Tobi's journal:

How unoriginal of my subconscious to take inspiration from recent traumatic events. I'm beginning to suspect that I am running out of plots for nightmares. I suppose that a dream every night for about twenty years is difficult to supply. I should consider stopping before it's entirely reruns. Perhaps, if I explained the situation, Mr. Edburt would consider taking up permanent residence in someone else's mind.

If only.

Though, I suppose it would be quite difficult to come up with the perfect torture for someone new. Edburt had gotten mine down completely.

I can't imagine anything worse than having to relive a day of spending time with my family.

I found myself back in the church which the coma had been a much-welcomed reprieve from. I had almost forgotten how crowded it was there.

Almost.

This is complete bullshit, I thought to myself before turning to the front doors.

"Where are you going, Tobi?" Dream Mattias asked.

I vaguely wondered if Edburt was in control of them all like some sadistic puppet master. Probably.

"I don't have to deal with this, Edburt," I announced loudly.

Dream Mattias tipped his head curiously. "Edburt? What is that?"

"Hell if I know," I mumbled in annoyance as I left the church and walked off into the forest. I would eventually wake up. As long as I could wait it out, I could walk forever and avoid this whole situation. I didn't expect to be able to get anywhere near civilization, but the woods would likely go on forever, which I could handle. It was better than being back at the church. My family was insufferable enough without Mr. Edburt's influence.

The woods were always quiet— a stark contrast to the church. In this dream, the trees rustled and the feeling of being watched as I walked was very present. A ploy to get me to turn around and go back to the church, no doubt.

However, I would much rather be eaten by whatever monsters Edburt had put there than go back to the church. In fact, the monsters were welcomed. If I could get out of this quickly without following Edburt's original plan, I considered it a win.

Of course things never go as planned and life really has an interesting way of saying, "Fuck you."

I immediately became suspicious of the lights in the distance up ahead. There was no way I was getting out of this.

I was correct, obviously, as I stepped out of the trees to find the church that I had been walking away from directly in front of me. I almost laughed at how predictable it all was.

Promptly, I turned around and walked back into the woods. Two could play that game.

I'm certain I hadn't been walking as long as the first time when I came upon the church again.

I turned around once more.

The dream wouldn't progress if I didn't go in the church.

I had barely walked for five minutes when the church loomed in front of me again.

"I can do this all night," I announced to Mr. Edburt.

He had other plans, however, because I turned and found myself inside the church.

"Dammit."

At least I had managed to piss him off, which, if nothing else, was a minor accomplishment.

And then, predictably, there was that indicating crash and the faint smell of smoke. I found myself following behind my dream siblings to the dining room, much against my will. Lines were recited exactly as I remembered them and once more, Mattias and I stood alone in the burning room.

No point in delaying the inevitable, I thought to myself, eyeing the burning beam that was about to fall on my head.

Unfortunately, I was fated to the long route because Dream Mattias pulled me out of the way just in time.

"What do you think you're doing, Tobi?" he scolded. "You need to pay attention, or you'll get get us both killed." I responded with a blank stare. "Don't look at me like that. God, can you stop being such a burden for once?" he snapped.

I blinked in shock, slightly stung.

A small portion of my brain tried to rationalize that this was just Edburt trying to get to me and that he was winning, but I knew he was right. I know that he's right. I've always known. No one had ever said it, but it was apparent. And maybe it was just paranoia or anxiety, but I didn't really believe that.

I expected Dream Mattias to apologize because it was in character.

Mattias had always put up with me, bitten his tongue and refrained from saying the things I know he was thinking.

But he didn't.

"Right. Sorry," I mumbled, a small bit of that original defiance having drained from me.

The fire raged around us, hotter than I remembered. As we backed away from the quickly growing flames, I found it increasingly difficult to breathe. Whether this was from the smoke or the residual anxiety from the original event being resurfaced, I couldn't tell.

Or perhaps it was the knowledge that I was about to die slowly and painfully.

Burning alive isn't exactly what I would consider an elegant death. And Edburt was certain to ensure I felt every second.

Dream Mattias stared at me expectantly and I snapped from my thoughts. I remembered that I was meant to actually participate accordingly so that the dream would progress and play out.

"Um," I said smartly, vaguely wondering if I was getting enough oxygen to my brain. "Water."

Dream Mattias looked slightly exasperated, but followed me to the kitchen sink.

The metal of the handles was hot and burned my palm as I turned the sink on.

I wasn't sure if I really needed to explain the plan because it was all in my head and I already knew what to do— I had done it before. But I explained it to Dream Mattias anyways. I went through the motions. I was close to the end of the dream and I just wanted it over.

Drenched and ready to face my death for tonight, I stepped to the doorway of the kitchen with Dream Mattias. I wondered if he was burning with me.

I got my answer when he stepped into the dining room and a beam fell, cutting off my path.

I wasn't surprised, but some emotion must have crossed my face for a brief second, because Dream Mattias was giving me a slightly pitying look.

"I can't help you, Tobi, I'm sorry," he said, sounding not-entirely sorry. "If I try, we'll both die. And let's be honest. We both know I'm Father's favorite."

We did both know.

"Maybe it's better this way." Dream Mattias now had to raise his voice to be heard over the roar of the fire. I stepped back from the flames. "I mean, it's not as though you'll really be missed. This isn't news to you."

It wasn't.

"We'll, I suppose this is fitting." A dark smile crossed his face. "Consider it preparation for Hell."

With that, Dream Mattias turned and escaped the fire, leaving me to my fate. The flames kicked at my skin, so hot they almost felt cold. My screams were drowned out by the roar of the fire as it consumed everything in its path.

A/N Happy Wednesday! You guys are getting an update much earlier today because I'm on vacation and the morning when I hide from my family and pretend to be asleep is the only time I have to publish. Chapter title from "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)" by Fall Out Boy (do I need to keep doing this? It's not like it's going to change for dream chapters). I hope you guys are having an amazing week and are doing well. If there are a lot of spelling mistakes and things this week, it's because I'm typing directly into Wattpad and I don't have the app so I'm using the wonky desktop website on a mobile device.