Unexpected Changes ((TENYA IIDA X OC))

Chapter 7

I laid awake in bed that night, staring up at the dark ceiling.

I wished away sleep every time my eyelids fell closed, hoping that I had enough willpower to stay awake another night.

I'd do anything if it meant that I didn't have to see him again.

My spine tingled at the thought, and only then did I realize that it didn't really matter. He could show himself during the night whenever he wanted to; it was just a matter of when.

I bit down on my lip and turned on my side, facing the window on the right side of the room. There was no moon out tonight, which only made me feel more hollow than I already felt. There weren't any stars, either, just nipping darkness that seemed to be clawing out at me.

The longer I stared, the more it seemed that the dark turned to tangible limbs. At this point, I didn't know if it was real or if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I didn't move or blink either way.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Ah, there he is.

I could feel his energy by my legs. It even felt like he was sitting down on the foot of the bed.

"I wouldn't say that." I replied after a short silence.

"Then what would you say?"

I let my gaze fall to the wood paneled floor in front of the window. "I don't know."

"That was quite the scene you displayed in class today." He changed the subject mockingly and I sighed.

"What do you want?"

"Is it so bad that I want to spend some time with you?" He questioned innocently. "You haven't come to me in so long."

I scoffed.

Dream Walker's chuckle sounded like an echo. "Aren't you getting tired? It's not healthy for a girl your age not to sleep, after all."

"It's not healthy for a girl my age to have some weird entity possessing her, either," I shot back. "But here we are."

"Exhaustion has made you feisty," he laughed again. "I like that."

I cringed openly at that, yet I stayed silent.

"Aren't you worried about your mother?" Dream Walker asked, tone changed to a serious one. "Aren't you the least bit curious to see if I've done anything?"

"Of course I am," I replied quietly. "But nothing you'll say will make me sleep."

"Hmmm," he hummed mischievously. "Alright, but what about my actions?"

"What do you mean?"

"I suppose you'll have to go to the in-between to find out."

I clutched the sheets and let out an uneven breath. This was just his way of messing with me, wasn't it?

"She's gone," I tried convincing myself rather him. "There isn't anything you can do to her, not really."

"Ah, but are you sure about that?"

I could feel his gaze on me and I finally turned to look at him for the first time.

Nothing but a strange ball of darkness rested on the end of the bed. He was morphed into the silhouette of a slim man, and centered on his face were two red dots that burrowed into me like cactus pricks.

"What do you mean?" I asked again, timidly this time.

A gaping, broken, white smile spread across his face ghastly. "Are you sure she's really gone? All you did was absorb her, you know."

Widening my eyes, I quickly sat up. Dream Walker jumped slightly at my sudden movement.

"What are you not telling me?"

"Ah, it appears that I've struck a nerve," he observed, still grinning wickedly. "This seems to be a good place to end."

"It's the worst place to end!" I justified loudly, reaching a hand out to him in an attempt to grab onto his arm, but all I was given was air.

He cackled maniacally and the sound made my ears ring as I watched his form vanish into nothing. I desperately tried to snatch his dissipating form back to the space in front of me, but my attempts were futile as his presence evaded entirely.

I sat back on my legs and let my hands fall in defeat.

My eyes stung painfully with both tears and the activation of Dream Walker as the frustration I felt grew, but there was nothing I could do. If I gave in now, there was no telling what he could do to the people in the outside world.

I couldn't be selfish now, my mother would have to wait.

I just hoped she was strong enough to hold on until this nightmare ends.

__________

"You look like shit." Was the first thing Aizawa said to me as I trudged into the kitchen the next morning.

"Well aren't you a ray of sunshine." I nipped back sarcastically, barely chancing him a glance as I maneuvered myself in front of the coffee pot.

"I'm serious," he replied. "Did you stay up all night?"

"Yup."

I turned toward him with a coffee filled mug in my hand and propped my elbows on the countertop.

"Why the hell did you do that?" Aizawa asked another question and I pursed my lips. "Your internship starts next week, you can't be losing sleep now."

I shrugged.

Clearly irritated with me, Aizawa stood from his seat on a barstool and walked up to me, snatching the mug out of my hands.

"Hey!" I frowned, reaching lazily back out for it.

"Enough," Aizawa demanded sternly, holding the cup out of reach. "You need to go sleep."

"I can't," I argued, letting my hand fall as I set my forehead against his chest. "I can't..."

"Then I'll give you a Xanax," by his tone I could tell that he rolled his eyes. "Come on, kid, you're exhausted."

"I'm not." I justified, sitting back up suddenly to look at him. I noticed that his hair was up and out of his face.

"You are." He said, setting the mug down to take me by the shoulders.

"You don't understand.." I tried as he led me toward the staircase.

"What don't I understand?" He asked gently.

"H-he'll..." I trailed off as I stumbled up the stairs. "He'll hurt me... or you."

At that, Aizawa stopped abruptly on the step below me and turned me to look at him.

"Who will?"

I raised a brow and tiredly jabbed my finger into his cheek. "Dream Walker.. who else?"

I watched his eyes widened slightly as he swiftly scooped me up and proceeded in carrying me up the stairs.

"Shouta!" I complained, tossing my head back.

"Knock it off," he demanded, opening my bedroom door. "I'll sit in here with you and make sure nothing happens."

"You can't keep your eyes open that long." I reasoned deliriously as he set me down on the bed. I frowned.

"I can try." He told me like he would a child as he pulled the blankets over me. "We can talk about this when you wake up, now go to sleep."

I watched him with half lidded eyes as he sat down in the armchair in the corner of the room. I let out a breath, as I turned completely in his direction.

"You..." I whispered. "You promise you won't get hurt if I do, right?"

I watched him nod. "I promise."

After chewing my lip as I thought, I finally allowed my eyes to close; and before I knew it, I was being drawn into the darkness that awaited me.