Chapter 3

Black yet again met Mateo's eyes. But this time he felt weird, and this was only the second time he woke up from the accident.

"…ver told me about anything like that." Izzie's voice spoke.

Mateo covered his ears with his one pillow and both hands. Shame he didn't have two extra pairs of those because right now, his head was also killing him.

"Why does she have to speak so loud right now? Especially when my head is about to explode…" Mateo whispered to himself.

"Yeah, Matty never told us nothin'. Plus, that 'Day terror' story you just told us doesn't make sense, even for me. And that should say something." Logan started speaking, probably with Chief Inspector. Since she's the only one he told what had happened after the first Night terror incident.

"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up." Mateo repeated in his head.

"What she's saying is true, kids. Agent Strick would have no reason to lie. The camera footage also backs up their little dialogue… But still, why would he keep this from us?" Mr. Oz.'s voice ringed in Mateo's head.

"Shut it, you old geezer. You all are way too loud…" The boy's frustration and pain started growing, his fingers digging deep into the pillow. "One more word, I'll hit my head into a wall and scream"

"We need to do something about all this, otherwise he might become the worst threat the dream world has ever seen." Agent Strick, yet again, how can she not shut up?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the smooth walls, where Mateo was put in, also known as the surveillance room:

"This might actually get out of hand, since his old Night terror piece could have access to the dreamsand. Which would mean, a creature of imaginable horror, as I said before." The Inspector continued.

"But it's Mateo, he wouldn't hurt anyone!" Cooper tried defending his friend.

"But you saw the surveillance footage. His demeanor is also being affected. Soon, your well-known friend might turn into a criminal mastermind, and with his dreamcrafting power he could be unstoppable. We must get rid of this risk, there is only one way to do so permanently."

Zoey's eyes widened. "So, let me get this straight, you're going to murder our leader, our friend?" She was only standing in the corner before, so no one batted an eye.

"Not murder, just let him sleep an eternal nap with a new invention, there won't be as much pain and trouble."

Izzie started remembering all the times Mateo was there for her. She froze for a few minutes. Then stated: "You are not taking away my brother, no matter monster or no-"

"WILL YOU CLOWNS SHUT UP?! I'M TRYING TO SLEEP HERE!"

Everyone was startled by the sudden intrusion. Not to mention it looked like he was going to break the glass separating the two rooms. Not to mention with his head.

"No wait, Mateo!" Izzie tried to warn him, but it was too late, the glass shattered right between their eyes.

Mateo was breathing heavily, seeing the crimson red that fell on the floor. He looked at everyone and everyone was looking back at him in shock, like he was a monster.

They finally saw the REAL Mateo Garcia. And Mateo was finally going to get rid of that stupid headache.

"Well… That… Surely was… Something." No one ever said anything after Logan's remark.

"You know, y'all probably shouldn't just stand here, we've got a Mateo to take care of people."

Everyone knew Logan was right, and probably for the first time.