Dreams of Eternity

Dreams of eternity haunt my sleep.

I was driving down the highway, my foot pushing the pedal to the floor. A glance at the speedometer showed me that I could go no faster. Darkness swallowed the light beaming out of my headlights and I could see nothing but a small piece of the road. At the speed I was going, the slightest mistake meant death. Adrenaline flowed through my body. It kept me alert, all of my senses on edge, but most importantly, it kept me awake.

I had not slept in five and a half days. Most people struggle to go two days without sleep. I could go four easily. Years of practice had disciplined my body. I figured that if I kept at it, I could go forever without sleep. Now, however, I could feel my mind beginning to crack. My brain was screaming at me to rest; even just to lay my head down for a second. It wouldn't hurt. Just lay my head down and close my eyes for a second. I didn't have to sleep, it said; just relax. I yelled back, "Shut up! You're with them! You're on their side, you bastard!" I continued to race down the highway.

Two pinpricks of light appeared ahead in the distance. As they grew closer, they doubled into four, and then again into eight, and then again into sixteen. Jesus, there were too many; I was going to hit one of them! I blinked. Two lights were moving closer. The others were gone. My brain whispered to me. They're still there. You can't see them because they shut their lights off.

"I'm not listening to you, you sack of shit."

My brain cackled.

The pair of lights flew by, their car right behind them. I glanced inside. There was a man sleeping, a woman eating an apple, and a dark shadow consuming the Earth.

See, it has already begun.

I ignored my brain and kept driving.

My brain stretched out and hung weights on my eyelids. My lids began to sink down over my eyes. I tried to swat the weights away, but my brain had secured them tightly. Darkness closed over me and I felt my head sinking. There was a dull thump and then a horn blared. I jerked up; my eyes, finding a well of strength, flew open. My headlights illuminated a small girl in a white shift. She smiled innocently, seemingly unaware that her body was a moment away from being smeared across my car.

I screamed.

My brain giggled.

My hands seemed to move of their own accord and jerked the wheel to the right. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the girl wave at me and then I flew off the edge of the planet. I saw stars. How beautiful, I thought. A great black maw sprung from beside my car and swallowed them.

Not anymore, my brain snickered.

I was almost grateful when dark red rocks emerged from the darkness in front of the car. I've always wanted to go to Mars, I thought. My brain laughed maniacally. Mars rushed up at me and the car slammed into it. The weights on my eyelids jerked my head down into the steering wheel. I saw a flash of light and then darkness and then nothing as my body slipped into unconsciousness.

I had seen the same scene countless times before. Pale white light from a distant, indeterminate source shone toward me. It was a cold light that chilled me to the bone.