The Nightmare

In front of her, there stood a great door.

A door that she'd never seen before.

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She turned the knob to find it locked.

From the other side, there came a knock.

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The knock was loud, deep, and firm.

The echoing pound had made her squirm.

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Abruptly now the knock did cease.

She stood in silence and eerie peace.

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She waited short 'til suddenly

Her wandering eye had spotted a key.

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She took the key into her hand.

Twas heavy and old, tarnished, yet grand.

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She slid the bit within the lock.

She turned it hard and received a shock.

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The solid wood began to melt.

Now fear and wonder were all she felt.

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It lay to rest on the dusty floor.

A puddle of brown knocked never more.

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Her eyes raised up to where it once stood.

They were met, surprised, with a thick, dark wood.

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Before her feet, there sprouted a path.

Twas uninviting, littered with thorns and wrath.

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To step upon it, she knew was a risk.

The chill she felt was harsh and quite brisk.

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Although frightened, confused, and uneasy,

She ventured forth, her insides were queasy.

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The earth did crunch beneath her feet.

A breeze blew through with a brazen heat.

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Forward more and now feeling strong,

She pushed herself to continue on.

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Approaching a clearing, the woods grew calm.

A slick of sweat dripped from her palm.

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Nearing the center stood a strange old well.

Either filled with water or the gate to hell.

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Close to the edge, she peered down in.

A stairway spiraled, twisted, and thin.

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A bit nauseated from the depths of the hole,

She stepped inside and began her toll.

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Down she went, continuing beyond and below.

Deeper and deeper in the damp dark hole.

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When sight was no more, her heart did pound.

Though her feet finally felt a new solid ground.

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Wrapped up in darkness with only one match,

She tested her skills on the tip with a scratch.

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A tiny flame burst forth and lit up the room.

Twas frightening, solemn, and packed tight with gloom.

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She swallowed her stomach and looked all around.

Three doors neatly spaced, behind her, she found.

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Which one to choose, which way to go?

What lay beyond them, she did not know.

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Did she take the middle, the left, or the right?

Or cower in fear, sheer terror, and fright?

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She chose the middle and then ventured on.

Yet, not far ahead began one eerie song.

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Down a corridor dark, one more door came upon.

She opened it slowly and her strength was gone.

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There before her did stand a tall, scowling man.

A ball of barbed wire held tight in his hands.

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Head turning toward her, he stood firm in place.

A sinister grin stretched tight on his face.

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Parting his lips, the man showed his sharp teeth.

His gums were black, bleeding, and rotten beneath.

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"Well hello," he said in a thundering growl,

"Let's play catch!" Sounding more like an electric howl.

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He threw the barbed sphere right at her head.

She caught it on instinct, her hands running red.

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Attached to this ball ran a long thin wire.

He pulled with a fury; her skin - instant fire.

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Looking down at her palms, the flesh was now gone.

She thought to herself, "Well, this is all wrong."

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The room shook fiercely, the scene fades away.

Suddenly, she woke to a disturbing new day.