• Darkness was the only sight besides a crevice of light glimmering below my feet. I gasped for air but despite me being underwater i could still breathe. Bubbles fluttered about me as i attempted to pry open the crack, but like all rocks, it remained lifeless. My mind began to panic. How had i ended up in this submerged prison? A rough object brushed past my leg, feeling like a thorny rose. At once the smell of blood arose to my senses. But how could i smell underwater? A light flickered on but then began to fade out. Tiny pinpricks of light appeared - glowing around the now revealed angler fish. But this was no normal fish. Razor sharp quills were concealed about the beast. When i tried to scream the only audible sounds were the horrendous growls randomly sounding in the distance. Suddenly the light grew closer. Before i could blink an eye i was staring into the gnashing face of the angler. Its left eye had a gaping cut that split right down to fifty needle-like teeth that glistened from the chemical glow of its light. Thrashing against the pulsing current, it ferociously snapped at me. I stumbled backwards, thrusting my hands out in front of me. i stared blankly at the missing chunk the beast had mutilated from my hand. oddly i did not feel any pain. Imagine how disfigured my face would be if my hands were not there to stop it. When i turned to see why the sound had ceased, there was no sign of the fish. In relief i swept my hand across my forehead. A sharp blow to the back of the legs sent me to the ground, falling endlessly over the trench my mind had failed to notice.

    In a shivering, sweating huddle i awoke, clutching for dear life onto my nightstand. My trembling hand reached for a glass of water. In the dark my parched lips felt for the cool liquid but found nothing. I let out a small moan, quivering in fright. My brain took a while to latch on to the fact that i was safe in my cozy satin pajamas. I drew the comforter over my head and listened as the lulling sounds of cicadas sung me to sleep.