The Nightmare Chase

Rolling hills and fields of green stretch as far as eyes can see. The brilliant blue dome of the heavens is remarkable in its intense clarity. All in all this is a beautiful place. I am the only person in this world. The only person, but I am not alone. On the top of a hill I feel something approaching. I do not turn to identify my pursuer all I can feel is an oncoming cloud of darkness stalking up behind me with stately menace. False confidence fills me: "ha! It is too slow, in this open place I will run and be gone from its presence." It becomes clear as soon as I do that this dream is a nightmare. I run down the hill, away from my doom, but every time I kick off the ground gravity fails me. I float slightly upwards, like Armstrong on the moon. It robs me of swiftness and as I float down from every step the terror in my heart intensifies. The stately approach that did not threaten me before is becoming an immediate danger. I can feel the cloud building behind and I'm trying, really trying, to run. Robbed of pace it gains. I despair. I wake.