"Charlotte? Tell me a bedtime story?" Arête asked softly her head nestled into a soft fluffy pillow.
"Alright I'll tell you a true story. Once upon a time not to long ago, there was a little girl who didn't know her name, she had no friends and no family. The only thing she knew was a cold white cell, and the scary people who visited her everyday. The scary people would ask her how she was feeling poke at her and stick her with needles then move on down the empty, white hall. The only thing she had to occupy her mind were her own thoughts and the stories she told herself; wonderful, fantastic stories, full of adventure and freedom. She'd tell herself stories about things she'd never experienced before like the stars in the night sky and the feel of the sun on her face. She was lonely so se'd tell herself stories about having a friend to play with. And she did, his name was Ciar. He would only come at night but they would play for hours, the little girl became nocturnal to play with her one and only friend. Ciar would tell her stories like the ones she told herself. Ciar would tell her stories about gods and goddesses, of ancient wars, and prophecies most people had long forgotten. Ciar would tell her nursery rhymes, he would hug her and comfort her when she cried, and every morning Ciar would sing her to sleep with a lullaby." Charlotte trailed off, her eyes closed her body swaying to an imagined beat, as if she was a storyteller of old. "One day Ciar told her that he could always be with her, if she wanted. She immediately accepted jubilant at the idea that her friend would never have to leave, but just before he could tell her more the door to the cold, white hallway opened spilling light onto the girl. The light temporarily blinded her and by the time she could see again the door had closed with a very final slam. The girl wanted to be very angry, but instead she cried because her friend had left and there was no one to sing her a lullaby tonight." Charlotte opened her eyes and looked at Arête with a small smile and smoothed the coverlet gently. "But the next morning she woke up to the sound of another voice, a second girl had joined her in her hallway. The two girls became friends but the first little girl would always wait up at night to see Ciar, and after a while Ciar again offered to never leave his little companion. He said there were only two things she should take into account, one that she would have powers slowly emerge as he became one with her, and the second was the only drawback, the little girl would go insane. Still without a trace of hesitation the little girl agreed and Ciar never left her side again, and when the little girl cried after her friend in the cell next door disappeared and left her in the dark again. She always talked to Ciar, and he never left her.
And that my little Lullaby is where our tale tonight will end. Goodnight Arête." Charlotte said flipping off the lights in Arête's room, the girl was already asleep her pale blond hair splayed like a halo around her head.
No, Ciar never left the little girls side, and he never will. Will you Ciar? Charlotte asked the shadow who resided in her mind. Her shadow grew and stood, a Cheshire smile splitting its lips.
"No, my dear little Mayhem. I won't ever leave."
