In Your Head: South Park

Sunday

It had to be a nightmare? Or my imagination?
Yes, lack of sleep will make you see things.
That's got to be it.
Tweek had been running these thoughts through his head all night.
The poor boy had stayed alert, tucked safely in his blanket cocoon, with the lamp on until the sun had crept through the window in the morning.
The shadow creature did not rear its disfigured head again and Tweek had ruled the whole event down to his imagination.

Pushing aside his anxieties, the boy quickly scoffed down a plain piece of toast and finished up a mug of coffee for breakfast.
Tweek then showered, and readied himself for work.
He felt far too exhausted to do anything but lie down all day, preferably in the arms of his boyfriend, but he needed the money.
Besides, his parents would be overrun at the coffee shop without him.
Soon, the tired teenager was on his way to Tweak Bros.

Tweek was working to the best of his capabilites but he'd been far more sluggish than usual.
He was desperately tired and couldn't keep his mind off the terrifying shadow creature.
SMASH!
His thoughts elsewhere, Tweek didn't notice the tray slip out of hands.
"Ahgh! Oh, shit! Sorry!" spluttered in a mixture of panic and bewilderment as he dropped a customer's order.
Cups full of coffee crashed at his feet, the scolding liquid splashing up his legs.
He winced.
"I'll clean that up. I-I'm so sorry."
The frazzled blond rushed away to grab a wet floor sign, a dust pan and brush and a mop.
Within a few minutes the spill was clean and the customers had fresh orders.

"Tweek! Would you come here for a moment," his father called from the supply room, not long after.
The boy oblidged, trying to ignore the pain from the burns he'd acquired.
"Dad?"
Richard frowned at his son.
"What's going on with you today?" His father pressed.
"You haven't been this spazzy in a while."
Tweek felt indignant at the comment but ignored his feelings.
He gazed around the room, not meeting his father's eyes.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
Richard furrowed his brows. "Is something wrong, son?"
The blond shook his head, uncomfortable.
"Guess I'm just kinda tired," he shrugged.
It wasn't exactly a lie. Tweek was indeed tired, but the boy knew his father would only look down on him if he knew the whole truth.
Tweek didn't want his parents to worry about him or think he was completely crazy.
Therefore, the poor 'spaz' kept his real concerns to himself.
"In that case, maybe you should finish up here early. " Mr Tweak decided.
The boy opened his mouth to disagree but was cut off by his father's low, rich, almost soothing voice.
"It's okay, Tweek. Your mother and I will be fine. Stay until the hours up and then go home and try to have a nap. How's that sound?"
Tweek thought about the offer for a moment before nodding.
"O-okay, thanks, Dad."
Richard smiled.

And sleep he did. Tweek slept right through the afternoon and even tea time.
His parents had let him sleep, seeing that the teenager was finally getting the rest he had been lacking.
It was around 3:00am when Tweek eventually woke from his luxurious slumber.
He was woken by a crash.
Jumping in fright, Tweek opened his eyes and looked around the subfuscous room.
At first, he saw nothing but when he felt for his lamp, the teen's pale hand met only bare desk.
That's strange.

Tweek shivered, suddenly realising how terribly cold he was.
Thump.
Frightened green eyes peered into the darkness.
When his eyes adjusted to the gloom, what Tweek saw caused him to open his mouth in a silent wail.
The same lurid creature from the night before stood menacingly at the foot of his bed.
The boy rubbed his eyes in disbelief but the creature remained.
For a moment, the boy froze in terror.
He stared at the swirling black form.
Up close, Tweek could make out two horns upon the monstrosity's head.
It glowered at him with glowing crimson orbs.

His breathing becoming rapid and uneven, the small blond let out a pitiful whimper.
"L-leave me alone."
A large, wicked smirk slid slowly across the shadow creature's horrible, dark face.
Sharp, fangs protruded from its maw and it's eyes glittered with malice. 
Trembling, Tweek reached for his phone, on the bedside table.
His eyes did not leave the creature.
Tearing the device from its charger, the terrified boy turned on the mobile phone's handy torch.
With shaking hands he pointed the bright white light at the unwelcome  presence.
The creature vanished.
The boy swivelled the light around the room.
He looked for his lamp and found it on the floor. Pieces of glass glinted in the light from where the bulb had been shattered.
In the same moment the light had left the spot the creature had been, the  wispy figure returned.
It's lanky arms now reached for the horrified adolescent.
The boy's blankets were ripped away from him.
"Aah!" Tweek screamed. "Oh God! It's gonna get me!"

He fled for the door but once he had opened it a crack, a powerful force slammed it shut again.
Tweek rattled the handle but the invisible force kept him imprisoned.
He turned, tears of dread pooling in his eyes.
The monster moved closer, now just a large mass of shadow.
It was at this moment when Tweek lost control.
He dropped the phone he had clutched tightly in the palm of one shaking hand and sunk to the floor.
Tears steamed down his face and he heaved for air as his chest tightened and his breaths became fast and shallow.
"S-s-stay away f-f-from m-me," he choked out a sob, squeezing his eyes shut.

BANG!
Tweek timidly opened one eye.
All of the sudden, the chill vanished and the room fell silent.
No monsters could be seen lurking in the shadows.
After a few excruciating heartbeats, Tweek grabbed his phone and stood shakily, feeling he was now safe to do so.
He wiped his wet cheeks and turned the doorknob.
It opened.
The exhausted boy took in a shaking breath.
This creature had not been a figment of his imagination. Tweek was certain of it.
The boy crept downstairs and tiptoed out of the house, flicking on the porch light on his way out.
Once outside, in the crisp night air, he once again broke down into a fit tears.
Poor, terrified Tweek, no more then a blubbering mess.