TUE?

Chapter Fourteen

Amity Park, Reality:

"Aahh!" Danny screamed, sitting straight up. Supporting himself with his arms, he stared directly ahead of him with wide eyes as his chest heaved up and down in a rush of adrenaline. He closed his eyes and swallowed, his throat burning from dehydration. Falling back down on the bed, he groaned softly as he wiped away the sweat that was dripping from his brow.

The door opened forcefully. "Danny? Honey, what's wrong?" His protective mother asked, running to the side of his bed.

"Mom," he said, exasperated. "I'm fine."

"What was it? Why were you yelling?"

"I was yelling?"

"Loudly," she nodded in affirmation.

Curious, Danny asked, "What was I saying?"

"Oh, something about Mr. Masters. Don't worry, sweetie, he's not here."

"Hmm," he sighed, trying to created the illusion that he didn't really care, that it was all just a dream and he knew it. "Just a nightmare, mom. Nothing's wrong." Turning over on his side so his back faced her, he pulled the covers close to him. "See you in the morning."

Mrs. Fenton wasn't totally convinced, but she knew better than to press her son. "Alright, sweetie," she said quietly, patting his shoulder.

As soon as she had shut the door behind her, Danny rolled back onto his back.

"Just a dream…," he murmured to himself. But it felt so real.

He opened his eyes, looking around his room. All the tension in his muscles disappeared as he took in the familiarity of the space posters, the pictures of friends, his desk, his covers. He had missed this room and in reality, he had never left it. He looked out the window at the full moon that hung low and bright just outside. He followed the light as it fell across his room to the opposite wall, where his desk sat, like always.

That's when he saw it. His heart stopped and jumped into his throat. He could no longer breathe, for when he saw it, the terror he had been feeling all night reclaimed his body. He lay rigid in his bed, his eyes wider than ever.

On his desk, metal surface softly reflecting the moonlight that engulfed it, was a dented, dirty Fenton Thermos.

The End

Or is it just the beginning?

A/N: And you thought this story was a lost cause. Well, I just confirmed it. All I can say is, "Hahahaha."