Late night at the lab

Edmund's supposed to defend his PhD on sleep science, but he's got nothing. I've done more this year than he's done in four. Only one trial left for this study.

"Hey, can you run it on me tonight? My participant ghosted me," I ask him.

"Sure."

Several dreams later, I'm half awake but my eyes feel glued shut. I can't move. I hear footsteps, then Edmund's voice.

"Your work will make a fantastic thesis."

I feel cold fingers suddenly clamp down on my nose. I can't breathe. I try to scream but sleep paralysis has me on lockdown. I can't–