As adult Divinity slowly walked towards her, large chunks of Ruth’s memory began rushing back to her. The train would always give her great comfort as it meant her father would be returning home. In times of panic this would bring her right back into peace. And she remembered chastising Embryo and cursing him with a shorter life in her dreams and that was largely because she was unhappy and had lashed out at him. As quickly as the pieces fit there was one task at hand that needed her full attention and facing down her daughters older, twisted projection was now at hand.

When Divinity was about ten feet in front of her Ruth held out her hand. “Stop. All of it. You are conceptually my daughter and you only exist within this realm that I have created. I offer you this…you walk away, continue living in this dreamscape and never show your face again. Or be destroyed now, permanently deleted from existence. Decide quickly.”

One second later she was at Ruth’s throat, squeezing with one hand while slicing her cheek with a ten inch talon. Divinity bared her fangs and hissed, “My rightful place is standing on your grave. This is more than just a dream, I can send your soul to hell just as you can. I can’t exist with you drawing breath, the little girl won’t allow it. When I’ve killed you I will tear her to shreds and rule this universe with no adversary in my way.”

Ruth grabbed a fistful of Divinity’s hair and punch her repeatedly in her nose, breaking it so hard it was forced inside her face. Blood gushed as she clawed at Ruth, missing with every swipe. They tumbled on the ground, kicking and cursing, hair pulled from skulls. With Ruth on her back, Divinity went to wrap her hands around her throat but rays of light shot from Ruth’s eyes throwing Divinity off of her and onto her face.

Ruth stood before a beaten Divinity, rolling on the ground in the fetal position. As though exorcising a demon, Ruth laid her hand on Divinity’s back. Divinity rolled over and looked Ruth in the eyes. “And now I delete you, you wretched beast incarnate! Release my daughter.” Divinity’s flesh began to melt, and in a flash of light she stood up and bolted as far as east is from west, leaving a trail of blood.

In a stupor and still trying to focus on how she got here, Ruth pulled herself together and called out to Embryo. “I’m sorry, E, for everything. I remember everything now and all you’ve done for me. I need you now!” The sound of a train whistle was heard and right behind Ruth was a train station. Like the little girl inside she ran towards it as it lurched to a stop. The door opened and Embryo stepped out baring a very urgent expression. “I am in The Cervix with you and your daughter, and you are both awake but weak and in and out of consciousness. Where is Divinity? We must get you out now.”

Ruth looked at him in desperation. “The wicked one escaped. I offered her a deal and she bolted.”

Embryo put his hands on his head. “We have no time. The Womb is crumbling. If we don’t get you out, you, along with everyone and everything else in this universe will forever be deleted! I have young Trinity with me but I can’t guarantee she will stay alive if the older version is deleted.”

“But there is no time! Keep her safe. I must kill the evil one!”

The ground began to shake and the skies darkened, bringing vivid lightning showers. Embryo stepped back towards the train. “But how? She will just pixelate and then regenerate. We need to extinguish her from the outside! Please come!”

The quakes intensified. “I killed those in my dream and I know how to kill her. I have to at least try. If I never see you again I love you. If Divinity survives this please raise her with love, lots and lots of love!”

Embryo stepped onto the train and the doors closed immediately. The whistle rang out one final time and in the blink of an eye Embryo was forever out of the program. Ruth’s body, though awake, lay silent and her gaze was fixed on Divinity, feet from her. Divinity’s eyes were also locked on her mother’s.

In The Womb, Ruth flew after Divinity, following the trail of blood until Ruth saw her under the shade of a giant willow tree. Divinity lay in pain, her flesh half melted off most of her body. She writhed when she saw Ruth approach her. Ruth bent down on one knee and embraced her, Divinity clawing and fighting Ruth off. Lightning struck all around them and the ground was separating, the dreamscape imploding very fast.

Ruth held her demon daughter tight and rocked her. “I love you, Divinity, so much. I am so sorry for all the times I was away working on The Womb. I’m sorry I practically abandoned you. I love you very much and I am forever here for you now.” Whatever was left of the older African American version of Divinity disappeared and her six year old daughter lay at peace in her arms.

