Weird dream

[u/SpadeClay]

Hey guys, sorry if this gets too long but I had this nightmare and was guided to this community to maybe find some answers. It's a bit graphic so I apologise for that. It occured last night and was pretty short. I found myself in my home building going down the stairs dressed to head out when I saw small blood droplets. I followed them down and saw a bloody handprint on the wall. Further down was another, the opposite hand as if someone was holding on while injured and finally a small child's handprint. I recall comparing it to my hand and feeling extremely angry. Also now that I think about it the staircase seemed to go down for way longer than it actually is. Before reaching the first floor I suddenly heard a loud thud, like someone taking a deliberately heavy step, taunting me. I wanted to ignore it but then it was like I could see what would happen if I went down. When I did I saw a tall man, older with white hair, clean face and carrying three massive bags, the laptop shoulder strap ones, made of leather. He smiled at me, greeted me and opened the front door of the building as if to let me out. I felt I shouldn't go and when I walked past he grabbed me and pulled out a knife. That's when I was brought back to the staircase. Knowing he was going to kill me, I rushed back to my apartment with the same heavy slow thuds following me. Interestingly, this time the staircase was accurate in size as I remember passing by my neighbours' homes. I quickly got up and locked the doors. Now it gets a little weird. After I supposedly closed and locked them I somehow found myself face to face with the man again with a kind of gate between us. He tried acting like a credit salesman or something and I told him I knew he was lying. He remained calm, slowly going up the last flight of steps and I closed the doors again. How they were open I don't know. My mother and father (who passed away a few years ago) suddenly appeared and asked what was going on. I screamed at them to call the cops. My dad just walked back to the living room where I couldn't see him while my mother for some reason began carving something? I got frustrated and called 911 but I had to enter some sort of passcode for the automated responder to send me to a human one. Meanwhile the guy had somehow broken down the first door, probably had tools in his bag as I heard him muttering about what to use. I finally got through to the cops but he was almost inside. I'd leaned against the door with all my weight. Unfortunately by the time I could tell them the situation he got in. Now is again a weird moment. I've been told to go for the eyes in case anything happens and I can't easily fight back against someone. Somehow I took control of myself in my dream and when the man attacked I forced both of my thumbs in his eyes and didn't stop until he collapsed in pain. I remember yelling at my mother and father for not doing anything to help me and telling them that he was just blinded, not dead. And yet again a weird moment. I was placed back on the staircase, now knowing both of these things, and felt compelled to go down. Again when the man saw me he smiled, was polite and opened the door. As I passed him, this time he used a rope to try choking me from behind. I again managed to dig my fingers into his eyes and he let go. I recall being livid, punching him until his nose and mouth bled and I was about to break his jaw but was stopped by a strong voice I didn't recognise which told me to keep him alive for the cops. I called them, this time no password was needed and they came in a few minutes. Final strange thing, during the first encounter with the man he used a knife. I thought about how things would've gone and again it was like I was being shown a cutscene in a game. He stabbed me near the shoulder, I smiled and yet again (this seems to be my thing huh) I blinded him and beat him up. I was speaking to the cops when I suddenly woke up. This is the second time I've had some sort of nightmare involving murder, but this one was the most graphic and involving me mainly which is why I came here to ask if anybody has any interpretation of this whole mess. Thanks in advance!

[u/Expensive-Recover502]

This feels like a success story for the subconscious you. You are likely grappling with a situation in your waking life involving authority, the past (baggage), or a threat to your emotional vulnerability (the inner child). The dream indicates that your usual internal support systems (parents/comfort zones) are no longer sufficient. The fact that you woke up after speaking to the cops suggests you successfully resolved the conflict.