Who: Johanna Mason What: Dream Narrative Where: Mason Home When: Sunrise, 8/17/12 Warning/Rating: None / PG
The first thing that she’d become aware of was the light. It was bright and stung her eyes until tears welled up, like staring at the sun. When she’d get a better idea of her surroundings, she’d realize that was exactly what was happening. She was standing, starring into the sky, past the midday sun, searching for the thing that would take her home. She couldn’t remember where she was, or even what specifically she was looking for (it had to be a plane or a helicopter or something to that effect, she couldn’t really be sure) but she knew that it would take her home, and the thought comforted her.
A tingling feeling came over her, slowly surging through her body, as if sparking the feelings back in her limbs. She gasped slightly, her limbs sore from over exertion. Her skin sticky with sweat and, when she looked down at her hands, blood. Something fell from her left arm, a weapon, she knew, but she couldn’t remember what it was. She was covered in scars and bruises, cuts and all sorts of pain running through her body all at once. She was almost dizzy, and her mouth felt dry, like she hadn’t eaten or had a drink in days. It was almost overwhelming.
Her feet staggered slightly, almost losing her balance as she stood there.
“Johanna Mason, Winner of the…” Jo heard it as it echoed in the emptiness around her, a slight breeze pressed her hair over her face blinding her temporarily. Winner? Winner of what? She flexed her hands into fists instinctively, the stickiness of the blood practically turning her stomach. Johanna had won before, she’d spent most of her life winning. She knew the endorphin release, and the pride and the elation that came with winning. This, this was none of those feelings. It was anger, and guilt, and relief. It was fear, and loathing, and responsibility. There was an emptiness in this win, and she couldn’t even remember all of the details. Just pain and disappointment. An echo of her own emotions.
Johanna said up in her bed, gasping for breath as if she’d been holding it for too long. Gone was the tingle of pain and starvation, but she felt compelled to push herself onto her legs and get a glass of water, and to take a shower. She had to rid herself of the grime from her dream, she still felt it coating her skin. She’d barely finished that, and settled herself on the couch as the sun began to rise, when it came back.
Every time she closed her eyes it was there, taunting her. She just couldn’t shake the feelings that were left behind.