Ruth bent lower to kiss Divinity on the top of her head. Fire shot up from the cracks in the ground and the quakes grew stronger. Seemingly at once, the ground opened up and the great willow tree and Ruth holding her daughter dropped into nothingness.

Epilogue

Embryo turned around to see both beds empty, both Ruth and Divinity vanished. Quickly, he ran to the next room to check the float tank and surely as he was standing there, Divinity and Ruth sat up, looking at each other then up at Embryo. “You survived!” Embryo jumped into the tank and hugged both girls tightly.

“Is it over, Mommy? Is it destroyed?” Divinity asked between showers of kisses from both her mother and father.

“Yes, baby. It is done. Never to look back.” Ruth’s tears mingled with the salt water as they exited the tank. “It is finished.”

Ruth’s eyes shifted to see the old basement and her body followed immediately. The smell of old and the sound of heavy footsteps brought the chill of hell upon her. She was back in the thralls of her most tormenting nightmare and this time all alone.

Her eyes glanced up and down the walls, her vision permeated the drywall, seeing all. The door to the basement swung open hard and her heartbeats tripled the thunderous foot steps chasing downstairs. Ruth grabbed the rusty garden rake and stood by the bottom of the stairs. When the one eyed slobbering beast of a man hit the floor, the steel rake head penetrated his torso hard and fast. The rusty prongs dug in even deeper as Ruth pushed and pulled the handle, mincing his heart, lungs and stomach.

With blood pouring from his chest and mouth, the disfigured freak fell face first to the cold concrete floor, letting out one long final wail of torment. Ruth ran into the next room and hid with her back against the back of the couch. With nothing in her hands she heard the growling and yelling of the other two grotesque inhabitants, one a lady of sorts and another man, this one larger.

The walls pulsed and inhaled then exhaled loudly. The tipped over couch Ruth hid behind was grabbed and tossed toward a wall. Shaking, Ruth turned her eyes to the hideous mountain of melted flesh who stood before her. He laughed as though a demon with his prey, drooling from the lips and quivering all over his contorted body. Ruth got up and ran towards the man and dove inside his flesh.

He stood there grabbing at his throat, buckling over and madly reaching for anything around him. Without warning Ruth’s fist came out of his skull as her hand pulled off his face. Her body re-emerged, tearing through his bloodied body, internal organs and piles of flesh everywhere. Ruth tore him apart from the inside out and now he lay dead in many, many pieces.

The pitter patter of animal feet was heard upstairs. Still covered in blood, Ruth ran up the stairs to see the final beast in the form of a large dog that was trying to escape. Clawing at the door and windows but to no avail. Ruth calmly walked to her, took her by the neck and twisted it hard until a loud snap was heard. The house itself began to shudder and emanating out of every floorboard and piece of lumber was a menacing wail, though defeated and dying.

Ruth doused the entire floor in gasoline and standing out front, she took in one final glance at the nightmarish haunted house that plagued her dreams for decades. She lit a match and without a word flicked it onto the front steps. Within seconds the house was engulfed in flame, smoke billowing up and choking any leftover life breathing inside.

She watched it burn right to the ground, not batting an eye. And seconds after the final beams collapsed, a figure could be seen walking through the ashes. They approached slowly and Ruth had to wipe her eyes to see. It was Divinity, as the woman with the talons and the anger in her heart.

Meanwhile, back at The Cervix

Embryo stood between Ruth and Divinity’s comatosed bodies. He injected a clear fluid into both girls and within moments the both of them bolted up, wide awake…

Ruth grabbed Embryo’s shirt collar and pulled him in close. “Look, I know I’m in deep, I don’t know how deep. But I at least deserve the truth. None of what you’re saying makes any sense. I know Divinity exists! I know someone other than you made all this, I just know it! I’d threaten to kill you but you’d simply regenerate so that ain’t happening. Tell me the truth.”

The sound of a train was heard just above them, rattling the ground enormously. Both Embryo and Ruth ran up the steps to see not a train but Divinity and as the little girl. She approached Embryo, holding a tiny flash drive. “It’s time you tell her everything. And if you don’t, I will erase you on the spot. Talk!”

