Bad Dreams

Scary REM byproducts can't hurt you; can they?

Day 8:“Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.” — A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

I stared at the screen in confusion. Why had Pete abused the work e-mail system to send this chain letter? I read the overly dramatic text again.

"Whatever you do, don't fall asleep." Truer words have never been spoken. But it's not dead serial killers you should fear. There is a very real entity that stalks people in the collective unconsciousness that. It's called The Dreaded.

It chooses its victims randomly. The outcome is always the same. The dreamer is scared to death within four days. On the first night The Dreaded will appear only in the distance of the nightmare. In the second its face haunts the shadows; getting closer to the victim. The third night you'll see it clearly. Dripping with brown ichor and tentacled arms those beady amber eyes stare you down no matter where you look, The Dreaded will be there. On the fourth night, it comes for you and you never wake up again.

Don't go to sleep when the moon is full or close to full. Otherwise you'll be The Dreaded's next prey.

I shook my head, there wasn't enough coffee energy drinks or heavy metal to keep me awake for the next three days. Pete, you asshole, stop with the Creepy Pasta.