Disclaimers on all the characters of Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi. I don't own them, so don't sue.

Nightmare,

By Winterwing3000

The feral gleam of his golden eyes caused her to flinch. She struggled in futile against the bindings chaining her to the stone wall behind her. In his hand, he held a bucket filled with a mixture of concrete powder and water.

Her heart raced as tears appeared in her fearful brown eyes. With her mouth gag, she could only make choked muffled pleas as she shook her head beseechingly. She felt her breathing quicken as her pupils dilated.

She saw the corner of his lips curl into a maniacal grin as he lifted the bucket. The sharpened triangular trowel glinted in the shadowy yellow work light that came from somewhere behind the plastic screens hanging from the ceiling. Her screeches increased and she tugged harder at the black duck tape.

The pointed tip inched steadily closer to her face. She closed her eyes and cried, cringing as the cold metal pressed against her cheek. No, no! Her mind screamed. She didn't want to die! Not yet! Not like this!

The tip traced a line down her chin and across her throat. Her loud sobs were stifled as her knees shook. She didn't want to be like them!

The cemented mannequins of women—tall, short, skinny, fat, long hair, short hair—with their arms and legs positioned to the mad artist's desire. As horrifying beautiful, even serene, the models were arranged; they all shared the common expression upon their faces.

Blank eyes wide with terror and their lips parted in a silent scream.

"Shhh!" the man crooned as he cupped her face with a pale white hand. His cold lips skimmed her cheek and he trailed up to her ear with his tongue. "You're going to be beautiful… Like the others… No…"

Her eyes snapped open as she felt his chilling breath upon her face. He angled the trowel at her heart and prepared to plunge it into her chest.

His eyes were flashing with insanity and her eyes focused on his lips as they hoarsely whispered their last words to her.

"Much more beautiful than the others."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

A raw scream of pure terror ripped from her throat. She felt her body bolt upright as it trembled uncontrollably. Cold sweat matted her skin.

The door to her room slammed open and the hallway light glowed behind them. She glanced at the doorway with unfocused eyes. Her sisters stood there with frightened expressions and rushed to her bedside.

"Rin! Are you okay?" Kagome asked as she clambered onto the mattress. She brushed back her younger sister's bangs, wiping away the perspiration with her sleeve. Sango turned on the lamp beside her bed with a concerned look. She placed a hand on her cold one. "Did you have a bad dream?"

Rin panted, holding her sister's offered hand close. Kagome smoothed her brown bed ruffled hair. "It's alright. It was just a dream."

"N-Not dream," the scared girl croaked. "N-Nightmare." She pointed to the book next to her lamp. "S-Stone mann-nequin ki-killer."

"Oh Rin," Sango shook her head and gave an exasperated sigh. "I told you not to read books like those before bed! You know what happens yet you never listen."

"Well, hopefully she's learned her lesson now." Kagome pressed Rin back to her pillows and pulled up her sheets. "Even I was scared from the way she screamed."

Rin whimpered and buried herself deeper into her blankets. "Sorry Kagome, Sango." Sango turned off the lamp.

"Goodnight Rin." they both said as they closed the door.

Releasing a shuddering breath, she closed her eyes and willed herself to forget the recent nightmare. Just as the void of sleep drew her in, a pointed metal tip pressed against her throat and jerked.

She felt herself gurgle as an unmistakable voice reached her ears hauntingly followed by a bone chilling laugh.

"Much more beautiful…"

Darkness.

AN: … Don't ask. It's new to me and I thought that hell, it works. Plus, it's a deviation from the usual right? I wonder if that means I have to change the genres for this. But anyway, do tell me how it was!

Also, sorry for the late update. Inspiration is hard to come by when school's hectic. It died down recently, so I might be able to finish the rest of the Alpha list by September.

This is for the LJ Community, 30 Kisses, without the underscore. These themes are from List Alpha, themes #7 (reality is a dream) and #23 (serial).