The Phantom Nightmaren

Chapter 6

Chai Dream Latte

Helen was in her same clothing as last night, and her hair was a mess, which seeing that was layered to the extreme, it was more of a mess than usual. Yet Helen had her electric violin, and had it on her chin for a sound check.

"Okay, soundcheck!" Natalie called out.

Helen played a few notes, but then there was a huge crackling through the speakers.

"Sorry, let me see what's wrong," Natalie played around with the room's sound, "now try again!"

Helen played a few more notes, and that went very well.

"Play Clockwork Girl!" Natalie cried out in excitement. She played the begining part of the dubstep portion of the song, so Helen had no choice.

Helen began to play as she danced around in a mechanical way. Granted, it was better when she played in front of the Bellbridge Clocktower, but it was still fun.

When Helen played the last note, Natalie ran across the room as she clapped her hands, "awesome!"

"Yeah, things are kind of looking up," Helen mentioned.

"Yeah, you're getting a lot of album sales, you're engaged, and now you have that contract with Claris? Things are awesome!"

Helen frowned, "No, I'm not engaged, those are just nasty rumors."

Natalie rolled her eyes, "oh, like those nasty rumors that your fiance leaked a chapter of Into Dreams?"

Ah, so word is going around already? These things travel fast, but Helen isn't liking that Natalie doesn't believe them, "Jackle is the sort of folk to leak such information. He does have hacking skills."

Natalie stuck her tongue out in disgust, "if Jackle hacked into Elliot's computer, and found his book, then why didn't he leak the entire book?"

Helen shrugged, "maybe he's planning to leak it one chapter at a time? Jackle does want a lot of attention."

Natalie shook her head, "No, if a hacker gets an entire book, then he would share the entire thing. It's usually only a matter of time before they get caught."

"Well, no one said that Jackle was smart," Helen shrugged, "he may know a lot about music, but he's wrong in the head."

Natalie giggled then adjusted her hat, "Okay, I'll give you that."

Jackle floated into the gaming room where some people were dealing some cards.

These black and white cards appealed to Jackle. It was so simple. Jackle was dealt a deck, and it had some risque sentences.

A man who Jackle recognized as Erik Erikson dealt out a black card, "The newest YouTube challenge will the Blank Challenge."

Jackle supposed that he had to play a card that would make a good challenge for YouTube. Jackle played the best card and placed it.

Erik looked at the cards being played, then he laughed, "The Dead Parents Challenge?"

Everyone laughed at the horribleness this card would imply.

Erik snorted some more, "whose card is this?"

"Mine," Jackle said as he had to laugh himself.

"Wow, you're really twisted," Erik became red with laughter, "I bet Helen laughs at your jokes all of the time."

Jackle smiled, "oh yes she does."

Helen wasn't the only one who had musical advice from Jackle. After Claris got Jackle back in Nightmare, they began to converse. Conversing turned into Jackle reading Claris' work. Reading Claris' work has turned into critique. Critique has turned into better work. Better work has turned into a stage production. A stage production with very good reviews, and Jackle felt like he needed something for that help.

Of course, ever since Claris' recent success, she hadn't had time to go to Nightmare. She had a second play to write, she was a senior in college, and she had a lot of parties to go to since she was the talk of the musical and goth community.

Of course Claris slept. So Jackle found his way to her nightopia to ask for something in return.

Claris was playing with the Nightopian's of Soft Museum, when she was suddenly grabbed and fell into a boat. The boat was rowed by Jackle who stood with an intent on his face.

Claris didn't dare speak, since for the first time in years, she was scared. She began to lose her breath, and from an attempt to breath came a series of rapid and short breaths. Claris couldn't control it at all. The clear blue Awakers quickly try to grab her, chittering from urgency as though they needed to get her out of this space immediately. Yet the Awakers were quickly defeated by Jackle's throw of the cards. They exploded from a black smoke. There was no way for Claris to get out of this now.

The boat stopped to a space where there were candlelights everywhere with rose petals on the floor. An organ was in the middle of it all.

