3-2-1 Viper!

I woke up screaming in a stifling paralysis, chest heaving heavily and eyes wide open, staring into the dark.

For as long as I could remember, I'd always had nightmares. They'd started out as the kind most people have from time to time; failing an exam, running from manevolent monsters, finding oneself nude in front of the class. Normal nightmares. But since the accident, mine had become grotesquely darker and more disturbing. On an almost nightly basis, I was presented with grisly live showreels of finding dead bodies, falling out of top floor windows, getting buried alive and of course my old reoccuring favorite, being suffocated to death by a deadly viper. This nightmare however, was by far my worst to date.

As usual, my father had come rushing into my bedroom to see what the matter was. I was probably far too old for all this now but I still found comfort in the predictability of the whole routine; the footsteps coming down the hallway, the turning on of the hallway light, the familiar calm voice. He sat down on the bed beside me, hugging me tightly like he did when I was a child. "Were going to overcome this, Charlie" he said softly. Chance would be a fine thing. My father had spent thousands of dollars on psychologist after psychologist but nothing seemed to help. Yet, he never gave up on me. "I have found someone who can help you. Try and get some sleep". 

It wasn't just the night terrors that plagued me. Lately, I had become terrified of almost everything you could imagine. Insects, public speaking, heights, the dark and most especially, snakes. You wouldn't believe I was the same girl if you'd seen me six years ago, before the accident. I was fierce, smart, academic, sporty and brave. I'd won many tropheys and had even been nominated for a scholarship award, but with little sleep and riddling anxiety I was a living breathing zombie during the day, unable to focus on my schoolwork. Everything changed that terrible day. I feared the world, feared what it would take from me next. And worse, I was failing miserably.

I watched him go, leaving the hallway light on. Usually, I'd pretend I had calmed down, but after he'd left I'd often lay awake for hours, not wanting to be sucked back into whatever gruesome scene my subconscious mind had in store for me next.

I lay there fixated on a dark corner of the ceiling. Something had to change. "I don't recognize myself anymore". I said to my mother in my head, though I knew no one was there. She was gone forever and she was never coming back. What I wouldn't do have one last moment with her. I cried hopelessly into my pillow. I don't remember falling asleep.  

* * *

After a very long drive and more that one round of tea and biscuits in the Bellfry LLC clinic waiting room in Ontario, Dr. Renolds invited me into his consulting room. Following a long stream of familar questions he said "I want you talk about the accident, Charlie. I know this will be difficult for you, but I will need you to go into as much detail as possible". Through twiddling fingers I told him everything. How I'd been in the car next to my mother after the crash. How I'd watched as her clothes caught fire. A fire fighter had pulled me out from the wreckage, limp helpless and distraught and I had watched over his shoulder as my mother's body burned black. I tried to describe the hopelessness and grief Id felt as I watched her slip away into the distance and how helpless, useless and angry I had felt for not being able to do anything to save her. After a long, gruelling hour, the doctor compiled his notes and thanked us.

 * * *

A week later, my father received a letter from the clinic. It read:

"Dear Mr Emerson, 

We have discovered that your daughter seems to be suffering from something we call 'Synchronous Neuronic Hysteresis''. Its a rare condition characterized by the integration of neurons triggered by a traumatic event. The merging of neurons causes a symbiotic overactivity in the brain which manifests itself in many forms including night terrors and irrational fears such as the ones your daughter has been experiencing".

"Because of the rarity of the phenomenon and the lack of research I am not yet able to administer any safe medication. There is however one thing I can offer which might be of some benefit to you.

I am conducting a research experiment at my clinic which explores the nature of the condition. Patients are exposed to a series of psychological tests and challenges using highly advanced VR equipment which is able to tap into the subconscious mind. 

The majority of patients who pass the tests come away with a dramatic reduction in symptoms, often having made a full recovery. Strangely, most forget about their VR experience entirely.

I must warn you however that it is not a simple or easy process nor is it a popular one due to the controversiality of the methods. Subjects are frequently pushed to and beyond their limits, steered by their own unsupervised subconscious minds. Most become completely enveloped and involved in the experience, taking it for reality.  

I know that your daughters condition has caused you great distress Mr. Emerson and I sincerely wish to help her. Since the risks of anything going wrong are very low, I would encourage you to embrace this rare opportunity. From what I have seen the results drastically outweigh the difficulties experienced during the tests. 

Your daughter is clearly a very strong and able young woman and I believe she has every chance of completing the tests successfully.

Please find attached a letter of permission which you must sign first should you decide go ahead.

