Those Who Live in the Shadows

Chapter 16

All night long, I collected energy from various humans. I kept myself minded on my mission, trying not to think about anything else. And now, there I was, beside Camelia, who was still sleeping, unaware of what I was going to do. I posed my hand on her forehead, and slowly began my work.

As soon as I finished, she woke up. Camelia sat up, and yawned. And then froze.

"I....I...I can see..." she murmured. Tears of joy began wetting her beautiful face. I smiled sadly. Yes, she had finally recovered her sight.

"Des? Are you there? I want to see you! I CAN SEE!" She began laughing of joy. She glanced at the corners of her room, searching for me. I went in front of her. She was so happy. It made it worth the sacrifice.

"Desire?" Camelia looked at her alarm clock. I was always there at this hour. But today was different.

"I'm here," I said softly. Camelia had no reaction and kept looking around her room. She couldn't hear me. Or see me. Not anymore. I looked at her sadly.

She got up slowly and walked to her window. I didn't move and she went right through me. The realization of what I had done hit me like a wave. I closed my fists. I would survive this. And Camelia would have a chance in life. Then why was I crying?

Camelia frowned. She didn't see me anywhere. Then she understood. She knew the present I had given her: her sight. But it didn't come without a price. She was now fully in the human world, finally awake from her nightmare. Camelia was now an ordinary human.

I knew she was smart: she would figure out very soon that she no longer could sense Nightmares.

Camelia began crying. Tears of sadness, this time. I wanted to do something, but I couldn't.

"No... Desire... Why did you do that..." she whispered between two sobs.

"For you," I replied, even if she couldn't hear me. I felt more tears coming from my eyes.

"No...No...NO!" she screamed in despair.

Her mother and father arrived in her room, having heard her screams.

"What is it Camelia?" asked her mom, worried.

"I... I can see..." she explained, still crying. She fell on her knees. Her parents rushed to her and comforted her. They were radiating happiness, unaware that their daughter was in pain.

"I don't want to see... Now I can't hear him! Don't you understand! He isn't there anymore!" she yelled at her parents.

"She's in shock," murmured her mother to her father, who nodded. She was in shock indeed. But it was because she had realized she would never see or hear me again.

Camelia had finally woken up from her nightmare. And yet fell into another.

A last tear fell off my eye. I let it fall, glancing one last time at Camelia. Just before I left, I saw her deepest fear and biggest wish change, as she was crying in her mother's arms. She was now afraid to lose her sight again. And wished to see me again.

Humans all want something they can never have.

Nightmares are the same.