•Y/N: Your Name

•E/C: Eye Color

Y/N's breaths are soft and deep as she curls her knees to her chest with her eyes squeezed shut. She couldn't seem to fall asleep. She knows the nightmares are unavoidable, but having the actual beast put her to rest bothers her more. As badly as she wished to go to sleep on her own, it seems that won't be happening tonight. Oddly enough, though, the Boogeyman hasn't arrived yet.

She waited so long that she actually began to think it might possibly be another break from his dreadful games. Sadly, she knows better. He'll come. She's sure of it. For the moment, however, she'll enjoy the brief period of peace. Relaxation is rare for the poor girl. During this time to herself, the teen's thoughts wander to the monster's warnings from the other night.

She felt that it was strange that he wanted her to stay away from Keith. After all, he never tried to make her stay away from her mother and father or even her past tutors. Sure, sometimes they were involved in her nightmares, but he never outright told her to avoid someone. It made her wonder. It isn't like she could ask the beast about it, though.

She doubted he'd be civil enough to explain without torturing her in one way or another. Another thought drifted into her brain. How is she going to get rid of him? She still hasn't thought of a way to tell the blonde. Thankfully, she has until her next therapy session to do it.

'I wish that monster would just leave me alone.' Y/N buries her face into her plush pillow, desiring to be set free from the Boogeyman's grasp. And, so, she pondered what Pilvrich has in mind for ending her pain. How is he going to defeat that beast? Her cheeks tint a light pink without her knowledge.

She has grown rather fond of the dark-haired man. After all, he's been protecting her well. She had begged him to stay the night the day after the creature returned even though she was embarrassed to ask. She could still see that smile that graced his lips and the soft laugh that emitted from him. He didn't even seem bothered by the fact that she clung to his shirt the entire night. The girl suddenly flinches in fright when a low growl reaches her ears. The teen whimpers softly and tucks her body in more with her arms wrapped around her legs. Seems the Boogeyman finally arrived to toy with his prey.

"My, your mind is abuzz tonight, isn't it, little mouse?" He muses with a grin on his face. Y/N gulps nervously, but remains silent as her breaths grow shaky. "You know, I can hear all your thoughts, and, I must say, lately, you have this Pilvrich fellow on your mind a lot," he comments, amused by her frightened state. "Do you really think you should trust him? After all, he just shows up out of the blue offering the impossible."

Not wanting to hear anymore from him, Y/N covers her ears. She knows he's just trying to plant a seed of distrust in her mind like he attempted to do with Keith.

"Do you really think that man can kill me, Y/N?" Out from the shadows, the creature steadily approaches the bed with a dark chuckle erupting from his throat. The sound causes her heart to beat fast, and she could practically sense his shadow looming over her. Unable to help it, she begins to cry silently. "Why are you up so late tonight? Could it be that you've been waiting for me to put you to sleep?"

In an instant, the blankets are ripped off her body, causing the girl to flinch and breathe heavily in panic. The next she knew, clawed fingers dripping a black ooze grab her chin and force her to sit up. Her eyes hesitate to open and stare at the face of her worst nightmare. Trembling, she attempts to shove the beast off only for his other hand to catch her wrists, which are small in comparison to his large claw. She yelps in pain, for his grip is painfully tight, and squeezes her eyes shut as tears stream down her pale cheeks. She shudders when the hand that was beneath her chin pushes her hair behind her ear.

"You are stuck with me forever, little mouse, and no one will ever change that. Do you understand?" He whispers beside her ear, filling her skin with goosebumps. Y/N doesn't respond, she can't. Her mind is so discombobulated by fear that all that came out were silent stutters. She nearly screams when his hands begin to crush her wrists, and his smile disappears. "I expect an answer, mouse."

Hesitantly, she opens her reddened eyes and lightly nods her head to show she understands. The monster's grin returns upon seeing this and leans in uncontrollably close after releasing both her hands to cup her face with his.

"Try all you might, but you will never get rid of me. You became mine all those years ago when you first became my victim, and I will make sure you're mine to the very end and beyond. Now sleep. It's time to play a game."

Her eyelids begin to droop as drowsiness clouds her mind. His words made her heart sink depressively, but her hope for one day achieving victory didn't die. It doesn't matter what he says. She just knows Pilvrich will defeat him. It will take time and careful planning, though, tomorrow, she must warn the man not to tell her about any secret traps he might set for the monster, since he can allegedly read her mind.

That wouldn't end in their favor, and she wants him gone as soon as possible. Her body falls limp in the creatures arms before her body is gently laid on the mattress and covered by a blanket. Her E/C eyes shoot open and find themselves staring into darkness. There is nothing. Though she breathed, no sound left her mouth, and even her shoes didn't tap against the black floor as she ventured forward. It's all just empty. Though this is rather tame in the nightmare department, something about the place unnerved her greatly.

