A Nightmare Transformation

A middle-aged man awoke from his sleep screaming and sweating profusely at 3:15 Friday morning.

After realizing he had just awakened from another nightmare, the man remained sitting upright in bed, silently taking deep breaths. Minutes later, he turned toward the left side of the bed and saw a short, curly-haired brown woman sound asleep beside him.

“Damn, Cory. Your screams could have woken her up,” Cory muttered to himself.

Unwilling to risk screaming himself awake again, Cory decided to sleep in the living room for the remainder of the early morning. Before leaving the bedroom, however, he walked over to the peacefully sleeping woman and gently kissed her forehead.

6:30 a.m., Friday morning.

The sounds of pots and pans banging against the stove awakened Cory. He sluggishly sat up, slightly opening his eyes as sunlight streamed through the living room windows. Cory gradually laid back down.

“Don’t even try going back to sleep.”

“But, Alexa, honey, I barely got any sleep last night,” Cory said.

“I wonder why?” Alexa asked.

Why? What did she mean by that? Cory thought to himself.

Then it occurred to him. Was Alexa pretending to be asleep? Had she actually been awake the entire time?

Eventually, Cory gave up trying to figure out what Alexa meant. Luckily for him, Alexa had a terrible poker face and suddenly burst out laughing when she saw Cory’s clueless expression.

“Christ. So you were awake? Why didn’t you say something, Alexa?” Cory asked.

“Because I need my beauty rest, and I have work in the morning.”

“Okay. I thought I might have scared you or something, doll.”

“Well, if you don’t take care of those frequent nightmares, maybe you will.”

For a moment, Cory silently stared down at the wooden floor before standing from the couch. He playfully skipped into the kitchen like a twelve-year-old kid, attempting to get Alexa’s attention focused on him rather than his nightmares.

“Attempting to get me into bed will not change the situation,” Alexa said.

Cory took a deep breath and promised Alexa that he would work on his nightmares at the end of the day.

Alexa smiled with her red-polished lips and kissed him, leaving a bright red lipstick mark on his cheek.

Driving alone to work, Cory cherished his solitude, using the time to meditate on personal matters, especially his recurring nightmares. Other times, he thought about his subpar existence and wondered if his life was ever going to change.

Arriving at the Walmart parking lot was an aching reminder of his reality.

A routine workday for Cory began with him putting on his mindless-robot mask. He greeted his fellow coworkers, many of whom he believed wouldn’t hesitate to stab him in the back. He smiled for the customers while working in the warehouse department at the back of the store.

There was one coworker, however, named Gregory Lune, with whom Cory shared a few things in common. Gregory was probably one of the only people at Walmart who genuinely cared about him.

Gregory noticed how bothered Cory had been acting.

During lunch, Gregory joined Cory and kindly asked if everything was okay.

At first, Cory played it off, pretending there wasn't a worry in the world. Eventually, however, he discussed his recurring nightmare, especially the way Alexa had been pressuring him to do something about it.

“Not to mention, I’m living the dream working at Walmart,” Cory said sarcastically.

“Brother, I know all too well how unfair life can be,” Gregory replied.

Cory quickly remembered that Gregory was a former addict who had nearly lost everything, including his life. Fortunately, Gregory had found help through Walmart. He scheduled an appointment with a professional therapist once a month and attended CA meetings.

“You should schedule an appointment with a therapist,” Gregory suggested.

“That would keep my promise to Alexa. And it’s free,” Cory said.

Cory thanked Gregory for the advice. After finishing his shift, he made an appointment with a therapist and told Alexa all about it.

The following week, Cory visited his therapist, Dr. Dawn Weeks.

He informed her about the recurring nightmare that had been disrupting his life and relationship with Alexa.

Dr. Weeks first asked Cory to describe the nightmare as best as he could.

Cory described seeing a vintage framed picture of himself hanging in complete darkness. Suddenly, the picture began moving closer to him. Then the image itself started melting.

That was when Cory normally woke up screaming.

“Interesting,” Dr. Weeks said. “And why does this scare you, Mr. Johnson?”

“Because I feel like I might get hurt... or worse, Dr. Weeks,” Cory replied.

Dr. Weeks briefly wrote something down in the folder she was holding. She then suggested hypnosis.

She explained that she could implant a suggestion into Cory’s subconscious mind so that the next time he encountered the nightmare, he would remain asleep until it reached its conclusion.

“Sounds like a plan,” Cory said.

It took Dr. Weeks only eight minutes to complete the hypnosis technique.

Cory thanked Dr. Weeks for her help and left the office.

Dr. Weeks took pride in helping people work through their problems, even when the problem seemed as simple as a nightmare.

