In the face of nightmares, even the strongest hearts falter, unsure if they’re running from reality or chasing it

The underground parking lot swallowed us whole, its gaping entrance leading into pure blackness. The air was thick with the scent of oil, damp concrete, and something far worse—something rotting.

Kennedy took the lead, his gun raised, every step careful and calculated. Sophie and Andy moved just behind him, their breathing controlled, their weapons at the ready. I brought up the rear, my fingers curled tightly around the hilt of my knife.

Something wasn’t right.

The silence was too heavy. The kind that made your ears ring, made you feel like something was hiding just beyond your vision, waiting.

A broken car door hung open to our left. A rusted shopping cart lay on its side, wheels squeaking softly in the still air. Dark stains smeared the ground in long, uneven streaks, vanishing into the shadows.

Then, from somewhere deep within the garage—

A sound.

A shuffle.

A slow, dragging movement.

We weren’t alone.

Kennedy froze, raising a fist. “Stop.”

Our breaths caught. The darkness ahead remained unmoving, yet the feeling of being watched tightened around my chest like a noose.

Then—

A growl. Low. Guttural.

And suddenly, the shadows moved. It snapped it’s head towards us and screamed. Running. It was running towards us—fast.

“RUN!” Kennedy yelled without hesitation.

We all began running but when I looked back, my eyes widened.

Mom?

“Kennedy…that…that’s mom, that’s my mom!” I froze and looked at her, running with her broken bones, her guts hanging out of her belly. My mind went blank.

Girl!

Who? Who is calling for me? Is it my mom? I have to wake her up.

This all is just a dream, no— a nightmare, a very, very long nightmare.

Her tongue was hanging out of her mouth, her howls and screams filling my ears. Mom…I’m here, come to me…I missed you to death.

Kennedy grabbed my arm, yanking me backward. “Stupid girl, MOVE ALREADY!”

But I couldn’t. My feet felt cemented to the ground, my breath caught in my throat. Mom—her body broken, torn apart—yet she was moving, running. Toward me.

I wanted to reach for her. I wanted to wake up.

“Mom…” My voice trembled. “It’s me. It’s Alisha.”

She didn’t stop. She didn’t hesitate. Her cloudy, lifeless eyes locked onto me, her screams turning into something high-pitched, animalistic. Her fingers twitched, clawing at the air like she was trying to rip through the space between us.

No. This isn’t real. It can’t be real.

Kennedy’s grip tightened. “LISTEN TO ME FOR FUCKS SAKE! That’s not your mom anymore.” His voice was sharp, urgent, but I barely heard it over the blood rushing in my ears.

Something hot and sharp burned behind my eyes. I didn’t know if it was fear or sorrow—or both.

Then she lunged.

I barely had time to react before she was on me.

Her rotting hands clamped down on my wrist, her grip stronger than I ever imagined it could be. The stench hit me like a slap—decay, death, and the unmistakable tang of blood. I screamed, trying to pull away, but her broken body moved with terrifying speed, her twisted mouth snapping at me.

“No! You stupid girl!” Kennedy shouted, but it was too late.

Her teeth sunk into my arm with a sickening crunch. Pain exploded through me, and I let out a strangled cry, the world blurring around me. My body was on fire, but I couldn’t think—I couldn’t breathe. I fought, thrashing in every direction, but she was too strong.

Then, in a flash of movement, Kennedy was there. He slammed his shoulder into her, pushing her off me with brutal force. But she didn’t fall. Instead, she turned, her eyes locking onto him as she let out a shrill screech, as if she recognized him.

I gasped for air, clutching my bleeding arm. “Kennedy…” I whispered, vision swimming.

He shot me a quick look, his face pale but determined. “Get up! We need to go—now!”

But I couldn’t move. The pain from the bite was unbearable, the blood already pooling beneath me. My vision was narrowing, the darkness creeping in.

“Dumb girl, listen to me!” Kennedy shouted again.

But the shadows were closing in. And this time, they weren’t waiting for us to run.

“Mom! Mom, PLEASE! WAKE UP! I BEG YOU!” I cried out, my blood spilling painfully as I screamed, the words tearing from my throat like a desperate plea to a world that didn’t care. My heart pounded in my chest, as if it might explode from the weight of the hopelessness crushing me. The sound of her broken body, her moans filling the air, only made it worse. Was this really happening? Or was it just a nightmare, one I couldn’t escape from no matter how much I begged?

I looked up at Kennedy weakly as I hear him pulling his glock out and I realized what he was about to do.

“NO! KENNEDY NO!” I shouted. My tears breaking down and flowing down my cheeks like a waterfall.

It was too late. He shot her.

Right through her head. I saw the blood squirting out of her head like a fountain.

My head spun, and I felt like I was going to throw up. Nausea hit me in waves, then… my mind went blank.