A Lovely Nightmare

A Lovely Nightmare ~ Prologue

Welcome, foolish mortals. Your attendance is much appreciated. Only rule in this world is don't assume anything, because nothing is as it seems 👌🏻😈

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PROLOGUE

Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Redbird Falls, Michigan
March 13, 1993

"Hello, Amelia." His expression was soft; his movements were slow. "I'm Doctor Sam. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions? Do you think that would be okay?" His eyes roamed over the young girl's face. He'd read over the case files. He'd known about the night terrors, the multiple police visits, but he hadn't expected a five-year-old to look so...worn out. The circles beneath her bloodshot eyes were darker than his own, and he had a newborn baby at home.

"Amelia? Do you think that would be okay? We don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. This is a safe place."

She scanned the room as if fact-checking his statement.

"Okay." The solitary word seemed disembodied, making her sound more like a soldier fresh out of combat than a child just learning her alphabet.

Dr. Sam reached into his desk drawer and grabbed a piece of paper and some crayons. "Would you like to color me a picture while we talk?"

She nodded robotically as he placed the paper before her.

"I heard about your nightmares. I'd like to help them go away."

There was no reaction at all from the girl. She just continued to stare blankly at him, no expression apart from exhaustion on her tiny face.

"Do you go to school?"

Nodding, she mumbled, "Yes."

"What grade are you in?"

"Kindergarten." She grabbed a red crayon but didn't press it to the paper. Instead, she squeezed it within her small fist, so tightly her knuckles turned white. Dr. Sam watched the action closely before making a note of it.

"Do you like school, Amelia?"

"Uh-huh."

"What's your favorite thing about school?"

Amelia didn't understand why he was asking all of these questions. She wished her mommy would come back. The room she was in was full of toys and books, but for some reason, it all felt strange and foreign to her. Her mommy said that if she answered this man's questions she could go back home. "I like it because it's daytime."

"Why do you like the daytime, Amelia?" His eyebrows were scrunched up, just like the teachers, and the people who came to see her at home. They always made the same face. Even Mommy did it.

"The monster only comes at night." Her heart beat faster now. She didn't like talking about the monster. Mommy always told her that the monster wasn't real, but Amelia knew better. Nobody could help her. Nobody believed her.

"You mean the nightmares? Do you dream about a monster?"

Amelia couldn't answer. She knew better. Whenever she talked about it, things only got worse. Her mother would cry more. The people would come more. She'd have to go to more doctors, answer more questions.

"It's okay, Amelia," he said in that same soft voice they always used. She knew he was trying not to scare her, like when she played with the puppy from across the street. They talked to her the same way she called to Jo-Jo.

"I'm here to help make the monster go away."

Her attention snapped back to him. "Can you do that?"

"I can if you answer all of my questions honestly."