Real Terrors

By See-El Flores

On a recurring basis Marilyn Olsen, a young management consultant, experiences what she remembers as childhood nightmares. The nightmares occur on a regular basis, but, periodically, the frequency increases. The night terrors begin to come more often and appear to be getting scarier and scarier.
Marilyn is married to Rick, a criminal defense attorney. They have two children, Jason and Alisa. Except for the night terror episodes, they lead a storybook happy middle-class life in Central Florida.

Marilyn’s and Rick’s best friends are Sandra and Barry Davidson. Sandra is a mathematics college professor and Barry is a neurologist. Rick and Sandra convince Marilyn to see Barry about the nightmares and convince Barry to accept Marilyn as a patient. Barry makes an exception on his policy against having friends and relatives as patients.

Barry refers Marilyn to an associate, Emily Franklin, a psychiatrist who is already studying a phenomenon with other patients in which women meeting a specific profile have night terror episodes on a regular basis. Emily discovers that she has a unique connection to Marilyn but she is not sure why.
Emily takes a sterile scientific approach to investigating the reasons for the night terrors. Because their occurrences are predictable, Emily makes arrangements to video some of the night terror episodes. Through regressive hypnosis, she begins to piece together what is actually taking place.

Emily determines that the night terror episodes are not dreams. They are indeed real. But they are beyond scientific explanation. They are unbelievable; but their impact can be immediate and life-changing. She is determined to find out what causes them in an effort to find a way to prevent them.

Without knowing why, Marilyn and Emily suddenly have the need to go to Honduras. There they meet a shaman named Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos has some understanding about what the episodes mean and becomes their guide. He explains to them that they must work together and learn to tap the forces of the universe to solve the problem which he describes as condemned souls attempting to make their way back to our dimension. He tells them that these souls will succeed if they are able to separate Marilyn and Emily.

The condemned souls kidnap Emily. No matter what Marilyn does, she is unable to find the key to Emily’s rescue. Finally, she is resigned to the fate that Emily is lost and that the condemned souls have succeeded. In her suffering, she accidently triggers the solution which rescues Emily and defeats the condemned souls.

• Language: English
• Publisher: See-El Flores
• Release date: Sep 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301871056

See-El Flores

Distractions are essential to sanity. See-El maintains his sanity by walking, reading, and writing fiction. He writes non-fiction as well, but that is not a distraction. That is work. For See-El, writing is a passion. It gives him an opportunity to express his views on life by telling a story.Some writers develop a story fully before writing their first sentence. See-El starts with an idea which evolves into a story. Ask him how a story will end when ninety per cent is already complete and See-El may not know. What happens in the story is as much a surprise to him as he writes it as it is to his reader as he or she reads it.See-El has been writing his entire life. It is in his blood. Although never published, his mother, Amada Gonzalez, wrote dozens of poems and dozens of plays in her native Spanish. One of his daughters, Lisa Flores, has already started her first book. The writing gene appears to be passed down without skipping any generations.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The dreams kept getting progressively worse. They were not only occurring with greater frequency but they were getting scarier, and now they were happening more than once a week. It was so bad that Marilyn was afraid of falling asleep.

The first dream Marilyn could remember had come about eighteen months before. Marilyn had finished her racquetball set. It was a particularly gruesome workout. As usual, she played three sets of doubles. First it was Marilyn and her husband, Rick, against their best friends, Sandra and Barry. Then it was the girls against the guys followed by her and Barry against Sandra and Rick. Finally, she had played three sets of singles; first against Rick; then against Sandra; and last against Barry.

Marilyn had a pretty good night. She and Rick won the first set. The girls beat the guys, a rare occurrence, in the second set. Then she and Barry beat Sandra and Rick. Lastly, she beat Rick and Sandra and lost to Barry. Not bad for a one-hundred-and-ten pound, five-foot-two-inch, twenty-eight year-old hottie with two children.

When she arrived home at 11:00 PM, she was exhausted. Still, she couldn’t go to bed without a shower after three hours of racquetball. She jumped in the shower first. This way, by the time Rick showered and came to bed, she might be asleep. What is it with men? The more they work out, the more they want sex. Well, not tonight, honey.