Suddenly, however, Dr. Weeks remembered that she had forgotten to mention some precautions to Cory.

She rushed through the office hallways and caught him halfway through the front entrance.

“Mr. Johnson!” Dr. Weeks shouted.

Hearing Dr. Weeks call his name nearly startled Cory, but he quickly relaxed and allowed her to explain the potential side effects.

Meanwhile, Cory noticed a law-enforcement vehicle parked across the street.

Minutes later, a female probation officer exited the vehicle alongside her probation client.

Cory thought it was odd but had no time to question it. He was eager to get home and try out his new hypnosis treatment.

When Cory arrived home, he told Alexa about Dr. Weeks and her hypnosis technique.

Alexa was pleased that Cory had taken her concerns seriously and, more importantly, that he was finally taking care of himself.

For the first two months, Cory didn't experience the nightmare of the framed picture—or any other nightmare.

“Perhaps talking to Dr. Weeks helped you get over it,” Alexa said.

Alexa's optimism seemed justified.

Then came the third month.

On a Saturday night at midnight, the framed-picture nightmare returned.

This time, however, it was more vivid and intense than ever.

Cory tossed and turned in his sleep, causing Alexa to suddenly jump out of bed. Helplessly, she watched him while praying that he would wake up.

Meanwhile, inside the nightmare, Cory stood completely surrounded by darkness.

He stared directly at the same old vintage framed picture of himself.

Gradually, the picture began moving closer.

Then it suddenly stopped.

Immediately afterward, the picture began melting in an eerie, unnatural way.

This was usually the moment when Cory woke up screaming.

But he couldn't wake up now.

So whatever happened next was completely foreign to him.

Cory remained silent, watching as the picture completely melted away.

To his surprise, the melting image revealed an entirely different portrait of himself.

This version of Cory looked dark and sinister, his face covered by an ominous expression and a disturbing smirk.

The nightmare ended.

Cory opened his eyes to find Alexa staring at him in fear.

He instantly jumped out of bed.

“Alexa, are you okay?”

“You looked like you were fighting in your sleep,” she said.

“It’s all right. Everything is fine now, my dear Alexa.”

Cory hugged Alexa tightly against his body and kissed her.

Eventually, they both returned to sleep without further disruption.

But something inside Cory had changed.

After that night, Cory transformed into an entirely different man.

He behaved with a fiery yet strangely calm attitude. Cory began speaking his mind regardless of who was around him or where he was.

He became involved in several incidents at Walmart but no longer cared about the job—or the people who worked there.

So when Walmart fired him, Cory felt relieved.

He was no longer burdened by having to live around people he considered clowns.

“What the hell is going on, Cory?” Gregory asked.

“Everything is fine, Gregory. Honestly.”

“Really? You just got fired.”

“Yes. And now I can focus on achieving my dreams. Take care, Gregory.”

Within nearly a year, Cory obtained a lucrative entry-level position in the film industry and enrolled at Arizona State University to study film directing.

Alexa had never been more excited about Cory's new direction in life. She loved his confidence and ambition.

But there were times when Cory could be heartless and demanding, almost as if he were an emperor.

One night, Alexa overheard him yelling and cursing at someone over the phone.

She wanted to say something, but she convinced herself that perhaps this was simply the price of doing business.

It wasn't until Alexa witnessed Cory's darker side with her own eyes that she realized how dangerous his transformation had become.

After getting off work one evening, Alexa walked toward her car, eager to head home.

A man named William, a maintenance worker in the office building where Alexa worked, approached her and attempted to start a conversation.

Clearly uninterested, Alexa told William that she was already taken.

“What your man doesn't know won't hurt him,” William said.

Alexa was disgusted by William's indecent remark.

So was Cory.

He happened to be standing several feet away—close enough to hear everything.

Cory walked over and introduced himself as Alexa's boyfriend.

William quickly departed.

Alexa was pleased with how Cory had handled the situation without becoming violent.

But Cory wasn't finished.

Over the next several days, Cory somehow acquired William's personal information.

Soon, William's car was stolen.

Money disappeared from his bank account.

Finally, William lost his maintenance job.

“You're a monster,” Alexa said.

“Alexa, it's too early for foreplay,” Cory replied.

“No, smart-ass. William!” Alexa snapped.

Cory laughed when he heard William's name.

“You should be thankful to have a loving boyfriend who cares about you.”

Before Alexa could respond, a knock came from the front door.

Cory went to answer it.

Standing outside was Dr. Dawn Weeks.

Cory was speechless.

“What brings you here?” he asked.

Alexa answered before Dr. Weeks could.

“I called her. She helped you before. Perhaps she can help you again.”

