The mass of tubes shakes as the beast outside it
draws closer to you. You remain still,
hoping it doesn't notice you; you've seen what happens
to those in other tubes when they try to get away.

___________________________________________________

It seems silly, but it was a common theme in my childhood dreams. The Rex, not the tubes. Anything big enough to swallow me whole, really.

Crawling, crawling, crawling. An endless series of tubes; colorful, like the kind you make hamster mazes out of. Outside is a cubic room; blisteringly white, or pitch black, depending on whether the lights are on or not. There are no windows, doors, or openings of any sort.

People crawl through the tunnels, hoping to find some exit, some boon, some hint at a world outside. Thump, thump, thump. A wave of panic. People crawl faster. Thump, thump, thump. Rex. People shove into each other, trying to get past, only managing to gum up the tubes. The behemoth makes easy work of them.

I hold still and try to go unnoticed as it runs past, but its eye meets mine.