She put on her flannel pajamas. This was a sign to Rick that she was off-limits. Unfortunately, Rick sometimes took it as a challenge. She was so tired that she was really asleep when he came to bed. He just kissed her on the forehead and lay down next to her. The next thing she knew, it was 11:45 PM. Rick was shaking her and screaming, Honey, wake up. Five-year old Jason and three-year old Alisa ran in the room screaming, Mommy, don’t cry.

She never remembered what the dreams were about. All she knew was that she had never been so scared in her life. Unfortunately for her, how scared she was then would not compare to how scared she would be in the future. Little did she know that this would not be an isolated incident. It would soon become a common occurrence. She did not realize or remember that she had had a dream eighteen months before that and one three years earlier.

People have been asking questions about dreams from time immemorial. What are they? Where do they come from? What do they mean? Why are they sometimes so fuzzy and sometimes so clear? Why are they sometimes so hard to remember and at other times so hard to forget? Are they gateways to some unknown dimension? Do they connect us with other people? Do they only happen when we are asleep? If we die in one of our dreams, do we ever wake up? Can we use them to predict or shape the future? Do they warn us of things to come? Are they caused by a bunch of active neurons in our brains with nothing better to do than play havoc with our minds?

For Marilyn, dreams had always been pleasant. Nightmares were a new experience. Sure, when she was a little girl, she sometimes had nightmares of gray boogie men in white coats. But all children experienced those.

Nine months or so had gone by. She had forgotten about the previous nightmare; then came the next one. It seemed longer and more vivid than the first one. In reality, she did not know for sure. It is human nature that the closer one is to an experience the more vivid the memory. With time, the memory begins to change. One may remember pleasant experiences as being better and bad experiences as being worse. Some experiences may just simply fade away. That makes it hard to compare something that happened last night with something that happened nine months ago.

The next nightmare came four or five months later. Marilyn was not sure how long it had been since the last one. Another problem with memory is that the sense of time becomes warped. We remember pleasant experiences as taking place in the distant past and bad experiences as taking place more recently. The experiences that one wants to forget always seem to have just happened and never seem to go away. Her sense, however, was that there had been less time between nightmares than the time before. As an analyst by nature, Marilyn decided to track the nightmares. She began a nightmare diary.

Sixty-four days later the next one came. Then it was thirty-two days. She was sure the nightmares were occurring with greater frequency. Because they were closer together than before, she could compare them with better accuracy. She was sure the nightmares were getting more intense and more frightening.

Finally, the nightmares came every fourth night.

Chapter 2

Barry was a neurologist. Rick, with Sandra’s assistance, convinced Marilyn to talk with Barry. Sandra, with Rick's assistance, convinced Barry to take Marilyn as a patient. Rick always referred friends and relatives to his partner.

Marilyn was sitting in one of Barry’s examination rooms. Barry walked in. Lyn, describe the nightmares.

I can’t, Barry, replied Marilyn.

What do you mean you can’t? asked Barry. Are they too frightening?

No, Barry. I just can’t remember them, frowned Marilyn.

Did you have a nightmare last night? asked Barry.

Yes, Marilyn responded and quickly added, And one four nights before that and four nights before that.

Barry persisted. What do you remember?

Marilyn took a deep breath. I am in a sound sleep and I wake up screaming. Sometimes, I’m paralyzed and can’t move. Sometimes I’m drenched in sweat. Always, I’m terrified.

Barry sighed. But you remember nothing of the nightmare itself?

Zero; zilch, nada, said Marilyn, shaking her head quickly.

Do they come soon after you fall asleep or later? asked Barry.

Fairly soon, replied Marilyn. Probably around within fifteen minutes to a half-hour of falling asleep.

It sounds like you are having night terrors and not nightmares, concluded Barry.

What’s the difference? asked Marilyn.