Cory attempted to downplay Alexa's concerns, but Dr. Weeks wasn't buying it.

However, she didn't want Cory to feel as though he was being attacked by both of them.

So she asked Cory to stop by her office so they could discuss his progress.

Cory arrived at Dr. Weeks' office the following day.

There, he and the doctor discussed his case from nearly three years earlier.

Dr. Weeks was pleased that the hypnosis had worked.

However, she now suspected that Cory had picked up something else from the nightmare.

Their meeting lasted nearly an hour.

By the end, Cory was joyful at the thought that he wouldn't have to return.

He informed Dr. Weeks that he was finished with therapy.

As Cory left the office, however, he noticed the same female probation officer he had seen on his first visit.

Cory stopped.

He stared at her.

Then he raced back into Dr. Weeks' office.

“I've changed my mind,” Cory said.

Over the next two months, Cory attended appointments with Dr. Weeks.

But those appointments were only a front.

His true agenda was to learn more about the female probation officer.

With Dr. Weeks unknowingly helping him, Cory eventually learned her name.

One day, Cory waited outside, pretending that he had accidentally run into her.

“Hello there, Officer. I've been seeing you around here lately. What's your name?” Cory asked.

“Alex Moore,” she replied.

“You don't say. I'm Cory Johnson.”

Soon, Cory and Alex began appearing together everywhere.

Cory was unlike any man Alex had ever dated.

It was as if he knew exactly how she thought, acted, and felt before she even said anything.

Their seemingly perfect relationship continued in secret.

But eventually, Dr. Weeks discovered the affair, partly because of Cory's growing absence from Alexa.

One day, Dr. Weeks arranged a meeting with Alexa.

She expressed her deepest apologies for everything Alexa had been forced to endure.

Dr. Weeks couldn't help but feel responsible for Alexa's pain—and for transforming Cory into the man he had become.

That was the reason she had called Alexa there.

“I believe I can bring the old Cory back,” Dr. Weeks said. “The hypnosis can be reversed by using a trigger word that will release him from the previous suggestion.”

At Cory's next appointment, Dr. Weeks prepared to hypnotize him.

Later that night, Alexa sat alone at the table when Cory entered the apartment.

She was surprised to see him.

It had been four months since she had last seen him.

Cory gathered a few belongings while Alexa watched silently, struggling to comprehend how careless he had become.

Then Alexa mentioned Dr. Weeks' plan.

“If it does work, it can't undo the damage you've caused,” Alexa said.

Cory stood silently, a worried expression appearing on his face.

“You don't need to concern yourself with Dr. Weeks' plan after tonight,” Cory said.

He left shortly afterward.

Alexa was left even more worried.

An hour later, Cory arrived at Dr. Weeks' house.

He broke into the home and caught the doctor by surprise.

Dr. Weeks pleaded with Cory to let her help him before it was too late.

“By getting rid of me? I don't think so,” Cory said.

“What?” Dr. Weeks asked.

“I'm not Cory. At least, I'm not the Cory you knew.”

Cory continued explaining.

Since the day Dr. Weeks had hypnotized him, something else had been given permission to emerge.

The hypnosis hadn't simply kept him asleep during the nightmare.

It had allowed another version of Cory to take control of his mind.

And now that version intended to remain.

“You plan on killing me?” Dr. Weeks asked.

“I don't want to,” Cory replied. “But I'll fight to stay here.”

Minutes later, Cory heard a familiar voice calling out to him.

He turned around.

“Alex? What the hell are you doing here?”

Alex told Cory that Dr. Weeks had contacted her, probably using the number she had gotten from Cory's phone.

She informed Cory that she knew everything and that Dr. Weeks wasn't entirely at fault.

Cory explained that if he allowed the doctor to fix him, the Cory Alex knew would disappear.

“Maybe,” Alex said. “But the time I had with you was the best time of my life.”

Cory stared at her.

Then he gave Alex one final passionate kiss.

He released Dr. Weeks and stepped away.

Dr. Weeks prepared the hypnosis.

“Cory,” she said calmly, “listen to my voice.”

Cory closed his eyes.

Dr. Weeks began the process.

Then she said the trigger word:

“Nature.”

Moments later, Cory opened his eyes.

A confused expression covered his face.

He looked around the room.

“Where am I?”

Then he noticed Alex.

She looked heartbroken.

“Alex, are you okay?”

Alex didn't answer.

She simply walked away, leaving Dr. Weeks and Cory behind.

Cory watched her disappear through the doorway.

He turned toward Dr. Weeks.

“Where's Alexa?”

Dr. Weeks stared at him sadly.

“Have a seat, Cory.”

She paused.

“There’s something you need to know.”