Bakugan: Precious Memories

Chapter 4: Nightmare

Aya woke up, but not in Aubrey's house. It was his own bed...in a setting that was all too familiar. It was dark. Suddenly with no control over his body, he stood up from his bed and slowly made his way to the back door. There was a small voice, but as he got closer, he recognized the voice. The laughter of the masked man. It seemed to come from all directions. His God awful laughter. Aya wanted to scream but he couldn't. He wanted to run but he couldn't. Tears were flowing down his face. Once he got to the back door, the laughter practically deafened him. But once he got out, it stopped. He had control of his body again. He looked around. The sky was red. He quivered. But then he looked at the tree and saw it. Mary. Her hanging body swaying a bit. Her eyes were open and bloodshot. Aya fell to his knees. "W h y ?" The corpse asked. Aya's eyes narrowed in shock and fear. "W h y  A y a? W h y  d i d n ' t  y o u  h e l p  m e? W h y  d i d  y o u  l e t  m y  b a k u g a n  d i e? W h y  d i d  y o u  l e t  M E  d i e?" Aya couldn't take this anymore. "B u t  i t ' s  o k. C a u s e  n o w. I  c a n  b e  w i t h  y o u  f o r e v e r  l i t t l e  b r o t h e r. F o r e v e r." The corpse stared into Aya and smiled ear to ear. "Let's see how you like it." The corpse spoke and reached for him. Aya screamed and woke up, his breathing extremely panicked. He looked around, and despite having his eyes flooded with tears, he could tell he was in Aubrey's house. It was morning and he was still in her room. But Aubrey was gone. He wiped his eyes and took deep breaths. "Guess she went downstairs." He said out loud. "Aya? Are you OK? What happened, partner?" A voice called to him. It was his dragonoid. "Sorry, Dragonoid. I just had a bad dream." He rubbed his eyes once more. "I would think so. You were mumbling and crying in your sleep. I tried to wake you but you couldn't hear me." Dragonoid explained. "Sorry. Didn't mean to worry you." He apologized. Aya grabbed his dragonoid and his other bakugan and changed his clothes. Heading downstairs he could hear a conversation between Henry and Anna. "Henry, I'm worried about that kid. His mom is never around and he's all on his own." Anna said. "I know how you feel, Anna. I was thinking the same thing." Henry responded. Aya simply decided to say; "Good morning, Mrs and Mr Davison!" Catching their attention. "Good morning, Aya!" Henry called. "Mornin lil dude!" Anna followed up. "Where's Aubrey?" Aya asked. "She's outside at the front. She told us to tell you to meet her." Henry informed him. Aya thanked him and ran to the front door to meet Aubrey. Outside, he saw her standing in the middle of the front lawn, her hair flowing in the wind. "Aubrey!" Aya called to her. She turned around to face him. "Hey." She said. "Are you ok?" Aya asked her. He noticed she sounded a little off. "Aya. There's something I want to talk to you about. And if it gets too much, just tell me and I'll stop." Aubrey said with a serious expression. "OK?" Aya responded. "What exactly happened with Mary and the masked man?" Aya jolted at the question, but tried to retain his composure. "...About a year...maybe less ago, Mary noticed rumors about a masked man going around and taking people's bakugan. However, it was only until after a friend of hers had her Aquos Robotalion taken away. She decided to publicly challenge him. About a week later, the masked man set a meet up. She accepted and not only that, she had me go with her. Eventually, we all met up. The field opened. She had a great strategy...but it was futile. That card...that damn card! All her bakugan were destroyed by that Reaper bakugan! And sent to...to the doom dimension. I still here their and her screams. When he won she begged him to give her bakugan back...which was impossible. His voice...I still remember it. For a few days, all she'd do is cry...then she just stopped talking. Not just to me, but to anyone. Then one day...I woke up at night. I noticed Mary wasn't in her bed, we shared the same room. I looked around the house for her but couldn't find her...until I went to the backyard...and heard those noises. She...she...she was hanging from a noose on the tree we used to play on. She was staring at me with bloodshot eyes. Until, she died. I...I couldn't do anything but scream. My dad heard me and found her body. He cut her down but it was too late. She was already dead. Soon after she was buried, dad left and mom's habits increased ten fold. To the point where she was basically never there. I had to deal with this alone. Mari's screams never leave me and her dying face always haunts me. It never leaves...it never...leaves.....it...it never.... It never-" his trembling was cut off by Aubrey's warm embrace. "Thanks." He said. "No problem. I'm sorry I made you remember that." Aubrey told him. Aya suddenly remembered. They have a battle. "Aubrey. Don't forget about our battle!" Aya said. "Don't worry, I sure as hell didn't! Get your cards and bakugan ready Aya! Cause I'm ready to rock!" Aubrey shouted with confidence. They both smirked and pulled out their field cards, both having new surprises for the other up their sleeves. "BAKUGAN FIELD OPEN!"