Barry explained. Nightmares occur during REM sleep. That is usually later in the sleep cycle. People remember a nightmare simply as a bad dream. Night terrors, on the other hand, occur during non-REM sleep; usually shortly after falling asleep. Most people do not recall what scared them. They often wake up in panic and sweat. Do you sleepwalk during the episode?

No; of course not, answered Marilyn, surprised at the question.

And they are occurring every fourth night, said Barry, mostly to himself.

Barry, said Marilyn in an exasperated voice, I have a diary. I know exactly when they occurred. I can tell you what I had for dinner the night before, at what time, and what I did after. If I watched TV, I can tell you what I watched. I can tell you if Rick and I had sex before we went to sleep. I can tell you at what time we went to bed, whether I fell asleep right away or tossed and turned, and at what time Rick woke me out of the nightmare.

And you see no pattern? asked Barry.

There is no pattern to my activities, observed Marilyn. There is a pattern to the nightmares or night terrors,

Barry thought for a moment. What is the pattern? he asked.

Marilyn looked at Barry with the same expression she used to explain complicated concepts to her clients. The frequency changes on a regular basis. Every time the frequency changes, the nightmares start to occur twice as often. A few weeks ago they were occurring every eight sleep cycles. Now it’s every four sleep cycles. Soon they will change to every other sleep cycle.

Barry looked puzzled. Why do you call them sleep cycles instead of nights?

On two occasions, explained Marilyn, I stayed awake all night. The pattern did not change.

Don’t do that anymore, instructed Barry. You will cause more harm by not sleeping than is being caused by the night terrors.

Barry, exclaimed Marilyn, I’m afraid to sleep. She pause and the continued. Anyway, I then tried taking a couple of daytime naps. The pattern again did not change. The pattern is directly related to the number of times I sleep, not the number of days.

And the pattern will change again soon? And why do you say that? asked Barry with a bit of hesitation as if he already knew the answer.

Based on my analysis; I’ve done some projections, said Marilyn.

I hate you analysts with your mathematical projections, objected Barry. You know, not everything in life can be modeled mathematically.

Marilyn snapped. I think your mathematician wife would disagree. Even randomness can be modeled with great accuracy.

With all due respect to my mathematician wife who I adore without a pattern, it’s pseudo-science, laughed Barry.

Well, my nightmares are not pseudo-science, protested Marilyn. And soon, I will start to have them every time I sleep.

When do you anticipate your next episode? asked Barry.

If I don’t take any extra naps, replied Marilyn, in three nights.

Barry became very serious. I am going to prescribe you a sedative. Marilyn, it is addictive. I will only prescribe it for one week. There are no circumstances under which I will extend the prescription. You must take them exactly as I instruct you. Exactly. Do you understand?

Yes, sighed Marilyn.

Marilyn, Barry pressed, if you fail to follow my instructions and you take more than you should, you will die in your sleep. Do you understand?

Yes, sighed Marilyn again rolling her eyes.

Marilyn, your two little kids will be orphans. Do you understand? insisted Barry.

Marilyn was exasperated. Barry, you are scaring me.

Good. That was my intention, smiled Barry.

Well, you succeeded, retorted Marilyn.

In three nights, you will take the first dose, instructed Barry. You may continue to take them as long as you don’t have an episode. If you have an episode at any time before you have finished the prescription, you are not to take them anymore and come back to me immediately.

One question, Barry, said Marilyn mischievously.

What is it? asked Barry.

Marilyn was smiling. That night, the first night I take the sedative, we play racquetball. Should I take them before the game or after?

You're so cute, laughed Barry emphasizing the word, So. Just because you and Rick get lucky and win once in a while does not mean I need to drug you. By the way, do not take any other drugs, including aspirin. Do not drink any alcohol. Not one drop. Understood?

Yes, doctor. If I don’t have any nightmares while taking the pills, then what? asked Marilyn.

Then I know what to do next, replied Barry.

Which is? insisted Marilyn.

One step at a time, replied Barry. Please trust me.

And if I do have a nightmare? asked Marilyn.

