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/ Night Terrors / Story: What's Lurking In The Shadows / by Script Singer /-/

I jumped at the sound of a knock at my door. I slowly walked down the stairs to answer it. I opened the door, finding my dragon friend, Flame Flare with a bag of food in her claw.

"Hey, Script!" She said. "I figured since you didn't come, we could bring you your favorite meal!"

I took the food from her claw. "Thanks, Flare!" I said with a forced smile. "You wanna come in?"

Flare nodded as she entered my house. I walked into the kitchen placing the food on the table then grabbed a plate and fork, then pulled the food out of the bag.

"Where's your sweater?" Flare asked. I never seemed to take it off before now.

"It's a little too hot for me today, it's in my closet." I lied.

"Oh, okay then!"

I just poked at the food on my plate, unable to eat it. It almost felt disgusting to look at. It took everything inside of me not to throw up.

"Script?"

I jumped at the sound of my name, nearly falling out of my seat. I looked up, finding Flame Flare with a worried look on her face.

"Hey, you doing alright?" She asked.

"I said I'm fine," I say slightly annoyed.

"You just seem super jumpy today."

"I just didn't sleep too great last night, that's all…" I fibbed.

"Script, I'm getting really worried about you."

I threw my fork in frustration. "I said I'm fine!"

I instantly regretted saying those words to her in that tone. Flame Flare is one of my super sensitive friends and does not like to be yelled at. I watched as tears flooded her eyes as she began to whimper softly.

"Flare, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice… I'm just tired, that's all."

Flare wiped a tear from her face. "It's alright, I shouldn't have pushed you so far."

"No, I shouldn't have yelled in the first place. I'm just not myself today I guess." I walked over to my friend and gave her a hug.

"I understand."

"Can you maybe spend the night…?" I muttered. "I just don't feel safe right now…"

"Sure, is everything alright?" She asked with a worried look on her face.

I looked down as my ears folded back. "I… I don't know..."

Flare just reached out her claw to my shoulder. I jumped slightly at her touch but quickly calmed down. "Well, I'm here if you wanna talk about it."

I looked up at her as a soft smile grew on my face.

I walk calmly down the street on my way home from a night out with some friends. I silently hummed to myself as I walked down the new street that got to my house. I then heard a low chuckle, bringing me to a halt. I turned around looking up, finding a looming shadow before me.

I turned around, running away as fast as I could.

"Come here, pretty flower…" A voice growled.

"Please, just leave me alone!" I screamed.

I turned a corner only to find a dead end. I turned around facing the monster before me. I cowered in fear as he grew closer, chuckling to himself. I shut my eyes tight as he stood inches in front of me, licking his lips.

"P-Please, don't hurt me…" I whimper.

I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs, tears and sweat dripping down my face. Flame Flare jolted awake, looking at me in concern.

"Script, what's wrong?" She asked.

I only curled into a ball as I sobbed into my hooves, my body shaking. Flame Flare just walked over and sat on the edge of my bed. She began to softly run her claw against my back.

"What happened?"

I struggled to speak, unable to find my words, just mumbling things in-between sobs. Flame Flare just talked to me calmly as she tried to bring me back to reality. Finally, after a few minutes, I spoke up.

"I had a nightmare..."

"About what?" She asked calmly.

I wanted to tell her what happened to me that night. I wanted to tell her how that stallion invaded my body and took away something that was a part of me. But I couldn't, I didn't know-how.

"Script, please. You can tell me."

I couldn't keep it in any longer. "I got raped..." I sobbed.

Flame Flare let out a gasp. "By who?"

I only winced at the memory. Flame only wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. But Script, I'm so sorry that happened to you."

"Flare..." I said. "What am I g-going to do...? I can't go on like this... I'm terrified... I'm so afraid!" I buried my face into my friend's chest. "I felt so helpless afterward, not remembering anything... Why can't I just know what happened, what he did to me?"

"Script, I think this was a good thing."

I looked at her with a glare. "How is getting raped a good thing?!"

"I didn't mean it like that, I meant the memory. You said you have trouble remembering what he did to you, right?" I nodded. "Think of it as a blessing. Tartarus, if that happened to me, I would want to forget it."

"That doesn't change how I feel now..." I muttered.

"All I'm trying to say is it's gonna be okay. You're gonna get through this."

"How do you know that everything's gonna be fine...?"

"I don't. But I do know you're strong." Flare smiled as she wiped the tears off of my face.

"So… What's gonna happen now…?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, but I do know that I'll be here to help you along the way."

I smiled slightly as I snuggled up against my friend as I felt my eyes grow heavy. Flare pulled the blanket over us as I felt relief wash over me and finally found peace. I felt her wrap her arms around me as she hugged me tightly as I fell asleep.