Dreamjumper

Something has affected the masses of society, so I escape to the mountains with my friend Dustin. We "hideout" in a classic log cabin, complete with a thigh-high wooden fence surrounding it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lincoln built it, but he probably didn’t.

Dustin and I are hiding up and away from the rest of civilization because something vague, yet dangerous has befallen mankind. We’re not sure of what it is, or how we’re aware of it, but once we find our supposed ‘solitude’ in the mountains things start to unravel. I should note that this Dustin wasn’t anything like the Dustin I know, except for the fact he looked just like him. This Dustin is immediately hostile toward me, and advances upon me outside of the cabin, and he ends up instigating a dream battle between us.

We grapple at first. To the casual observer it looks as we’re yanking each other around or shoving one another, almost as if we were “Indian Wrestling.” It is interesting to note that it was mostly Dustin attacking me. My end of the “physical” battle consisted only of defensive blocks. My offensive combat are more clever and creative (mind-oriented) whereas Dustin resorts to grunt physical movements (body-oriented). I spend most of the dream battle antagonizing Dustin verbally. My assault consists solely of insults, sarcasm, jokes, and a lot of laughter… everything I say makes Dustin angrier and causes him to retaliate stronger. I counter his punches and kicks expertly, which makes him angrier. I even allow him to land a few of his blows, all the while laughing and instigating.

I am winning the battle even though I haven’t landed a single physical blow. I believe this is because my verbal assault distracts his attention and focus, which gives ME more power. Dustin grows weaker as he spends more energy on physical attacks. I back him up against the short fence and all while talking to him, I execute my first physical assault, which is to pushhim over the short fence. He topples backward over it awkwardly, but not painfully, it was more embarrassing than anything. I have won the battle because Dustin has been made to look like a fool.

We both know that I have won, we seem to both understand the unspoken rules of the battle. I laugh in victory, which pours salt into Dustin's wound as he, upset on the other side of the fence and covered in actual dust, makes a quick movement and draws a firearm from his side. He fires the pistol at me once, as I feel a bullet tear through me. My laughter stops. I am not hurt. I'm not exactly shocked or surprised that I am shot, as I seemed to anticipate it earlier, but I am more disgusted/disappointed at the "cheap shot" (lol get it) after the end of the battle.

I touch my stomach where I am shot, and look down at my bloody hands. I shake my head at Dustin, and fall to my knees muttering snidely something about his inability for honor. I laugh again. I am mortally wounded, though I do not die before I wake up.