Chapter Two Calm Before the Storm

The mouse slept through the night

Unaware something was watching him via second sight

The unknown seer cackled with sinister glee

"All Hallo's Eve is the night." The creature said. "I can feel it within me."

Mickey moaned as he tossed and turned in his bed

While dreams are replaced with nightmares in his head

Visions of shadows and sounds of voices plagued his mind's eye

As the moon is shrouded in darkness and time slowly passed by…

Mickey screamed as his eyes shot open. Sweat coated his face and blankets were wrapped around his body. Still half-asleep, he panicked and tried to escape from the folds of multipliable fabrics. Believing he was captured by the entity that was chasing him. He yelped as he fell and landed on the floor with a thud. Shocking him awake in the process.

"Let go! Let go of me!…Huh?"

Mickey opened his eyes again to see nothing but darkness. Mostly because his head was covered by his bed sheets. Yanking it away, he saw he was in his bedroom. He looked around before he slowly got to his feet. Wrapping the sheets around himself as he did since he was freezing. Other then the cold air, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Same old furniture, decor and possessions and all still in their proper places. Leaning against the wall, he took a deep breath in hopes it'll get his heart to slow down a little. When he finally calmed down, he looked down at his alarm clock to see it was 5:40 am. Mickey frowned as he untangled the sheets and blankets and put them back on the bed before heading to the bathroom. He had nothing planned today but he didn't want to go back to sleep. So he might as well get ready for the day.

"Gosh, that was was some weird dream." he said to himself as he got ready for a shower.

He had weird dreams in the past, both on and off the clock, but none like the one he just had recently. After he showered and got dressed, he went downstairs and made some coffee. He didn't feel like eating at the moment. His mind was still on the dream. He stared at his reflection in the mug.

His dream started with him and his girlfriend Minnie walking in the park. It was a beautiful scene with the park and the sky painted with red, orange and gold. The happy mouse couple sat on the hill to watch the sunset when it shift to a long dark hallway. Screams and cries for help filled the air as he started to run. Running because he had to find it. Find it before it was too late. But find what? Mickey thought as he took a swig. What was he running from? What was he looking for and why is it so cold in here? Mickey shivered as a cold draft blew into the kitchen. He walked into the hall to see the window in the living room was open. Grumbling, he went in and looked at the window annoyed.

"So, that's why it's so cold in here." he said as he closed it.

After locking the window, he went to the chair and sat down. Resting the mug on his lap as he did. As he took another swig, his eyes widen as he realized something. He didn't remember opening that window last night. Why would he open it in the first place? It was cold outside and inside he wanted to be warm. He was sitting in the chair, watching the news with his dog Pluto lying next to him when he felt lightheaded and needed some air…

Mickey smiled as he remembered. He opened the window last night because it felt stuffy in the room and he forgot to close it before going to bed. There's no other logical explanation for why the whole house felt like the inside of a freezer.

Mickey stared into empty space for a few seconds before looking out the window. It was still dark out even though it's around seven am. That's no surprise since it's autumn and all. Nights are longer and colder this time of year. Pluto was still asleep in his doghouse. Hidden under his blanket as he slept. Things are normal so far.

Other then the weird dream.

Voices. Dark hallways. In a hurry to find it. Find it? Find what?

Mickey leaned back and closed his eyes. It was his day off today so he had nothing else to worry about. Other then the dream and the invitation. The invitation. Mickey's eyes shot open. He got up and went to the table in the hall. He remembered placing the invite there before going to bed. Sifting through the opened mail, he found it. Slowly, he turned it over. Half-expecting to see the words shift into something scary or….

Riinngg!

Mickey yelped and dropped the invitation. When he calm down a bit, he realized it was his phone. Cautiously, he answered it. Afraid of who it might be.

"Hello?" He said nervously.

"Happy Halloween…Huh? Are you ok?"

Mickey sighed in relief. It was just Minnie.

"I'm fine, Minnie." he said while trying to calm his frazzled nerves.

"You didn't forget that we're going to put up our Halloween costumes today did you?"

"What? No, no,no….I just…" he stopped. He couldn't say I had a nightmare and can't get it out of my head. He had to think of something.

"I couldn't sleep last night."

"Oh, me neither. I'm looking forward to this year's Halloween party. See you at eight."

Click.

Mickey hung up and groaned. He forgot another outing with his girlfriend yet again. I thought after all these years he would remember these things by now. He took another swig, made a face and spat the coffee and the grinds back in the mug.

"Note to self: get a new brand of coffee filters."

A few minutes later, Mickey left to pick up Minnie. Trying to hide the fact he forgot about their day at the mall in the process. The last thing he needed was to get into an argument. He had a lot on his mind right now. Like the dream, the invitation for another Halloween party…

"Mickey, look out!"

"Huh?…ahhh!"

And not getting hit by an incoming truck. He quickly steered out of the way. Nearly missing the truck's front bumper. Once he got back on the right side of the road, he stopped the car. While Mickey was shock by the incident. Minnie was furious.

"Mickey Mouse, what's wrong with you?" she snapped. "this isn't like you. You've never had your head in the clouds like this before. Especially while you're driving."

"I know, Minnie. I know." Mickey said his eyes still on the road and heart beating a mile a minute. "I just…"

"Been having trouble sleeping?" Minnie finished sarcastically. "Yeah, you mentioned that already."

"I'm not joking." Mickey said in defence. "It's just…"

"What?"

"Hey, guys." The mice turned to see Daisy and Donald Duck walking towards them. Mickey mentally sighed in relief. Save by the bell.

"Hi, guys." Mickey greeted. "What are you up to?"

"We're going to my house to put the finishing touches on Donald's costume."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Donald grumbled.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad."

"I look like a freak in it!"

Ignoring her boyfriends complaint, she said to Minnie.

"So what are you two doing?"

"We're picking up our costumes at the mall." Minnie answered. "We ordered from the catalogue this year."

"Oh, Minnie. A store bought costume is not the same as one made by your own two hands. Come on, Donald."

Minnie frowned at the duck couple as they left. Daisy was always a show off but she always put up with it for some reason.

"I might as well forget about going."

"Oh come on, Minnie." Mickey said. "You know how Daisy is. What she's making for Donald can't beat what we're going to wear tonight."

"You don't know what's she's making for him."

"Neither do you."

Minnie thought for a minute then smiled. "You're right. Let's go get those costumes."

"That's the spirit." He started the car and their were on their way to the mall.