Breathing.

Silence.

Darkness.

A bright light.

Reaching up, you see yourself in a mirror. You are surrounded by darkness, but feel as if eyes are watching your every move.

Pressure.

You're looking into the mirror and see what you expect to see. Yourself.

Eyes.

Red eye.

They come into view of the mirror. They are squinted and judgmental. They are cold and void of any emotion. You look into the mirror and notice something different. Something about your face is off.

Laughter.

You turn around, but there is no one there. The eyes are gone and the room falls silent once again. Your eyes meet the mirror, and another thing is off about you. Your pupils are null of all color and your face seems oddly pale.

The sound of a drum.

Everything about yourself that seemed familiar is warping and changing right in front of your eyes. Your face is so thin that you can clearly see the bones that make up your skull. Your clothing is becoming too big and shreds to pieces. You're shrinking and falling into an abyss of sound.

The drum beats louder.

Voices.

"You're worthless!"

"You are a disgrace to your family!"

"Please, just end your life now and don't procreate!"

"I hope you do something really stupid and die."

You hit the floor with an unforgiving thud. The falling is over. As you look up you are met with your face. It's much bigger than you are and slightly transparent. It opens its mouth to speak. Its teeth are sharp and its voice is gruff.

"You've disappointed me."

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Simon awoke with a quick jerk. His face was sweaty and he could feel tears in his eyes. His room was pitch black and everything was blurry. What had happened? He couldn't remember what had happened after dinner. When did he get back into his bed? What was going on?

'It was just a dream.'

'I hope you enjoyed the show.'

'You're responsible for this?'

'Perhaps.'

'Why?'

'Maybe you should figure you what it means.'

'I don't know. I don't know! Why are you torching me in my sleep?'

'I thought we've been over this. I am you…'

'Okay, and…'

'I'll let you think about. But for now, I think it's time for you to go to bed.'

'I'm scared…'

'Sometimes you are your own worst enemy.'

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"Simon, wake up!" Dave said shaking him. Just like last night Simon didn't move. Dave sighed. These behaviors were becoming more repetitive than ever, and it worried him. Dave used to never have to wake Simon up in the mornings, but now, quiet frequently, he found himself in Simon's bedroom at least 3 times a week shaking him up.

"Simon, you need to get ready for school." Dave tried again. Nothing.

"Right now, Simon." Dave said sharply. Simon's head shot up at the sound of his tone. He almost let the tears fall when he woke up. That voice. Harsh and gruff… just like his dream… just like the bullies at school. The sound he heard when he was about to be hit. It was void of emotion and cold. It was raw and evil.

"Please don't hit me." Simon managed to squeak out putting his hands over his face as if the defend himself. Dave was immediately taken back from Simon's tone and reaction. What was going on? Simon seemed so skittish. Dave had to do a mental double take.

"Hit you?! Simon, I would never hit you. Or anyone for that matter!" Dave said while raising an eyebrow. Simon seemed to be in a daze. Dave picked up his glasses and gently placed them on his son's face. Simon's eyes jumped around as if they were either trying to focus or look for something.

"I don't feel good." Simon said quietly. Dave put his hands on his face. He did feel warm, but that may have just been because he was under those hot covers. Dave also noticed that Simon half flinched when he brought his hands to his face. Something was wrong, and he needed to get Simon to speak. If Simon wanted play sick, then so be it, but he was going to have to talk.

"You feel warm. I'll go get the thermometer." Dave said getting up from the bed.

'He fell for it...'

'Something's not right…'

'Hush.'

"Here you go." Dave said sitting back down on Simon's bed. Simon placed the thermometer in his mouth pressing his tongue firmly against the metal tip hoping it would heat it up more. There was a brief moment of silence, and Dave took this chance to see if he could read Simon. He knew something was off, but he wasn't quite sure he knew what it was just yet. He knew Simon was mentally weak; that was a fact. But the reason why? Dave had yet to come to a conclusion. The thermometer beeped signaling that it was done. Dave took it out of Simon's mouth and read his temperature as normal, but he wasn't going to tell him that. Not yet anyways.

"100.7. I think you should stay home." Dave said.

'It worked!'

Simon nodded as he laid his head back onto the pillow.

"You know, I think I'll stay home with you today." Dave said getting off Simon's bed. Simon's head shot up. He didn't plan on that. In fact, the last thing Simon wanted was for Dave to stay home. After last night's throwing up incident, he knew that Dave was going to watch him like a hawk.

"You don't have to do that, Dave! Honest! I um… think it's best if you go to work." Simon replied trying to keep his voice steady. He could feel one of his heart start to rapidly beat.

"Nonsense. If you're not feeling well, then I think it's best if I stay home with you." Dave said as he walked out of the teen's room shutting the door softy behind him.

"But-"

'Ooo... ouch!'

'You are a massive twat, you know that?'

'Hm… what like you?'

'That doesn't make any sense.'

'Well, you like boys…'

'Oh shut up! Are you implying I'm on the bottom?'

'We both know it's true. I just love talking with you.'

'I can't say the same.'

'So, figure anything out about that dream.'

'Why don't you just leave me alone and tell me what that meant.'

'Sometimes, in life, you have to work for the answer. They can't be handed to you on a silver platter.'

'You're worse than my English teacher!'

'Am I worse than Nathan?'

'…'

'Maybe we're equals?'

'…'

'I'll let you think about all this for a while.'

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