Prologue
He ran through the dark, damp streets. Everywhere was silence, deafening silence. He ran more. He ran so much that his legs could carry him no more. Where was that assuring buzz which inhabited the city? The constant sound of car engines on the move, the hum of people going about their lives? It was night. There should be the usual bustle of parties and what not. He ran a little more, down a small alleyway, and saw it. Tall, pale and suited in a black clad uniform. It raised its ghastly hand, pointed with those twisted fingers, and then, darkness…
With a scream, the boy woke up. He shook his head to clear his mind, but when that only made the nightmare seem more prominent, he started to cry. He cried for what seemed ages, and soon the nightmare became so vague in his memory that he could hardly remember the thing he'd seen in his sleep by the time his worried parents had dashed through the door and gaped at their sobbing son.
"Joe? Why are you crying? Was it a nightmare you had sweetie?" His mother sat next to him and hugged him tightly. He nodded weakly, but was still unsure as to what the nightmare had been about. He simply sniffed and buried his wet face into his mother's shoulder. Soon, he felt his father's heavy, reassuring hand rest on his back and rub it gently, "do you want to talk about it son?"
Joe shook his head. He still couldn't remember what he'd dreamt about, and if his parents had found out that, then they would scold him for being silly and waking them up. But the nightmare had been scary. He had felt isolated, weak and susceptible to anything in that nightmare. "I think I'll be okay now."
His mother and father exchanged unsure glances. This had been the fourth time in a row. But, not wanting to pressure their son, they nodded, got up, and tucked him into bed.
"Goodnight sweetie. See you in the morning," his mother lightly kissed his forehead and stroked his face. Meanwhile, his father turned the nightlight onto a low setting, ruffled his son's hair fondly, and also said, "Night Joey." Before they both left, leaving Joey to face the faceless nightmares once more.