When I first saw the prompt “Nightmares,” I was thinking that I might not have anything to write. I really don’t tend to have nightmares, or at least don’t remember them if I do.

The most recurring nightmare that I had as a kid was of lava chasing me down the street. It was always fast and it always came after me no matter how many times I turned. I have no idea where it came from. We lived in Colorado, far from volcanic mountains and I don’t remember seeing anything volcanic until long after the dreams had stopped.

That said–I blame my older brother. Eleven years older and he loved to try to scare me. Spooky shows were my nemesis as a kid and he’d make sure to put them on when I was in the room. So obviously it’s his fault.

There are still things that creep me out. My biggest is talking dolls. Nope. Not happening. I don’t watch Chuckie or anything similar to that. I think that’s also probably why clowns aren’t a favorite. The make up and such probably feeds into that.

But, I don’t tend to dream about them. Those things get stuck in my imagination and I can’t sleep because I see them when I close my eyes. One of the worst was an episode of X-Files with a talking doll that I, of course, watched alone one night when Snake was out of town. I spent most of the night wide awake because that doll was creepy as fuck.

In general, though, my dreams tend to wind around things that I have read, seen, talked about, heard about and come out with the most random and convoluted scenarios. People who have no connection to each other end up different ages and in the weirdest spots.

I just finished the final book in a pretty obscure series about the Cemetery of Forgotten by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. And, honestly, I loved the series. It took place in Barcelona during the 20th century and centered around this family and their connection to the hidden place full of all of the books which have been forgotten or become homeless. There was a caretaker and people would come to rescue a book and take care of it. But, the place was a giant labyrinth and that’s where it is connected to my post–yes, there is a connection, no matter how tenuous.

The past few weeks, and previously when I read the other books in the series, I have been putting labyrinths in my dreams. They could be here, they could be just about anywhere else and I never know who I will meet. Snake, of course, has been in some, but there have been TV characters, movie characters, online people and so many others.

And, when I do remember them, believe me, the storyline is always so long and convoluted that Snake just laughs. And laughs. And looks at the time to see how long I’ve been describing it and laughs some more.

How did I figure out what to write about the prompt. Again, in true Charmer fashion, it was from music. My post from a couple of days ago was about Rent and Mamma Mia. And the song that inspired this is from Mamma Mia because there is a dream sequence in the show where Sophie is in a bed and it is going all over the stage.

Under attack, I’m being taken
About to crack, defences breaking
Won’t somebody please have a heart
Come and rescue me now cos I’m falling apart
Under attack, I’m taking cover

ABBA

And this is precisely how I feel when all of my day thoughts have to converge into one big knot that I have to pull one string at a time in order to unravel. They are rarely bad, but so so so complicated.