A Calling Seed

20261012

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

It happened again, only this time it was real. Not merely a dream. Something wavered in the empty air. An immense pressure made my ears pop. And I felt it pressing against reality. Trying to break through.
Trying to get to me? Am I somehow responsible for this? Or am I just destined to witness?
Because in the dreams, nothing I tried helped. Nothing stopped it. It always came through, and seeing it made my eyes burn, and the world screams and I wake up.
Maybe I should just run. Have I tried that? Maybe. Feels like I’ve tried everything, by now.
A hand grabs my wrist.
That’s new.
I turn my head and find a faceless figure in a flowing dark purple robe. Not someone I’d normally be inclined to trust. But I have no ideas, so I’m open to suggestions. Even from someone who looks like they ought to be involved with nightmares pushing into reality.
“You’re carrying the Seed, aren’t you?” They say, and the way their voice is lightly muffled makes me realise they’re wearing a mask. That’s why they have no face. Oh good. That makes sense. And I’m all for things making sense, right now, while I’m struggling with if the world’s about to end.
I brush this aside. Force out “Maybe? I… I’ve been having dreams. And seeing it happen when I’m awake, sometimes…”
“I’m sorry. We were trying to find you, but…” They shake their head and turn it towards the wavering, which is getting larger. “No time. I’m so, so sorry about this.”
“Uh...?”
They grab my arm. Someone else grabs my other arm, and I realise there’s more of them. I’m surrounded.
“Wh-what are you…??”
“There’s only one way to stop it coming to you.” As one they drag me towards the wavering. Towards it. “We have to send you over.”
“I-!”
Have I ever tried that? I don’t think I have. It never would’ve occurred to me. The mere thought has me shaking all over, stomach churning and sweat dripping. I gasp for air, scrabble for words, struggle against their grasp, but there’s too many of them and terror has left me weak.
“Yeah. Here.” Everyone pauses, holding me in place, while a figure uncaps a needle and sticks it into my arm. Whatever they’re injecting burns and I start sobbing as everything hits me.
“There.” The figure says, entirely calm. “Now, worst case, you’ll only suffer for about ten minutes. Hold onto that, alright?”
Only suffer for…? Wait, did they just poison me?? They’re about to throw me into some nightmare realm and they took the time to poison me first??? I don’t know whether to be horrified or grateful.
Before I decide they’re pushing me through, reality pooling against my face before giving way in a rush.
And I’m there.
With it.
My eyes burn and the world can’t scream so I scream and oh how I wish I could wake up. But this time, it’s real.

Prompt was “Write a story that starts with 'It happened again, only this time it was real.’”