Practically in tears, Embryo succeeded. “Ok, ok, you’re right. There’s so much to unload.”

“Divinity is our daughter, always hidden by you from me. This is why Divinity is never around when I am. Ruth, you created The Womb and you have been so attached to the program for so long that you have crossed reality and your dreams. You and I reversed roles as training for me to take over the business when you came to hear about the program. You also have the ability to take on any shape possible and dwell in the dream world with Divinity. Ruth, at one point you voluntarily got in a bad car accident putting you and toddler Divinity in comas so all you do is sleep on the deepest level, which has let you live somewhat eternally in The Womb but it’s damaged parts of your brain I’m afraid irreparably.”

Ruth was beside herself. She was white as a ghost and found it hard to breathe. She looked at Divinity, detailing every aspect and then at Embryo.

Embryo continued, nervously. “I met you when you were a drunk, for lack of a better word, just as you had completed creating The Womb in your sober moments. Lost in dreams, you’ve forgotten about Divinity and forgotten about me. That catches us up.”

Ruth was in tears yet smiling. She went and knelt down in front of Divinity, taking her small hands in hers. “Have I been a good mother to you? Please forgive me, I feel like we just met. I’m going to get us out of here, to be a normal family. How does that sound, honey?”

Divinity shifted into the Afro-American woman and sunk her claws into Ruths hands. “I barely know you. All I want is what’s coming to me rightfully! The Womb. You must be deleted and him too!”

Embryo ran behind Divinity and grabbed the flash drive from her in a moment of pure confidence. He stomped on it and Divinity pixelated, her dust blowing the way of the wind.

On her knee, Ruth begged. “Embryo, you must show me the way out. If I have to kill her to release my daughter then I shall. We all have to get out now!”

“You sick, twisted bitch!” Ruth’s fist flew at Divinity’s nose as hard as she could launch it but it went right through her ghostlike head. Divinity pixeled and dissolved then reappeared as a middle aged African American woman with talons for fingernails and razor sharp incisors. She screamed in Ruth’s face and cut her head clean off with her talons. Ruth’s head instantly pixelated then reattached itself as though nothing happened.

Both women stood inches from one another, growing increasingly agitated, circling each other. A heavy snow began to fall, wet flakes clinging to their coiled bodies, ready to lunge any second. The sound of a train became audible and as Ruth jumped toward Divinity her body went through hers. Then all went white. Next thing Ruth knew, she bolted upright in her bed, at home.

It couldn’t truly be over. She looked outside to see her suv parked in front of the house, covered in heavy snow. She called for Bella her cocker spaniel and she came bounding into Ruth’s room and up onto the bed. Tears streamed down her face faster than Bella could lick them. She was home. She was safe. She was out of The Womb, never to return. She didn’t care about the money. This was all she wanted.

Ruth made a flurry of phone calls but none of them found anyone except her mom. She had a second chance at life! Everything was new and she promised herself that she would be better in all ways for how thankful was she. Ruth’s mom listened. She never said more than a few words and it almost didn’t even sound like her.

When Ruth momentarily stopped talking, the voice on the other end whispered loudly. “Your mother is dead and is deep inside The Womb with you.” Ruth’s blood ran cold. The walls in her room turned to ice. The cold choked her, brought her to the edge of life. Then the bed and floor dropped out from under her.

When she opened her eyes Ruth was back in the open field, this time without the mansion, the wolves and the rows of participants. A voice called to her and she knew who it was immediately. It was from underground and she followed his voice until a staircase in the soil became evident. Down she went. And there stood Embryo.

They sat down at a small stone table. Embryo enquired how Ruth was doing in her journey through The Womb. Ruth spoke long and detailed through many tears about everything that has happened and mostly about Divinity. She bared her soul and Embryo took it in, not saying much at all.

There was a long silence and just before Embryo opened his mouth a train was heard again, this time the whistle blowing. “Ruth, frankly I don’t understand any of this. The Womb is one thousand percent my design, no one elses. I have nothing to gain by drawing you into my program and then lying to you and messing with your very core, it is absurd. This dream, right now and everything else you’ve seen in The Womb is of your creation, in your own head. These nightmares are yours, not Divinity’s.”

