Dreams Into Nightmares | Dreamcatcher

Chapter 1

Sat in her room, Yoohyeon was strangely soothed by the sounds of the storm - The incessant rain pending like stones on her bedroom window and the fiercely howling wind whipping up the rain into its violent state.

She sighed and briefly closed her eyes, enjoying the chilly bite felt on her bare arms from her partially open window. It wasn't really good to have your window open during a storm but it was only slightly, though her grey-white curtains were billowed roughly by the wind.

Though the storm gave her no cause for fear, the darkness did and so she always kept her bedside lamp on when she went to sleep. Electricity bills were always more expensive, but she'd rather pay more money than be too scared to sleep.

On this particular night, her bedside lamp flickered worryingly, forcing Yoohyeon to see the scary shadows made by her desk and other furniture in the room.

Closing her eyes along slipping under the sheets, she thought of her usual happy memory to drag herself to sleep.

Her tenth birthday. A restaurant. Balloons. Presents. Food. Sweets. Friends. Parents. Light. Toys.

***

The restaurant was recently refurbished and was run by a family. Its theme was vintage, with old posters advertising bands like the Rolling Stones and others.

The floor had black and white tiles, and the seats were made of red fake leather that always felt cold to the touch. Despite the cold decor, the friendly staff made everyone feel at ease and it was Yoohyeon's favourite place to eat out when she was ten.

Her party was the best yet - All her friends attended, there was cake, she was given amazing presents and her happiness soared to new heights.

Though it was her tenth birthday, every time she had the dream, she was the age she was now. This dream was enough to calm her nerves and convince her that everything was alright.

As soon as she blew the candles out, the restaurant lights all turned off.

That wasn't a part of the dream...

***

SuA, Handong and Dami smirked at each other in the doorway to the main area of the restaurant. The lights were down. Now they could interfere with the dream.

And turn the dream into a nightmare...

With a snap of her fingers, SuA vanished all the children and parents, leaving Yoohyeon alone with her eyes screwed shut and the cake candles seeping smoke. She snapped her fingers again and the lights began to flicker intermittently.

"Wonderful." She said gleefully to the other two.

Dami adjusted her black rabbit mask, whose ears extended up to sharp points and the masks ended at their noses, "Let's start our havoc."

"What do we do with Yoohyeon?" Handong asked and tilted her head.

"Let her stay there. She won't do anything."

"'Cause she's afraid of the dark." Handong finished.

Stepping forward, Dami strew black and red confetti around the restaurant floor, the shades matching her blood red suit and pumps.

Handong unrolled the thick roll of caution tape and wound the end around a table leg before beginning to run crazily in different directions about the restaurant. She caught the tape on objects like the lights and till, creating a vast spider web of tape around the restaurant.

Out in the corridor of staff lockers, SuA placed a rocking clown toy in the middle of the corridor. She set it rocking and it continued to infinitely sway from side to side without any indication of stopping.