New York Zombies

Date: 12/26/2023

I was in New York for some reason. The city was just as busy as you see in the movies. I was there with my boyfriend ( a dream bf, not Al ) & some ( dream ) friends. We were walking along a packed sidewalk lined with storefronts, as we squeezed between a dark green bench squared off in glass lined with posters and ads ( a public bus stop ) and a crowd of other people, some walking in the opposite direction of us while others were just standing in a large circular group talking & laughing loudly together. It was as we were squeezing past this spot, shoulders rubbing against the shoulders of strangers as we all tried to get through one another, that we started to hear people screaming, distant enough to not be able to see the screamers, but close enough to still hear them above NY's daily hustle & bustle. People then started running. It was as though a herd were coming towards us. We heard the fast paced rushing of many feet hitting the ground at once - the clickety clack of high heels and the boom boom boom of sneakers & boots - and felt the city's pavement begin to vibrate beneath the stampede of their hectic stomping. With the street on our right and the building of store fronts on our left, we were being inadvertently pushed towards the building. We considered this lucky ( though considered the glass doors and large glass windows unlucky, as surely they wdnt be able to protect us from whatever was coming ) and made our way into the closest store. Holding hands tightly with my boyfriend Jace, and our friends all holding on to shirts or bags or arms or whatever they cd grab so we wdnt be separated, we noticed we were in a shoe store. Rows and rows of shelved shoes lined the floor. We didnt know what store was to the right of us, but the ball caps all neatly displayed upon that right-side wall quickly came falling to the floor. Whatever caused the stampede of fearful people must have made its way into the store just on the other side of that wall of now cascading caps. This was bad. This was very bad. Quickly, people began grabbing whatever they cd find to try to barricade the windows and door. Before they were completely successful, however, something had made its way in. Another person. He looked like all of us at first. Just a short, dark haired, New Yorker, probably in his early 20's. Nothing out of the norm. No glowing red eyes, no body parts rotting off, no drooling or bite marks or anything to visually take note of. Nothing to warn us to be wary of him, to put our guard up, to not allow him in. He walked through the store we were in the processing of attempting to make our haven, and acting as though he were short on breath from running from whatever unknown enemy we were now all in fear of, he walked straight to the back, straight to where Jace was standing. Suddenly no longer out of breath, this unknown man's eye got an evil look to them as they went from a counterfeit "wide with fear", to a slight squint with a glint in them. He smirked, and like a predator focused on his prey, it was as though he cd see no one but Jace. Jace, tall & slim with a nice build, light blonde wavy hair now slick with sweat from both fear of the unknown as well as being packed into a small store with a bunch of strangers, turned and took notice of the man with the smirk. Unfortunately, as he took notice of him, the man took out a knife hidden beneath his tan trench coat, and began stabbing Jace. Still holding my hand, he fell to the floor. Without, there were people lined against the windows, staring blankly within at us, hands pressed against the glass. They were beginning to moan, zombie-like. In a state of disbelief and shock, wide-eyed I'm looking around me. Half of the people are looking at the windows, wondering if the people against them are going to start getting violent and breaking the glass to make their way in; while the other half is just staring at Jace, bleeding out on the ground, the smirking man standing over him gleefully, his purpose accomplished. Unable to move, unable to even scream at the scene before me, all I could do was think to myself. "Why is no one doing anything? Why aren't the men attacking this guy? They cd jump on his back from behind, get him in a choke hold, bash him upside his head with something, break his neck, anything at all! There are so many options... but not one of them is doing a single thing. Are they all unable to move like me? Are all of our men cowards?! There's no sense of urgency here. As though each person, myself included, is looking at the person next to them, hoping that they will have the answers, hoping that they will take the lead...". As I'm looking around, nothing but a loud buzzing in my ears as I'm thinking these thoughts, I don't even notice Jace anymore. I don't notice him bleeding out on the ground. I don't notice his eyes open back up. I don't notice him start to stand. I don't notice him until he began laughing as he first tightens his grip on my hand, then let's go of it entirely as he grabs the knife from the man who had stabbed him, and with a smirk of his own now plastered upon his once innocent face, begins stabbing another man standing closest to him. A slightly chubby middle aged Mexican man. He's laughing maniacally as the man falls to the ground, and then just like Jace had done, stood back up and replaced his look of fear & cowardice with a smirk. Jace looks at me and asks if I want to be next. This is when people finally start moving. Frantically, people are running abt the store, trying to get away from these three dead men walking. I don't know who, friend or stranger, but someone grabs me and makes me run. While the three "dead men" remain in the back, I'm pushed all the way to the left side of the store. Whomever had grabbed me, now pushed me up onto one of the shelves of shoes. As I get to the top and stand, however, someone else, a thin, professionally dressed, caramel-color skinned black man, pushed the shelf over. He tells me to jump to the next one. I do as I'm told. He keeps pushing shelves over. He's trying to create a chaotic pile of shoes and thrown-over shelves that we can run on top when needed, with just one shelf in the middle remaining standing that cant be toppled over. I don't quite understand why he's doing this, but I'm hoping he has a plan. If these three men, Jace included, eventually become like the drooling, blank staring zombies outside, then pushing these shelves over might work. They seem too stupid and uncoordinated to even climb on top of this mess. Maybe this man is banking on the men deteriorating to the point of the others. But what if they don't? What if Jace and the other two are different somehow. Maybe different blood types determine what sort of zombie you'll become. Maybe that's why the first guy walked straight back to Jace; maybe he cd smell the difference in him, be it his blood type or be it something else. As the 3 men make their way around the room, instilling fear into everyone and making sure they now have control, I quietly climb down from my spot. I make my way over to one of my friends I see cowering against a wall, cheeks soaked in tears. I make my way to her and try to comfort her. She tells me she's scared and hungry. Tearfully she asks me to help her, telling me that I'm the dynamic, determined one who's always helping others, and now is the time they need it the most. I smile, thanking her for putting such trust in me. I don't know if I can fulfill her wishes, but I do know that if I don't succeed, I will at least die trying. I now have a purpose. A purpose beyond myself. My friends, and possibly some of these strangers surrounding me, strangers I am quickly bonding with due to the traumatic situation we have all found ourselves in, I will do whatever I can to get us, or at least them, out of here. Thank God for the blessing of purpose. The End

