There is a child standing in front of you.
At least, you think it's a child; they look small and still have a little bit of baby fat, making their face appear rounder than an adult's, but something about the way they hold themself makes them look very un-childlike. They have this strange, scrunched-up expression on their face, like they can't decide whether to laugh or cry. They're holding a knife, but it's hanging slack at their side.
Everything feels… hazy. Uncomfortable. You feel something crawling up your back. You can't bring yourself to turn around and look.
After an indescribable amount of time, the child speaks.
"I found you."
Their face twists in a way that should have been impossible. They smile big, like a cheshire cat.
"You shouldn't have forgotten about us. Now we can get rid of you for good."
The thing on your back scuttles up to your shoulders, settling down on your neck. It's heavy.
"It's a shame, really. You could've been a great partner."
The child's face shifts again, like play-dough. They look morose, and almost… pained?
"You have to fix it."
Something wraps around your neck, choking you. You want to pry it away, but you can't bring yourself to touch it with your hands. If you touch it, that would make it real. Maybe if you keep ignoring it, it'll just go away…
You wake up.