Jack glanced at the clock, dreading the inevitable: bedtime. Pacing back and forth, he knew another night of nightmares awaited him—a constant in his life, a night of being chased, beaten, and terrified.

It all began when he was nine, with a recurring dream of ghosts in his house and his inability to escape. Every evening, he would wake up just as the unseen entity was about to strike. His mother assured him the nightmares would end, but they persisted.

Now, at 25, Jack had nightmares every night since childhood. He yearned for a change, but it was no use. He had to face them each night, for the sake of his work the next day.

Stepping into his bedroom, he began to undress. A shower would help him relax, and then he’d watch a Disney movie, hoping to fill his mind with happy thoughts and banish the nightmares.

As the movie drew to a close and his eyes grew heavy, a glimmer of hope ignited within him. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the night his nightmares finally ended. He turned off the TV, set his watch, and prepared for the evening.

Soon, his eyes closed, and he fell into a deep, restful sleep. But just as he was about to drift off again, his eyes snapped open. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and gasped in surprise. Standing at the end of his bed was a beautiful woman.

She looked like a girl he worked with, dressed in a provocative short dress and blouse that seemed almost see-through. She walked over to his side of the bed and gently ran her fingers through his hair. A smile spread across his face, and she climbed up on top of him.

In disbelief, he couldn’t believe this was happening. And then, she kissed him deeply.

They became intimate, their hearts pounding and their bodies flushed with excitement. As the moment of bliss arrived, they embraced, their laughter echoing through the room. “Margaret, I can’t believe you’re here,” Jack whispered, his voice filled with awe. But Margaret remained silent, and in that instant, Jack realized it was all a dream.

He tried to convince himself it was just a dream, repeating it over and over in his mind. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wake up. And then, the nightmare began.

Margaret pulled out a knife, her eyes gleaming with malice. She lunged at Jack, intending to stab him. But Jack was quick on his feet, blocking the attack and jumping out of bed. He sprinted towards the door, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he reached for the handle, he realized the door was locked. Panic set in as he tried the window, but it was stuck. He was trapped, with no way out. And then, he felt the knife fall into his back.

He turned around, his blood running cold, as Margaret plunged the knife into his chest. Jack collapsed to the ground, his life slipping away. And finally, he woke up.

The next morning, Jack’s mother came over to check on him, as she did every day. But when she found him lying on the floor, she knew something was wrong. She rushed to his side, tears streaming down her face. But as she looked into his lifeless eyes, she realized the truth. Jack was dead.

The doctor ruled his death a heart attack, but Jack’s mother knew better. Every night, she would see him in her dreams, the knife piercing his chest and his life slipping away before her very eyes.