Disclaimer: I don't own Sharkboy and Lavagirl (movie or characters) but I do own Skyler (who you'll meet later).

Chapter 1

More darkness. Of course there's more darkness. What kind of Sharkboy and Lavagirl fic would this be without darkness? A normal one, I'll tell you that. But this kind of darkness isn't your average 'I'm-so-evil-and-I'm-going-to-destroy-the-entire-planet' darkness, this is the kind of darkness that only appears in your nightmares. And nightmare darkness is far worse than evil darkness.

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Darkness stalks its prey at night like death stalks a living soul. It will wait patiently until the time is right. Then it will slowly creep upon you and snap the trap. Then you are heard from no more. But not this time, this time Max had a plan, for he knew the only thing that darkness feared: light. But this time, 'Light' wasn't with him. He hadn't seen Lavagirl or Sharkboy for almost a year now. So 'Light' was not on his side at all. But he had hope that they would come.

The darkness had begun to surround him. It had happened so fast he didn't even notice that it had moved until it began to attack him. "You can not defy me!" it said with a deep croaky voice.

"You're wrong!" Max yelled, "Sharkboy and Lavagirl will be here!" He looked around. They were no where to be found. Sharkboy couldn't come anyway. Max was in a barren wasteland without the slightest hint of water for miles and the darkness had covered up every ounce of light that was available so Lavagirl wouldn't be there either.

The darkness began to crawl up his body so he couldn't move. They would still come…wouldn't they? Max thought. But, unfortunately, whatever he thought would be heard aloud so everyone listening could hear it. His powers were useless in this case.

"Oh I don't think they'll be coming to help you any time soon." the darkness said.

It swiftly began to wrap its shadows around Max's chest and neck. "Help me." Max whispered hoarsely. It started squeezing him tighter and tighter and moved up to the tip of his head turning Max's body into a useless blob of darkness, then BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP, BEEP-BEEP.

--

Max jolted out of bed, body covered in sweat. He breathed a sigh of relief. "It was only a dream." he whispered to himself. He looked at his clock. 'WAKE. UP. MAX.' is what it read. He groaned. "I don't want to go to school today." he said and sluggishly got out of bed.

He grabbed his backpack and tiredly walked into the kitchen where his parents were drinking coffee. He was still wearing his pajamas. "Why on earth are you sill wearing your pajamas, Max?" Max's mom asked him.

Max looked at his clothes. "Huh? Oh, I guess I'm just out if it today." he said and turned around to go back to his room.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Max's mom said gently. Max stopped.

"I've been having nightmares lately." he said.

"You know what nightmares are right," Max's dad said, "nightmares are just your body telling your mind that something big is about to happen." (A.N.—I'm just making that up.)

"Max, is there something that you're worried about?" Max's mom asked him.

Max's eyes widened. "MY PROJECT!" Max yelled. He quickly raced to his room to get ready (properly) for school.