You’re a pain in the ass, Barry answered somewhat annoyed. Same answer. Now go home and psyche yourself up to lose at racquetball next time we play and follow the loss with a full night’s sleep.

Got it. See you later. Marilyn paused. And, Barry.

What now? Barry sighed.

Please don’t tell Rick about the pills, Marilyn said shyly.

I prefer that he knows, replied Barry.

I prefer that he doesn’t, insisted Marilyn.

You’re the patient, replied Barry. But I strongly urge you to tell him.

Chapter 3

Wow, that’s what it feels like to get a good night’s sleep on a night you were expecting another nightmare. Marilyn could not remember the last time that happened. Now she felt alive; vibrant; even sexy.

She opened her eyes. Rick looked at her. I was wondering when you were going to get up.

Hey, said Marilyn somewhat surprised. You’re dressed for work already.

Yeah, replied Rick. It’s 7:30. I’m getting ready to leave. I guess last night’s game really did you in.

No, I just needed some sleep, Marilyn said shyly. Oh, my God; the kids. I need to get them ready.

They’re dressed and having breakfast. I’ll drop them off on the way out, replied Rick.

You’re a saint, smiled Marilyn. Any chance you want to love me before you go?

I always want to, smiled Rick. I don’t have time. I have a full calendar today. My first case is at 9:30 AM in front of ‘Judge Grouchy’.

Why don’t you let one of the juniors fill in for you? suggested Marilyn.

Sorry, honey, insisted Rick. Not today. I gotta go. I’ll call you later. Love ya.

Love ya too, Marilyn responded as she threw Rick a kiss.

Suddenly, Marilyn was alone with her thoughts. What did it mean that she slept through the night? Would Barry put her on pills forever? The thought frightened her. Barry would be on his way to the office. She called his cell phone.

Barry answered right away. Hey, sweetheart. How are you this morning?

I feel rested, replied Marilyn. I slept through the night.

I’m glad, said Barry. But don’t get excited. It was only one night.

I’m ready to celebrate, Marilyn exclaimed. Why don’t you guys come over for dinner tonight?

Lyn, it’s too early to celebrate, insisted Barry. But if you want to celebrate that we beat you last night, I accept.

I had many things on my mind, Marilyn retorted.

Sure you did, laughed Barry.

Does that mean you are coming? asked Marilyn.

You know I’m not allowed to make that decision, replied Rick. Ask Sand when you talk with her later.

I’m going to call her now, Marilyn insisted.

Okay, said Barry. Her first class today is at 9:15 AM.

I know, replied Marilyn. I’ll talk with you later.

She hung up and called Sandra.

Are you calling to make excuses about last night’s game? Sandra said upon pushing the green button on the cell phone.

No, professor, Marilyn laughed. I’m calling to invite you guys to dinner tonight.

God, kidded Sandra, we just saw you last night.

I know, said Marilyn. But thanks to your husband, I got a good night’s sleep. So I want to celebrate.

Today is Friday… Sandra thought out loud.

I know, replied Marilyn. Your last class finishes at 6:00. Don’t talk to anyone after class and come straight over.

Let me check Barry’s schedule, protested Sandra.

I just spoke with him, Marilyn informed Sandra. He said it was up to you.

How about 7:30? asked Sandra. I’ll get a sitter.

7:30, Marilyn confirmed. I’ll see you then.

Is it a wine or beer night? asked Sandra.

Whatever you feel like, replied Marilyn. Barry says I can’t have a single drop of alcohol.

It’s beer, then, concluded Sandra. I’ll pick some up.

That’s fine, said Marilyn. See you then.

Are you going to work? asked Sandra.

Yeah, replied Marilyn surprised at the question. I have a meeting at a client site at 10:00 AM, so I’m going straight there.

Not the touchy client? laughed Sandra.

Yeah, replied Marilyn. But Bill will also be there.

Do you tell Rick when your clients want to get into your pants? asked Sandra.

Do you tell Barry when your students want to get into yours? retorted Marilyn.

Yes, replied Sandra. That way he tells me when his patients want to get into his.

They both broke out in laughter.

