A typical nightmare: There is a serial killer nearby inside this large house with a lot of people, and the serial killer is actually an ex from a long time ago. I am trying to convey to the 6 people there that he is a serial killer and that there's 6 of us and only 1 of him, so we can take him on. At first they are skeptical, and then they are brave, following me to where I think he is. We have giant sticks to protect ourselves with. We walk into a corner where there is a bathroom. I suddenly feel trapped. I say we should go, but the people are still poking around. Sure enough they find a dumpster randomly, and its full of human remains. Right then, the serial killer walks down the steps saying we all die tonight, who's first? An older lady steps forward, as if sacrificing herself, or intended on sticking together as a group to fight him. I think to myself I better make a run for it, and I do... but the serial killer tried to shoot something at me, missing. I then realize I have no where to run to, and I'll never get away.
I may be completely off here but it seems like there is a lot of ties you could make with this dream and the inevitability of death. The serial killer obviously represents death but what really seems like a key in to this idea is when he says "we all die tonight, who's first?" as if he is simply expressing how death catches all of us at some point. The old woman stepping forward could be the thought of the elderly accepting death and willing moving towards it? I'm not too sure on that one. But when you say that in the end you feel that you have no where to run to and that you will never get away could be your first true realization that death will at one point reach all of us. Psychologists believe that some of the most terrifying times in our lives will be when we face the inevitability of our own deaths, and that this sentiment is very frequently represented through dreams. The fact that the serial killer is your ex is also interesting. Do you have negative feelings towards your ex? If so then it could just be that his image is being used as a manifestation of something that you dread or fear (possibly fear running into him?).
I think death means getting over a problem or a little bad part of you dies so a new, better part can take it's place. The guy saying that you are all dying that night means that you are going to figure out how to solve all your problems and you wont die until you figure them out, maybe. Are you going through anything hard, anything ex related that might make sense to why your ex is trying to kill you. Did you break up on bad terms or maybe even still have feelings for him, good or bad?
Two symbols that I have noticed in your dream are the bathroom and the dumpster - both places where you get rid of waste. So part of the dream could have to do with letting go of bad things in your life.
Wow those are amazing interpretations and you are all right! First off, I think that being due to have a baby in 10 days has me thinking about life and death in a new way. I definitely think that I am dealing with death being an inevitable part of life, as I lost my dad to suicide and its been on my mind more than ever lately. Secondly, I was wondering why this ex popped up in my dream.. I only dated him for a couple weeks like 10 years ago. This dream wasn't about him at all... it was about my child's father who threatened to have me and my baby killed -- which I just found out about. They almost look alike and were both very controlling. I am afraid he will try something, I can't tell anyone except a few people I'm very close to and he's convinced everyone that the child is not his somehow -- people we grew up with, as we've known each other a long time. I'm trying to let it go, trying to put it in my past, but as the two dream symbols indicate, there are dark secrets and memories buried in the places of my mind I've tried to rid myself of but cannot.
Do you have a restraining order or something like that against the child's father? I think you should focus on staying safe and strong in your waking life.