Chapter 2

Hanson stood under the shower, with it’s temperature slightly higher than what he normally chose. The tranquility of the warmth and the flowing waters allowed him time to sink into his meditations. His eyes were closed as he removed himself mentally from reality and entered into a trance-state as the waters poured over his bald head and dripped down his shoulders which arched awkwardly from years of bad posture. 
Elisa’s dream had brought him into contemplation of his own death, despite what he had found himself saying to comfort her in her presence, he too had noticed that life’s glow was lessening, it’s sounds softening, and that he had felt himself beginning to wonder what, if anything was waiting for him when he released his mental hold on life and slipped into the next stage of his existence. 
He began to visualize the mountain of Elisa’s dream to the best of his ability, and imagined himself on the climb, though chose to venture on his own so he would not be burdened by the presence of company. With only himself to worry about, he summoned great Will and envisioned the climb to be conquered with a sense of ease, and sped towards its top - reaching the tent and campfire. The soldier’s body was absent, as was the beetle which brought with it such distress.  So he began to yell at the night sky daring it to confront him with the very monstrosities which haunted his wife. 
Then, a scream rang through his thoughts, and disrupted the daydream. He twisted the handles to shut off the water, as they spun they let out a squeak which nearly matched the scream he heard, making him question if he had heard it at all. 
‘Eli?’
Upon hearing no response, he rapidly stepped out of the shower and threw on his clothes, before running down the steps and heading toward the kitchen. 
There a colorless Elisa sat at the dinner table, with eyes as big as bugs, and her hands trembling - one of which shook before her mouth, the other was pointing toward the sink. 
He cautiously approached the direction she was indicating him to move toward, unsure what horror scene would be presented in its basin. Though to his relief it was empty but some dishes; a couple of glasses, two dinner plates, and a stainless steel cooking pot which lay on its side with a rag hanging half-inside and half-out sprawled in the sink like the tongue of a dog laying on a hot day.
‘What is it?’
She doesn’t offer a response as she slowly gets up from her chair, still noticeably stressed by what she had experienced and walks toward him. 
‘Eli, what is wrong?,’ he asks again. 
‘I don’t know what is wrong with me,’ she began while her composure broke and she found herself crying for the second time that morning. 
‘Nothing is wrong with you, I mean, what has happened?’ 
‘I went to do dishes, so I turned the water on. That’s when I thought I heard voices, very distant and quiet voices, I didn’t hear what they were saying. I shook myself and continued on, so I picked up the pot - only when I glanced upon it I realized that it showed not only me, but reflected faces, many anguished, depraved and angry faces. I nearly fainted upon seeing it, but chalked it up to my imagination like a leftover remnant or impression from the dream, and so I braved a second look - yet the same faces still were there, and they were responding to my presence - they appeared to be screaming for my attention, or screaming at me... it was awful!’ 
Her cheeks flushed and her trickling tears turn to a stream - her performance shifts from that of a woman, to child and she drops into her husbands arms and buries her head in his chest. 
‘Do you want to see a doctor?’ 
‘You think I am sick in the mind?,’ she nearly screams, offended and feeling discarded. 
‘No, I am concerned, honey. I don’t see anything in the sink - I don’t know what to tell you.’
‘That’s because they aren’t there now.’
‘I have an idea; let’s get you back to bed, we’ll simply sleep this day away and tomorrow this will all seem distant.’ Despite offering words of encouragement, seeds of doubt had begun to blossom and his words began to sound insincere even to his own ears. 
‘And should more nightmares await me there?’ 
‘I will wake you if I see you beginning to squirm or show any signs of discomfort. I won’t go anywhere, I will be at your side and wake you should I see any such sign.’
She regains her composure and stands freely on her own in front of him. 
‘I am going to see my sister. I think I want to get out of the house.’
The idea of her driving grasps the nerves at the base of his spine, and he flinches in reception of hearing her response.  He could not imagine her even so much as taking the bus alone to see her sister in this condition, though swallows his concern as to show confidence in her ability to remain strong. 
‘I think that’s a good idea.’