Time let me play and be

Interactive Dream Therapy

Interactive Dream Therapy

Dr Venner found himself in a darkened room with moonlight forming bright squares on the timbered floor. There was enough light to see that there was no furniture and the walls were peeling and gaping in places where the plaster had crumbled.

An abandoned house therefore, he thought, though hardly nightmarish. He listened for a while but the house was shrouded in silence. Which meant that he would have to search the place for his patient. Karl would be here somewhere, Venner knew that. But he had not expected that it would take an effort to find him. Usually he was delivered right next to the patient without ado.

There were two ways into the room. Venner chose one at random and moved to it. The hinges grumbled as he opened the door.

Stepping though, he found himself in a lobby, an even darker space with fewer windows. There was a doorway in three of the four walls. One was larger and imposing, clearly the entrance to the house. Opposite this, a staircase ascended into stygian blackness.

Venner investigated the remaining door and found it much like his arrival point and just as empty. Then he felt his way along the narrow passages on either side of the staircase. They led to a kitchen and a bathroom, both dilapidated and without furniture or decoration of any kind. Whoever had lived here had taken everything with them when they left, that was obvious.

Returning to the lobby, Venner began the climb up the stairs. His eyes well adjusted to the darkness now, he could see that the landing he came to had three more doors. Two yielded the same results as the ground floor.

It had to be the last room then, he reasoned. He opened the door.

At first, he thought that this room, too, was empty. But then he saw the hunched figure crouching in the darkest corner. He approached.

The figure shrank down even further into the corner and peered up at Venner. Its voice was broken and hoarse as it spoke in little more than a whisper.

“Leave me alone. I’ve suffered enough.”

Venner could see now that it was Karl. Totally transformed from the six foot Adonis that had come to the doctor’s office in search of help but somehow the same person as this shattered and fearful wretch.

“Karl, it’s me, Doctor Venner. I’m here to help you.”

The whites of Karl’s eyes showed as they bulged in fear. “Why would you do that?” he asked.

“You remember, Karl. You’re in IDT and this is part of the treatment. We can work out this problem together.”

“IDT? What’s that?”

“Interactive Dream Therapy,” explained Venner. “We can get inside your dreams now and help patients to solve any problems they’re having. You came to us because you’re having terrible nightmares. Remember?”

Karl began to relax as he recalled the events of the last few days. He was still guarded, however. His next question revealed this.

“I thought this happened in dreams. Where is this place?”

“You are dreaming, Karl. And this place is in your dream.”

The man looked around as though seeing it for the first time. Understanding began to show itself on his face and he unfolded himself and began to stand up.

“So it’s just a dream?”

“Exactly,” said Venner. “Although I’m a bit surprised that it isn’t more frightening. The way you described it, the word “nightmare” was more appropriate.”

Karl looked sharply at him then. “So you haven’t seen them yet?”

“I suppose not,” replied Venner. “When do they appear?”

Again, Karl looked around the room in fear. “At any moment,” he said. “But maybe they’re waiting because you’re here. It’s me they’re after really.”

He paused for a moment before continuing. “In which case, you should stick with me. That’ll be a help, at least.”

“It’s what I’m here for.”

Karl smiled. “Thank God for that. Oh, and welcome to my nightmare, Doctor. Who knows, without monsters, you might even enjoy it here.”

Before Venner could answer, a low growl issued from outside the room.

Karl looked up in terror. “Oh no, they’re here after all.” He stepped back into the corner and began to slide into a crouch again. Venner held out a hand.

“They can’t hurt you, Karl. It’s just a dream, remember.”

“That’s not all I remember,” replied Karl. “I haven’t told you the half of it. They…” He stopped, clearly having had an idea. “But you’re right, I’m dreaming.”

Once again he paused before continuing. “And, if I’m dreaming, I can wake myself up.”

Venner started forward immediately. “No, no, don’t do that! Let me get out first or I’ll be trapped without a way…”

It was too late. Karl vanished and the doctor was left alone in the room. “...Out,” he finished. Now he would have to continue the dream until Karl slept again. And there was something outside the door.

The growl came again.


Word count: 830
For “13,” 10.24.24
Prompt: “Welcome to my nightmare. I think you're gonna like it." —Alice Cooper, “Welcome to My Nightmare”.