Many Months Later

"Mommy Mommy!" a couple of children screamed.

The two children ran and opened the door to their mother's room. As they did, they continued to run and both of them jumped on the bed and slowly crawled under the covers. The mother mumbled a few words in her sleep but was soon woken up when she felt her covers move.

"What?" she said tiredly sitting up, rubbing one eye.

The mother then turned her attention to the blanket and without another word, grabbed and pulled them away; revealing her children lying on the bed scared.

"Peter…Sarah?" Their mother asked confused.

"We both had nightmares and got scared…" Peter said.

"Yeah…it…it was the Boogeyman. He tried to get us," Sarah said frighten, shutting her eyes.

"Oh…it was that bad?" the mother asked.

Peter looked at her and shook his head, while Sarah still had her eyes shut, almost about to sob.

"Oh my poor babies, there there." She then got Sarah and put her on her lap; comforting her.

"How about you two sleep with me for the night, I'm pretty sure it'll make you feel better," she said to Peter and Sarah.

Peter once again nodded a yes, while Sarah still continued to hold her mother tightly.

"Okay, let's make ourselves comfortable," she said setting Sarah down on the bed.

As she did, Sarah got the covers and pulled them close to her, while Peter crawled and lied down next to her. Their mother took one last look at them before settling into bed.

"Good-night," she said softly.

"Good-night mom," the children said.

Everything was quiet again as the children finally drifted to sleep. Seeing in what just happened with the Boogeyman, Emma couldn't help but give a half smile.

"Funny, reminds me of the time when I had this problem myself as a child….having nightmares…

Oh Jack….I'm starting to miss you again….

I hope you come and visit like you promised…winter is almost here."

"Where…where am I?" the little girl cried, "W-what is this place?"

The little girl kept turning, spinning….looking at every angle; trying to find a clue in where she could be. Though, there was nothing but darkness that was surrounding her. Emma felt so lost and confused that within time, fear started to take over her body.

"What-ever you are, go away!" she screamed frighten, shutting her eyes.

Without even seeing…she knew…she was feeling the presence of someone or something… lurking in the dark shadows surrounding her.

"I'm scared…."

Emma then slowly opened her eyes, hoping to find "what it was" gone, but she was even more scared when she saw a pair of eyes staring at her. And just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, she saw a hand forming from the shadows. It was slowly reaching out, attempting to grab her. Once again, Emma shut her eyes.

"I'm scared…"

Emma then opened her eyes, seeing that she was in her room.

"I'm scared…" she said softly, now holding the pillow tightly in her arms.

"I wonder if…"

Emma then slowly crawled to the edge of her bed, and pulled the covers; she wanted to know, is there a monster under her bed?

She took one look and saw the same pair of eyes like she had seen in her nightmare. Without another word, Emma let go of the covers, making them fall. After that, she quickly jumped off the bed and ran out of the room into the hallway.

Emma was so frighten, that she blindly ran into the nearest bedroom.

She opened the door…running, jumping on to the bed, making her way underneath the covers.

"What the…" she heard a tired voice say.

Emma then felt the covers move away from her, showing herself curled up into a ball.

"Emma?" Jack asked confused, now wide awake.

Though Emma didn't respond, she continued to lie on Jack's bed, staring at him.

"Uh…" Jack said scratching the back of his head, "Don't take this the wrong way, but…why were you under my blanket?"

"I…I had a nightmare…" Emma finally spoke.

"Oh…" Jack said softly.

Jack then raised his hand and picked up his sister's chin, "Hey, cheer up, it was only a nightmare after all," he said giving a warm smile.

"But…" Emma said; her eyes looking down.

"They're just bad dreams Emma, nothing more…" he said.

"But it…it was the Boogeyman," she exclaimed.

After hearing this, Jack did nothing but give a smirk, "The…the Boogeyman?"

"Yes, and stop giving me that face, it's not funny," Emma said.

"What….I guess I find it amusing because…well…let me put it to you this way, I know my share of stories, and have heard others, and all through those times I never once heard about the Boogeyman."

"So what are you saying Jack?"

"What I'm saying is that the Boogeyman isn't real, you're being scared for nothing."

"NO, he is real, I saw him, he whispered out his name to me and he's even hiding under my bed!"

Jack then raised an eyebrow, "Really, he's under your bed?"

"Yes he is, that's why I ran over here…I'm…I'm just so scared Jack," Emma then crawled over and hugged her brother tightly; wanting to cry.

Jack then embraced his sister and patted her on the head, "There there, don't cry, I hate to see my sister this way."

Emma then pulled back her tears and turned her attention to Jack.

"Come on, where's that smile I know?" Jack said smiling.

Emma couldn't help but give a small giggle; after a second, she then gave a warm smile.

"There we go, feel better?"

"Yes…I am now."

"Good."

Jack then jumped off the bed and started heading out the door.

Emma turned, "Wait, where are you going?" she asked startled.

"Well," Jack said turning with a smirk, "I'm just going to check to see if the Boogeyman really is under your bed, you know, to be on the safe side."

"But…" Emma said, getting off the bed running to Jack.

"Hey, don't worry, if he's real, your big brother is here to protect you, there's absolutely nothing I can't handle. Come on," he said taking her hand.

"O-okay…"

After getting another candle so the two could see in the dark, Jack and Emma went to her room.

"Here, hold this," Jack whispered, handing the candle to Emma.

She took it and saw that Jack kneeled down slowly, being close to the bed.

He then turned and put one of his fingers over his lips, "Sshhh…"

Jack then raised his hand and grabbed the covers. Within a second, he quickly picked them up and looked under the bed.

"Gotcha!" he said surprised; though as he looked around, there was nothing.

"Well…is he there?" Emma asked, feeling a bit afraid again.

"Well come and see," he said motioning his hand; telling her to come over.

So being careful with the candle in her hand, she walked over and kneeled down; looking under the bed only to find nothing creepy under it.

"See, there was nothing to be afraid of, it was probably your imagination kicking in after you woke up from the nightmare," Jack said to her dropping the covers.

"I guess…" Emma said, hinting a bit of doubt in her voice.

"Still not convinced huh?" he said.

"Then I guess you can sleep with me for the night, I'm sure mom and dad won't mind," Jack continued.

"Please," Emma said.

"Sure kiddo."

Jack then got up and gently took the candle from Emma; holding it with one hand, while taking Emma's hand with the other. Both of them walked back to Jack's room and got ready to go to bed. After a while, Emma eventually fell asleep…with everything now calm and peaceful.

"The Boogeyman….I have to admit, I never thought I would hear that name again. I guess I was wrong after what happened tonight. I think it's really for the best to keep telling Emma that he isn't real…the last thing I would want is for her to be afraid and keep having nightmares instead of dreams.

She kind of reminds me in how I was when I first heard about the Boogeyman. Hopefully this will be a one-time thing….I don't want my sister to be afraid of her fears…instead, I want her to face them."

Jack then got more comfortable on his side of the bed, slowly drifting to sleep, but before he did, he gently patted Emma on the head.

"Good-night, sweet dreams…" he whispered.