Between a rock

Her dreams disturbed her most night, far more peril than excitement. She was always told that you dream about the last thing you thought of before you dropped off to sleep. She didn't remeber ever thinking about being chased by a monster or being in an accident before sleep. This dream was causing her body to shake but it was otherwise a very bizarre situation.

In the dream she was stuck on rough ground, she was surrounded by bad people but she couldn't do anything. Every attempt to move hurt, thinking hurt and every thought made her hurt more. The dream was becoming louder and louder, the pain bigger and bigger and she remained stuck. When bad dreams happened Sally would usually find a way to wake up enough to cancel the dream but to not wake up fully. She pressed the reset and went back to sleep.

on the rare occasions when the dreams hadnt been enough to fully wake her, the bed was a clue to how sleep had been that particular night. The pillows started neatly piled at the top of the bed, the sheet was pulled tightly across the mattress and the duvet was smooth and up to her chin. Occasionally when she was resetting the bad dreams there would be an awareness that the bed was a mess, sometimes she could tidy the pillows and duvet as well and not wake.

Sally decided she didnt like this dream and went into reset mode, she kept her eyes closed, the dream stopped and she became aware that she wasnt comfy. She became a little more alert and felt around her, trying to tidy up the usual mess. This time something was very wrong, around her was solid, sharp edges and noise. Her head throbbed and there was a smell of blood, she also became aware of a dog nearby. Her dog was safely in his cage downstairs, so how had he escaped to come here. But more importantly why was her bed hard and sharp.

Deciding the dream was still present , it became time to wake up and do a full reset. The hardness around her made no sense, unless she was maybe on the floor. She opened her eyes slowly, everything around her was dark, there was a sound like water and it really sounded like her dog. Her bedside clock usually cast a faint red glow over the bed. Her head though couldn't move, the clock had to be one side or the other.

Her head was still refusing to move, it was stuck solid and her body felt oddly twisted. Her arms were also stuck solid, her body ached and for some strange reason she had a feeling like she was upside down. Her senses started to operate , sight was zero, touch was restricted and smell was a mix of salty and wet dog.

Slowly , her very confused memory joined the senses that were working properly. It was time for an inventory of what she could tell from where she was. The headline was she couldn't move her head or arms, she was possibly upside down, she could smell salt and a dog and she could now here indistinct voices. Slowly she worked out a few words, they seemed to be talking about her.

noticing slight movement a voice came closer

"can you here me, are you ok?"

Not a question she expected to be asked in her bedroom, a clue that wasnt where she was.

" You have fallen between some rocks, I think you were walking your dog. We have tried to pull you out but your wedged in , the sea is coming in slowly . We have contacted the emergency services, we weren't sure which was best so called all of them"

That helped explain the pain, lack of movement and smell of salt and wet dog. She slowly started to put the mental jigsaw together, painful piece by painful piece. A dog walk on the beach, walking over the rocks, heading to the cafe and then nothing. The rocks must be where she was, that explained everything, especially the smell of blood.

She shouted to the mystery person above her to try and pull her again. Sally told them she would try and move her arms at least, that might be the problem. After a few attempts it became obvious nothing would help, there was not an inch of movement. She became more and more afraid, especially as the sound of waves got slighly louder, and the people above her got more anxious. Her dog, max, was also above her, the strangers trying to calm him.

One thing that came to mind was how long would help take, and moreover what could they actually do. She remembered the story of the man who was trapped by a rock and ended up cutting off his hand to escape. They would have to cut the top off her whole body to get out. Which led to the next panicky thought, how could they help her. The rocks on the beach were enormous, most probably over a ton each. If it was earth or sand they would dig her out, unless they brough a couple of jack hammers with them she was going nowhere.

Over the sounds of the strangers telling her help would arrive soon , she heard others making phone calls and repeating the mantra "she's stuck and the tide is coming in, how long will you be, she will drown". This news was a mix of upset and anger, but also a degree of calmness. There was no point struggling or thinking of escape. She was relying on a passing road crew with diggers. She then started to feel spray from the sea.

She was used to paddling, dipping her toes into the frigid water. This time she was going to feel the water head first, with no way of running away from the chill. As pain and cramps increased on her twisted body , she tried to take her mind away to a safe place. Usually that safe place was the beach, she instead went back to bed, closed her eyes and passed out.

She woke to 2 distinct feelings, the pain of her twisted bodyand the cold of the water. She also heard more voices above her, more panicking then anything else. She became aware of people twisting, pulling and bending her. All that happened was the pain grew worse and she heard herself scream.

One of the voices said they were with the coastguard, they said they were here to help and that the fire brigade were close. Sally latched on to the fact they didn't say how they would help. Slowly it became obvious to Sally that this was the end, it wouldn't be pleasant. Slowly she made plans on how to accept her fate, she couldn't move her head. The vice like grip of the rocks meant she would drown , the freezing waves becoming deeper and deeper. She became aware of her hair feeling heavy where it dropped down, presumably getting wet.

The voices above became more urgent and desperate, strangely Sally was the calmest of all. She couldn't fight her impending death, she had to embrace it. She wasn't sure which bits of her life would flash before her eyes, so chose a few choice moments. The water was no longer going in and out of the area around her head, it stayed constant and got deeper. Soon it was in her eyes, minutes later it was pouring in her upturned nose.

Above her the noise seemed to have gone quiet, she could feel less pulling and heard less shouting. The next wave covered her face and only a little poured out. This was sally's end, she knew it and presumed those above knew. She shouted out "thanks for trying" as the water covered her face and didnt run off. She was calm, thinking of good times. Slowly as her mouth filled with water, her nose already full, she calmly let the end come.

It was a strange sensation, the water didnt fill her lungs at first as she was upside down. Just as there was no water there was no air to take in, after being trapped so long Sally didn't fight as her life ebbed away, she felt some more deperate pulling, there was pain from a dislocation she felt in her leg as groups tried to free her.

Then she felt nothing.