Um, said Marilyn sheepishly, did he tell you about his new receptionist? I would even consider…

More laughter.

She’s the wife of a doctor down the hall from Barry, said Sandra.

You know, said Marilyn thoughtfully, Rick does not discuss his clients.

He does criminal law, interjected Sandra. Most of his clients are men.

Did you see that hot mommy he is defending? asked Marilyn. It’s been all over the news.

I don’t think you need to worry about a client accused of killing her husband, retorted Sandra. Besides, you’re gorgeous.

Look at Tiger Woods, insisted Marilyn. His wife is gorgeous.

Oh, interrupted Sandra, that reminds me; I want to talk with you guys about going on safari with us.

How do we wind up talking about safari? asked Marilyn.

Sandra responded, Tiger… Safari… Duh…

More laughter.

You’re hilarious, responded Marilyn. I have to go. I need to get ready for ‘Client Touchy’.

How do you dress when you go to see him? asked Sandra.

As provocatively as I can while still being professional, said Marilyn mischievously. I love it when men drool over what they can’t have.

More laughter.

You’re insane, laughed Sandra. I’ll see you later.

Love ya, said Marilyn.

Love ya. Replied Sandra.

Alone with her thoughts, Marilyn thought about how Sandra was the sister she never had. It was great that the guys had become like brothers. If they could only get the two sets of kids to get along, the world would be perfect. She called Rick’s cell phone. He answered right away.

Hey, honey, he said. Having wet dreams about me already?

No. I decided to watch a movie with George Clooney instead, replied Marilyn.

Hey, I can compete with him, insisted Rick.

In your dreams, laughed Marilyn. But you do have one thing over him, though.

Really? asked Rick. What is that?

Me, replied Marilyn. And I love being the wife of the criminal attorney that specializes in defending gorgeous women.

Hey, they come to me, said Rick defensively.

That’s what Tiger Woods said, laughed Marilyn.

That’s enough jealousy for the day, suggested Rick. Why are you calling me?

Sand and Bar are coming for dinner tonight, informed Marilyn.

Oh, that’s too bad, protested Rick. I was planning to fulfill your request from this morning.

They won’t be here until 7:30, replied Marilyn. If you get home early, I might just let you.

Are you going to work today? asked Rick.

Yes, replied Marilyn annoyingly. Why do you guys think I don’t do any work. I have a client meeting at 10:00 and a staff meeting at 2:00. I will be back by 4:30.

Wow, replied Rick. The life of a consultant.

Hey, I work hard, insisted Marilyn. Besides, I will be away three nights next week.

You will? asked Rick as if taken by surprise.

I have to teach a class in sunny Cincinnati; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and I have two client meetings as well, Marilyn informed him.

I better call my backup wife, Rick kidded.

You do that, replied Marilyn. I’m taking my backup husband with me.

Seriously, three nights? asked Rick.

Don’t worry, Marilyn replied. My mother will take care of you and the kids.

Not the way you do, laughed Rick.

You are so nasty, Marilyn replied. Hey, I have to jump in the shower. Call me later.

I will, replied Rick. Love ya.

Love ya, Marilyn said as she disconnected the conversation.

Chapter 4

Rebecca answered the phone right way. Dr. Davidson’s office. How may I help you?

Hi, Rebecca. This is Marilyn Olsen. Is Barry available?

Let me buzz him, replied Rebecca. I think he’s with a patient.

After a moment, Barry came on the phone. Hey, sweetheart. I’m with a patient. What’s up?

I have a question about the medication, replied Marilyn. Should I take it tonight?

Yes, please; instructed Barry, every night, unless the symptoms come back.

Will do. Thanks. See you later. Marilyn hung up and called Rick’s cell phone. She heard it ringing in the next room.

Rick, are you home? screamed Marilyn.

I’m here. I decided to come home for dessert before dinner. What medication were you asking about? he asked.

I did not want you to know, said Marilyn. Barry put me on some sedatives. He says they are addictive and he can only prescribe a seven day supply. He wants to see if they help prevent the nightmares.