Embryo took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. He drew new focus and smiled at Ruth. “Ruth, you are not dead. You are fully alive in my studio. Fact. And please understand…there is no Divinity. Within our dreams we sometimes make up helpers though I can’t fathom why you’re imagining she’s wanting to kill you and all this nonsense. Please reassess why you came here and get a grip, Ruth. Ultimately you’re in control. You aren’t some pawn in others psyches, it’s insane to give it a moments thought.”

Howling wolves by the hundreds ran furiously towards Ruth. They came from the woods to the west of the mansion, enabling her a bit of a head start, though undeniably useless. As Ruth ran she turned her head back but the girl had again vanished. Ruth’s feet picked up speed, almost taking flight just as Divinity had taken them.

She has gone so fast and so far that there was no need to continue as the wolves stopped their hunt. Ruth was neither tired nor out of breath. As she collected her thoughts, she realized she had come across row after row of people asleep on cots, hooked up to an IV drip. She was completely and utterly overwhelmed and terrified. There has never been a nightmare of wolves and on top of that seeing so many humans uploaded into the program when she was told it was just Embryo.

Ruth began looking for herself among the hundreds of sedated participants. She walked up and down the rows, seeing faces young and old, and of all races. A voice was heard, a familiar one that she felt in her very soul. It was Divinity and she was calling Ruth to come to where she stood.

“You’ve delved deeper than anyone has ever before. No one has ever discovered Fallopia Fields and all those that sleep.” Divinity came close to Ruth. She put her arm around Ruth’s waist and pulled her against her own body.

Ruth cried out. “Who are you! And where am I?”

“I am the creator of The Womb. I am the one who gave Embryo the choice between old age and sudden death. In its early stages, I took him on as an apprentice of sorts. He helped design certain elements of The Womb, under my watch of course. But he began bringing in the most unethical practices…using people, reconstructing their very personalities and gaining financially. I clipped him and he’s never gotten over it.”

Ruth looked impatient. “I don’t know if I even care as much as I should. Frankly, getting out of here is my only priority. I conquered my ocean dream. Where is the compensation? Why am I going deeper and these aren’t even my dreams?!”

Divinity put her finger to her lips. She took Ruth by the hand and led her to the next bed. A woman lay there. Old, heavily wrinkled and pale blue. Her eyes were closed. She wasn’t drawing air. “This is you, my dear.”

Ruth frantically studied the woman, pulling down her blouse to find a matching birth mark on her neck. “How can I be dead?!! What is going on?”

“Most of these are dead. They live in my dreams as themselves though I never see them. It is my gift to the participants…an eternal life after all, just, in their dreams via mine for they no longer can dream.”

Ruth dropped Divinity’s hand. “And I am amongst them? Used then discarded?”

“No, no. You are different. You lie here dead, yes but you have so much to learn. Take my hand, Ruth.” Divinity reached out both her hands. “Take your place within me. Take up the crown!”

Ruth let go of Embryo and dove head first off the ledge into the cold ocean water. She needed to collect her thoughts and she also wanted to get a taste of conquering her dreams, this time that meant breaching the tumultuous chasm of ocean from one side to the next. Already exhausted and nearing hypothermia, Ruth bit her lip and did everything in her power to stay afloat and to keep moving. Continuous bites at her feet and legs, and bumping into many water logged corpses proved indeed a living nightmare. There were moments she held onto the bodies as though life preservers, preserving her way across this vile chasm.

The second her eyes saw land was the moment the little dark haired girl showed her face again. It was a sight that Ruth had been wanting to experience. Holding a single white towel, she draped it over Ruths debilitated body. Panting for breath, she looked up to see the little girl, without expression. She reached out her hand to the beaten Ruth. “Come. Let us catch up.”

When Ruth touched her hand the sand, waters and noise went away, as did everything as though ice melting on a warm day. The next thing she saw a mansion on a hill in the middle of what could only be described as paradise. The little girl and Ruth stood in a lush field with animals both large and small meandering about. There was no sense of fear, wherever this place was or wasn’t, for it had to be a dream as places like this don’t exist.

