The Out-of-This-World Pillow

By J. D. Rempel

Trey stared blankly at the flat screen. Another night of insomnia. Over the last few months, he’d tried everything: a new bed, diet, exercise, soothing music, noise cancelling headphones, sleeping in different positions. He’d even tried sleep therapy. Nothing worked. He dragged himself through the day like one of the walking dead, and he was inches away from losing his job.

Dejected, he slouched in his black leather recliner and rubbed his tired, bloodshot eyes. What he wouldn’t give for a decent night’s sleep.

An infomercial flickered on. Glowing words trailed across the screen, and a dramatic voice blared from the speakers.

“Do you struggle night after night falling asleep?”

“Yeah, why do you think I’m up at this time of night, genius?” Now he was talking to a TV. He was definitely losing it.

“Are you exhausted when you begin your day?”

“Of course I am.” He scratched his stubbled chin.

“Have you tried everything, but nothing seems to work?”

“Bingo! Give this guy a prize.” Sarcasm was his last brave attempt at not falling apart.

“If you responded yes to any of these questions, then we have the answer. The Out-of-This-World Pillow! Get the best night’s sleep of your life.”

A parade of satisfied customers, including a few celebrities, praised the Out-of-This-World Pillow.

The spokesperson continued. “But wait, there’s more! Call the number on the screen in the next thirty minutes and get a second pillow absolutely free with same day delivery. If you’re not completely satisfied with the Out-of-This-World Pillow, return it for a full refund and keep the second one for free.”

Trey shrugged and called the number. What did he have to lose?

When Trey returned from his office, two pearlescent cylinders with the words “Out-of-This-World Pillow” leaned against his front door. They shimmered in the afternoon sunlight. He picked them up and headed straight for his bedroom.

His phone dinged. Cole wanted to know about tomorrow night’s basketball game.

Nap first, Cole later.

Opening the lid of one of the tubes, Trey wrestled out the tightly stuffed pillow. As it began to expand, he fluffed it out. He threw the pillow onto his bed, kicked off his shoes, and launched himself onto his mattress. He wrapped his arms around the pillow. His whole body relaxed as he drifted into blissful sleep.

“Komplifit nedall.” The voice spoke loudly in his ear.

Trey opened his eyes. What was that? He laughed. A dream. Finally! He sighed as the comfort of the pillow lured him back to dreamland.

When he awoke again, the sun was still shining. He glanced at his alarm clock. 11:18. How could it be light so late? Wait. A.M.? He sat up. No way! He’d slept through the night? This pillow really worked!

He stretched. His body felt so refreshed. Energy pulsed through his veins. How could he feel so good after only one night?

Fueled by his newfound vigor, he cleaned his entire apartment and made a huge breakfast, since he’d missed dinner the night before. Then he went on a seven-mile run. Later that evening, when Cole picked him up, Trey fidgeted in the passenger seat.

Cole merged into the fast lane. “What’s with you, man? You ignored my message yesterday. It’s not like you.”

Trey sighed deeply and ran his hand through his overgrown brown hair. “I haven’t been me in a long time. It’s the sleep deprivation. But everything’s different now. I went from being a zombie to being myself again. Actually, better than myself. I have so much energy! I feel like the Flash.”

Cole chuckled. “Dude, you’re too tall to be the Flash. You’d have to duck your head under every doorway. What changed, anyway?”

“It’s my new pillow. It’s amazing! It’s called the Out-of-This-World Pillow, and it works. I had the best night’s sleep ever.”

“You sound like one of those corny testimonials.”

Trey shrugged. “I can’t help it. Hey, I got a second one for free. When you drop me off, I’ll give it to you. You’ll see.”

When Trey’s head finally hit the pillow late that night, he fell asleep instantly. He dreamed he was hovering above two medical technicians in a high-tech lab. They were working over a patient on a metal table.

But they weren’t people. They were aliens.

The creatures radiated a bright magenta aura. It was like an episode of The Outer Limits.

One of the aliens grunted. “Komplifit nedall.”

Weren’t those the words he’d heard the other night? Strange. He floated closer.

It was his body on the table. Sleeping. Peacefully.

It’s a dream. It’s just a dream. Wake up! Wake up, Trey! Why couldn’t he wake up?

From above, he watched as the alien’s lanky hands pushed aside its magenta light, like a snake shedding its skin. Its raggedy purple extremities latched onto Trey’s body, and it slowly seeped its way inside.

Trey wanted to scream, but without his body, there was nothing he could do.

With the parasitic creature fully immersed, Trey’s own face smiled up at him and winked. A red scanning ray swept over his inhabited body. Then his body disappeared.

He gasped in horror. The aliens were invading—one pillow at a time! Cole would be next!

The remaining alien aimed a hose with a nozzle up at Trey’s consciousness. Thunk. The hose sucked him into a tube and expelled him into space like garbage.

Had it been weeks, months, or years since the incident with the aliens? Trey had no sense of time as he drifted through the cosmos. He still hoped against hope to find others like himself—or maybe even Cole.

The infomercial had kept its promises. He had gotten the best night’s sleep of his life, and the pillow really had taken him out of this world. Unfortunately, he would never sleep again. But he wouldn’t need to.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.D. Rempel is a California native, whose passion is writing speculative and contemporary fiction for all ages. As a confessed Anglophile, she’s usually found watching British TV especially mysteries. She loves to read, listen to music with her husband, and play peekaboo with her turtle, Applesauce.

---

Author Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter