"Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moor...

We’ve been away for a few days in the wilds of Dartmoor, an area thick with inspiring scenery and mythology.  Our home away from home was an manor house turned hotel, complete with roaring fires, wood panelling, a cosy library – and possibly a ghost or two.
I’m not sure if it was the hotel or location which stirred my mind but on our first night I had what I can only describe as a disturbing dream, a nightmare in fact.

I was trying to get to sleep in my hotel room (honestly, I was dreaming) and that I heard from outside the howls of wolves and the shouts of a man, begging for help, crying that they were going to eat him. They stopped abruptly, before I could even move.
Then a dark figure opened the window and climbed inside. I was paralysed as it crept up to the bed and grasped my hand.
‘They’re going to eat me,’ it whispered, and placed my fingers in it’s mouth so I could feel it’s sharpened teeth…

At which point I woke up, leapt out of bed and switched on the lights. No nasty beasties, just a rather bleary eyed looking boyfriend.
I was a bit shaken (damn my imagination) but after I’d recovered I immediately began to wonder- how can I make a story out of that?

We’ve all had dreams, but have you ever been inspired by a nightmare?

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