Claris stepped off the boat to look around the space. She saw a bed, a kitchenette, and a few utilities. "Do you live here?"

Jackle smiled "why yes, and for compensation for your successful play, you will too!"

Claris was silent. Why would Claris live with Jackle? A Visitor has no space to permanently live in the Night Dimension. Claris being able to go to that space was pushing it enough. Why was this compensation for her successful play? Can't a friend help another friend? "Why?"

It was the question she asked. Her mind was boggled, so it was all that she could ask. Why?

"Because I helped you become a successful playwright and composer. Shouldn't I get something in return?"

"I thought we were friends," Claris muttered.

"Yes, and friends do stuff for each other. I helped you, and now you shall live with me."

"This isn't how it works!" Claris cried out. She kneeled onto the ground. She was in such deep trouble that she repeated to herself "wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up!" The clear blue Awakers appeared again, they grabbed Claris as she floated towards to conscious state. At least until Claris felt a card hit her and she fell onto the hard ground.

"You aren't waking up, ever!" Jake growled.

Claris couldn't wake up. This couldn't be happening. Claris had classes to take, her vlog to shoot, parties to go to. Just because Claris' life got better meant she had to leave her world. Even if the world she frequently visited helped her got to that spot.

Helen stood in the back of Conference Room A as Elliot was reading an excerpt of his new book.

Nightmare was a world without change. Fear was concise and thus, is constant. NiGHTS was bored of continuity and wanted everything to be changing, just like the ways Visitors were with their Ideya.

Helen wondered how NiGHTS would feel if she learned that she was the protagonist of a book. NiGHTS may learn this from the younger visitors that have read the book. Maybe even give more visitors hope, just like Elliot has been doing the entire time.

Elliot had finished the chapter, then he addressed "now, some of you may have read that already."

There was chatter amongst the room.

"According to Ian, this chapter has been leaked due to a hack of my personal Google Docs account. Yet Ian has found the perpetrator, who is no other than Jackle."

Smoke appeared on the stage as strobe lights flickered. Suddenly appeared was Jackle in a silver mask that resembled a skull, "Why would I show the world your unfinished work if it's nowhere near the masterpiece of mine?"

There were cheers.

Helen was about to leave Conference Room A, when something was mentioned.

"I shall accompany this masterpiece with my fiancé and my ex fiancé."

"Wait? Ex fiancé?" Ian cried out, "there was another?"

Elliot looked down and sighed "if you counted Claris Sinclair, then yes."

"Why didn't you tell me Claris was engaged?" Ian cried out.

"It was in 2003, we were out of contact then."

Helen had to walk onto the stage. Helen still looked slobbish. With her uneven hair put up into a messy ponytail, a pink jacket that was wrapped around her shoulders, a Tshirt that was sold at her booth, and black leggings. Everyone stared Helen down as she walked.

Helen got on stage and looked at Jackle, "you really want me to play your masterpiece?"

"Of course, you do have my full devotion." Jackle looked at his hand as if everything was obvious, "the genius behind The Divine Opera doesn't have much choice either."

"Oh, we have our choices." Helen screamed. "We are Visitors, not slaves!"

Elliot stood up as well, "we are visitors!"

Ian didn't know what was going on, but he also stood up "We are visitors!"

"Shut up Ian," Jackle snarled, "your musical career has full attribute to me."

"But it still gives no means to harass me," Helen's face was red with anger, "if Claris and I play your song at the end of my concert, will you leave us both alone?"

"I'll never leave you alone," Jackle floated up high. Everyone screamed from the fact Jackle could fly, "but I'll let you stay in the Waking World while we are married."

Helen took a deep breath, "fine!"

"Then it's a deal! We shall practice now!" Smoke appeared again and they both disappeared.

Even my Ideya can't control.

My heart's fear that it pulls.

This agreement is one sided.

Only to realized it's something minded.

This convention's phantom is winning.

My fate, for good, is now kindling.