distorted reality

What should I do? I previously discovered a secret passageway, and the door to it has since vanished. I have already tried looking for the catch while pretending to drink from my water glass with one hand hidden behind my back. Now all of the painted wall is just a single solid panel. That access point has been blocked! I use the opportunity to toss my head around while brushing my hair in an effort to give the impression of composure while frantically searching every corner of the room for additional ideas.

Outside the balcony's glass doors, in the pitch-black, I can more than just make out the silhouette of a massive, colossal man that appears to me to be threatening. Except for a wavy ponytail, his head is completely shaved, and because he is so strong, he does not appear to have a neck. The pristine white T-shirt sleeves strain to conceal his biceps, which are bulging, with massive arms crossed across his toned chest. His features look out of place. Asian? Perhaps Japanese? He looks like some intimidating Sumo wrestler to me. Since sunset, he has been squatting silently and patiently in the shadows against the wall, crouching on his haunches. His head has not moved at all during that time, but I can feel him constantly watching me, waiting for me to give him a chance to uncross those powerful arms and pounce on me.

I might have found the muscular chest, which hints at a solid six-pack of pure strength, quite attractive in other circumstances, but not right now. I am becoming increasingly afraid of him because his ominous presence is excessively threatening. Despite the fact that his menacing features remain completely stationary, the Big Man's expression evokes a sense of menace. Despite the fact that his monopipe eyes are fixed on the road in front of him, I am aware that he watches my every move. It will absolutely be impossible to escape that way via the balcony.

I might be tempted by the solid oak door to the hallway outside this square, small room. Is it possible that it was left unlocked? Is that the way out of this situation? If the Big Man sees me, I must not display any hope in my face. On the wall, there are framed pictures of: In weak, faded watercolors, I pretend to admire the awful, amateurish forest scenes and pretty twee coastlines, cocking my head to one side and looking at the details as I have seen people do in art exhibitions. I start slowly making my way toward the brown and black striped door as I look at each picture, slowly creeping in the direction of my desired freedom.

WHAM!

I suddenly find myself only a meter or so from the Big Man. His intimidating arms are still crossed across his chest and he is now squarely in front of the door, blocking the way. He is smiling at me, but it's an oddly self-assured smile. He appears to be well above two meters tall when he is fully grown. He must have known what I meant. However, I cannot retreat. That just seems like a fatal error to me. It's here! My only chance is now or never. I must be courageous! I tell myself that if I really try, I can do it. The words "Never be afraid of anyone, Babe," spoken by my mother and from a long-since-departed childhood, suddenly ring out. You know, if you really want to, you can do anything!

I have to move at all costs, but I have to move slowly and deliberately. The regular ticking of the clock, the tinny hum of the heater, and the distant drone of heavy traffic whizzing by on the highway outside all fade into insignificance. I manage to swallow, hold my breath, extend my hand, and brace myself for the impact all on my own. My ears are filled with a roaring, pounding noise. My stomach is tightening up.

There is no influence!

My own eyes are beyond belief. I yank it down, dragging it inwards with all the force I can muster as my hand goes straight through him to the handle. However, it is not at all heavy! I'm thrown off balance when the flimsy door opens, swinging the fragile barrier around like cardboard. My freedom lies there. My spine began to tremble as I heard his insane laughter suddenly ricochet around the room. It's a nasty, cackling laugh. There is no time to waste here; I must flee!

Without a care in the world about which way to run, I hurtle away from that location. The horrible sound of his sinister sniggering is chasing me, so I'm heading left. It's not a loud belly laugh or a guffaw, but it's definitely not a friendly one. It's the kind of happy, smirky snigger that a cat would make if it could when playing with a scared mouse that has been cornered.

There is a long, empty corridor in front of you with numerous doors that are the same on both sides. The walls, ceiling, and floor have all been painted a brilliant, clinical white. It looks like a hospital. I have the bizarre idea that the walls themselves are absorbing the thud of my bare feet on the glacial ceramic tiles, as the sound seems muffled. I almost miss a sudden turn to my right, so I grab the wall too late and blindly turn the corner, arms flailing as I regain my footing. I hesitate as I see a staircase in front of me. Do I ascend or descend?

I can't keep up! With his head lowered to the ground and both of his slanted, unblinking eyes fixed on me, the Big Man leapt from the floor above and landed silently on all fours in front of me. They have predatory, black eyes; The look is almost reptilian. I can't look away from this. I can't move, like a rabbit caught in a headlight; My body is unable to move. His nostrils quiver as he moves forward, preparing to strike. He can smell my panic. I withdraw and retreat within myself.

He charges. I scream. The prey is the predator.

In a firm grip, his icy hands encircle my neck. I begin to fight for my life as a result of an instinct that is ingrained in me and gives me the motivation to strike back. I am successful in raking my nails across the side of his cheek after my thrashing fingers locate his face. He yells in rage and then squeezes more tightly. My vision's outer edges are obscured by a gray fog that becomes increasingly thicker and darker. After he shakes his hands, all that remains is blackness! silence as well.

The world rotates while I swim. a brilliant light. a color kaleidoscope.

I can make out the familiar shape of a photo frame by my bed as I struggle to open my eyes. I am somewhat calmed by this appearance of normalcy, but I am still shaking and my head is pounding. I stutter to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face and wash my clammy hands. I take a second look at myself in the mirror there. A narrow band of ferocious, reddish-purple bruising wraps around my throat. I shudder as I raise my hand to my damaged skin in astonishment. My hands come to mind. Blood is present. Under the nails was an unpleasant, sticky mass of bloody gunge. I feel extremely faint suddenly. Then, in dread, I freeze just as I'm about to turn on the cold water tap. As I become aware of a nefarious presence, an icy snake of terror creeps up my spine. In the bathroom's far corner, I see a shadow. The Big Man is it! In my bathroom, right now. He is smirking at me as he crouching beside our shower in a similar position to where he was earlier on the balcony. From his left ear to his nose, there are now three score marks that appear to be angry.

I back out of the bathroom and run, terrified. When I finally succeed in opening the door to the garden after struggling with the latch, I discover that it is not our garden. I find myself in a thick forest of a strange kind of bamboo plant, its tips rising high above me and intertwining into a muddled vegetated roof that blocks out the sun. To squeeze between the smooth, enormous trunks, each roughly the size of a man's thigh, I have to inhale. The Big Man's insane laughter continues to echo all around me, as if I were moving in slow motion. I find myself increasingly entangled in this impenetrable green prison as I attempt to advance. With hundreds of fine tendrils intertwined around my shins, a group of smaller shoots has completely encircled my legs. I can't move a single inch because I'm trapped. Help me! I scream, "Please help me someone!" I can't move!

With the bed sheet tightly coiled around my legs, I jerk bolt upright. I try to reason, but I suppose that explains why I feel trapped.

Wait, wait! Why is my heart still beating so rapidly? With a sense of dread, I become aware of the Big Man's threatening presence once more as the door handle begins to move.

‘No! Please! No! What could possibly be going on here? Please, kindly inform me that it cannot.'

I try to fly, but my legs won't let me. Everyone in the vicinity bursts into thunderous laughter, getting closer and louder. Too much pain is caused by the intense pressure on my eardrums. The door to my bedroom is moving!

Again, here we are...