I went the rest of the day thinking about it. It was trapped in the back of my mind, 'I saw nightmare sand.' I tried to ignore it, but no matter how hard I tried it just kept popping up.

So call me curious. After walking home, I had my usual snack then did homework. Only a week left of school then I would be free, free for Christmas holidays.

I just hoped it snowed in between then. For some reason, jack wasn't coming to Stratford. I kept thinking maybe its revenge for me not playing in the snow last year.

I'm sorry Jack. I promise I'll go in it more this year, I even have a snowsuit. It's red and brown.

If you haven't caught on, I like red. It makes me feel warm, happy, dangerous, adventurous, more like a fox (I love those guys.), plus it's a holiday color, something to celebrate.

Anyway, after homework, I helped with chores and had supper, and then I watched a movie. Rise of the guardians seemed appropriate. It's what made me start believing in those guys again, plus maybe it could figure out my problem.

After watching it, I made a sigh of despair. Nightmare sand couldn't have fallen in my eye, it has to happen for you to get a nightmare, and if more fell in you just sleep longer.

I was over-reacting.

I shouldn't worry. Even if it did mean something, it probably wouldn't affect me. The guardians only protect children, and pitch only goes after children.

I'm not a child anymore. I'm a youth. I'm perfectly safe.

Boy, I was way off.

That night I couldn't fall asleep. I was afraid I would get a similar nightmare. Even though I kept telling myself I was going to be fine, I was still a little scared for some reason.

Everyone in the house was asleep, even all of the mice in my older brother, Adam's, mouse farm. He was 3 years older then me, but he still had a childish side. He loves mice and believes in everything we do, except the boogeyman.

I had to go to the bathroom, really bad, but I didn't want to wake anyone up. I was going to take a while. So, I hugged teddy, told him to stay hidden and I'd be back as soon as I can.

I pulled off the covers. I was in my red and grey flannels, red top, grey pants. I carefully stepped onto the floor, trying not to make a sound.

I stood up, trying not to make a sound. I reached for the handle to my door, thinking of a way not to make a sound. That's when my nightmares, came alive, something jumped at me and tied itself around my mouth like a gag.

I was so startled; I didn't need to go to the bathroom anymore. I tried pulling it off, but it wouldn't budge. That's when I noticed I was getting … shorter?

I was a tall person, full grown actually, I shouldn't be getting shorter. I looked down and saw I was sinking in a whirlpool of some sort. When I tried stepping out; I realized something was dragging me down by my ankle.

My worst fears realized, I realized I was getting kidnapped or captured or whatever. I needed to make some noise, but first I had to get the gag off. If it was a thing, maybe I could irritate it by licking it.

Big mistake, when I licked it, I got a terrible taste in my mouth. It tasted like silt and dirt and ash. I wanted to spit it out, but I couldn't, it wouldn't let go.

I decided to scream as loud as I could inside the gag, scrape the walls, and do anything to wake Jill up.

I screamed and called "JILL! JILL! HELP! HELP! AAAAAHHHHHH" Shecouldn't hear me. I scraped the walls trying to cling on to something, the wall wasn't stable.

Apparently, Jill did hear me. When she turned her head, she saw me struggling to be free and immediately woke up.

"EMMA!" she screamed. She climbed over to my bed and held out her hand. I grabbed it; I was almost through the whirlpool.

The lights flickered on in the hallway, mom and dad heard us. They were going to come in and …. Well I don't know what would happen then. At the last second, I slipped through Jill's fingers and the rest of me went through the whirlpool and it closed up, leaving nothing but darkness.