Beowulf was breathing heavily and his mind was filled with panic.  He was fighting with everything he had to keep his head above the surface of the water, but he knew he was going to drown.

He tried to kick his legs harder, but a weight around his left ankle was making any effort difficult and out of rhythm.  He wanted to reach down and free his leg from what ever was pulling him to the depths, but Beowulf knew that would require him to stop treading water and in the brief second, he would meet his doom.  So he kicked harder with his right leg, trying to stay afloat for just a little longer.

Beowulf’s arms burned from the exertion of treading water.  He had no idea how long he had been there, but he knew he couldn’t last much longer.  The weight was feeling heavier and heavier and he was now having to lean his head back and stretch his neck in an attempt to just keep his mouth and nose above the water.

The water tasted of salt, so he knew he was in the ocean, but he had no idea how he had arrived here.  With wild, terror filled eyes, he glanced around once again and could see nothing except open water in every direction.  No lights in the distance, the only light came from a full moon.

He coughed as salt water made it’s way into his mouth and was pulled into his lungs with his heavy breathing.  The panic rose to epic levels and his mind raced.  As more water began to make it’s way into his mouth, he knew his death was near.  He focused his mind on the one and only thing that he cared about.  The one person that meant the world to him.  And just as he was about to slip below the surface, he screamed out her name “VICKY”.

Beowulf jumped out of bed, covered in sweat and breathing heavily.  Eyes darting back and forth, looking for the danger that had woke him, and tried to calm himself.  As his mind began to clear, he remembered the dream.  The stress of dealing with the family issues was getting to him.  Then he remembered his scream.  And the words came to him subconsciously once again. “Vicky”

Sitting down on the side of the bed, he rubbed his eyes and then worked to control his breathing and his rapidly beating heart.  Once he felt the calm return, Beowulf laid back down. Lying there for several minutes, afraid to close his eyes and allow the dream to return, he finally began to feel a drowsiness come over his mind.  Just before closing his eyes and submitting his mind to the dreamworld, he whispered “Vicky” once again, knowing she would be his guardian angel while he slept.