Welcome to My Nightmare

by K N Thompson

  “How do we stop it?” a middle age man asks.

  “I don’t think we can. Our way of life is changing and we must change with it,” the old man replies.

  “Should we contain our knowledge in the hopes that our powers return someday?” the middle-aged man asks.

  “That’s an excellent idea. But how will we accomplish that?” he asks.

  20

  I’m pulled out of the vision with a knock on the door. My eyes clear as Lydia opens in and Alfred strolls in.

  “Miss Lawrence, your presence has been requested in the headmaster’s office. If you would take my hand,” he says, extending his arm out to me.

  I stand up, grab his arm, and blink. Before I can open my eyes again we are in the headmaster’s office. As I walk closer to his desk, I see someone sitting in the chair across from Gandore. My brain can’t process what my eyes are seeing. That familiar hair, those vivid green eyes. I never thought I would see them again… I feel my eyes widen and my jaw drops open, unable to form words.

  “Whisper?” Sam asks, wearing the same shocked expression.

  “What are you doing here?” we ask in unison.

  “How are you a Nightmare Sam? You’re an only child!” I exclaim.

  “My mom always did call me her lucky number seven. Guess all the ones she lost were boys,” he replies, a sad look on his face.

  “I should have suspected something when I couldn’t hear your thoughts,” I reply.

  “I knew that boarding school story never made sense,” Sam says.

  “We didn’t take into consideration you had made friends with a Nightmare,” Gandore chuckles. “Now let’s get your placement test done so we can get your class schedule. Since you don’t have any family, Whisper’s Aunt Nellie has kindly offered to help, seeing as you and Whisper are close.”

  “This is all too much…” Sam says staring at the old man with wide eyes.

  “Just wait Sammy boy, it only gets weirder,” I wink.

  Gandore stands up and walks over to the wall. He pushes a button and the throne of Erudition comes swinging out.

  “Come have a seat,” Gandore says, gesturing to the throne.

  Sam gives me a worried look, so I give him an encouraging nod. He stands up and walks slowly towards the chair, eyeing it as if it might bite him before finally sitting down.

  Watching it is a bit anticlimactic after experiencing it firsthand. The stones above his head glow, then all go out. My jaw drops when the blue and purple stones light up at the same time.

  “How extraordinary. I thought Miss Lawrence was unique, but if we have another… This may be a sign of things to come,” Gandore mumbles to himself.

  “What does that mean?” Sam says looking back and forth between Gandore and me.

  “It means you’re a freak like me,” I laugh.

  “As long as I’m in good company,” Sam shrugs. “But seriously what does this mean?”

  “Mr. Kunz it means that you have been placed in both Caballine and Empyrean houses. Before Miss. Lawrence placed in all the houses it was unheard of,” Gandore explains. “Now, Mr. Warren will be your roommate, I’ll have him show you to your room. Miss Lawrence’s aunt will be here in the morning to take you shopping for your things.”

  “Can Whisper come too?” Sam asks, glancing at me nervously.

  “I’ll do one better. I’ll have all of your mentors go so you have time to get to know everyone,” Gandore smiles.

  Fuck my life! Sam and Ryland together… And to deal with Max and Finn… Crap and Korbin? I need a buffer.

  “Sir, can Lydia come as well? That’s a lot of testosterone for one girl to be subjected to,” I ask.

  “Miss Ward can tag along. You two are dismissed,” Gandore says as he hands Sam his welcome packet and schedule.

  Alfred pops back into the room. Damn! I didn’t even notice the sneaky man left.

  “Grab my hands please,” he says.

  Sam and I comply, and we are teleported outside of my room.

  “Lights out is in ten minutes. The boys need to head to their own rooms,” Alfred gives me a pointed look.

  “Yes sir,” I reply then open the door.

  “Sam, this is my room, come meet my roommate,” I say, dragging him through the door.

  Lydia and Ryland stare at us with confused expressions when they see Sam.

  “Who’s your friend?” Lydia asks.

