As He Dreams

His dreams are filled with shadows
of what he always wanted to be  
of what he used to be
with the painful revelation of truth
 
Half of his being ripped away in an instant  
his better half he thinks now  
the one that could take him places  
run, walk, climb, even stand  
 
All of it taken away by a car accident
his small frame crippled on impact  
snapped his spine
and left him without the use of his legs
 
A boy his age should be able to play
He thinks sullenly as he watches
the world around him unfolding
Yet he is left behind unnoticed  
 
Only his dreams comfort him now  
allowing him to run through the forest
cold sunlight dappling the damp moss  
his breath coming in rapid bursts of mist  
 
But his dreams have seemed to change
he see's things that frighten him
things bathed in crimson and tragedy  
screaming as he comes to wake  
 
Yet he is eager to fall back within it
Because for once he feels a purpose
within this dream there is a key
to some truth he's desperate to find
 
And as he dreams he starts to maim  
and the people around him begin to bleed
The ones to try to hold him back
his mother, his caretaker, his brother
 
They were all found slaughtered
their bodies mutilated near beyond recognition  
an act carried out without finesse  
a child-like display of death  
 
And all the while he sleeps
innocent to this massacre so it would seem
"How did he sleep through this murder,
Surely there must have been screams?"
 
Yet they don't know what he has become
for when he dreams he rises to walk
despite his paralyses  
Carrying out the events in his mind
 
A purpose whispered into his ear
that he doesn't quite understand
though filled with promises of mended flesh
All he has to do is obey  
 
The people in his foster home are next  
Two parents and six kids dead overnight  
a feeble attempt to drag heavy flesh
forms a crude ritualistic display  
 
When they get there he is already gone
"The old killer must have come back."
the authorities think as they begin the search
all signs leading to his kidnap
 
Though he is beyond their reach now
Trapped within his dream
a tool to be used with murderous intention  
Every night painting the city red