ONE

I’m outside this old, dilapidated house.  Its huge and dark and unkempt. There’s an old iron fence that once stood solid against the world.  It now barely stood at all. Rusted and broken, it poorly lined the property. But now, it couldn’t even keep out the weeds.

I followed the path into the house, then in through the foyer.  It’s a typical foyer for a house of this size. Massive, open with a double staircase, one on each side of the large entryway.  To each side is an entrance into another area of the mansion. And if one looked very closely, they would notice a door carefully crafted into the wall beneath the stair on the left.  If there was also one of the right, it was adeptly done and imperceptible.

I thought I saw a flicker of light at the top of the staircase, so I stood for a moment to see if it would show itself again.  Just as I was about to check out one of the side passages, I caught the flash of light again, so I decided to go up the stair. I felt as though I was following a will o wisp, only the house replaced the scenery of nature.  Memories in place of leaves, doors and other rooms in place of tree trunks, creaks and groaning boards in place of birds and insects. Leading me ever up. Finally, I arrived. And I felt as though I was home.

Before me was the most amazing library I could have every imagined.  It was essentially oval in shape and clearly took up the top floor of the mansion.  Yet, the floor curved and flowed, up and around creating a wave of shelving with countless books.  But in the centre was the strangest sight of all, especially if you know me. There was a giant birds nest.

It looked well used and tended.  It seemed to radiate a warmth that would have drawn me closer, had I not been on the verge of fear induced panic.  I turned my back on it, and started to focus on the place I came in. It was now concealed behind a bookshelf. So, I started to give it a good look over.  Upon closer examination, I could see the faint line where the doorway had been. I scanned the books but I could only read some of the titles. Others were written in Gaelic, Italian, Spanish, French, and other languages I was not able to identify.  Some of them struck me as older than time and I was compelled to leaf through them, one by one, taking my time. Some had pictures which seemed to tell me a whole chapters in just one pane. Others imparted a feeling of what it was trying to convey. I felt nothing malicious of nefarious.  Just pure knowledge surrounding me.

I had gone about halfway along this wave of shelves, another unusual book in hand.  I was slowly moving along when I realized there was a room off to my right. I looked up to see it was a small mother in-law apartment, complete with a bed, sink, stove, small fridge, a cupboard above, pots and pans below.  There was even a small washroom built into the corner. It was larger than it looked like it could be from the aisle. I set the book down on a small table with a single chair in front of it. I made a sandwich and got some lemonade out of the small fridge.  I then sat down and ate with one hand while perusing the book with the other. I cleaned up after myself then went back out into the library. I traced my steps and put the book back in its home. Then I wandered back towards the little apartment and beyond it.  

I wandered for some time scanning shelves and books.  I had grabbed another and just had this natural inclination to sit.  It took me a moment to realize my horror. I had willingly sat in the giant nest of a potential predator.  As I started to scramble to my feet, the world around me went into a chaotic flux. Like a remote changing the channel, I stood to find myself back outside, in front of a large nest just like the one in the library, but this one was in the backyard.  Just behind the nest I saw a greenhouse about the size of a two car garage. Hesitantly, I began towards it. I wanted to be away from the nest in case it’s occupant returned. I was about 50 feet from the greenhouse when I saw a large shadow put the whole of the backyard into a murky darkness.  I quickly turned back towards the nest, hoping I could get back inside before whatever it was reared its’ fearsome presence. The thought of a giant, monstrous bird incited my flight response overwhelmed my better judgement. And I felt this impending sense of doom if I didn’t get back to the nest and back to the safety of the library.

I heard the screech behind me, it was close.  I could sense it behind me. Just as I reached out to touch the nest, I felt a burning in my shoulder, as if I had been struck my a large sword.  I fell into the nest and woke up.

This dream is from August of 2016.