This is a recurring dream I've had since I was 14.

 

we ran through
the dead woods
a serpent
as long as memory
and as hungry
as time
gave chase

drowning in
my terror
i could hear my friends
one by one
falling in screams
and the great maw
of the serpent
engulfing them

still
i ran
not daring to look
at the sleek death
behind me
only two of us
remained

when we cleared
the woods
salvation was a rusty car
but hopeless
in its distance

please God
just a few seconds

my friend had
caught up with me
and when he reached
his hand
i grabbed him
we ran

two souls
in flight
from insanity
but then
a cold finger
had caressed
my spine

that was when
i let him go

i heard him fall
to the serpent
and the laughter
that followed

i exploded
into the driver's seat
and sped off
never looking back
and never noticed
who had curled up
comfortably
in piles of shiny black rings
behind me

and in my ear
a velvety tongue
whispered
"such a fine
and clever boy...
let's go home"

and when i woke
i found
my guilt
had finally
caught up with me