Chaos & Order

Chapter 17

The next morning, Aliyah sat on a bench near the courtyard. In the middle, Boogeyman paced through the castle courtyard, arms folded behind his back like an army drill sergeant. All the while, he loudly proclaimed, "If spooking is the surest path to victory, you must SPOOK! Sun Tzu said that! And I think he knows a LITTLE more about scaring people than you do, pal, 'cuz he invented it! Then he perfected it so no opposing army could best him in the ring of honor!"

"What does this have to do with anything?" Fang asked, sitting on the other side while leaning against a tree in his human form.

"Nothing! But you gotta admit, it's a good starter!" Boogeyman smiled.

Fang shook his head. "Are you sure he's reliable for this?" He asked, looking to Siel.

"He may seem like an obnoxious idiot, but he...generally knows what he's doing." Siel nodded.

"And you, you sure about this, Aliyah?" Fang asked.

Aliyah nodded as she sat on a nearby bench. "I can't keep relying on others for help....so yes."

"So, prepared to experience a world of magic and delights?" Boogeyman asked with a mischievous smile.

"You better not make me regret this..." Aliyah said, skeptically.

"Let's wait and see, shall we?" Boogeyman asked before flinging his cape wide. Shadowy tendrils sprung out and wrapped around Aliyah until it formed a cocoon of darkness. Siel made to run to her, but halted, sensing that she wasn't in immediate danger, "Your puppy's safe, don't worry! Just put her in what I call the Nightmare Realm. What happens to her and whether or not she can deal with it? That's up to her."

Fang growled, "I still don't like this plan..."

In the Nightmare Realm.....

Aliyah looked around, confused as to where she was now. There was nothing but pitch black as far as she could see. Then, two golden lights appeared...no, not lights. Eyes. Boogeyman's eyes. Followed by a large mouth, filled with sharp teeth.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boils and ghouls, welcome to the Nightmare Realm! Here, prepare for a world of delight, horror, fantasy, and terror! Just watch your step! Or else..." Aliyah suddenly found herself falling. Boogeyman's voice then continued, playfully, "That."

Aliyah cried out as she fell, reaching out to grab...well, anything to stop her fall.

WHUMP.

She found herself apparently landing on something. The shadows then began to dance, reforming into a different silhouette. Aliyah looked around, trying to get her bearings. But as far as she knew, she was still in the endless darkness.

"What's going on?" She asked, confused.

"Don't ask me, I just work here." Boogeyman's voice responded.

"Boogie, what is this place?" Aliyah asked.

"Didn't you hear me earlier? This is the Nightmare Realm, a little place of my own creation following my extensive research on fear and panic." Boogeyman replied. The tone of his voice sent a nervous shiver down her spine.

"When you say NIghtmare Realm..."

"This is all your fears brought to life. I can only know so much...unless there happens to be a roving pack of clowns out there." Boogeyman snickered.

"I swear, Boogie..." Aliyah growled as she started walking.

"Keep on your guard. This is a world of what scares you. You never know what's going to-" Before Boogeyman could finish his explanation, Aliyah froze. She heard some rather creepy....giggling.