“What you are looking at is my childhood home. Before The Womb this is all I knew. Beautiful, isn’t it?” The little girl wasted little time.

Ruth shot back quickly. “How did you learn of The Womb? Embryo doesn’t know you…do you know who he is?”

She laughed. “Embryo knows who I am. He runs from our next encounter. In his mind I cannot find him but I see all.” She turned to face Ruth. “I am Divinity. Embryo works for me though his muddling is often too much for me. I’ve clipped his wings. His life is cut short as his damning deeds are many. And now here he is yet again, feeding off our your dreamscape and for what? Some things cannot be undone.”

“He thinks if he can do right then it will be reversed.” Ruth swallowed hard, trying not to break their gaze.

Divinity smiled then her lips dropped into a sneer. “It isn’t to be. And Ruth, my new friend, you want to know who I am, do you not?”

“I thought into this very moment that you are me and have been injected into my program in The Womb as a guide or savior.” Ruth took a deep breath as she surveyed the house which they were now inside of. “This is definitely not part of my childhood. All this…luxury. It’s intoxicating. Please. Who are you?”

Divinity took Ruths hands in hers. Instantly they were floating with eyes closed and minds open. Divinity drew closer to Ruth and whispered three words into her soul. “You must run…”

Dreaming within a dream of a sunny day on a beach with the sounds of childrens laughter, the wake of speeding boats and that feel of sand between your toes and everywhere else imaginable. No struggles or stresses, only your warm and nearly naked body on a towel, basking in the midday sun.

Then Ruths consciousness would kick in again, revealing that she is being pulled under, deep into the ocean and icy water is filling her lungs. Limbs thrashing, her silent scream drowning her, this must be the end. And then just like in her dream she is dropped onto a beach, though this time soaking wet and coughing up water and blood.

Quick to assess her surrounding, she fights to stand. This is the back drop of her second strongest and ongoing nightmare: a vast stretch of ocean surrounded by a high wall of beach and stone. Masses of people everywhere, some stay on the wall and others meet their doom in the swirling waters below. And even others brave the chasm, either making it across in one piece or being sucked under, never to draw air again.

Through the sea of people, a man put his hand on Ruths shoulder. “Hello Ruth. I need your help.”

She backed away then responded. “Who are the hell are you?”

“Embryo.” He does a creepy bow, his hand extended.

“But why are you in my dreams? And why are you so young? You can’t be more than twenty five or thirty!”

“Let us walk somewhere less noisy. Come with me.” Embryo extended his hand asking Ruth to hold it but she refused. She followed him along the wall and down into an area resembling a lush garden, with less people milling about. Ruth constantly was on the look out for the little girl but to no avail. Embryo pointed to the mix of grass and sand. “Please. Sit.”

“I’ll stand, thank you. So what’s going on? Where’s the little girl?”

Embryo himself sat down. “What little girl?”

Ruth seemed dumbfounded. “There was a little girl, maybe six or seven years old that helped me in my first dream which, by the way, I never conquered or lost at, I just fled.”

“She must be part of your psyche. I didn’t implant any girl. Have you noticed anything else out of place?” Embryo wouldn’t make any eye contact.

Ruth spotted a tree trunk and sat down. “Yes I have. Many things actually. What have you done?”

“I will explain but I need your patience as there is much going on.” He stood up and threw a rock over the wall but it disappeared seconds later, as though it was deleted. “This program is my baby, my life. When it was ready to be explored, I of course jumped in first. I completed the task which was to face my greatest fears and I came out on top. What I didn’t know was the cost involved.”

Embryo continued. “There was…is a glitch. Upon rebirth, or coming back from the program I was required to either lose my life or have time drastically speed up, hence why you saw me as an eighty year old man. This is irreversible or so I was told, until you came along. Let me cut to the chase. These are my dreams that I have put you into so I can have another chance at reversing my demise. But our dreams have seemed to crossbreed, for lack of a better term.”

