Four nights of the same nightmare. The tin man looked worried.
"What's wrong? Does this mean something?"
"No, shortcake, just reminds me of... Jeb used to have nightmares." Cain breathed a sigh of relief as he covered up his obvious apprehension.
"I don't know what scares me. If anything I should feel annoyed. I just want to find the squeak and get some oil on it. If the windmill squeaked that's what I'd do... or if something rusted..." DG's attention drifted off as she remembered the horrible sound and the feeling of being stalked.
Cain needed to change the subject.
"My nightmares were really simple. When I was growing up there was always a war on. People failed to get along until your grandmother arrived here. I was just worried about my family being killed. Then I was old enough to join the force, I was given many positions in the army and personal guard. The nightmares stopped for while. Then when I married I had dreams I'd fail as a husband and father. There's always new fears to replace the old. You get through them."
"I can fight fear. I just don't know what I'm meant to be afraid of. What do these dreams mean?"
She was right. How do you stop being afraid of something when you don't know what it is?
"When Jeb was younger he used to dream of these giant slugs crushing the house and smothering him. I have no idea what made him think that. I used to tell him that if they did I would be there before they even hit the door... and I'll tell you the same thing. No matter what Deeg, we'll be here to stop it."
"But what if it's not real? What if I'm losing my mind? WHAT IF THIS PLACE IS MAKING ME SICK?" DG had started to panic, her face almost hysterical. The lack of sleep was taking it's toll on her – she needed to get away.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Her head was now buried in her arms as her body slumped against the large wooden table. He took his hand and poked her slightly, her body was dead to the world. He went to give her hair a stroke, touched the crown of her head then took it back. He wasn't there for comfort. He was there to protect. Nothing was going to harm her but he felt helpless if it was something in her mind... he had to talk to her parents.