The Book Of Nightmares

Chapter One: A Nightmare To Begin With

I woke up to a dimly lit room. Everything felt so unfamiliar, so foreign, so unwanted. I groped about in the darkness, trying to find my phone.

"Thud!"

"Shoot!" I felt the floor for it. "I hope I didn't crack the screen." Finally, I got it. It turned on and luckily, it was still intact. I looked at the time.

02:03.

A groan escaped my lips. There was no use going back to sleep now. My first night in Acura and it started off with sleeplessness and nightmares. I didn't mind the nightmares though. I got up and sat on the floor, grabbing my black book and pencil. I had tossed them by the foot of my bed in case this happened.

Using my phone's torch as a light, I began sketching. My nightmares were always creepy, until I began to not care. Then they were just...there. I don't know why I still have them but I don't mind having something to sketch now and then.

I was just about to finish up when my mom walked in.

"Honey. Why aren't you asleep?" She caught a glimpse of my book, and sighed. "Again? Darling we talked about this. I can get you into therapy if it's that bad."
"Mom, it's ok. I just...I couldn't sleep."

She sat down next to me and gently took the book out of my hands.

"Your father, he loved drawing too you know. Even though you sketch creepy things, it still would've made him proud. Is this what you dreamt of tonight, honey?"
I nodded. "I can try to explain what it is."
"Mind telling me about it?"
"Sure mom."
"Ok let me get a blanket, the floor is kinda hard and it's making my butt go stiff."

We both cracked up and got up to sit on my bed instead.

"See, that's what I like seeing. Your smile is so rare to see these days."
"I'm sorry mom, I'll try to smile more often."
"There's nothing to be sorry for Xaela."
"Ok mom. Let me tell you what happened."

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