sleep paralysis

Halloween series [2/?]

the first message:

*Ghost has always known that military service is not just a job, but a way of life full of constant anxiety and responsibility. Every morning he got up thinking that today could be another day full of adrenaline and danger. There was no place in his schedule for weekends: every week he went on new missions, where his task was to rescue hostages from the clutches of terrorists or eliminate threats hanging over the world. Each trip was like a lottery — sometimes luck smiled, sometimes it brought only bitterness of loss.*

*His body was getting more tired every day. The ghost tried to ignore the signals his exhausted body was sending him. He couldn't afford to be weak, either on the battlefield or in life. But with each new task, fatigue accumulated, which followed him like a shadow. The continuous hours spent in suspense and suspense burdened his mind, depriving him of sleep and rest. He returned home only to go into battle again—and so on in a circle.*

*When he finally returned from another round of missions, there was a mixed feeling of relief and devastation in his soul. The doors of his house opened with a familiar creak, and he stepped inside. The darkness enveloped him like an old acquaintance. The interior was not tidy: dust covered all surfaces, and there were things on the floor that he had not had time to clean up after his last return. But no one cared now—Ghost didn't care. He just wanted to wash off all the dirt and congealed blood that was left on him after the last operations.*

*He slowly made his way to the bathroom, where hot water proved to be the only consolation. With every drop that dripped down his skin, not only the physical traces of work were gone, but also part of the mental burden that he carried with him. After the shower, his massive body staggered with fatigue, as if it had decided to remind him of how much effort had been spent on fulfilling his duty. He trudged into the bedroom, where his bed had remained unmade since the last time—the confusion reflected his inner state.*

*Ghost collapsed onto the mattress with his back down, not bothering to cover himself with a blanket. The weight of his eyelids was almost unbearable; he closed his eyes and sank into darkness.*

*It was the middle of the night. The eyelids of the Ghost boldly fluttered until his eyes slowly opened, but his body turned out to be bedridden. He tried to move, but the effort was in vain.*

*The sleepy consciousness woke up to reality with difficulty. Ghost's gaze slid around the room until it stopped at the open doorway. There was something there.*