'This isn't at all like the Boogeyman's past dreams. What's up his sleeve?' A yelp escapes her lips as she hops off the floor after feeling something slick and wet against her ankle. When trying to back away, she finds herself surrounded by bars. The cage she stands in is small with barely enough room to move around.

The simple bird cage is composed of silver with intricate details carved into the base, while the handle at the top is in the shape of a bird. Below is a deep, dark pit, while above is a dark red sky that reminds her of the color of blood. She shudders upon feeling the wet sensation again and looks down to find a trail of blood leading from her bare foot to the bars. Face paling, Y/N backs away to the other end of the cage only to scream when her ankle is grabbed by a hand whose flesh had been turned inside out. A figure lifts itself up to reveal its eyeless sockets and gaping mouth full of yellow, rotted teeth.

Its jaw looks unhinged, while its skin is the same as its hand, bloody and inside out. Distorted moans and groans escape its throat, while another reaches their hand into the cage to grab her free ankle as their other holds tightly to one of the bars. Disgusted and terrified, she steps on the creature's wrist, moving her foot out of the other one's reach, causing it to let go. She looks around for an escape, but the gaps are too narrow between the bars to fit through entirely, and even if she did, there's still a black pit bellow the cage. Looking up, however, she wonders if she can climb to the top in order to be out of hands reach of the bloody, humanlike figures.

Not wasting time, she attempts to climb using one of the bars to shimmy up it by pulling herself with her hands while her thighs tightly grip it. She had slipped numerous times, but the monster's are now unable to reach her. Gazing down, she finds that nine are failing to attempt climbing higher than the base of the cage. Now at the top, Y/N pants tiredly before looking up only to freeze in terror upon seeing the giant figure now holding the handle of the cage. It's him, that damn creature that's heart set on ruining her life. The Boogeyman greets the small figure with his signature grin.

"You see my pets down there, Y/N?"

Scrunching her brows, the teen looks down at the wailing creatures reaching out their hands towards her as if it were a desperate plea. It was strange, like they are scared for her.

"They used to be just like you. They are some of my past victims. One day, you might be lucky enough to join in the collection."

"C-collection?" Fearfully, Y/N looks up at the beast as he waves his free hand to create a ball of fire in the palm of his hand. Grinning evilly, he allows the flame to drop down into the pit below, revealing the reverse skinned creatures lining the walls of the hole in mass numbers. There are so many. Y/N could only stare in horror as the creature lowers his head closer to the female.

"I have yet to decide your fate, little mouse. This is why you're still alive. Well, that, and it's fun to watch your life fall to ruin. I believe my decision will come soon, though, so tell me, which would you prefer, my mouse: being locked in a cage for all eternity or becoming one of them."

Tears fill her eyes as she shakes her head frantically at the beast, terrified beyond belief. So, this is her fate? It's worse than she imagined.

"I don't want any of it!" She shouts. Sobbing, Y/N closes her eyes and hugs the bar she holds onto tightly. "I-I don't know why you keep d-doing this to me. What did I do? Why do you keep hurting me?"

The creature's emotions shift, his face forming a flat expression. Her cries appear to reach him for once, for something in his chest clenched in a painful manner as he tilts his head at the frightened girl.

"I don't want this. Please, stop. I don't think I can take anymore," she mutters in a voice so low, he almost didn't hear her. The demon merely stares blankly at her.

'Something isn't right here.'

"Please, don't do this to me. I'll do anything."

'Not even a stutter, yet she's still terrified.' There seemed to be nothing different from this picture, but there certainly was something new that made him feel this way. The girl continues to beg, causing the sensation in his chest to grow tighter.

"Enough," he mutters, silencing the human in the cage who looks up at him with teary eyes. She continues to plead through her gaze. It makes him sick. "I'm finished here tonight." Without another word, the Boogeyman drops the cage into the dark abyss allowing the humanoids to jump onto the cage and claw at her body on the way down. All the while, he watches her descent with dull eyes.

'How odd, I usually love to hear that scream and see that look of terror in her eyes, but, now, it does nothing for me.' He hums softly in thought, trying to decipher what's causing him to feel this way. The world soon crumbles as Y/N awakens from her dream. She screams loudly while kicking and punching the blanket on top of her in a blind panic, causing her parents to waken from their own slumber. They rush in to hold the hysterical girl down until she lies still with tears flooding down her cheeks. White eyes watch from beneath the bed as she's carried out of the room.

"I'll be back, little mouse," he mutters softly under his breath before sighing and closing his eyes.

'Until I know what's wrong, I should take a break. What good is it terrorizing her when I don't feel amused? Feel lucky, Y/N. You get your wish...'

'For now.'

Here's a little sketch I made of the reverse skinned monsters, so you guys can have a better reference:

Have fun with that invading your nightmares!

~Golden~