The Dream Phantom

For thousands of years, humanity has pondered the meaning of dreams. Are they mere reflections of our subconscious or perhaps windows into otherworldly realms? Dreams strip away our waking inhibitions, revealing raw truths we often hide. Some believe dreams can predict the future, while others claim they can be shared, or even controlled—a state known as lucid dreaming, where the dreamer becomes a god in their own universe. But what if, while lucid dreaming, you weren't in control, but someone else was? A nightmare where your dream becomes a prison, and a stranger holds the keys.

In 2006, in New York City, a woman named Jeie found herself in her psychiatrist's office, troubled by a recurring dream. In her dreams, she was visited by a man she didn’t know, a man she called "This Man." He stood silently most nights, occasionally offering words of comfort, knowing things about her that no one else did. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Brian Stone, intrigued by this recurring figure, asked Jeie to sketch him. She drew a man with a round face, short black hair, a receding hairline, prominent eyebrows, a small nose, and thin lips.The drawing lay forgotten on Dr. Stone's desk until another patient recognized the face. "I've been dreaming of this man," he said, unsettled. Dr. Stone's curiosity piqued, he scanned and sent the image to colleagues. What happened next was beyond anyone’s imagination.

Dozens of psychologists, psychiatrists, and even priests responded, sharing stories of patients dreaming about this man. A global pattern emerged. People from Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Rome, Beijing, Paris, and beyond reported seeing this man in their dreams. He was always the same silent, observing, and sometimes beckoning them to follow him. Despite cultural and geographical differences, the dreamers shared one unsettling detail: This Man seemed to know them intimately and urged them to "go north."

Dr. Stone's phone rang incessantly as more stories poured in. Each tale was eerily similar, This Man standing in dreams, rarely speaking but always with a haunting presence. His image, now spreading through a website called thisman.org, created an urban legend that seemed all too real.

One night, a man dreamt he was in a park. This Man appeared, effortlessly keeping pace as he tried to run away. Finally, he grabbed the dreamer and whispered, "Go north." The dreamer woke in a cold sweat, haunted by the cryptic message. Another dreamer, a young girl, was terrified by this man’s blank expression and the strange noises he made, likening it to growling. Some dreams were romantic, others violent. One man dreamt of this man on a TV screen, who then slit his throat. Others dreamt of following him through dark forests, abandoned cities, always heading north.

The consistent presence of this man led to theories ranging from spiritual figures to government experiments. Some even linked him to Project Stargate, the CIA's exploration of psychic abilities and lucid dreaming.As the legend grew, so did the fear. Thousands of people worldwide reported dreams of this man. He became a symbol of shared human anxiety, a mysterious figure who crossed the boundaries of culture and geography. His thin smile and empty stare became a universal nightmare.

Perhaps tonight, as you close your eyes, he will visit you too. And if he does, remember the message shared by so many before you: "Go north."

Sweet dreams.