Day 3: "It's just a dream, right?"
Whumptober 2024 Prompt: Nightmares / Flashbacks / Sleepless Nights
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Nobara couldn't remember when the nightmare started, but she was deep in it now, sinking into the darkness that crawled through her mind like poison.
It wasn't just a nightmare—it was a twisted version of everything she had tried to leave behind. She was running through a familiar town, the streets lined with faceless people, and she knew she had to get out. But no matter how fast she ran, no matter how far her legs carried her, the screams followed her.
Yuji's scream.
Megumi's scream.
And then there was her own, trapped in her throat, a strangled cry she couldn't get out.
The sound of cursed spirits filled the air around her. She saw them everywhere, creeping through the buildings and alleyways, their twisted forms looming large, their grotesque eyes locked onto her. The hammer and nails that were usually so steady in her hands were gone. She was defenseless.
"Yuji!" she called, but her voice barely made a sound. Her chest tightened, and she tried again, but the name came out broken, a mere whisper in the endless void of terror.
Something grabbed her leg. She looked down to see a dark, clawed hand pulling her down into the ground. The asphalt cracked beneath her, a pit opening up to swallow her whole. Nobara struggled, but the more she fought, the deeper she sank.
Her heart raced. I'm going to die.
And then she saw them—Yuji and Megumi, standing at the edge of the pit, their faces shadowed and distant. They didn't move. They didn't help. They just stared.
"Why aren't they helping me?" The thought pierced through the fear, sharp and clear. She wanted to scream at them, to demand they do something, anything, but her voice was trapped, lost to the growing void.
Just as the darkness began to close in, her chest heaving in panic, Nobara woke with a sharp gasp.
Her hand shot to her throat, her skin slick with cold sweat. The familiar scent of the dorms grounded her, reminding her that she was safe, alive. Her body trembled with the lingering remnants of the nightmare, and she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.
It was just a dream. Just a dream.
But the fear was still there, gripping her tightly. She hated how real it had felt—how alone she had been, how helpless. She hated that the faces of Yuji and Megumi had seemed so distant, so cold.
She sat up in bed, pulling her knees to her chest. The room was dark, too quiet, and Nobara hated the silence almost as much as she hated the nightmare. Her heart hadn't stopped pounding, and the heavy weight of the dream still sat in her chest.
"Damn it," she muttered, rubbing her hands over her face. She needed to get out, get some air, something to make her feel real again.
Without thinking, she grabbed her jacket from the floor and slipped out of her room, padding quietly down the hallway. She wasn't sure where she was going until she was standing outside Yuji's door. Her hand hovered over the handle, hesitating. She didn't want to bother him—it was probably late, and he was likely asleep.
But before she could decide, the door creaked open.
Yuji blinked at her, sleep-tousled and still rubbing his eyes. "Nobara?" His voice was groggy but filled with concern. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"
Nobara opened her mouth to speak, but for a moment, the words didn't come. The vulnerability she had felt in the dream lingered, making it hard to admit anything. But when she looked into Yuji's eyes, so warm and familiar, she let out a sigh.
"Nightmare," she mumbled, her voice quieter than she intended.
Yuji frowned, the last traces of sleep fading from his face. Without another word, he stepped aside, gesturing for her to come in. "You wanna talk about it?"
She shook her head. She didn't want to relive it. Didn't want to admit how much it had shaken her. But she didn't want to be alone either.
Yuji seemed to understand. He didn't press her. Instead, he sat down on his bed, patting the spot beside him. "You can just chill here if you want. No pressure."
Nobara hesitated for only a second before she sat down next to him, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. The room was quiet, but not in the suffocating way her own room had been. This was different. Here, with Yuji next to her, the silence felt almost comforting.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Nobara's breathing slowly evened out, the lingering fear from the nightmare fading as the minutes passed. Yuji's presence was enough to remind her that she wasn't alone.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "It felt so real."
Yuji glanced at her, waiting for her to continue. She didn't look at him, her gaze fixed on the floor, her hands still fiddling with her jacket.
"I was… trapped. And you and Megumi were there, but you didn't help." She swallowed, hating how small her voice sounded. "I couldn't get out."
Yuji's expression softened. "But it was just a dream, right?"
Nobara nodded, though the weight in her chest didn't disappear completely. "Yeah… just a dream."
Yuji shifted closer, his shoulder brushing against hers. "You know that's not real, though, right? Megumi and I would never leave you behind. Not ever."
Nobara didn't answer right away, her throat tightening at the reassurance. She knew it was true. Deep down, she knew that Yuji and Megumi would always have her back, just like she had theirs. But the nightmare had left her feeling raw, exposed in a way she hated.
"Yeah," she finally said, her voice soft. "I know."
Yuji didn't push her any further. Instead, he leaned back on his bed, his head resting against the wall. "You can stay here as long as you want," he said, his tone casual but comforting.
Nobara looked at him, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the heaviness in her chest. "Thanks, idiot."
Yuji grinned, his familiar goofy smile easing some of the tension she didn't realize she was still holding. "Anytime, Nobara."
She let out a breath, leaning back against the wall next to him. The nightmare was still there, lurking at the edges of her mind, but it didn't feel as overwhelming now. With Yuji by her side, the fear that had gripped her so tightly seemed to loosen its hold.
For the first time since waking up, Nobara felt like she could breathe again.
