You were breathing hard, having backed yourself into a corner of your room at this point. It was so dark. Too dark. You actually weren't even sure if you were breathing at all.

Oh look at how scared you are, it's simply delicious.

You wanted to scream. You wanted to run. You wanted to cry. You wanted to give up. You wanted anything but to be here right now.

"Why don't you just go away! Leave--
Leave me alone!!" You frantically begged the creature. But of course, it was all in vain.
It only laughed once more, such a sound ringing around in your head as well as the room itself.

-------------------------------------------------

Nightmare stood up now, walking over to stand in front of the tree. He had no problem seeing it as his eyes were always used to very low lighting. He wasn't sure why but he felt the need to turn towards the town for a moment, his gaze in the general direction of where your house was.
He was thinking of you again.

After a moment of looking and a little longing, he turned toward the tree again. He stared at it, no where in particular. The wind rustling through the leaves gently. The sound only mildly comforting to him.

No one was around. Dream had yet to return and Nightmare knew that it sometimes took a while for dream to heal people, especially if they were extremely ill.
Maybe he could try now?
There's no harm in trying, right?

So why couldn't he do it?

If this was supposed to do nothing but good for him, why is he hesitating so much?

Nightmare clenched his jaw and slight frustration. This was just another hopeless idea for him. Nothing but another stupid wish that would never come close to coming true. Sighing as he went back to sit by the tree, he looked out towards the town again. His Soul ached. It longed. It wept. He just wanted to be accepted. To at least be liked by the people. What did he ever do that was so wrong in the first place?

Light, translucent purple tears dripped onto his hands before he even realize he was crying. He looks down at where they fell, now feeling more of them build up in his sockets. It was then that he felt an overwhelming wave of sadness and despair crash into him.

However, since no one was around, he let it happen. He cried silently at first but the longer he let himself go, the longer the tears trailed down his face and he was left shaking due to how hard he was crying. He screamed a couple times so he moved his hands to cover his mouth.
He was just a poor little soul in pain.
And in this moment, it hurt so much.
-------------------------------------------------

You have to get out of here. You didn't know how but you just had to. The spirit had since gone silent once it stopped laughing but you knew very well it was still here, you could feel it.

Using the wall behind you, you shakily slid up along it to stand. Once on your feet, you slowly and carefully make your way to the door. Maybe if you could at least just get out of your room....

Even though the house had fallen completely silent now, your head continue to replay the spirit's haunting laugh over and over and over again. You weren't even sure if it was really you anymore or if the spirit had to come back to torment your mind again. Either way, it didn't stop or help much as you were struggling to get to the door. You've never felt so scared before. You felt like you were carrying the weight of several chains. The very fact that you were having such a hard time walking only scared you more. What was happening to you?

You fumbled with opening the door but once it was open you quickly pushed yourself through it. Having used so much force to get out of the room, you collapsed on the floor below you. At least you were out. There were more windows in your living room so some of the light from the stars and moon outside came in. It managed to calm you down a bit and you noticed that the laughing in your head had stopped.

You laid there for a moment, finding yourself unable to really move. You kept trying but the most you could do with twitch your fingers, move your head a bit, and slightly shift your legs. Why was this so hard?? With so much happening within the short amount of time you've been home, your entire body gives a shiver before you let out a scream. A scream that, while not high in pitch, gave off a sound of complete despair. Seemingly having nothing else to be able to do, the only thing you could do was scream. The fear from earlier had let up just a bit but the weight you felt was still there. It just wouldn't go away despite the spirit that caused it having fallen silent.

You gasped for air slightly, still trying to move to get up again, eventually being rewarded by slowly being able to sit up. The tears welling up and distorting your vision were the least of your concerns as you gasped for air more often. It seemed that you depleted your lungs of it while sitting up.
----------------------------------

He couldn't decide.

Nightmare looked up at the tree yet again. Now was probably one of the only times he could do this. This chance was so perfect.
What if it worked?

If it works and he didn't take this chance, he could possibly deny himself of what he so desperately wanted.

What if it didn't work?

Well, he wasn't too sure what would even happen if he was wrong. Maybe nothing too bad.

As the last of his tears slid down his face, he continued to fight with himself, causing him further frustration.
Why couldn't he just do it?
Just do it.

Just do it.

He growled slightly at himself as he stood up, eyeing the tree as it continued to just stand there as it always had.
He was going to do it.

He blatantly ignored any and all inner protests he had now. This was going to be a good thing. This was going to help. He wouldn't have to worry anymore.

No more pain, no more tears, no more isolation.
No more....anything

He reached up, his skeletal fingers almost delicately grazing the golden apple as he grabbed it, giving it a gentle tug to free it from the tree, the smallest of hopeful smiles on his face.

That's where it all went wrong.

----------------------------------

The door was so painfully close.
Your heart ached as you were able to practically crawl your way towards the door. Still weighed down by the fear of this entire situation you were in, another heavy exhale from you lungs convinced you to take a small rest.

Give up

You closed your eyes and let yourself lightly fall into a laying position, moving your hands over your face while trying to take a few more relaxed breathes.

It will be easier if you just give up

You felt an almost overwhelming exhaustion come over you, your will quickly whittling away under it. More tears effortlessly slid down along your face as you lay there. You were so tired.

Your breathing started to slow down a bit, effectively calming you down enough to the point where you almost felt like sleeping. The weight from earlier, remained there, but it became comforting in a way, your eyes slowing opening a little once more as you moved a couple of your fingers to look at the blurry outline of the door.

Soon, you won't have to worry about so many things anymore

It was just after that thought when the door you were looking at suddenly flew open.

Startled by this, your eyes widened quickly and you curled yourself into a ball defensively.

"Y/N?!"

It was Michael.

He quickly dropped the heavy bat he used to open your door, dropping to his knees besides you, trying to look you over for any possible injuries.

You panicked at first and resisted, your fearful mind taking a few seconds to realize it was someone you knew. Settling down a bit, you stop resisting and look at him, not sure how to feel.

"Y/N, oh gosh--
I heard you scream and I just wanted to make sure you were ok‐-
I promise I'll fix the door later-
Are you ok?"
He spoke rather quickly, sighing slightly in relief when he couldn't find and injuries on you.

After just a few seconds of you being silent, he looked around the still relatively dark home, firming his lips a bit as he moved to pick you up, carefully taking you outside while he waited for any response from you.

"I...I'm not too sure. And I don't really want to say."
You spoke after another moment, Michael having set you down on one of your steps besides him, sitting you up by supporting your back with his arm.
You were too tired to do anything.

"Well...whatever it was, I hope I didn't show up too late." He spoke worriedly, pushing his glasses up with his free hand as he looked up at the stars before looking back over at you.

"When I heard a scream, I got a really bad feeling and so I ran out to try and see where it came from. Once I figured out it came from your house, I had to help you."
He paused for just a moment, looking around slightly as a mix of a fearful and worried expression took over.

"But even though I have you out here and you're ok...
I still feel like something bad is coming."

You continued to sit there as his words sunk in a little. You felt like you had to see someone.
You knew who it was.

You wanted to see Nightmare, you just had to go see him. You wanted to tell him so many things. You had to.
Before it's too late.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heya guys,
Been a while, I know-
Terribly sorry for that.

It was my birthday today so I decided I simply had to give you guys something on such an important day.
Thanks to all of you for sticking around as long as you have.

Anyways, thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter, see ya~!