A death omen visits,

Sitting in my office, exhausted from a poor night’s sleep, I struggled to focus on the tasks at hand. Why am I dragging through the day’s business? That cup of coffee was no help at all. Maybe a second cup will get me jump started.

As I head out in hopes to find another hot cup of coffee in the office, a text buzzes in my pocket.

“Your father has passed away.”

-Anonymous.

Weird… that can’t be true. Hands shaking, I tried calling his cell.

He answered.

“Hey we gotta talk business.” he said to me in a flat tone, and instead of informing him about his recent death from the anonymous text, I accepted the business call.

“Ya, what’s going on Dad?”

“I need you to get the little black book out of my office cabinet. It’s imperative that you do it now!”

“Ok ok, what’s the rush? Is everything alright?”

“There are important instructions in that book, it will give you the access to the $20,000 I’ve left for you.”

The line clicks, and it’s quiet.

My body breaking in fear, my fingers tremble as I dial his number once more. I can hardly hear the phone ringing over the blood pumping in my ears.

He answered, but this time his voice was different.

“Hey honey… I wish I could see you again..”

“Dad? So it is true? You’re gone…?”

“Yes….. it’s cold here..”

The line clicks… dead again.

I fall to my knees and start bawling. Tears swelling, falling down my reddened cheeks. The saltiness dissolving on my tongue.

I sense someone behind me, something sinister. I whip around to find no one there.

I throw my phone at my office window, causing it to shatter. I slam my way through the office doors and run for home. A shadow chasing me every inch of the way.

It’s a downpour of rain and with every step I plant into the ground, the thunder in the sky above follows suit.

This must be a dream. It can’t be real.

I open my front door and see my father standing in my living room. He slowly turns his body to face me, but when I see his face I scream.

His face was completely disfigured and had frost hanging from every inch of his body. Ice cold. Without taking my eyes off him, he vanishes out of view. I run to my room and slam the door. Heart pounding out of my chest, palms sticking to the door with sweat.

The feeling of someone behind me persists and the hair on the back of my neck statically raises. Goosebumps erupt over my body. Before I can turn to look, I feel cold claw-like fingers touch my shoulder and I hit the floor.

Eyes still wide open, body flat on the ground, I see a death tarot card beside me. Eyes grow wider, breath quickening, focused on the image. I tried to move, but I was stuck to the floor, unable to even close my eyes.

The sun is burning in the sky outside my window, causing the room to have a reddish eerie glow. What was left of the rays of sun are disintegrating further into the earth.

I see a pair of feet walk in front of me. I can’t see higher than the ankles. Nothing but bone. I feel the claws scraping down my back as death hovers over me, his shadow dancing on the wall. He leans down and whispers in my ear.

The silence was deafening.

He began to sing

The ocean will draw you away

Child, take a breath.

You’re are coming home today.

Lay down and accept death

The ocean will draw you away.

His deep vocals seeped like water into my soul. A calming serenade.

A single tear rolls from my eye and drops to the floor. I try one last time to get to my feet and run, but I am forced back down by death’s frigid claws.

I begin to think about my life and where I went wrong. How did I end up here? Trapped between the floor and the Reaper. Trying to recall my father’s last words to me.

“There are important instructions in that book, it will give you the access to the $20,000 I’ve left for you.”

The manifestation of regret flooded over me. I should have listened to him.

My last moments, wasted with sorrow. What was in that book? Could it have saved me from this ominous outcome?

The tarot card of death staring me in the face, taunting me for what is about to come.

Confined in a sleep paralysis so frightening and real, that it was.

Clung to a dream, that became reality. The lingering effects pursuing, the shadow beneath my feet. Breathing down my neck, ready to bring me under.

I fought my way back to life while death had its claws into my body. At least I thought I did.