"Tip?"
I look up and grin as Mom walks into my room. Mom!" I say. She smiles gently at me.
"Tip...I want to ask you something."
"Anything," I reply.
"Are you sleeping okay?"
I freeze.
No, I haven't. I haven't been sleeping okay. Mom, there's this weird guy in my dreams who has pale grey skin and silvery-gold eyes and he wears black robes and we just stand there, having a staring contest until I ask him his name and I hear an inhuman scream and then I wake up. It's the same dream and I'm afraid it might be a nightmare. Mom, he's threatening me. He's scaring me and I don't know what to do. I think it might be to do with the fact that I fear him.
However, I don't say that. Instead, I say:
"Yeah, I'm fine," and smile. This time she doesn't believe it.
"Tip, I've heard whispering from your room, and I'm scared that it isn't your voice, it's someone else's."
"Whispering?"
"Like...like..." she sighs. "This is going to sound stupid."
"No, it won't, I promise. Not to me, anyway," I reply.
"...The Boogeyman. That one man that strikes fear even in the bravest of hearts. I was so scared of him as a child and...I don't want you to go through the same thing as I did."
"Mom...what do you mean?"
"He used to visit me in my dreams. I'd always ask questions about him, but he'd disappear as soon as I'd open my mouth. Tip, I'm scared for you."
"Nothing's there Mom. I promise," I smile.
"Alright darling." She smiles, kissing my forehead and hugging me. "Goodnight."
"Night," I smile. I watch her walk out of my room and close the door.
As soon as she does so, I get changed and jump into bed.
New information gives me a plan, always. And mine is to make sure I overcome my fear.
So. Time to get started.
I land in my dream, hitting the ground. I get up and I'm met with the same man. We stare at each other. Again, it's a contest. I look into his silvery-gold, unblinking eyes and say, "Don't run away this time."
He raises an eyebrow, then opens his mouth and speaks.
"Me? Run away?" He laughs.
(It's creepy as hell.)
"Well, yeah. And I'm pretty sure you're not human either."
"Correct." He grins, showing his needle-sharp teeth.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"I'd like to think the 'WHAT' rather than the 'who'."
"Well then, WHAT are you?"
"Figure it out yourself." He disappears.
I wake up. It's morning; the sun shines through the curtains and I sigh irritably, sitting up in bed.
"Seriously? I ask you a question and you don't answer it?" I ask. "Urgh."
After eating breakfast, I get changed and say goodbye to Mom.
I rush out the door.
