Mutant Busters: Insomniac Hell

Chapter One: Cool Gray

⚠️Depictions or gore and sewerside

Eyes opened to see a dark room, each wall having symbols to protect me. 'Where am I?' I thought to myself.

'Where are they?'

'Who are they?'

'Why did I dream of them?'

WHY WAS I ASLEEP?

The room slowly lit up as I proceeded to fathom what had even begun. In A world where monsters kill those who sleep, I survived a whole night of rest.

'How...'

"Miss me?" A voice called out.

"No... Please tell me that it was real!" I cried out in anguish. The pain flowing in rivulets through my body. My vision blurred again but not from lack of consciousness but from sorrow and grief. My perfect world, my happy ending. I get to be with them, the man I loved is still close to me. It was perfect!

"Awwww, is whittle JimJim gonna cry?" His voice called again. My body trembled with rage and despair.

"You bastard. You took away my happy ending again!!" I tried to say through my sobs. My voice was shaking as aggressively as my body as the voice laughed.

"Better get going Jim, they're after you now." His voice silenced as I was left to sob on the ground. Hands almost tearing through what little fabric I had on my scarred arms. My body convulsed as I let out a scream of nothing but agony and grief. Just for it to echo right back to me, reminding me I was alone again.

Almost alone.

'The shadows.' I reminded myself. Slowly lifting myself off the ground, I managed to walk to possibly a lead. A path to the dreaming city and not this insomniac hell. My feet lead me with caution as I strode silently.

These vile creatures have roamed the earth tearing people apart in their sleep. The creatures are less common in the morning so if I stay in the sun I'll be safe. The hike was no easy task at any time. Decaying corpses at their permanent rest upon the cool gray sidewalks of this broken sanctuary. Many killed themselves. Thinking about it is one thing, but when you see it happen in front of you, you're never the same. The body slamming onto cool pavement, the blood curdling and clotting as it splatters across everything it can reach, like a lost child. Many bodies were half eaten from the shadows with a very particular diet of humans and animals. At this point I was used to seeing survivors die, animals too. Engulfed in a melancholy veil, never to be revealed.

The only sounds being the wind and the shuffle of my feet, I headed west, wind tangling my now long hair. Hell, if I make it to the dreamland beyond this nightmare I'll gladly get a haircut and even a beard trim. I quite need one.

Wow, how impolite of me. I've been lost here so long I forgot proper manners. My name is Jim Rubick, but most just call me Sheriff. Currently I'm stuck searching for survivors and food. I refuse to eat another human because that's just messed up on every level. I have standards.

As I continued my trudge through this painting of malcontents, I saw yet another dead body. This one's eye had somehow detached and flew almost four feet in front of him. His arms heavily contorted with bones showing out of every limb. Blood painted the cool gray below, a morbid masterpiece made by the man himself.

I try to bring light to the situation, but after three years stuck in the nightmare kingdom or whatever they call it, I've lost all hope.

Is that so wrong?

No reply as suspected from an empty town. Before I'd thought maybe a treasure hunter or a thief would find me, but now I know that there is nothing valuable. Theoretically. And even if there was, who would risk fighting a herd of shadows? Not me, and probably not anyone from his dreams.

Not Brutux,

Not Su

Not Max.

My feet carried me until dawn, when I found a place to stay until sunrise graced the sky.

"What a long day." I said after letting out a long, shaky breath. Now for my favorite part of my job. When you travel these parts, every little speck wants you dead. I've lost my gun but the creatures hate concentrated light. So even a low quality flashlight could save you. Thankfully I have three in case I lose one. Plus the monsters are attracted to sleep so my one lucky night is over until I escape.

For now. I have a lookout duty to cover.

Every night is the same as the last, hearing screams of survivors I could have saved. I want to help them, but they're already dead. Their screams echo throughout the night because of one of the monsters. I have made up little names for them. I call the ones who use human voices 'Friends' because they try to impersonate your friends to kill you. Another would be the most peaceful. I call him 'Hat Guy' but I can't tell if he's from my sleep deprivation or this new world. There are many others, but those are the ones that show up most commonly in this area. For tonight, they are all I have to fear tonight.

The morning sun drifted into view as I watched the dreadful creatures lurch back to their dark crevices to hide. This meant it was time for me to leave. My fire was now completely out but that's a good thing. I can get wood from old buildings and I can use charcoal from the other fires to help. Personally, I wouldn't try to get involved with any in-town gangs that are said to 'protect' you. They use you as bait. I've seen it happen to far too many people in these parts. I picked up my share and got walking through the dull remnants of a concrete paradise, where families raised perfect children and had a white picket fence or whatever the dream was. The once glorious nation had fallen because of its false ideologies. The world collapsed years ago. Even if I save the world, I might be all it had left. Was quite an unpleasant thought to say the least.

I can't wait until I escape this side.

NOꓤ∀ᒋᗡ here! Thank you for choosing to read a fanfic about a kids show that got taken off of Netflix! If you have any questions or requests don't be afraid to reach out!