Surreality

Carrie awoke from a dreamless sleep to the soft, rhythmic beeping of an EKG machine as it monitored her heart-rate, and the cheerful chirping of birds. It was early morning now and the bright early sunlight filtered dimly through the curtains.

Carrie slowly rubbed her bleary eyes, but winced when the back of her hand brushed against her cheek. Sucking in a sharp breath, she glanced at her hand and was surprised to see an IV line trailing from it. She looked blearily around the room and heard a rustle behind the curtain, and then...

"Oh, thank goodness. You're awake!" came her mother's soft voice as she walked through the privacy curtain. "I was so worried!"

"Where am I?" Carrie asked groggily.

"You're in the hospital, sweetie. But, don't worry, the doctor said--"

"The doctor says you're fine. A few cracked ribs and a mild concussion, but you'll live." grinned Allison as she walked in, followed closely by Warren. "So, how are ya feelin'?"

"Ugh, like I got hit by a truck..." Carrie groaned.

"Yeah. So...what happened to you, Carrie?" Allison asked with a hint of worry in her voice. Carrie shook her head slowly and pressed a hand to her temple.

"I--I don't know...I don't remember much from yesterday, or anything before I woke up except...except going to that old power plant and--"

"You took her to that filthy place?!" Carrie's mother shrieked incredulously at Allison and Warren. "Do you have any idea how many sick people could be lurking in there, just waiting to rape and murder defenseless young girls?!"

"Mom! Calm down!" Carrie begged, grabbing her mother's arm. "It's not their fault, I agreed to go on my own free-will. They did everything they could to make sure I'd be safe, they even gave my a walkie-talkie to call for help if I needed it!" she explained. "Please! Don't blame them, besides, I'm alright. You said so yourself, just don't be mad at them, please?"

Lillian's expression softened as she turned to look at her only daughter. "I'm just worried about you, honey. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, you're all I have left."

"I know, Mom." Carrie murmured.

"...The doctor says you'll have to stay here another night for observation, Carrie...just in case. You know.” Allison said softly. Carrie nodded and settled back against the soft pillow.

"I guess I should get my rest then, right?" she asked with mild sarcasm.

"Yes, that's probably best." her mother replied. "Come on, Allison, Warren, let's go home. She'll be fine here."

Carrie watched as they left and settled back deeper into the comfy down-filled pillow. She laid there wide-awake for several minutes, not sure she'd be able to go back to sleep, but soon drifted off despite her doubts.

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Bright, blinding white lights tore through Carrie's closed eyelids and a commotion of sound grew in her ears. She opened her eyes and squinted at the harshly bright florescent lights hanging above her head. There were figures in white hovering over her with shiny metal objects held in their hands, chattering indistinctly about something. They all wore crisp white hospital scrubs and surgical masks.

Carrie felt light-headed and disoriented as she stared around her. She suddenly became aware of the oxygen mask strapped to her face and glanced about frantically. Her eyes locked onto the horridly red stains tainting the figures' clean white scrubs and her chest tightened in fear. She lifted her head as she stared down the length of her body and a muffled scream tore from her throat at the sight that met her eyes.

Her stomach was torn wide open as the doctors ruthlessly tore her insides out in slimy, bloody heaps. She watched in horror as her intestines slithered messily to the stark white floor. Screaming, she writhed and thrashed in agony against the steel operating table, but thick leather straps held her firmly in place as the doctors slowly pulled her inside-out.

Her eyes soon rolled back in her head and her vision darkened as the agonizing torture continued. She was so consumed by the pain that she was barely aware of the four-bladed hand reaching toward her from the descending darkness.

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Carrie awoke with a gurgled shriek and retched over the side of the bed as three alarmed young nurses rushed to her side.

An hour later, her mother and Allison arrived. The doctor had sedated her to keep her calm, and she sat up on the bed, rocking back and forth. The doctor looked up from the chart in his hands and greeted the two as they entered. “Mrs. Morgan, I'm glad you're here.”

“What happened? What's wrong? Is she alright?” Lillian begged questioningly.

“She's fine. She just had a bad dream. But...” Dr. Sandstrom glanced back at Carrie, “I think we should discuss this outside.”

Mrs. Morgan and Allison followed him out into the hall. He looked at Lillian, trying to gather the right words.

“Mrs. Morgan. Has your daughter ever experienced any sort of... mental distress? Or been diagnosed with a mental illness?”
“No. Never,” Lillian answered, “What does this have to do with her injuries?”

“Hey! Carrie isn't crazy, Doc!” Allison shouted.

“I-I never said she was,” Dr. Sandstrom replied, “It's just that... well, she's been claiming that a man in her dreams is trying to kill her. A man named Fred Krueger.”

Mrs. Morgan looked at Allison. “You told her that horrible story?” she asked incredulously.

“Hey! She wanted to know. So what if I told her. It's not like she can't handle a simple ghost story.” Allison retorted.

“Apparently, she can't! And now you've gone and given her nightmares of that horrible man.” Lillian accused.

“Mother...” Carrie stood in the doorway, staring at her mother. “It's not just a nightmare. He's real.”

“Alright, let's just get you back to bed and we can talk about it tomorrow--”

“NO!! Dammit, Mom, aren't you listening?! I don't WANT to sleep! Not here. Not now. I just wanna go home.” Carrie shouted. “Just take me home.”