Dreaming Deadly
So last night I had a bizarre if not foggy dream. I was attacked by a playground swing set...
It didn't start that way though.
I was working for a government agency. I have no idea which one. There were a series of natural disasters that we're hitting the planet. Floods in Europe. Avalanches in the Rockies. Tornadoes in the prairies. Pretty normal stuff except the death toll was quite high and occurrences were happening concurrently around the globe. To the average joe, tragic but normal. To us in the 'government', we knew it was something different.
There were aliens among us. Bodyless entities that can take the form of natural disasters to slowly scrape down the earth's population. Because these aliens had no physical characteristics of themselves (what we would consider physical), they could influence weather. They can also take over possession of dead people. But they could not actually kill people themselves... I.e. they can't take over the body of a corpse and then use that body to kill another person. They can start a flood that drowns people but technically, in this example, they don't kill humans, water does. Ok, I know this is thin but work with me here... it's a dream.
So we knew this was going on and we didn't know how to stop it. We also didn't know how we could warn people because we weren't sure what we would be warning people to do. "Stay way from floods"? I do remember being somewhat scared. For whatever reason, we felt that as long as we were with another agent, we were safe. I have no idea why. At one particular point, I found myself alone, standing in the middle of a frozen lake. Pretty much alone as you could possibly get. I was about 500 yards from the shore looking back at the cold, grey, single level government building and seeing no one. Complete stillness. There was a vacant playground in front of the building with a typical swing set. Not the new ones with a rubber U shaped seat... but the old ones that had a flat wooden board to sit on (remember those? Am I dating myself?). It was normal one moment, I looked away, then looked back. Half the swing set was missing. I was struck with this eerie sensation knowing I was in a bad place. I then saw it coming for me. The swing set had separated itself... the large upside down V of it's frame had turned into legs and it was running towards me. The other half of the set had inverted itself, turning it's V shape right side up and onto the newly formed legs and acted as it's arms. It had pulled the long wooden seat off it's chains and was now swinging it back and forth like a bat. And it was coming for me so quick. I ran.
All I could think about was running towards other people. Get myself in a public place and maybe this would go away. Maybe I will be protected somehow.
At the far end of the lake and close to one end of the building we're a group of cyclists. Yes, I know I was just on a frozen lake but again, I don't control these dreams... Anyway, I ran as quickly as I could to this group of 100 or so people. I could find protection in the masses somehow. I found myself catching up to and surrounding myself with the group. Looking back I could see the pieces of the swing set scattered along the ground lying still, far back. I was relieved. However, many of the cyclists were already possessed by the alien species and I was a like a fly finding refuge in a spider's web. In moments they were on me. Everything went black.
I woke in a cage. We'll, it felt more like an office cubicle than a cage. But I was captured and with several other people who looked like beaten office workers. I didn't know them but we all knew we were being held by the aliens... guarded by dead humans. One of the captives explained what was going on. They can't kill us but they can wait for us to die. We're the next upgrades as the bodies they currently posses eventually deteriorate. They need constant back up and this way they can keep us in fairly good condition until the time comes when they can assume control. Oddly I remember feeling ok with this. It's in their interest to make sure we aren't damaged. And we know they won't actually kill us. We had time to think of a way out.
Sadly, I don't actually remember the escape. For some reason I think we just 'left' but that doesn't make for a very good story. I guess I could make something up but my subconscious is somewhat more creative than my conscious.
I remember being in a building... the government building and there were lots of activity. Many people, soldiers, running around and yelling. A natural disaster had hit our city and it was tearing everything apart. These non-natural disasters had now covered almost the entire earth's surface. We had no way to fight back. Not against Mother Nature. It was only a matter of time before either the earth was destroyed, or every living being on it. We had nothing.
The furniture in the lobby of the building had been thrown about. I and another woman we're taking shelter behind a leather couch. Windows were smashing. The sky was black illuminated through moments of lightning flashes. An army general stood above us and was yelling out instructions. It was hard to hear above the wind now filling the building. "We're going to get you on a rocket. We need to get the two of you off the planet. Our species depends on it." The general yelled. I knew what he was saying. This was our last hope. Me and the other woman I was with were being asked to leave everything... find a new home... and procreate. The general didn't have to spell this out. It was pretty clear.
At that moment, I can remember thinking how bad I wanted to get away. To leave the planet. To have hope... I turned and looked at the woman crouched beside me and thought...
You really aren't that attractive. Maybe there is someone else more suited to go with me...
Then I woke up.
Sometimes…
I just don't care. I know I should. I know I should look at you and smile like I'm listening... but I'm not. I'm imagining my drive home. I'm imagining my TV, my guitar, my... well, anything other than what's coming out of your mouth right now.
I'm not a bad person. And I do care! Usually. But sometimes not. And you're standing in front of my going blah blah blah blah. I just don't have the energy. It's taking everything I have to just nod my head and insert the occasional "Oh really!" and "That's awesome" or "Ya, you should totally do that!".
As you stand there hovering over my desk, spewing whatever it is that means the world to you, I'm now imagining what it would be like to staple your lips together. If I grabbed you by the throat, pulled you down and grabbed the stapler (which is only inches from me) and sealed your mouth, would I get fired for that? Probably.
What would happen if I just stood up and walked away while you were in mid sentence? Hey look, I can see birds out the window. Neat.
Oh, you're still here. Who cut your hair I think to myself. Yes, you should totally do that new initiative thing. That sounds great. You are a star. I wonder what's for dinner?
Ok, thanks for stopping by! Can you put that conversation into an email cause I may care about it later. Ok thanks. Bye.
It’s Late. I’m Tired
But my photo project is done. I didn't say it was good. But it's done.
If I get drunk enough, I'll post the results.