"Dreams are something funny”, Julie said, without looking at me. We were at the university, listening to a professor talking about some ancient civilization. Luckily our seats were located at the back of the room, so that no one would hear us talking. Julie sat to my left.

“What do you mean?” , I asked. She played with a strand of her dark blue hair, which was long enough to reach her hips. Just when did she change the color?

“I mean”, she answered. “Do you know the feeling, when you can’t tell whether something is a dream or reality?” 

I nodded.

For a second she hesitated. Then she turned to me.

“Last night I dreamed I would fly, on the back of a dragon! We flew over the city and to the swamp, right behind the little forrest. You know which one I mean?”

I nodded again. Julie continued.

“Well, I fell down when we tried to avoid a tree, all of my clothes were wet and muddy… and when I woke up they still were like that!”

I must have looked unbelieving, because she was sulking.

“You don’t believe me.”

“Are you sure you weren’t sleepwalking and fell into the pond?”, I tried to calm her. Julie lived in a beautiful old house, with a big garden and a pond in which we could go swimming in summer.

“I’m sure.”, she said. “I found a flower in my pocket. This one doesn’t grow in our garden. Look.” She grabbed something from her jeans pocket, handing it to me. It was indeed a strange flower; It had a face! And it lived….!

As soon as I touched it, it started to scream, screaming so loud that I let it go and covered my ears. I looked to Julie but she was gone. Everyone was gone, except me - And the screaming flower.

I jumped from my seat, heading for the door. It was locked. A shadow to my right got my attention. I looked back, freezing in terror. The flower grew, the red petals already as large as my arm, the face a mask out of a nightmare. Roots were sprouting, reaching for my feet.

I started to run to the next door. I had to escape! But before I could reach it, I felt a sharp pain in my left ankle. Suddenly I hung upside down in midair. The last thing I saw was a huge mouth, opening in the middle of the flower, sharp teeth,….. darkness.

 

I opened my eyes. I was back in my room, the clock on the desk showing 6 a.m. A nightmare. It was just a nightmare. A relived sigh. I turned on the light, throw back the blanket…. and froze; On my left ankle I saw a bright red line, like something, like a root had been bound to it. Slowly I turned my head to the door. Next to it, in a plant pot, was a big flower with bright red petals…..