I dreamt that I was in a museum with some friends or family members (I cannot remember who) but we were having a good time and enjoying a day out. I went to the restroom and locked myself in a stall, a few minutes later heard loud gunshots and screaming. I knew there was an active shooter in the building. I stayed in the stall wondering what to do or how to hide when he came into the bathroom. He was going down the lines of stalls kicking open the doors and shooting whoever was inside. I thought about waiting till he busted open the stall next to mine and then crawling underneath before he hit my stall, but there wasn’t time. Instead I curled up into a ball, protecting my head, and praying he would not hit anything vital. He busted down the door, shot me in the back and left. I was alive but trying my best to play dead so he would not come back and shoot me again. He started to leave but alarms started going off and the police were sweeping the building for him. He came back to my stall to hide and noticed that I was still alive, he shot me again, somewhere non-vital and then sat and watched while I still survived. He asked me if I feared death, or living with the pain. I do not remember what my response was but I definitely told him “they’re coming for you, they’re closer than you think.” And he said “let them come, they’re just like me just prettier.” And then we just sat there while I bled out. But like there was their weird familiarity and solidarity and I woke up ALL fucked up. Like at one point I wasn’t sure if I was the victim or the shooter and my brain is just 😵💫😵💫😵💫
Dreams about being in a dangerous or violent situation can be quite unsettling, but they often reflect deeper emotions or fears that your subconscious mind is processing. In your dream, the museum could symbolize your personal history, experiences, or memories that you are exploring or revisiting. Being with friends or family members could represent a sense of support or connection during difficult times. The sudden appearance of an active shooter in the dream may indicate feelings of being under threat or in a situation where you feel vulnerable or endangered. Locking yourself in a stall and trying to hide may reflect a desire to protect yourself or avoid confrontation in waking life. The interaction with the shooter in the bathroom stall is particularly significant. The shooter's question about fearing death or living with the pain may relate to your own fears or anxieties about mortality, suffering, or challenges in life. Your response in the dream, warning the shooter that the police were closing in, could suggest a subconscious feeling of wanting justice or resolution in a difficult situation. The shooter's statement about the police being "just like me, just prettier" may symbolize a sense of duality or inner conflict within yourself. It could reflect a fear of facing your own darker tendencies or negative emotions, as well as a desire for beauty or goodness to prevail. The ambiguous feelings of victimhood or identification with the shooter in the dream may indicate inner struggles or conflicting aspects of your personality that you are working through. The sense of familiarity or solidarity with the shooter may suggest a need to acknowledge and integrate difficult experiences or emotions rather than suppress or ignore them. Overall, this dream may be prompting you to explore your fears, vulnerabilities, and inner conflicts in order to find a sense of resolution and peace. It may be helpful to reflect on any challenging situations or emotions in your waking life that could be influencing these dream symbols and themes. Additionally, seeking support from loved ones or professional help in processing these emotions could be valuable in navigating these complex feelings.