The pathway is twisted and gnarled, the road contorted and bumpy, you need to watch your footing across the path. Moss enshrouds the way and end of the path is distorted, cloaked, you can't even see the outline of the building that's there.

You put your foot onto the pathway, but your ankle instantly twists and flops down, unable to move forward so you stumble backwards instead. The path is leading you, your feet following the steps rather than leading the way. You close your eyes and follow: this will be OK, follow the steps, follow the steps.

Your arms are thrown up onto the air and your neck follows. Strings pull each of your fingertips high into the sky, following a dark tower, up into the treetops. You stop and look again. The tower is moving and swaying, laughter trickles down to you. Look higher. Her eyes see you now, but they are giant, huge orbs looking down at you. The once beautiful mouth contorted into a careless smirk. The giant pulls the string until half of you is stretched into the air and the other half is trapped on the ground, anchored to the earth. You glance down to see your foot is cemented. You are trapped between two paths. The tower laughs violently so it shakes and you reverberate from the force.

"I'll be torn to pieces," you say to no one in particular.

You should be frightened, you should cower, scream, beg for mercy from the huge creature. But you don't.

"Rip me then! Pull the strings!"

You suddenly scream at the heavens, your heart racing and a smile stretching across your face. The giant freezes, the laughter stops.

"Go on then!" You bellow again.

The strings are lowered and the cement cracks beneath your feet. Slowly, you lift your foot, freedom, you should scream as you run from the foreboding tower. But you don't.

The tower turns and walks away and as its shadow falls you are covered in darkness.

"No!" You wail, "don't leave me!"

You run after the tower, but it's futile, your legs are too small.

"Wait!" You call as you hold up the puppet strings, "take me with you."

The tower is gone. You are alone.

Gasping for breath, my eyes shot open and my neck's covered in a film of sweat. The nightmare is over, I thought to myself as I looked around the room, alone. But it feels very much still alive.