The Nightmare Series Part 1

The Blast by Chris Morin

    I was sitting on the couch in front of the tv watching a DVD when a flash lit up the living room window and grabbed my attention away from the movie. I thought to myself that it was odd that we were having lightening on a clear day. My wife who was sitting next to me noticed the light and also thought it was strange. A second later we heard the thunder. But this was no storm.
    The air grew still and the rumbling came closer and closer, louder and louder. I could hear faint screams in the distance and explosions. There was only one thing I could think of doing.
    I screamed at my wife. "Get in the cellar, NOW!"
    By the look on my face she could tell that I meant business. I grabbed her by the arm and opened the cellar door. I pushed her through the opening. I entered the cellar doorway, slammed the door behind me and quickly ran down the stairs to my wife who was shaking uncontrollably in the center of the room.
    "What's going on?" she asked.
    "The end of the world." I answered gravely.
    There was a work bench on the east side wall of the cellar. I brushed everything off of it with a quick stroke of my arm and pulled it to the center of the room.
    "Get under here and keep your head covered! Remember how you used to do it in the sixties?"
    I noticed a couple of blankets in the corner of the cellar. I decided that we could use them under the table for cover. It was the worst mistake I could have ever made. I should have stayed with her. I wish I had.
    "I will be right back!"
    "Where are you going?" my wife asked. She never questioned me again. She didn't live long enough to.
    The rumbling was practically on top of us. I started for the blankets when the shock wave from the bomb finally hit the house. I remember the whole ground shaking underneath me. I lost my balance as pieces of the foundation began to rain down on top of me. The ceiling opened up and parts of the living room and pieces of the second floor began to land all around me. To my surprise, I was left untouched, completely surrounded by falling debris in a four foot by four foot area.
    My flesh soon began to burn from the invisible fire. I was left unharmed by the debris but the silent and very deadly killer was working its dark magic on me. I needed to assess the damage and get to my wife as soon as I could. If I was spared then she must be okay underneath that solid work bench, or so I thought.
    After what seemed like an hour, I was able to move some of the fallen objects out of the way and clear a path towards the table. Upon moving my living room couch, which I was sitting on only a short time ago, I made the ghastly discovery, one that forever haunts me in my dreams.
    It seems that when I went for the blankets, my wife tried to follow me. She got about halfway out from beneath the table when the blast finally hit. The ceiling opened up above her and the television from the living room fell through the hole and landed on her back. It hit her at an angle that practically took her head off.
    She was still alive but her entire chest cavity was obliterated. I have no idea how she was able to stay alive for so long. She was bleeding profusely from a gash in the neck and was totally pinned to the ground and unable to move. She looked up at me in utter shock and sorrow. She could tell by the look on my face that it was bad.
    "I'm sorry." They were the last words she ever mouthed. She died a short moment later.
    I pushed away the blood and gently kissed her forehead. I loved her as deeply and as much as she loved me. She didn't want me to risk myself for something as stupid as the blankets. She felt that it was a risk we should both assume together. She wanted to be with me no matter what, despite the cost. She died because she loved me.
    I put my head in my hands and broke down and wailed.

    I woke up shortly after that to the sound of my wife's gentle snore. She was safe and sound and was peaceful in her own little dream land. I smiled at her. It was a smile she will never know about. I was thankful that it was only a dream. I was thankful that she was okay and that we will have another tomorrow. I touched her softly on her back and she stopped snoring for a minute and then settled into another deep sleep.
    I turned over and looked out my bedroom window. I noticed a bright flash in the sky followed by some thunder. I found it strange. I didn't think we were expecting any storms.

About The Blast by Chris Morin

    The Blast was written in the spirit of my most common nightmare - nuclear holocaust. I have no idea why I dream about this topic the most. Maybe it is my worst fear. But nuclear dreams dominate my subconscious. I average at least one vivid nuclear dream a week. This dream never occurred but I am sure it will; now that I have written this story.

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