Yours faithfully, 

Dr. M. Reynolds

* * *

On the day of the experiment, I sat tentatively In the waiting room. I had no idea what would happen although my father reassured me I had nothing to worry about. I imagined being my normal carefree self again but doubts still lingered like a dark cloud in the back of my mind. Nothing had worked so far, why should this be any different? 

At long last, the nurse came to greet me and led me into a room at the far end of the corridor. "Please take a seat, Charlie" said Dr Reynolds. I realized he wasn't in the room but talking to me through a microphone behind a glass window, sandwiched between two assistants. The test room was completely empty except for a single blue leather reclinable chair. On the chair was a large, odd looking headset. I was instructed to put it on. It felt heavy. The assistants strapped me in and a white light came on inside the headset. "Welcome, Charlie", said Dr Reynolds through the headphones. "In a moment, you will be presented with a series of challenges. You must complete each before the allotted time runs out. If your time runs out before you have completed the task, you will lose the challenge. Do you understand the rules?" I nodded. 

* * *

The white light went off and I felt myself being jolted out of the chair, out of the room and transported through time and space at what felt like a thousand miles an hour. When I opened my eyes, I found myself on the edge of a cliff overlooking vast kilometers of flat, empty terrain. The wind howled in my ears.

Next to me, was a ticking stopwatch which read exactly 4.94 minutes. How on earth did I get here? Had I really travelled? No, this had to be a simulation surely. But it all felt so real. The sound and sensation of the wind, the air I breathed. I had no more time to think about it. I turned to look around me and noticed a peg wedged into the ground, fitted with a long, elasticated chord. Sure enough, the rope was attached to yep, you guessed it. Me. So they want me to jump off a cliff. Seems easy enough. This was just a game, right? I had nothing to lose in real Life. What could possibly go wrong? 

Then I looked down. I must have been at least half a mile from the ground. I pictured the chord snapping and felt myself sway as everything shifted below me, moving into strange, interlocking shapes. Suddenly I was far too close to the edge. Oh peanuts. Vertigo alert! I stepped back, unsteady on my feet. Could I really do this? It's just a game, I told myself. I had been stood there a while, ruminating the jump when out of nowhere I heard a voice. "I find its easier if you do it with your eyes closed!" I turned around to see a man stood right behind me. Where the flip did he come from?! And how long had he been there? Embarrassed, I quickly forced a smile and attempted to rummage some wit. "Thats easy for you to say, your not the one hanging off the edge of a cliff!' I remarked. He laughed. "You'll have to jump, said the man. If you want to succeed that is. The question is how much does it mean to you?"

"What?" I replied, both confused and shocked. "Your scholarship, how much does it mean to you?" I couldn't help but feel irritated at the audacity of the question. The scholarship meant everything to me, but I wasn't about to explain that to complete stranger. What business was it of his? I didn't answer him. "Times ticking!" He jived, gesturing annoyingly at his watch. I don't know whether I jumped just to make the man shut up or whether I did it for the scholarship, but before I knew it I found myself hurtling through thin air towards the ground. Adrenaline pumped through my entire body and I was pretty sure my stomach exited through my head as I somersaulted through the air, wishing i'd taken the man's advice about closing my eyes.

Just as the chord retaliated, I bounced back up into the sky and immediately felt my self speeding through the chaotic mariage of shapes and colours like before. "You have passed your first test Charlie. Congratulations", I heard a voice say.

***

Before I knew it, I had landed abruptly on the floor of a large stadium under an absurdly bright spotlight, surrounded by an enormous crowd. Opposite me stood a hefty, muscular woman sporting a pair of black puffy boxing gloves, threateningly poised and looking directly at me. On the noticeboard above I saw 8 minutes flash in bold letters.

"3-2-1!" A bell sounded and the crowd roared. A bolt of fear jolted through me. I wasn't ready for this. I didn't even want to do this. I didn't know the rules, I'd never boxed in my life. But before I'd even had time to consider my first move, she marched towards me with wide strides and hurled me backwards against the wall. My body thumped against it as she began pounding my face. I heard the crowd cheering inbetween each thud. The referee called for a time out and the thudding ceased. I noticed he was holding a sign which read "Win victory, cure cancer". Underneath, it read "Fail match millions die". So had to win the fight to cure cancer. I appreciated the sentiment of it all but would I really cure cancer? Still, I didn't much fancy getting my head kicked in for much longer, the pain was as real as any and I scrambled to my feet. The bell sounded again and I struck first this time, casting a hard blow to the womans temple.

