The Devil Held Him Down
by BatmanSwiss
Summary: Post LBD, MK is having nightmares. Is this just your run-of-the-mill trauma response, or is there something more sinister going on?
Notes: For Charbee.
Disclaimer: I do not own Monkie Kid.
"Dear child. You can rest now, knowing that you served your Destiny."
MK pulled at his trapped staff with every ounce of strength he had left, but it was no use. His hands were numb beneath the icy bone that had climbed to his wrists. Still he pulled, even as it crept up his arms, down his legs, around the back of his skull. The chill was painful now, biting down into his bones. Only his face was free, leaving him unable to look away from the giggling demon above him.
"Rest, child, knowing that everyone you love will soon join you in oblivion."
One last crack of ice, and everything went black.
MK bolted upright. A dream! It was just a dream...
One hand shot out to silence the alarm ringing at his bed side. He ran his free hand down his face, wiping away the sweat that coated his clammy skin.
It had been a month since they had defeated the Lady Bone Demon. So why was she still haunting his nightmares? They should be getting better, he reasoned, not worse!
The young man groaned and shook the last images of his dream from the back of his eyelids. He had to get downstairs, or the very real and not a nightmare Pigsy definitely would kill him.
MK quickly showered and grabbed his things before flying out the door. The nightmare was now just a hazy memory.
As the door slammed shut, the oily smoke which had lingered on the ceiling above MK's bed faded and was gone.
Another week passed, and MK was exhausted.
The nightmares were getting steadily worse. It seemed as though every time he closed his eyes, something horrific awaited him. Most of them centered around the Lady Bone Demon.
For instance, on Tuesday, Mei couldn't control the Samhadi Fire. He had to watch, helpless, as she burned from the inside out. Her screams had echoed through his mind the entire next day.
Yesterday was particularly bad. The Lady Bone Demon had possessed the Monkey King. MK tried to get through to him, but it was no use. With several clones pinning him down, he was forced to watch his mentor slaughter everyone he cared about. Mei, Pigsy, Tang, Sandy, even Red Son. None of them had stood a chance.
The heavy scent of their blood filled his mouth and nose as he went about his day, pretending he was fine.
He hadn't been able to eat anything since, the smell making any food inedible.
And that was the other thing, the young man noted as he sluggishly threw himself on the couch. Nightmares were supposed to disappear when you woke up! But these were so vivid, so incredibly real, that parts of them still lingered while he was awake.
He shook his head and grabbed the remote for the TV. All he wanted to do was sleep. But the young hero was, frankly, terrified at the thought of closing his eyes right now.
MK blinked slowly until the images on the screen came into focus. It looked as though he was just in time for the start of a Monkey Cop marathon. Perfect! he thought. There's no way I'll sleep through this!
He was out before the first commercial break.
Above the brunette's head, a dark cloud of oily smoke formed into a figure. She was old, ancient, her weathered and naked skin translucent. A smile full of sharp, wicked teeth flashed at the sleeping figure below. Such a fine morsel for her to devour.
After one more long, hungry glance at the meal waiting, she descended.