  “This is my best friend, Sam. Sam, this is Lydia and Ryland,” I smile as I introduce them.

  Lydia’s bottom lip briefly quivers, before she schools her face into a smile.

  “Nice to meet you, Sam. I bet it’s amazing having Whisper here so you already have a friendly face,” she babbles.

  “I’m your new roommate,” Ryland offers his hand. “I thought I got away with having a room to myself.

  “Nice to meet you both,” Sam replies as he takes Ryland’s hand. “That batman looking butler guy said it was lights out so we should probably go.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow for our shopping trip,” I say, giving him a quick hug before he leaves.

  Ryland’s phone chirps. “Looks like I get to go shopping too,” he grins after reading the screen. “Goodnight ladies.”

  The guys leave and I walk over then plop on my bed. Lydia flops beside me.

  “Girl, you have two seconds to spill the tea,” she says.

  “So… First off I got permission for you to go shopping with us too, you’re welcome,” I grin. “Second, Korbin is going too, and the rest of my mentors.”

  Lydia jumps on me and wraps her arms around me in a bear hug.

  “I knew you wouldn’t just flat out replace me,” she lets out a deep breath.

  “Why would you think that? Sam is my longest and best friend, but you are special,” I grin at her.

  “Wait! Did you say Korbin is going to be there? Oh my God! What am I going to wear?” she screeches as she jumps up and runs to her closet.

  “You could wear a paper bag and still be adorable. Just wear whatever is comfortable,” I suggest.

  “You really know nothing about fashion do you, Whisper,” she rolls her eyes before diving back in her closet.

  A memory assaults me and the room blurs away.

  “We need a way to test the children before their streaks come in. That way we can teach them in their separate houses,” a bearded man says.

  “Yes, Abraham. We’ve been over your house system, but shouldn’t we want the children to stay united?” the white haired man says.

  “They need to be taught their specific powers. It’s easier if we can tell what they are beforehand,” Abraham insists.

  “I have a suggestion,” a dark haired man says. “I’ve carved this throne for the next leader. We could imbue it with power instead. Then a student sits and the stones can tell us which house, as Abraham likes to call them, the child belongs in.”

  “That’s brilliant!” Abraham exclaims. “We are the last three with the power to do this. We need something for them to use once we are gone.”

  My eyes clear as Lydia is shaking my arm.

  “Whisper! Do you need a nurse?” she asks frantically.

  “No, crap. I was going to tell you earlier but Alfred came and got me,” I say, shaking the vision away. “So that box in the library that I could hear humming, you remember?”

  “Yea…” Lydia nods for me to continue.

  “Well, when I teleported out of History class today, I landed right back in front of the same relic. Alexis and a group of her friends were there and confronted me, then she pushed me into the relic and the glass display case broke.” I say.

  “Oh my God, are you ok?” she asks.

  “I’m fine, but that's not the weird part. When I fell my hand hit the box and it opened. Inside was a moonstone and it called to me. Gandore was in the background telling me to back away, but I picked it up anyway, and ever since then I have been having these memories that are not my own.”

  “Who’s
memories could they be if they are not yours,” she ask confused.

  “I’m guessing whoever put the stone in the box,” I reply.

  “Wow, that's wicked weird. And this is coming from a girl who spent ten years in a crazy house," she laughs. "Not to change the subject, but I think I've picked out my outfit for tomorrow. Want to see?”

  I love that she can already tell when I need a subject change.

  21

  We wake up bright and early the next morning so we have time to get ready before meeting the guys for breakfast.

  “This is going to be an awkward situation, you know that right?” I ask, watching Lydia put the finishing touches on her eyeliner; she does an amazing smokey eye.

  “Nah, I’ll be with you and together we can conquer anything,” she says, putting the cap on her eyeliner.

  I bust out laughing, “That’s because you only have Korbin to pay attention too.”

  “What! Do you blame me? Just look at him!” she says, her eyes glazing over.

