Panic rippled through the bustling concourse as shards of glass exploded and an airplane crashed through the terminal window with a thunderous roar. The sheer force sent a few unfortunate souls sprawling, their bodies crushed beneath the weight of the behemoth as it screeched to an abrupt halt.

Though not the largest aircraft by any means, its imposing metal structure dwarfed the interior of the building. The flickering lights overhead cast an eerie glint on its surface, and as the plane trembled to a halt, injured onlookers stared up in awe and disbelief.

What in the world just happened? A plane had careened into the airport. I knew it was my flight. If I would not board and fly away into a tranquil slumber, it seemed this nightmare was determined to drag me along by force.

The flickering lights above continued their chaotic dance, casting an unsettling glow. My heart pounded within my chest as the injured coughs and whimpers filled the deafening silence. People cried out, maneuvering through broken glass to clear a path away from the halted plane.

This was madness.

"David," she called out, her gaze briefly meeting mine. "They're pulling no punches this time. I believe they know this is our last encounter." She took a deep breath and clutched a chain around her neck.

Images flashed in my mind, a necklace adorned with a shiny key pendant. Nostalgia swirled within me, though its concrete certainty eluded me. Another void, another memory lost, just as she had forewarned?

The fluorescent lights shattered, accompanied by a piercing hiss emanating from the opening airplane door. A bright yellow emergency slide deployed, cascading down to the ground. Airport security guards surrounded the entrance, bracing themselves for whatever horrors might emerge. Hands twitched near holsters, while others urgently communicated through their walkies-talkies. What were they witnessing?

The slide was a one-way escape route, reserved for emergency landings or over-water scenarios. Yet, against all logic, one of the brave guards attempted to ascend it, his voice steady. "Is everyone okay? Any injuries?"

Darkness oozed forth, wisps of shadowy smoke seeping out. An eerie otherworldly cry echoed back, sending chills down our spines..

The guard swiftly descended, drawing his gun. There was no way in hell he was going to venture inside.

I couldn't blame him. I wouldn't either, no matter the sum they paid me.

Chills coursed through my arms as I instinctively backed away. Nothing good could come from that darkness. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run, primal instincts alerting me to the imminent danger.

The flickering lights above continued their erratic dance, casting an unsettling glow. Glass shattered in fragments, adding to the chaos that consumed the scene. Amidst this symphony of madness, insanity, and rage, a piercing guttural cry erupted from within the cabin, sending shivers down our spines. One security guard aimed his flashlight upward, but the shadows only deepened, as if the darkness was absorbing the feeble light.

The mist thickened and twisted like malevolent tendrils, and within its core lived a darkness blacker than black. It defied all attempts to discern its contours, consuming everything in its path.

Gunshots rang out, but the bullets passed through the creatures, tearing through the air around them like ethereal phantasms. Yet they were corporeal enough to slash through the guard's clothing.

He screamed.

I had never witnessed death before, even in dreams. It possessed a captivating power, pulling one's attention as life slipped away, like moths drawn inexorably to a flame, no matter how disturbing.

And just like that, the man dissipated, leaving behind no trace of blood, only a lingering mist from his dissipating body. As the mist swirled and twisted, it underwent a transformation, gradually morphing into the same dark creatures that had claimed his life.

"What the hell was that...?" I muttered, my voice laced with disbelief.

"These are the Erasers. You know that feeling when you wake from a feverish sweat, unable to recall your dreams? They're even more dangerous. These creatures have the power to erase your memories as well." She explained, her voice tinged with both regret and caution.

The creature hissed, joining the transformed police officers. More hisses echoed from within the cabin as additional shadows darted out. Most of the officers fanned out, cautiously firing shots into the abyss. It was better than doing nothing, but the creatures remained unfazed, screeching in defiance. There were eight of them. If they turned all their dreamers into one of their kind... Within minutes, the airport would swarm with them.

She shook her head, her hand outstretched. "We don't have time. Give me your phone."

Why would she need my phone? Were we going to call Ghostbusters or phone a friend? What could anyone do against these monstrosities? Despite my confusion, I complied, handing her my phone.

She swiftly manipulated the device, and a brilliant light radiated from her palm, morphing the phone into a shotgun. Yes, you heard that right. My eyes weren't deceiving me. It was a legitimate transformation. Even for a dream, the fluidity of the change was difficult to comprehend.

"Take this. It will shoot pellets of light like a shotgun. You must protect yourself at all costs," she instructed, her eyes focused on the unfolding chaos.

