-Staff Room. Time: 4:37 AM-
The slumbering figure began to twitch minutely. His eyes groggily opened, his mind fogged up. He sat up slowly, his eyes glazed over with sleep. He puts his hands on his face and runs them down it. Almost like magic, his weary appearance is gone, an alert and healthy young man put in its place.
Daniel's blazing red eyes travel along the walls. He then pulls the blankets off of his body. He stands up slowly, testing himself. When he isn't hit with a wave of nausea or dizziness, he smiles. He looks around, his eyes scanning the room. His outwards appearance doesn't change, and yet his eyes are sharp and focused. When Daniel doesn't spot anything, he walks over and grabs his shoes. He slips them on, mentally thanking Nightmare with the ability to get recovered so quickly. Nightmare responds back with an insult, amusingly.
Just as Daniel is finishing tying his shoes, a rush of cold air is felt through the room. Daniel's ears prick up, his senses now on alert. He reaches into his magical reservoirs and grabs hold of a small amount of magic. He keeps it channeled within his shoulders, ready to be released if the need arises.
His looks around, watching for the figure that caused the rush of magic. He circles slowly, his ears pivoting in place, searching for any noise. His eyes never linger in one spot, constantly moving. He continues circling for a while longer, and then stops in the middle of the room.
He looks around, wondering as to where the presence went. Suddenly, his back gets goosebumps. He quickly turns around and is met by a horrific sight. Floating slightly off the ground is a black, skeleton like creature. It has a spindly frame, bones prominent in the joint areas. It has three, tentacle like fingers, each having three stripes on top. His torso was like a rib cage. But perhaps the most prominent feature was the face. It was exactly like Marion's old mask, but it was black and white instead of Marion's white, red, and purple. The mouth was lined with small, razor-sharp teeth. It's mouth was set in a malicious grin. Daniel also noticed that it seemed to emit a bluish glow, wisps of blue smoke flowing around its figure.
Just as Daniel gets ready to approach the creature, a warped song comes on.
My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf.
So it stood ninety years on the floor
It was taller by half than the old man himself
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born
And was always his treasure and pride
But it stopped, short never to go again
When the old man died
Daniel shivers involuntarily as the twisted and demonic song washes over him. The song seemed to come from everywhere, and yet Daniel couldn't help but know who is singing it.
Ninety years without slumbering
His life seconds numbering
It stopped, short never to go again
When the old man died
Daniel realized that the song was actually "My Grandfather's Clock". The only difference was the twisted, echoing feel that the creature gave it. This only served to make the song worse.
Nineteen years while wondering
HIs life seconds numbering
It stopped, short never to go again
When the young man died
His ears twitched in response to that part. That wasn't in the original song, he just knew it. His face scrunches up in confusion, wondering what was going on.
Nineteen years while running
His life seconds numbering
It stopped, its strings cut clean
When Daniel's head hit the guillotine
Daniel's eyes widen in response to that last line. The creature has yet to move, and yet it seemed more evil than before. Daniel stares at the figure in shock. Despite his rising fear, Daniel steels himself and straightens himself. "You're Nightmarionne, aren't you?"
The creature doesn't respond, simply grinning at Daniel. Daniel growls. That grin is getting to be annoying. "Answer me!"
The creature once again stays still. Daniel goes to yell again, when he notices something strange. The creature's eyes didn't have the pinpricks of white that he expected. They were completely black, no sign of life in them. Daniel stares for a while more, wondering where the light went.
Suddenly, the creature's head snaps downwards. Daniel jumps back in surprise, not expecting the sudden movement. The creature doesn't move, but Daniel notices something surprising. The eyes had the white in them. It was alive.
Before Daniel can respond, the creature disappears in a cloud of blue smoke. Daniel stares at the spot the creature was in, uncertain how to react.
"You ok kid?"
Daniel nearly yells out in surprise when a voice suddenly hits his ears. He looks around, wondering where it came from. His eyes widen when he doesn't see anyone present.
"In here kid."
Daniel's eyes widen when he registers where the voice is coming from. "Nightmare?"
"Yes, yes. It's me. Now answer the question."
Daniel blinks, then remembers the question. "Oh, right. I'm fine. What was that thing though?"
"That was Nightmarionne, just like you thought. Careful kid, he's getting ready to attack."
Daniel's already wide eyes widen to the size of saucers. "Already?! That wasn't long!"
"Nightmarionne is random at the best of times. He attacked a minute after his first teaser once."
Daniel doesn't respond, simply staring into space. His eyes widen again when he realizes something strange. "Wait. You never reveal this much. What's going on?"
Nightmare growls in response. "Don't get used to it. It's just this time, something big will happen. Something bigger than he's ever done before."
Daniel pauses, unsure how to respond. Eventually, he nods slowly. "I see. Well, I guess I better prepare."
"Damn right you should. If you die, I'll pull you back to earth and punish you."
Daniel shivers, uncertain if Nightmare can hold that threat. It doesn't matter though. If he dies, everyone else will die. No punishment is worse than his friends dying.
Daniel's eyes narrow, his red orbs once again filled with determination. He will make sure his friends don't die, even if he dies in the process.