asleep beneath the earth

The white noise swelling within his head,

his chest begins to shake

the pressure builds until it's all he can do to scream

in ecstasy, in terror

the voice, he can feel it, guttural and demon-like

suddenly, his own hand grips his throat

and though he cannot speak, he longs to hear the words his lips will fight to say

this will not his own, he struggles to give it a name

a tremble in his chest, a long exhale and all is gone

silence

he knew it was here

he knew it had finally found him