CHAPTER 7: TO USE FEAR YOU MUST KNOW IT
He tried and failed again, and again, and again….
Finally after two other hours Pitch let the sandman take a break…Sandy's body ached as well as his sand…he felt like collapsing and felt a very painful stomach-ache…this all was followed by the fact that he was getting weaker by the seconds that passed but not as fast as before…he thought it was thanks to his progresses…
Sandy noticed that Pitch was approaching him and instantly got up
"I figured out the problem!" Pitch said as Sandy made a question mark on his head as a response…but Pitch didn't answer…instead he tuckled the sandman to Earth and kept him restrained as the other used his voice
"what are you doing?" he asked as Pitch thought
"the problem is…" he said getting closer until he was whispering in the dream-maker's ear "you never felt fear" Pitch finished earning a shudder from the creature beneath him at the low tone of his voice
"so therefore…before creating a nightmare…" Pitch's serious expression turned to one of delight "you'll have to have one!" he said as Sandy shook his head in negation
"I don't want to…" Sandy half-pleaded
"I didn't ask for your permission..." Pitch said using his hand to move around his black sand…the sand twisted and sparkled in hunger at the poor man beneath his king that only waited to be attacked…
"no I-I don't want to…." Sandman repeated feeling a strange feeling up to his chest…one he already felt long time ago when his star-ship was attacked by the nightmare king…it was not anger, sadness or rage….it was the beginning of fear, that spread in all his body like an infection while Pitch's smile grew wider by the seconds that passed…
"oh…is that fear I sense?" taunted the Bogeyman as Sandy closed his eyes trying to ease that feeling
"don't fight it" began Pitch "use it" he finished…his voice like a whisper in Sandy's head that blacked him out…it was not a restful sleep, for it was poisoned by that nightmare….yes that one…
Sandy dreamed of that time his ship collapsed on earth…all the fear he felt that time was nothing compared to the current feeling.
He dreamed…he was piloting his star granting the wishes of all beings in the universe…even the ones of the man in the moon…suddenly everything became very dark as he noticed Pitch, the king of nightmares, attacking his ship…he'd heard of that man…Kozmotis Pitchiner…long time ago a general, and now his worst foe…the one that had killed a lot of star-pilots along with their ship and family and now was trying to kill him!
He tried to avoid him but there was no chance…Pitch charged with his nightmares and Sandy fought and fought to keep control of his star that eventually fell into the ocean on planet Earth. The last thing he remembered were the laugher of the nightmares and his fear…the first time he ever felt it…
He got out from the water gasping for breath….to reach the sand of what was supposed to be his star, now resembling a gold island.
He created a gold-sand pillow and sat on it catching his breath…
It all felt so real…Sandy knew this was a nightmare but it was like it was really happening.
Sandy began turning and tossing around as well as trembling under Pitch's close attention of awe…he was enjoying how, the guardian of dreams, was having a nightmare…it was very funny to him and he was going to make it even more enjoyable…
Suddenly a dark laugh was heard as Sandy got up instantly looking around, for his fear was still present and vivid.
"what a wonderful fear…" Pitch said emerging from the shadows in front of Sandy who was so scared that didn't dare to move
"is it your first time you feel fear, dear star?" Pitch asked as the other stood still "I take it as a yes…" the Bogeyman finished forming his scythe in his hands
"sorry…but I have to kill you.." Pitch said getting closer to the little man who trembled even more at his sight
Sandy's scream made Pitch almost jump from surprise. Sandy kept saying nonsense and cry…he wanted to wake up and his gold sand, sensing this, was rising on instinct to turn the nightmare back in a dream…but Pitch had other plans…
"oh no you don't!" Pitch said putting a hand onto the dream-maker's chest "you're going to live it until the end" he finished using another amount of black sand to keep the golden one at bay while watching the little man and preparing to end the nightmare…
The two figures fought…Sandy was tired and scared and that only made Pitch stronger…after a while of fighting Pitch caught the sandman by his neck with a black whip and pinned him into the wall of golden sand behind him keeping him in place as he got close to him with his scythe..
"okay now…your true fear and then I'll wake you" Pitch began as Sandy's breaths were now really quick and irregular
Sandy was really scared and didn't dare to move if not for trying to ease the pressure made by Pitch's whip on his neck
"time to end this!" Pitch said and pratically stabbed Sandy with his weapon making him gasp at the sudden pain…he looked down only to see his body slowly turning to black and his island fade with him…the last thing he felt was Pitch's laughter on the background and the growing terror inside of him…
Sandy woke up groaning…it hadn't been a great sleep…he was all sweat and confused
He kept his head and moaned in discomfort while taking note of Pitch standing above him with a happy smile…
"take it easy little man" said Pitch as the sandman got to his feet "you just woke up from a nightmare…" Pitch finished as Sandy looked at him in mixed hate and anger
"yeah…thanks for giving that to me…" Sandy ironically said as Pitch laughed "you're welcome" he said as Sandy's gaze threw daggers at Pitch.
