Little Shadows

Blossoms of Hope

>(Y/n)'s P.O.V. <

Samantha the ferret was nowhere to be seen, and I looked at Nightmare.
Nightmare was facing the other way, but I knew he must be scowling. His tentacles twitched violently, like a really angry cat. 

I heard him yell, “Dream, you are going to pay! I cannot be here!”

There was so much anger and agony in his voice. He tried to disappear into a shadow pit, but he couldn’t. “NnnnyyYYYAAAAH!” He kicked a clump of flowers, then slumped against the tree stump, clutching his head in his hands.

“Don’t approach him,” warned Batfang, peeking his head out of my backpack. “He’s dangerous.”

I shook my head. “I’ll be okay,” I whispered softly. “He won’t hurt me, and I have a fire shield just in case.”

Batfang climbed onto my head and nibbled a strand of my hair. “You know fire isn’t going to affect him at all.”
“And?”

“Stars, (Y/n), you’re so stubborn.”

“I’m aware.”

I stepped closer to the tree stump, cautiously and slowly, because I should still be smart about this. Nightmare was unpredictable, especially when he was ticked.

The snap of a twig was heard, and I realized I stepped on it. Nightmare swiveled his head, like a squirrel, his tentacles freezing in place when he locked gazes with me. His eye was a very bright cyan and I took note that he was very slightly trembling in his hands.
“Human, get away from me,” he hissed. “Go away. Now.”

I didn’t budge. “I can’t.”

“Grr. . . just don’t step any closer! Unless you want your head removed.” Nightmare glanced at his tentacles, glaring at them with a huge amount of hatred, then looking at me with the same glare.

An icy chill clawed down my spine, but I ignored it. I knew I couldn’t calm him down, but maybe I could change the subject.

“Where is Alex?” I asked softly. Nightmare froze again, then growled.

“In my dungeon. Locked up where he should be.”

“Why did you do what you did to him, and Cassandra?”

Nightmare looked away. “I don’t know,” he hissed. “Something inside me was just angry, and I acted on it, and I think I was ticked that he hurt you and those children.”

He spoke very softly towards the end, so quietly I could hardly hear him. 

“What?” I asked.
He grumbled, crossing his arms. “Part of me,” he said slowly. “Wanted to protect you and the others. Those adults were horrible human beings and they needed to be punished.”

There was silence. A long, quiet silence, and the only sound heard was the faint breeze blowing through my hair.

I remembered all the horrible things Alex the Torturer had done to me and the children, and that Cassandra had done nothing about it. 

I was the only one who ever stood up to them, and once I had, I was tossed out.

Nightmare hadn’t taken me in at that moment…
Because he was making sure Alex was taught a lesson. 

Because Alex had hurt me.

I walked next to Nightmare, who flinched away, and I stared at him. Nightmare was the only person who could scare Alex, who could truly stand up to him.
Nightmare drew into himself, holding out a hand as a warning to stay away.