Ruth stood up and grabbed Embryo by the shirt collar. “I was terrified enough, why are you doing this to me?! You’re saying both of us may die in here?? You son of a bitch!” Embryo placed his hands on Ruths. “I’m saying both of us will die.”

“Ruth! Come here!”

Ruth heard a loud whisper coming from behind her. In desparation she felt for her chains but they had disappeared as quickly as they appeared. She frantically followed the voice as quietly as possible.

“Hurry! They’re coming for you!”

Ruth looked side to side. “Where?!”

“The dumbwaiter!”

Ruth dove inside the little crawlspace and slammed the door shut as quietly as bearable. The stomping of feet and growling of beasts was silenced as she was pulled upstairs. When the door popped open, there before her stood a little girl, couldn’t have been more than 6 years old.

“Who are you?” Ruth asked as she stepped onto the floor.

The little girl held her finger to her lips then motioned for Ruth to follow her. They stealthily crept through the kitchen and outside into a bright, sunny day. Ruth followed the little girl just beyond the fence, officially off the property and they crouched down, still on alert.

The little girl looked at Ruth then at the house. She tucked her dark hair behind both ears and cleared her throat quietly. “Before you ask all your questions and I know there are a lot, try and take all this in. You’ve been here many times, yes?”

Ruth looked at the house. It was the most vivid it had ever been, a real living being. Not only the hellish creatures that dwelled within it but the house itself was always also out to get you. To trap you and when you gave up hope you were fed to it, consumed by the darkest parts of it.

“Are we safe on this side of the fence?”

“No but I suggest we’re safer.” The little girl pointed at the garage. “Was this ever in the dream?”

Ruth thought a hard minute. “You’re right, it doesn’t belong here. Look, the greys aren’t the same and that insignia shouldn’t be there. I also noticed doll or dare I say baby skulls earlier. I’ve had this dream maybe fifty times and now there are subtle differences.”

“Maybe it’s just his lack of design? Only you know the details.” The little girl looked pained.

“Wait a minute. Who are we talking about? Who are you??”

The little girl looked at the house intently. “Some questions aren’t designed to be asked. Answers reveal themselves in many ways. You aren’t here to write a book. You are here to conquer.”

Water began seeping in around their now bare feet. Screams filled the air intermingled with hordes of birds cawing. Suddenly Ruth was emersed in endless water with waves that rose up twenty feet then crashed, dragging bodies under. There were people everywhere, panicking violently and thrashing about. The little girl wasn’t with Ruth. She tried desperately to keep her head above the water. And then she felt a hand around her ankle, pulling her under the surface…

The 9th day had come none too quickly. Since mentally investing she just wanted to be immersed in it, not just going on day to day living while the Dream Chronicler did its thing while she slept. As she sat in the backseat of the cab, she reassessed the old brick building, battling feelings as though this may be the worst thing she could ever possibly choose in this life. Death is at stake and she would simply disappear. No explanation to family, children or friends. “All or nothing,” she whispered as her fingers pulled the door open.

“While I extract the Chronicler then view and put together your personalized program, you will be sleeping but in a dream free zone as you will need optimal rest before going inside.”

Ruth shook her head as though it all made perfect sense. “And how long until I’m entering The Cervix?”

Embryo smiled and clasped his hands together. “You remembered! Not long, my love. A few days at best. Then straight in.”

“And $5000 if I fail. $20000 if I come back out alive?”

“Yes my love.” Embryo assisted Ruth to lay down as he opened the syringe to put her to sleep. Much had to be done.

Ruth grabbed his wrist. “Wait. How do I know the difference between dream and reality?”

Embryo inserted the needle and slowly pressed down. “Everything is now dream but you are alive. Reality begins again the next time you see this room. You will be floating beside it.”

Two days later

Ruth is naked, lying in a float tank. Her eyes are open yet she is deeply asleep. A headset adorns her face. A crown of wires is attached to her skull, connected to a wall and behind the wall is Embryo, also crowned but fully focused on his headset monitor.

Inside Ruth’s head, there were no days transpiring, not even minutes. Immediately after she was put to sleep, she found herself awake inside a very familiar basement.