  “Not one bit. Now come on lover girl, they’re probably already sitting at the table waiting for us,” I say, grabbing her hand and tugging her through our door.

  We get to the dining hall and stand in line, my eyes wander over the crowd before landing on Finn. He is standing at our table waving like a lunatic with a goofy grin on his face. I shake my head and nudge Lydia in the ribs.

  “Do you think he is always this oblivious?” I ask.

  “Who?” she ask her eyes now scanning the crowded room, “Oh, you’re talking about Finn. I don’t know, but I think it’s kind of sweet.”

  After grabbing our trays we walk up to the table and the guys scootch over to make room for us.

  “Morning ladies,” Ryland says.

  “Morning,” Lydia and I respond at the same time.

  “How is everyone this morning?” I ask taking a seat between Ryland and Sam.

  I nudge Sam’s arm playfully, causing his bite of waffle to fall off his fork. He gives me a lopsided grin.

  “I’m good. How did you sleep?” Sam asks, his voice sounding less playful than usual.

  “Hard,” I laugh, looking over at Max.

  “I’m great now that you’re here,” Max says, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively

  I feel my face heat up and I give him a smile, “I thought you preferred your own company, Max.”

  I look over to Finn who is still sitting there studying me with his piercing blue eyes. “How are you this morning?” I ask again.

  “I’m great. How are you? Does it feel different to have all the powers in you at one time?” he asks.

  I’m a bit surprised by his question so it takes me a minute to answer. “Umm, no I still feel like me,” I respond, raising my eyebrows and glancing over at Lydia.

  She is hiding her laugh behind her hand while trying to finish a bite of her food. Her eyes light up as they lock with mine, I give her a smile and a knowing look that says we will talk about this later.

  I look at Ryland. “You’re quiet this morning; did you miss teleporting me?” I ask playfully.

  He looks at me. “It was a late night, I’m dragging ass,” he says, his steel blue eyes sparkling with a hint of a smile.

  We finish our food and make our way to the main foyer where Korbin joins us.

  “All right is everyone here?” Aunt Nellie says, walking through the front door.

  “We are all here and ready to go to, Aunt Nellie,” I respond walking over giving her a hug.

  “I would like you to meet my best friend, Sam Kunz. We grew up together in the human world and never knew that we were both Nightmares,” I say with a small giggle that makes Sam smile. “Sam this is my aunt, Nellie Jackson.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Ms Jackson,” Sam says, holding his hand out.

  “Just call me Aunt Nellie, everyone else does,” she responds, giving him a flirty wink while shaking his hand.

  “Now let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” she asks.

  We make our way to the entry point of the school and I look over at Sam.

  “You know this is going to feel like walking through thick jello right?” I ask.

  “Yup, I experienced it last night. It’s not a bad feeling, just an odd one,” he chuckles before passing through the entry point.

  Once we are all on the other side Aunt Nellie clears her throat, “Everyone please join hands and do not let go,” she says in a motherly tone.

  “Why do I have to hold someone’s hand? I have been teleporting myself for almost a year now,” Max says, rolling his eyes.

  I feel a familiar warm hand slip into mine as Ryland steps up on my left and bends to whisper in my ear.

  “I have been waiting for the chance to feel your hand in mine again,” he says softly, his warm breath soft against my skin.

  My face is glowing, my mind is spinning, and butterflies just decide this would be a great moment to explode in my stomach. I don’t know what else to do but give his hand a gentle squeeze to let him know I feel the same way.

  Then I feel Sam’s long fingers slide into the palm of my right hand. I don’t know how much more of this I can handle. I think to myself as the second wave of butterflies swarm in my stomach.

  Max decides to take that moment to step between Ryland and I breaking our hands apart and grabbing my hand with a huff. My eyes get wide and the butterflies that had started to settle began to dance around in my stomach again.

  Before I could say anything to him, the familiar sensation of folding in on myself takes over and we appear at the edge of Stonehenge, where the entry point to Crowfall is. I start to walk forward when I notice Max is still holding my hand.

