Boogeyman

Find The Monster

It was a nightmare trying to get back down. Heather was scared to come back down. She cries and fusses. Roger is trying to not snap. He wants to try and father her, prepare himself for real parenthood if he and John ever get out of here. But he can’t even calm down a little girl? 

How could he become a good father! He can’t even comfort a crying child correctly! Roger sighs softly he will become a good dad. They rest for the night in a cave. Roger gave his coat to Heather so she wouldn’t freeze throughout the night. You think Bowie would have given her warmer clothes, but no. He’s a bitch.

As the sun was breaking through the night sky Roger stepped out of the cave and to the stream of water. He splashes his face with the cold water. There's a sweet taste to it though, Roger was getting really tired of sweet things. It makes him shiver but it wakes him up. He cups his hands and drinks some of the water. It's oddly sweet tasting the more he gets in his mouth. It makes Roger want even more.

Roger drinks more, it chills his mouth and hurts his teeth but it’s so good. So sweet. It tastes so good. Roger dunks his face into it and he feels wide awake now. Roger dries his face off his shirt and slips it back on. Ignoring the stream’s cries beckoning him back.

There’s a shuffle and Freddie is next to him. He begins to strip down and clean himself off. Roger keeps his head down and looks at the water. It was so clear and clean looking. Like humans have never touched it. Roger doesn’t understand why it’s sweet though, he never had water with a sweet taste to it before.

“Why is the water sweet?” Roger asks,

“All the water is sweet here.” Freddie answers him, shaking off the water and getting dressed. Freddie’s hair was curling up now and he looked somehow younger once clean.

“What? Is there something on my face?” Freddie asks touching his face,

“No. No, you just look younger.” Roger says, “It’s weird.”

Freddie laughs, “Thanks? I think.” He yanks his jeans up.

Roger chuckles and pushes his hair out of his face. Freddie sits down next to him, “So what is this John fellow like?” 

“He’s great. Kind and great. Softest loving green eyes. He's got a smile that lights up a room. He loves animals and always wanted a big family.. I wanted a big family. He was studying to be an electrical engineer and I'm doing manual labor to fund our growing family."

Freddie pauses, "Sounds like he's a great guy.” Freddie looks away,  “I wish I could have that."

Roge didn’t hear that part, "I knew I was going to marry John when he and I stole an abused cat from a mean neighbor." Roger smiles at that, "And when he told me he was pregnant I was over the moon."

Freddie chuckles and takes a drink from the stream, "Congrats on becoming a father." 

"Thanks… I just hope John and baby are alright." 

Freddie pulls his friend in for a tight hug, "I'm sure everyone is fine.. The Boogeyman doesn't go after adults." 

"The Boogeyman killed my father." Roger informs. 

The older man fell silent. He pulled Roger in for a tight hug and kissed his head, "Hey maybe things won't be so bad."

"Won't be so bad!'' Roger screeches, "My fiancé is pregnant and he's kidnapped by the Boogeyman and all you have to say is "It won't be so bad''!'' Roger cries and hugs his knees

Freddie groans. He wasn't the best with this type of shit. He wishes his mother was here; she was always good at comforting people. And makes them plenty of sweets afterwards.

Freddie kisses his head and holds him close. They watch the water. Some bubble gum pink fish swim by. Freddie grabs one and pops it into his mouth. He blows a big bubble gum like bubble with it. He grins at Roger's slack jawed expression, 

"Welcome to Wonderland." Freddie jokes

"This had to be a dream." Roger rubs his eyes and stands up pacing, 

"Why would this be a dream?" Freddie asks, popping another bubblegum fish into his mouth.

"I'll just pinch myself and wake up!" Roger mumbles grabbing his arm and digging hard into the flesh.

He screams and let's go looking stunned. He drops to his knees and cries, putting his hands on the ground, head bowed, "J-John." He cries.

Freddie rubs his back right as little Heather and Brian come out looking confused. Heather looked a little scared.

"Roger's breaking down." Freddie explains, "He’s really missing his fiancé." 

"Yeah we can tell." Brian says putting Heather on her hip and carrying her over to the stream.

Heather washes her face and sits by the campfire Roger made, "I was in the scouts you know." 

"What's the scouts?" The men asks

And that reminds Roger that those two have been here for nearly their entire lives. They won't know anything of the world or humans,

"Do you guys know what planets are?" Roger asks,

"No." Freddie looks down he pulls his lip over his misshapen teeth.

"I do." Brian says in a soft voice feeling a little embarrassed over his smarts, "I read them in books. Sometimes we get books from the human world and those are fun to read. Our world is their fantasy." 

"... Yeah it's strange…" Roger looks around, "This is like a child's fantasy." 

Heather perks up, "I had dreams like this… I wish I could go home… But I can't this time." She says sadly chewing on some fish.

And for once in Roger's life he prays. He prays they all make it out alive. That they get to see their families again. That Roger can finally get his John back and have a beautiful family.

But these are only prayers after all and the sound of the mountain rumbling and the horses neighing and bucking out of fright. They are left with one horse when the mountain begins to have an avalanche. All four of them crammed onto it the poor horse struggling with all the weight. Roger loses his grip and he goes tumbling off. His vision blurs and everything goes dark.