Day 1 inside The Womb

“Oh shit!” Ruth tried to cover her mouth. Icy terror decended upon and throughout her very soul. She was standing in a dark, windowless, musty basement and her heart was beating out of her chest. Looking closer at the walls there were hunting trophies. Heads of deer and other dead game. Also amidst these animal heads were small human skulls, all babies.

“No, no, no, this can’t be happening.” She recoiled in fear, her hands over her ears as she sank to the floor. When she spoke she could hear and then she realized she could playback her own thoughts, like a reminder that she was in her head and nothing else was real.

She managed to pull herself up and slowly crept toward the door of the next room, turning the knob as though her life depended on it, and it did. A loud stomping was heard upstairs combined with guttural growls and high pitched laugh that made Ruths blood run cold. It appeared that no one was in the next room and as she tried to collect her wits the lights came on a the door to upstairs flung open.

Ruth tried to move but looked down to see her feet in shackles. The pounding of heavy feet on the stairs provided her blood with enough extra white cells to stop her heart. The growls of animals seemed to surround her; scratching, barking, gnawing. Another set of feet hit the stairs too, both accelerating faster to the ground level where Ruth would be seen easily for she couldn’t move and at this point barely breathe. She whispered barely audibly, “This is just a dream. This is just a dream…”

Snow began to fall as Ruth stood outside a rundown brick building, holding a business card out at arms reach, attempting to match the unspecified address on the front door. In a faded, almost scratched away insignia the numbers seemed to coincide. The snow flakes sat heavily on her dark coat as well as on her black hair, tightly tucked behind her ears. As she ascended the stairs excited, nervous thoughts flooded her. She was actually here but with no incling of what would happen next.

With hand extended to knock on the cold, white door, a buzzer went off and she pulled it open before taking a deep breath and stepping inside, one foot after the other. As the door slammed behind her she realized she was standing in front of a very old looking elevator, something that she would never step foot on. The doors creaked open slowly and with extreme caution she stepped inside, as though it could drop free fall style at any moment. She looked down to see her floor selections and there was but one: basement.

The descent felt as though she were going ten floors down and maybe she had. When she stepped out of the old doors there was only darkness, and a long hall leading to a room well enough lit. The lack of light didn’t phase her and frankly she was becoming tired of these little moments designed to bring fear. She walked bravely down the corridor and right into the next door, unflinching.

“And you must be Ruth.” A very elderly looking man in a dark sports jacket and well pressed equally dark slacks stood beside a desk. “Please come sit down.” He pointed to the chair in front of him as she walked over. She met his gaze and fell into the seat, immediately crossing her legs. The old man walked or more so shuffled his feet, as though they didn’t quite work correctly.

He sat down with a grunt and a small cloud of dust rose up above him. “Please call me Embryo. This…program is my inception. Few have experienced it and even fewer have had…complications with it for with anything there may be complications.”

“I used to have many nightmares, most recurring and always left me terrified. As I grew older my one wish was to no longer hope they’d go away but to face them down and either end them or die trying. My wish has become reality, young lady. Virtual reality but with you inside of that world, your world. Tell me…do you know that of which I speak? The living, breathing world of nightmares?”

Ruth shifted in her seat. “Yes. I was referred here by…”

“Uh uh uh! I needn’t know the name. All will be revealed when it’s time.”

Ruth continued. “My dreams consume me. If I’m not in them at night, they’re in me by day, always on my mind. I have enough going on, this nonsense has to end.”

Embryo slid a piece of paper in front of Ruth. “This is a very informal yet legal document. I’ll require your signature to proceed with the implementation of the Dream Chronicler.”

“Dream Chronicler?”

“I want to record your dreams over the next 9 days. It is a near microscopic device I will implant in your inner ear. After I can review the recordings, we can go ahead and get you an appointment for what I call The Cervix. This is your entry and exit point inside The Womb.”

Ruth stood up and walked behind her chair. “This is alot to take in.”

Embryo also stood up, very slowly. “You knew this before walking in those doors.”

“Yes, no I’m good to go. Give me the Chronicler.”