The remaining security guards fired more shots as the creatures advanced, infiltrating the fleeing crowd. Chaos erupted, with people scattering in all directions, everyone for themselves. A man stumbled over luggage, crashing to the ground, a tantalizing prey for the shadows to feast upon.

"David, this may be our last chance," she uttered, her voice cutting through the tumult.

Amidst the shouts and screams, her words weighed heavily on my ears.

"I don't know if I have any more dreams or memories to awaken you, David, or if you would remember me even if I tried again," she murmured to herself. "Perhaps it would have been best to let you fly away."

"Don't worry. "I've always enjoyed a tough challenge," I interrupted, trying to sound confident even though my heart was racing. But it felt right to say it. This dream, this moment, was worth the effort to try.

A smile graced her lips, a mix of relief and determination.

Yet fate seemed equally amused by our sudden resolve.

Mist engulfed the plane as the creatures screeched and scattered away from the thunderous roar of the engine. With mechanical clanks and moans, the door sealed shut while the wings folded and transformed. The metallic underbelly contorted, windows in the cockpit shrunk and darkened into eyes, while the nose sharpened into a snout with menacing jaws. The entire beast morphed into a gleaming metallic dragon.

It grinned, revealing its razor-sharp teeth, and roared.

"David!"

What the hell? What the hell!

"David!"

My hands trembled around the shotgun. I had wanted a challenge, but this... this was too much. I had ventured into dungeons in video games where I didn't belong, under-prepared, and facing the ultimate boss. But this was a whole new level. I was a level 1 noob barging into a battle armed with nothing more than an airsoft gun.

"David," Nan said once more, snapping me out of my daze.

There was a serenity in her eyes, a wavering hand revealing her own fear. She tried to be strong for me as she locked her gaze with mine. "David, I don't know if we'll make it out of this... There's so much I want to say to you..."

Her words trailed off as gunshots reverberated, drowning out her voice. The remaining officers fired desperately at the colossal machine, their bullets bouncing off harmlessly. The dragon retaliated with a swift swipe of its claws, obliterating one officer into the mist.

Damn. One swipe, instant death.

"David, if you survive this, tell Mark: Memory Reset."

"Mark? Mark Louis?" I hadn't heard that name in years, not since high school when we went our separate ways. So why him, after all this time?

Nan simply nodded. "Sorry, time is of the essence," she said, reaching behind the counter to retrieve her own phone. "Don't let the darkness consume you." Her fingers danced across the screen, opening an app that transformed her phone into a rifle.

The concept of such an app wasn't entirely ludicrous, and even after witnessing its transformation once, I still stared in disbelief.

"I'll defend you as long as I can. Don't let the darkness take hold of you. Wake up naturally," she urged, her voice resolute. She embraced me tightly, her warmth engulfing me as I reciprocated the embrace.

Amidst the chaos raging behind us, we stood locked in each other's arms. Minutes, hours, days could have passed within those fleeting seconds before she pulled away, meeting my gaze once more. "Thank you. Thank you for believing in me."

Emotions surged within me, a mix of love and uncertainty. Despite the surrounding chaos, my focus remained on Nan, on the connection we shared. There was so much I wanted to say, but time was slipping away. My heart ached, love displaced. I wanted more, but it was a strange desiring a kiss from someone I barely knew. Even as her lips quivered and her eyes flickered towards mine, if this truly was our final meeting, a kiss seemed the least expected. I'm sure she yearned for it, missed it if our connection was as close as she claimed. But out of respect or hesitation, she refrained.

I exhaled a heavy breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Truthfully, if she had kissed me, I'm not sure how I would have responded. My legs still trembled from our embrace alone; any more and I would have crumbled into a helpless heap on the floor.

"I know this is overwhelming, David, but you have to do this. You must survive," she implored, her eyes locked onto mine.

I paused, my eyes fixed on the daunting adversaries before us. Eight ominous figures and a colossal metamorphosed aircraft stood as the remnants of our opposition. No lie, when I abandoned boarding the plane to reunite with her, I had hoped the possibility of a blossoming romance. Never did I envision the descent into a nightmarish abyss. But now, I realized that I could have been among those creatures, or even worse. I refused to let that happen. My heart unequivocally acknowledged her significance in my life, even if there were voids left in my thoughts. I wouldn't relinquish this dream.

"Okay," I declared, summoning a smile despite the overwhelming odds. "I'll survive for as long as I can."

"Excellent," Nan grinned. "That's the David I know! Now go!" And with that, she lunged forward, firing at the creatures with her rifle, leaving me alone amidst the maelstrom of madness.