  “I’m going to need my hand back, Max,” I say, slowly sliding my hand from his.

  We walk under the stone archway and appear on the edge of the shopping district. As we make our way through town, Finn steps up beside me.

  “Hi Finn,” I say giving him a small smile.

  “Hi, so what’s it like growing up in the human world?” he asks.

  His questions always keeping me on my toes. “It’s a lot like here, except you know minus all the magical Nightmare stuff,” I reply, as we stop outside the jewelry store.

  Once we’re all inside everyone fans out to have a look around. As Sam and I begin to browse Aunt Nellie stops us.

  “There is no need for you to worry about cost, I knew the responsibility when I chose to take you in,” she whispers. “I want you to enjoy this experience; you only get to become a Nightmare once in your life.”

  With a look of shock on his face Sam says, “Thank you, Ms Jackson.”

  “Now none of that Ms Jackson stuff. It makes me feel old,” she laughs. “Come this way, and Hilda will help you.”

  Hilda explains to Sam how the device used to select his jewelry works.

  “I will need you to sit in the chair in front of the device,” she says waiting for him to take a seat.

  Sam sits and waits for Hilda to tell him what to do next.

  “Now, place your palm on the metal plate, and it will do the rest,” Hilda smiles at him.

  He does as instructed then looks at me hesitantly. I give him a small smile.

  The machine makes a buzzing noise as the plate where Sam’s palm is, lights up. It runs for a few seconds before making a dinging noise and growing silent. Hilda stands behind it and looks at something then smiles at Sam.

  “My, my, you’ll need the Labradorite stone. We’ll try a few to see which feels best to you,” Hilda explains.

  “What’s a labradorite stone?” Sam asks.

  “It’s a very magical stone. It will awaken within you mystical and magical abilities and psychic powers. Also wearing or holding this type of stone helps you tap into a higher state of consciousness. It has protective properties, so it will keep your energy grounded,” she replies, walking over to a glass display case and retrieving a tray of different pieces.

  She comes back and places them in front of S
am.

  “Feel free to pick up any piece. The more it calls to you the better chance it’s the one,” she says, giving him a small grin.

  Sam starts with the pocket watches, he picks one up and rolls it over and over in his hand and then rubbing the smooth metal with his thumb before setting it back down. Then he moves on to the rings, his brow creases and he reaches for a thick banded black gold ring.

  It has a cobalt blue labradorite stone with intricate purple streaks running throughout. He stares at it, running his fingers around the stone and then slips it on his left ring finger. A slow smile crosses his face.

  “Well looks like you have found your focus jewelry, Sammy boy,” I tease, bumping his shoulder.

  We make a few more stops to have Sam measured for his uniforms, pick up his books and grab his bedding and toiletries.

  “Who’s hungry?” Aunt Nellie asks.

  “Me,” we say at the same time. I look around the group and we all start laughing.

  “Great, let’s go. I know this great burger joint just around the corner,” she says leading the way.

  We turn the corner and walk up to a diner. The sign reads “Dreamburger a screaming good time.” It makes me giggle.

  After grabbing our food, the guys push two tables together and we take our seats. I find myself sitting between Max and Ryland.

  This should be interesting. I think to myself.

  “Hi, Ryland; have you enjoyed our little shopping trip?” I ask, popping a fry into my mouth.

  “It’s actually been very entertaining,” he chuckles. “Have you enjoyed today?”

  “It’s been fun but hectic,” I reply, unwrapping my burger.

  Just as I take a bite Max nudges my arm and says, “This is where we should come on our first date.”

  Everyone at the table starts laughing as I almost choke on my burger. Grabbing my drink, I take a couple of sips.

  “Who says I’d go out with you anyway?” I ask trying to playfully deflate his ego.

  “Oh, I’ll wear you down one charming smile at a time,” he says with a cocky little smirk on his face.

  “You sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet,” I respond, rolling my eyes.