’s naked, bruised and battered lying on the street. Utter silence. Crickets buzzing, the patter of rain and a broken & bruised girl lying naked on the streets. She wakes up. Looks around. She’s home. It was a bad dream. She’s sweating. The clock chimes 2.30. Knock Knock. Someone just knocked the door. Who could it be at this ungodly hour? She looks through her peep hole. It’s Dave, the boyfriend. He has a bouquet of roses in his hands. She opens the door. She beckons him in. She embraces him. He kisses her on her neck. She’s in heaven. He clasps her head in his hands. It is beautiful. He slaps her face gently. She looks at him puzzled. He slaps her harder. She buckles and falls. He jumps on top of her.  He hits her on the nose.  She’s bleeding and crying. Then he tears off her clothes.  She’s naked and bleeding. He holds her body. He looks hungry. Like he hasn't eaten in a while. He digs in to her body. Licks the juices of his fingers.  Grinds the meat between his teeth.  His fly is open. She sticks her hands in his pants. She sucks him off.  She licks his balls.  She fingers his ass. And then she wakes up.  A dream within a dream. The TV is on. Sound of gunshots. Bam, Bam. She switches the TV off. It’s cold outside. She puts on her  jacket. She leaves. The street is empty. Silence. She admires the emptiness. Bang a sound. Birds fly. Gunshot. A dark alley. A man walks out bathed in blood.  She screams. He screams. She searches her pockets. There’s a gun. She points and shoots. Bam, Bam. Dead. The man drops to the floor. Sound of laughter from the darkness. She moves inside. It grows louder. Manic laughter.  She enters the darkness. Now she’s laughing. The darkness is inside her. Groping her. Violating her. Her hand moves to her chest. The gun pressing taut against her breast. Bam. She’s dead. She wakes up. It was just a dream. Dave is sleeping beside her. She brushes his hair. She gets up. She goes to the bathroom. She takes a shit. She washes her face. She looks into the mirror. A black eye stares back at her. A swollen lip stares back at her. The hole in her cheek stares back at her. Shit just got real. THE END.