The Trip - Chapter 1

The curtain moved. Or did it? And then again. Stop it. Focus. Don't panic. It wouldn't stop though and soon it was moving so much that it was like watching endless sets of waves roll in and crash on the shore. I was in trouble and I knew it.

"Z.
"Hmm, he mumbled not breaking concentration from the film.
"The bloke said sugar helps bring you down right?
"Yeah.
"Lob me a sachet from over there would you?

I tried to catch it but failed miserably. "Cheers. I looked down to find it on the floor and the blood rushed to my head. The carpet was like one giant kaleidoscope. I couldn't handle it. I ripped the top off the sugar and poured it all into my mouth. The taste didn't register at first.

"Z you twat, you just passed me a fucking cappuccino mix!
"Sorry.

Sorry was all I got and he still hadn't once turned his attention from what he was watching. I wasn't well and a film of smoke seemed to be passing over the wall next to the window in front of me. Faces intermittently leapt out. I'd had enough. I rolled off the bed and pushed the bathroom door open. Throwing up was the best way to deal with it all I decided. Get the poison out of my body. Kneeling before the toilet I said a quick prayer, in the hope that this would all soon be over, and then I was looking at my reflection in the water. Nothing would come out though and the whole room was rocking from side to side. I stumbled back onto my feet and crumpled in a heap back on my bed.

The wall of smoke was now a continuation of the curtain come ocean. Something was dipping in and out of the waves and then slithered out of the water so it's head was just inches in front of mine. It's giant yellow eyes fixed me in a stare as it's snakelike body swayed from side to side.

"Come. Come with usss, it hissed and it's tongue shot out, tickling my nose.

I lay motionless in the foetal position. A layer of sweat covered my back.

"Guys I need to get to hospital. Someone call an ambulance.
"You'll be fine. Just relax, said a voice.
"No. No. I really don't feel well.
"It's natural you'll¦

But I couldn't hear the end of the sentence because the room was spinning so fast that everything had disintegrated into a swathe of colours. The strange creature was gone and so too was I.