Is that why you slept through the night last night? asked Rick.

Yup, nodded Marilyn.

Why did you not want to tell me? asked Rick.

Because, said Marilyn shyly, Barry says that the slightest overdose can kill me. He also says I am not allowed a single drop of alcohol or any other medication; not even aspirin.

But sex is okay? asked Rick with a mischievous look on his face.

Yes, sighed Marilyn. Sex is okay.

Good, said Rick sounding relived. In the meantime, I better call Patrick to update your will.

You’re being silly, smiled Marilyn.

And you are going away while you are on this medication? inquired Rick; making it sound more like a statement than a question.

Yup, replied Marilyn. I’m leaving Sunday night.

I’m not happy, Rick smirked.

Well, kidded Marilyn, if you lay in bed, I will make you happy.

You have such a dirty mind, smiled Rick. I love that. Where are the kids?

Mom, Marilyn informed him. She’s keeping them tonight.

Have I told you that I love your mother? asked Rick.

That’s good because she is part of this whole package, said Marilyn.

When are the kids coming home? asked Rick.

You’re picking them up in the morning, pleaded Marilyn.

Come on. I have a golf date in the morning, insisted Rick.

With Barry? retorted Marilyn. You sure you guys aren’t having an affair?

If I were going to cheat on you, it would not be with Barry, answered Rick. Smiling, he continued, Now, George Clooney, that’s a different story.

George Clooney wouldn’t even give you the time of day, snorted Marilyn.

Hey, don’t shatter a man’s fantasy, protested Rick.

They both broke out in laughter.

Rick continued. Honey, I am really concerned about these nightmares. What did Barry say?

The problem with going to Barry, explained Marilyn, is that instead of being my doctor, he thinks he is my big brother. He feels the need to protect me and doesn’t always tell me what he is thinking.

Hey, I had to pull some strings to get him to accept you as a patient, insisted Rick.

Sure you did, said Marilyn teasingly. And Sand told me she had to give him an extra night of sex, on racquetball night, no less.

Sure she did, laughed Rick. Seriously, though, isn’t it better if he does not speculate?

Honey, insisted Marilyn, I’m an analyst. What he doesn’t tell me, I figure out. It’s better if he tells me.

Did you challenge him on it? asked Rick.

Yup, replied Marilyn. He called me a pain in the ass and told me that we would take it one step at a time.

Well, comforted Rick, at least you know he has your best interests in mind and will take the best care of you. By the way, how was your half-day at work?

You’re so funny, snapped Marilyn. I worked hard today.

I know, smiled Rick. One meeting at 10:00 and one at 2:00. Really hard work.

Oh yeah? responded Marilyn. And what did you do today?

Me? asked Rick. I had two appearances in front of ‘Judge Grouchy’ and one in front of ‘Judge Overruled’.

Isn’t it contempt of court if you make fun of the judges? asked Marilyn.

Only if they catch you, explained Rick. Besides, if I take them seriously, I could never serve my clients properly.

Speaking of clients, how’s the ‘Black Widow’? asked Marilyn with a spark in her eye.

She’s innocent, honey, insisted Rick.

Yeah. And I’m a virgin, retorted Marilyn. But I suppose you have to believe in your work.

That’s why I’m thinking of asking for a change of venue; countered Rick, because of cynics like you.

Like I’m going to let you go to another city for weeks to defend a damsel in distress that any man would kill for, protested Marilyn.

Rick responded slowly. I have the most gorgeous, sexiest, hottest, and most wonderful wife in the world. There is no comparison. Besides, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be there to chaperone.

Yeah. But you’re a criminal attorney, answered Marilyn. Your motto is, ‘Don’t get caught.’

My motto is, insisted Rick, ‘the crime has to be worth the punishment.’ Believe me, there is nothing worth losing you over.

You’re such a charmer, smiled Marilyn. Take a shower and I’ll remind you why you feel that way.

Chapter 5

The cell phone startled Marilyn out of a sound sleep. She looked at the caller ID and answered right away. "Hey Mom. I’m sorry. I