The Dune of Bodies

A blood-red nightmare at the edge of reality

Sometimes the worst nightmare isn’t made of monsters or ghosts, but of the messages we bring from home, the smell of the sea, the memory of those who left, and the voices of those who never leave us alone. Gustav learned that on the shores of Lithá.

Gustav was desperate. And the more he lost himself, the more tormented his perception of space and time became. He was on a dune, on the sands of Lithá beach, but he saw bodies in the sand, buried up to the waist, waving their arms, calling to him — all of them headless… It was disturbing, it was horrifying. The sea was blood-red and terribly agitated.

Gustav dodged the bodies trying to touch him. His breathing could be heard from afar, much louder than usual… Now that Gustav had managed to leave the region of bodies in the sand, he saw dogs with human heads. One of them… had his father’s head.

Gustav fought not to look. He knew it made no sense… But the dog with his father’s head spoke:

— Gustav, there’s no use running. Your mother is watching you, you pathetic piece of shit…

Gustav felt crushed and started crying. He felt like a worm, and wandered the infernal beach searching for a way out of a reality that seemed to hide itself.

— Hey! — Gustav yelled, to no avail. He ran, and ran with what little energy he had left.

And what did he see? Bodies buried in the sand, waving their hands and calling him. He was back on the dune of bodies… He felt sick, he felt weak… Gustav fought for his sanity, which by then was hanging by a thread.

His knees buckled with each turn around the dune of bodies. The smell of the red sea was acidic, metallic, burning the back of his throat.

The headless arms kept waving, as if asking for help — or mocking him. Maybe they were old acquaintances, he thought — old failures, forgotten loves, wounds that never healed. He tried not to think, but the faces came anyway.

The dog with his father’s head circled the edge of the beach, its dead eyes shining under the rusty sky. The bark was a command, now mixed with other voices:

— Coward! You always come back here…

Gustav ran. He wanted to scream, but his voice died before being born. The sand clung to his ankles like cold hands, each step harder than the last.

Suddenly, the wind changed, bringing a child’s laughter — familiar, and yet impossible. He turned, bracing for the next horror.

But this time, there were no more bodies. No more dogs.

The beach was now an empty field, beneath an impossible sky, the color of lead.

Far off, a lonely door, made of old wood, stuck in the sand like a forgotten ossuary.

Not knowing where he found the strength, Gustav walked to it.

With every step, he felt his sanity slipping through his fingers, like salty water.

When he touched the door, he knew: either he went through, or he’d be trapped forever on the beach of the dead.

He closed his eyes, pushed — and on the other side, heard his mother whisper his name.

The beach disappeared. The wind turned cold.

And then, everything went dark.

Gustav walked through the darkness, trying to breathe, trying to oxygenate his brain…
When suddenly, he began to hear his mother:

— Son, don’t you love your mom? Never loved me? — The trembling voice, and Gustav heard her crying…

He felt sadness, collapsed to his knees in tears…

A terrifying, bizarre scream made Gustav swallow the tears and curl up.

— SON…
— Mommy is here… Can’t you see, you wretch? What’s wrong with you, really? You miserable piece of shit.

Gustav couldn’t see an inch in front of his face, but he ran… and running, the scene began to reveal itself. What Gustav saw was the street by the cemetery near his house…

He was running along Osório de Almeida Street, with the Colônia Cemetery to his left. Gustav tried not to look; at that moment, he just wanted to reach Antônio Dias Street and turn left. About 200 meters to go.

Gustav felt anxious, cold, hungry, lonely, his soul restless inside his body… But he walked… and now, along the cemetery walls, he heard cries, murmurs, voices calling his name… He tried to ignore them, hoping that when he reached his street, everything would calm down.

His name was desperately called for help — it felt as if all the dead from the cemetery were there, calling for him… just 50 meters more… Gustav could do it.

He reached Antônio Dias Street and walked up, hope swelling in his chest.

Everything seemed normal — he just had to turn left on Mariana Evangelista.

So he did… Gustav was feeling better, took a deep breath, looked at the street and everything was there, he walked up Mariana Evangelista smoothly, all the way to the gate of the Green Tower condo… His hope was that Getúlio would be at the reception, everything in place…

A pale presence with a guttural voice approached, saying:

— Welcome, Gustav Rock. Your presence is awaited in the Hall of the Dark Hole Sun. Please, after you climb this ramp, turn left. Jandira is waiting for you.

— Okay, what’s your name?

— Cerberô Valente. — The man smiled a wrong smile, bringing discomfort and chills to Gustav…

— Okay, I’m supposed to speak to Jandira. I’m on my way…

Gustav climbed the ramp, turned left, and what did he see?
The condo hall turning into the dune of bodies…

Gustav couldn’t breathe, and then cold, icy hands grabbed his legs…

He screamed… with all his lungs…

— Gustav, my love, what’s this?

Angélica touched his wet face…

— Breathe, my love, what was that, baby?

Gustav saw the angelic face of his beloved… His heart slowed down…

He took a deep breath and hugged her…

— It was just a nightmare, my love. I’m here. Calm down.