AI generated interpretation Your dream of "New York Zombies" is a complex and vivid one, filled with intense emotions and symbolic imagery. Dreams of zombies are often associated with feelings of being overwhelmed, fear, and helplessness in the face of unknown threats or challenges in waking life. In your dream, the chaotic and frenzied environment of New York City serves as a backdrop for these feelings to manifest. The sudden appearance of the screaming and running crowds represents a sense of impending danger or chaos in your life. The crowded sidewalk and the feeling of being pushed towards the building symbolize the feeling of being trapped or overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control. The emergence of the mysterious man who turns violent towards your boyfriend Jace could represent a perceived threat in your waking life, whether it be a real person or a symbolic representation of inner fears or doubts. The transformation of Jace and the other men into violent, zombie-like figures may symbolize a sense of betrayal or loss of trust in someone close to you. This could be a reflection of past experiences or fears of being hurt or deceived by others. Your feelings of shock and helplessness in the face of the violence may indicate a fear of being unable to protect yourself or those you care about in challenging situations. The actions of the black man in the dream to create a makeshift escape route using shelves and shoes could represent a sense of resourcefulness and resilience in the face of adversity. This could symbolize your inner strength and ability to adapt to difficult circumstances, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. The final scene of you comforting your friend and taking on the role of a protector and leader suggests a sense of empowerment and purpose emerging from the chaos and fear of the dream. This could indicate a desire to take control of your life and guide those around you through difficult times, showing compassion and strength in the face of adversity. Overall, your dream of "New York Zombies" seems to reflect deep-seated fears, feelings of vulnerability, and a desire for strength and purpose in the face of challenges. It may be helpful to reflect on the emotions and themes of the dream to gain insights into your own fears, desires, and abilities to navigate difficult situations in waking life.