Turn it off.

You turn it off, ensuring only raindrops define the atmosphere. It wouldn't have lead anywhere productive, you know, to leave the songs playing, the voice in your mind rambling. Knowing yourself, nihilism would be just around the corner, and that's something you're unprepared to face right now. Distraction is your ****, as is everyone's, and soon you find yourself lounging on the sofa, having your consciousness programmed by the idiot box with a frozen pizza half an hour from your stomach.

Do you regret the experience--that of listening to the news figures tell you what horrors await the nation's future--no sooner than it begins? Undoubtedly. Is it better than the alternative? Equally assured, you're certain. And so you sit, entrapped by the channels, shows and movies, skipping between them as commercials faze in and out trying to sell you whatever useless product the market has to offer.

Before long you're asleep, dreaming of realities separate to your own by time, space, and dimension. Realities perfected by your subconscious to reflect the day and what lessons you forgot to learn.

Tina's frame stood before you, completely naked in a T-pose. It takes you by surprise at first, to see her this way. Questions begin to form in your mind as you realize what's happening.

How did she get here? You can't remember the events leading up to the present, but her eyes are closed and she's completely still.

Where am I? Judging by the objects around you, it appears to be an empty warehouse, dark in the corners but light in the middle thanks to a single light. It reminds you of the lights used in Interrogation rooms, unsettling in it's way of lighting up everything that needs to be seen while leaving the corners dark enough to tickle paranoia.

You walk around her figure, unsure why she's standing still, or where her clothes are. As if by reading your mind, a voice from the darkness answers, "Hey there moron. Glad to see you could make it."

Of course it was Jeff, holding her panties out, his head, donning a devious grin from cheek to cheek, tilted to the side as if curious how they ended up in his hands. "I wouldn't move if I were you."

You look down, realizing you're standing on some kind of pressure plate. Following a wire protruding from the front with your eyes, you realize it's holding a piano above her head via a series of winches. "What the hell is this?" you demand.

He frowns at your question, looking at you and throwing the underwear aside. "Chris, you never know how to keep your nose out of things do ya? I noticed you had an interest in my girl, it bothered me but I played the good boyfriend, letting you do you as long as you didn't mess around. Next thing I know you have her bag, you've got her super nervous and she's practically whimpering at the prospect of meeting you. You know how that feels, dickhead?"

It's your turn to frown, baffled by his ego as you are. "I...suppose I wouldn't, no. Do enlighten me."

"Enlighten you?" he says in a dangerous whisper, and he takes a few steps closer, the light revealing his muscular body, flexing with frustration. "Oh I'll enlighten you alright, you little shit. It feels about like...hmm let me think..."

He rears back his arm, "a-" and punches you directly in the gut. "-PUNCH in the gut. THAT'S what it feels like."

You kneel in pain, barely staying on the plate with the air knocked out of you, unable to say a word as you gasp for air. He spits next to you, then turns around and walks towards Tina.

"Shoulda stayed out of my LIFE Chris! Especially my girl's life. I woulda even let you watch me have her, just to satisfy your pathetic perverted mind, but you couldn't have that could you? You had to be the good man, leave us privacy. You know what she told me when she was done riding me, asshole? She said she liked you! 'I like Chris...' she cried into my chest over and over again. It made me sick! So now..."

He grabs a chain you hadn't noticed from the floor, rubbing the rusty links of metal across her body for a moment. "Now she'll have to learn a lesson. And YOU get to watch! Maybe you'll learn a thing or two about being a good partner...who knows."

He gently lead the chain around her neck, slowly pulling tighter. Her eyes shot open and she stared at you with such fear...such utter fear...cold silent fear. You couldn't breath.

You awaken gasping for air, sweat pouring down your body as you recover from the nightmare.

It felt so real, so terrifyingly real...

You think to yourself, looking around your surroundings just to make sure you weren't still in the warehouse. Sure enough, you were still in your home, crickets chirping outside and moonlight pouring through the blinds you'd forgotten to close. You hadn't slept long according to the grandfather clock in the corner, maybe 4 hours, but it felt like an eternity.

You got up from the couch, pizza grease stains covering your clothes.

I need to get out...I need to get out right now.

You take a quick shower and head out at 4 in the morning, getting in your car and just driving.

It was just a dream..it was just a dream...

You think to yourself over and over again, still unable to fully shake how real it felt.