A voice, there was a voice inside her head. She tried to push down the feeling of panic that was rising within her.

Don't panic child. I've been asleep within your mind for quite some time.

And it was still talking. The voice was almost like a sigh, so quiet, yet she could hear that it had a deep and rough quality to it. She started hyperventilating to calm herself.

Please, please try to be calm.

At once she could feel it. A presence, an entity, something was in the back of her head. She could feel it trying to calm her down, literally feel it's emotions trying to control hers.

Why? Why was this happening?

Once you are calm enough to reason with, I will tell you a story child.

"I am calm, I'm just a little shocked. Forgive me for loosing my head a little." It took her a moment, but she was suddenly giggling at the unintended pun.

Oh will you please try to get a hold of yourself?

Her hysterical giggles eventually died down and she was able to think without panic flooding her thoughts. It seemed that she was stuck with this thing, she could at least hear it's story.

"Okay, tell me the story. And please, tell me if there's a way for you to go away." Leila felt the thing sadden at the request but she heard it start to speak.

I do not know about removing myself from you, but I can tell you how I came to be. Once upon a time there was a man. . . the man could could control nightmares, change dreams into them. . . by using black sand.

He wanted to make the children of the world fear him, he wanted to rule their dreams. . .make them believe in him. He was known as the Boogeyman. . .but his real name was Pitch Black.

He was soon overpowered by the Guardians. You might know of them. . . Santa Claus. . . The Tooth Fairy. . . The Easter Bunny. . . The Sandman. . . and Jack Frost.

"I met Jack Frost, or at least I think I did."Leila interrupted. She couldn't help but add that little tidbit.

Yes. . . his presence actually woke me up from my slumber. . . but on with the story.

Pitch Black was overpowered by these Guardians. He was weakened to such that his own nightmares attacked him and he was trapped in his lair by them. . . I do not know what has become of him, or if he is still alive. . . but he is my creator.

I was a grain of black sand. . .used by Pitch to corrupt children's dreams. . . in his destruction, I was able to get away. . . able to flow on the winds until Jack Frost propelled me into your dream accidentally. . . ten years ago. . .

I would never have stayed. . . but I was tired and your mind was quite comforting, and so I stayed. . . and slept. . . until tonight. . .

"So why can't you leave now?"Leila asked, entranced by it's story.

It appears I've become lodged in your mind over the ten years. . . your memories have created bonds that hold me here now. . . without those bonds I could float away right now. . . as it is, it seems I'm quite stuck. . .

Leila groaned in frustration, what was she going to do? And what was with the shadows? She still had darkness pouring from her hands, and as it fell, it turned into nothingness. Definitely something she couldn't show to her parents, or anyone else for that matter.

Hmm, that is odd. It seems that since I am essentially a part of you, you are able to tap into my power. If you concentrate hard enough, I bet you could make that stop.

Concentrating with all her might, she willed the shadows to stop pouring out of her hands. After a few seconds, the river of shadows dwindled off and finally stopped. Thank heavens.

"You know, it's kinda strange to me to keep referring to you as this thing in my head, what is your name?", she asked.

I do not have a name. None of us did when Father ruled us.

Father is what it must have called Pitch Black, it's creator. "Well then, how about the name of Onyx? Since I'm suddenly able to create shadows out of thin air because of you."

It doesn't matter to me. To simply have a name is quite nice actually.

And it was, she could feel it's approval and gratitude at her politeness.

I suppose I should apologize for getting you into this state.

Leila sighed, "Well hopefully we can find out a way to dislodge you from my mind, no offense but I do not want this to be a permanent arrangement."

She had always known that she was unusual. She was always the student in the back of the room reading a book. Never attracting anyone's attention, in fear of being made fun of, or having nasty names thrown at her. She just didn't know that this unusualness extended to having a disembodied voice in her head.

You have nothing to fear but fear itself child.

She smiled, a tool for a nightmare was telling her that there was nothing to fear, how comical.

At once she was aware of something tapping on her window. She was still sprawled out, leaning against her front door. As she rose to look out of the window in front of her, she was caught off at the image of a familiar boy floating at her window.

"Let me in!", he mouthed to her through the glass.