Delirium

Wake up. Listen to the machine beeps. Pass out. Dream. Wake up. Hallucinate. Machine beeps. Paranoia. Sleep.

Moments of awareness occurred more often, but it came with hallucinations. Confusion set in. Some people visited and talked, but their incoherent voices jumbled into inhuman shrieks.

Eventually, he didn't know whether or not he was awake.

The next nightmare was the worst so far. Hyeon returned to the same fiery pit after being stung by the centipede demon. In an instant, his skin and bones incinerated into grey dust. He couldn't cry, but Hyeon's soul screamed with despair.

The scene flickered into consciousness. He was back in the clinic room, but why was his body so hot?! Boiling water scorched his veins.

*Is this still a nightmare? There's no way! That Hell must be following me!*

The vital signs monitor's beeps doubled from his speeding heart rate.

*I need to escape! I'm still burning!*

Hyeon's eyes shot open. The room overwhelmed him in a sensory overload. He mistook the blinding lights for fire.

When he tried to inhale, his airways were blocked. The thing that prevented him from breathing was patched across his face and down his throat. Hyeon arched his back and clawed roughly at his neck. His arms were weak and floppy, so it was difficult to move them.

Scratching his way up to his face, he ripped off something sticky from his cheeks.

Hyeon was frantic.

They were coming for him. They wanted him dead. If that happened, he'd suffer in that place forever. Not again.

*Hurry before they get you!* he shouted at himself.

He tugged on the plastic sticking out of his mouth. The motion made him choke. Only a few inches came out since it was deep inside.

Yanking it, his chest clenched in response. It was agonizing while trying to expel the foreign object.

When the tube's ending finally exited his body, Hyeon coughed and gasped. Stomach bile elevated up and down from his stomach. The fresh air was frigid against his sore throat and lungs. Spit dribbled down his face. It coated the hospital gown collar.

*Run, run, run!*

Drooping to the side of the bed, he tried to flee. As soon he attempted to stand, his frail legs collapsed. The circle stickers reading his vitals wrenched off his chest, causing the pounding beeps to go stagnant on the screen. Red welts spotted his skin.

A drip needle was inserted into the back of Hyeon's hand. In the midst of falling, it ripped out. Because it was connected to his vein, the sharp needle tore a long gash across his wrist. Blood spewed out. His gown and the floor resembled a murder mystery documentary.

Not noticing the trail of bright red blood, Hyeon dragged himself to the opened door.