I retreated to dodge her retaliation but fell backwards on my heel. She picked me up by my ankles, spun me around then hurled me sunward in a grisly twist before slamming my body face down at full force. Belly flop is an understatement. I heard bones crack and I blacked out. 

* * *

"Your going to have to do better than that" I heard a voice say. I woke up in total darkness, head still pounding from the match. The air was cold and damp. "Hello?" I heard my voice reverberate and disappear into empty space. Where the hell am I? I get up but trip and fall over, landing on what feels like rocks. Well, this is a great start. I fumble around in an attempt to assimilate a sense of my surroundings and It dawns on me that I am in a cave. "Charlie, you now have twenty minutes to find your way out. Succeed, and you survive. Lose and you are left in the cave to die". Wait a second. Die? Like, really die? It seemed extreme. Was that even possible in VR? I would certainly feel the pain, I'd felt all of that from the last challenge. That alone was enough motivation for me and I rose to my feet proto, quickly feeling around for a sign, pathway or clue. I found nothing. After a while I determined that the only possible way must be up and out. I found a random nook and buried one foot inside it. Every muscle ached as I lifted myself up. I found a second nook, then another, until i was on a steady journey upwards. There was no visual clue of where I should step next. I was free climbing in the dark, with no safety net to catch me if I fell. Some nooks were easy to find, others I spend a good few minutes looking for. Minutes I couldn't afford. I had no idea how high up I was and frankly I didn't want to know. I just kept going, staying focused on my feet and hands, carefully taking my steps, making sure I had a firm grip before moving on to my next station.  

Finally, I spotted a tiny crack of light not too far away. Im not going to rush this. I thought. Slow and steady wins the race.  Gradually, I reached the top and began to heave myself out of the cave. A stopwatch in front of me read 0.01 seconds. I'd just made it! But as I said it, my foot slipped and I fell back down, tumbling as I went, plunging into darkness once more.

* * *

I woke up again in what appeared to be a huge vat of some sort. Fire roared around the outer edges. Something felt very wrong. I suddenly realized to my horror that inside the vat with me was the all too familiar dreaded black viper I'd seen in my nightmares. This was the dream that always got me. I was staring directly at my worst fear. The dread I felt was unexplainable. 

I looked down and found that I was holding a sword. Then I heard the voice again. "Slay the creature and win. Lose, and one life shall be lost. You have ten minutes. This is where I would surely fail, I thought to myself. I couldn't face it. My stomach heaved as I watched the creature coil, twisting it's hot slimy, wretched body like it always did just before it attacked. It's rough disgusting skin pulsated, every orifice oozing out cold, thick mucus. Any minute now, it would suck me in and I'd be crushed to death.

I can't do this. "I want out!" I shouted, hoping someone in the test room could hear me. It edged closer. I desperately looked around trying to spot a way out. I'd had enough. I wanted this to be over.

 "Dr Renolds?", one of the assistants said. "The subject appears to be in extreme discomfort and is hyperventilating. Should we stop the experiment?"

"Leave her for a few more minutes" said Dr. Reynolds. I want to see if she can do it. Let the test take its course"

I felt it's scales begin to slide against me, each one horrifyingly distinguishable to the touch. But Instead of engulfing me, the monster uncoiled and to my horror, there in the monsters foul grasp lay my mother, struggling to breathe. "Help Charlie!" ! She said. "Use your sword! You can do this!" As I stared at the flames I remember the car crash. Suddenly something broke inside of me and with a force I didn't even know I possessed I lunged uncontrollably at the creature, tearing into its skin with wide, violent strikes. It bit into me hard, sucking me in and I screamed in pain. My mother was losing consciousness. I couldnt let her die, I wouldnt let it happen again. Without even thinking, I aimed for an artery in the monsters neck, plunging the blade into it with all my strength. The creature plummeted to the ground dead, releasing my mother from its relentless grip. I pull her out.

"You saved me Charlie" she says, holding my hand and squeezing it. "Thank you". I felt years of grief, sadness and guilt slip away as she smiled the warm smile I recognized and had missed for so long. "It wasn't your fault Charlie" She said. "It was never your fault". As tears stream down my face onto hers she whispers "I'll always be here for you Charlie, remember that". Then, she silently slipped away.

* * *

Over the next few days my fears and nightmares began to disapate rapidly and within a year they were gone completely. I began excelling at school again and playing sports. I was back to my old self again. I felt happier. It was finally all over.

I still do not remember what happened in Dr Reynolds test room that day, or exactly what had cured me. Whatever it was, that night I slept peacefully for the first time in six years.

I dreamt a beautiful dream about my mother. She was in a garden, smiling at me.