Ghosts and Other Chthonic Macabres by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Broken Keys Publishing
Published: 2022-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

Dream Eater

by Summer Breeze

Unsealed windows and doors, small cracks in the foundation, an open vent...you’d think these were the ways they got in. But no, it was the last sigh that left the body before sleep finally claims it that served as a gateway to the Dramora – the Dream Eaters.

They came at night, though they found daydreams equally delicious - the dark was just so much easier when it came to concealing their true appearance. Most humans found their shadowy, blistered, completely hairless forms abhorrent, to say nothing of the cavernous hole that functioned as a mouth, or the lack of any eyes whatsoever. They had long narrow feet, though they were not used for the most part, not like their arms were. One hand, formed with long digits ending in globular fingertips, held their prey’s head immobile and ‘read,’ or ‘projected’ thoughts, while the other, a single claw of lethal proportions, served as their only physical means of protection should they be caught unaware while feeding.

But that was a rare occurrence, for they were very skilled at what they did. Their kind had been eating and gathering dreams since the very beginning. They were masters of timing and disguise, with a talent for projecting the illusion of a prey’s loved one should he or she suddenly drift into semi-consciousness at an inopportune moment, their minds an intricate network of images pooled from every dream they’d ever tasted.

Rahshen was no exception to any of this, though he did stand out amongst his own kind in another way: he was one of the elite – the rare few who carried so many images within that others actually bowed their heads when in their presence.

Fear and awe were wonderful things.

He streamed into the room and stretched his long body as much as the limited space would allow, opened his senses. He may have no eyes to see, nor any visible ears either, but what he did have was highly-developed. He could pick up the smallest of sounds, inhale the slightest wisps of scent, especially dream scent. Each had its own distinct flavour, with one underlying commonality that defied description. If a human were to try, they would simply call it ‘food.’

The family pet growled low in its feline throat, then hissed and shot from the foot of the bed. The slimmest of openings was then put to good use, as it streaked around the bedroom door and out into the hall. The Dream Eater let it go, for animals' dreams were far less tasty than humans' to him, much less imaginative, and focussed instead on the child abandoned to her fate.

The girl slept blissfully on. Rahshen felt it and thought it a shame. Were she to awaken right then, she would shriek in terror and never be the same again for the rest of her days, which would supply him with an endless amount of sustenance for the future in nightmares. Desires of the heart were the ultimate in taste to any Dramoran, but fear was much easier to inspire.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.