Tabula Rasa

Disclaimer: I own all the characters in this story. Also, because no one has copyrighted it yet, I hereby claim the idea of dreams. You must all ask me if you want to dream.

Summary: Sean Reader has always lived a normal life, but has always suffered from nightmares around the time of his mother’s bizarre suicide. When the nightmares get too much for him to bare, he is finally ‘liberated’ of these dreams by a group of people claiming they work for the ‘Dream Empire’, locked in a eternal feud against the Nightmares. Determined to return the favor, Sean joins this group, only to learn there is much more then this ancient feud, and it will effect the world- awake and asleep.

Chapter 1: Nightmare

(Reader House, July 1, 2011(?), 12:21 A.M.)

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“………..…..Mommy? Were are you Mommy!?”

A young, 5 year old boy was wandering around in his house. Scared, and more importantly, alone. He remembered the nightmare he had, then shuddered at the memory. “Mom will let me sleep with her… if I can find her…”

The silver-headed boy’s father, Jack Reader, was away on a business trip, in Texas. Sean sighed. While the Beef Jerky company owner did care for his son, it always irked Sean that he was away so much.

It also didn’t help it was raining, their was thunder, and some lightning.

Sean forgot how dark it got, and that his mother had given the house maid the week off, so he couldn’t just go next to his room and ask her to lead the way (something the maid had already done several times). Even so, why didn’t his mom at least come out? Thunder and rain or not, it wasn’t completely noisy, and his mother should have been able to hear. Did she leave or something?

“Momma!” He cried, bumping into a couch. His room was on the second floor, while his mother’s room was in the first floor.

Fortunately, this had happened before. He made a sigh of relief, he knew his momma’s room was just around the corner.

“M-momma…?” Said the silver haired and red-eyed boy, holding his companion teddy bear, opening the door he knew was his mother’s.

“Yes, dear?”

Sean sighed, then smiled at the brown haired, red-eyed woman.

Melissa Reader was her name, loving and caring mother of Sean Reader.

“Mommy….”

“Yes, honey?

“I had a nightmare….. Can I sleep with you?”

“….. I’m sorry, but I don’t think so, dear.”

“W-why not!?” Said Sean, a sad and somewhat frightened look on his face. Melissa sighed, then spoke.

“Because this is all just a dream, silly boy.” She said, smiling and laughing a bit.

“A… a dream?”

“Yes, honey.” Said Melissa.

“C… can I just sleep with you in this dream, then?”

“You can’t sleep with me, Sean…”

“W-why not momma? Dream or not, I’m scared! I, I had this really bad nightmare were you-”

“Died?“

“… Y-yes? H-how do you know, mommy?“

“Because I’m dead. Remember, silly head?”

She said, as the scenery in the room turned blood stained.

In the corner of the room was a odd chair. It had ten, long butcher knives. They were designed to go in between one another, and if they went out at once, it would slash anyone to peaces.

“Silly boy…” Said the woman, wounds suddenly appearing, much to Sean’s horror. “You might want to wake up now, you know…”

“Ah… ahhh…..”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

……….….. “Silly boy….”

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(July 1, 2018, 12:22 A.M., Reader House)

“AH!” Said the twelve year old boy, standing up in bed, sweat running down his forehead.

“Dammit…. That dream…… again.”

Sean was breathing heavily now, as he then looked at the clock. Normally, this was around the time we went to bed during Summer Vacation, but he felt tired after a day at the amusement park, so he crashed early.

“Fuck….” Swore the twelve year old, thankful the maid wasn’t around, who had taken to being a mother figure after……… that day.

“Last time I sleep this early…. Just get more nightmares.” He had already had two other nightmares tonight, but he was so tired he just keep falling back asleep.

But they weren’t THE nightmare. Sean cursed at himself- this was ‘that’ date, the date that same, goddamn nightmare happened. Every year.

He was hoping going to the amusement park would keep him excited enough to prevent him from falling asleep. So much for that bright idea.

Sighing, the boy went up to the bathroom, dressed only a sleeveless white shirt and boxers. “Water…” He said, pouring himself from water from the sink. Once he finished, he heard a knock.

“Hey, is everything ok in there?” Asked Maria, the maid, and Sean’s other mother-figure.

“Y-yeah.” Said Sean. “It’s nothing, really.”

“OK, if you insist so.” Said Maria, yawning, then heading back to bed.

“…” Sean couldn’t think of what to do. It was always this time of year. ALWAYS this time of year ‘that nightmare’ came. The date he discovered his mother’s body.

“Common… just tough it out a few more days.” He said, sighing to himself. It always lasted a good two to three days- then he could go back to being his normal, fun loving self.

He knew what to do- go read a bit, listen to some New Age, then go back to bed. If he was incredibly lucky maybe he could lucid dream and be in complete control.

And so he did.

Because that was routine he had on July 1, in New Paradise City, Illinois.

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(July 1, 2018, 11:45 A.M., Playground, New Paradise)

“Hey, were are you?” Said Sean, talking into his cell phone. “John, I’ve been waiting for half an hour already!”

“I’ll be ‘ight there, dude!” Said John, on the other line.

“John. That’s what you said 20 minutes ago.”

“An’ I’ll say it again, I’ll be ‘ight ‘ere!”

“Fine. Whatever, just hurry. Don’t wanna miss the movie.” Said Sean, hanging up, waiting outside the movie theatre. He sighed, sat down on a bench, and took out some beef jerky. To be specific, Samuel and Reader’s brand- the same type his father owned.

Wonder what to do ‘till he gets back… Thought Sean, nibbling on the Teriyaki flavored snack.

“Excuse me. Sir?”

“Huh?” Said Sean, looking behind him.

He saw a pretty girl, about his age. Long brown hair, a sleeveless short enough to reveal her stomach, carrying a teddy bear, and wearing jean shorts. Unfortunately, the completely emotionless look on her face was a bit of a mood-kill.

“By any chance, could I have some? I spent the last of my money that I had on me on a movie ticket.”

“Uhh…….. Sure. I have a few packs. Beats popcorn any day.”

“Thanks.” She said, sitting down, and eating a piece.

Awkward… Thought the twelve year old. Attractive, but awkward.

“….. Last night, you had three nightmares, did you not?”

“… Huh?”

“Please answer.”

“Y-yes. How the hell do you kno-”

“Your first dream was random events, being chased by a psychotic killer clown. Typical completely random dream. The second nightmare was that you sat in the chair that took your mother’s life. The final was talking to your mom… dead mom.”

“M-my movie is starting, sorry but I have to g-”

“I know your movie isn’t starting.” Said the girl, who then looked at him in the face. “I’m going to give you some advice. If you wish to be liberated from the nightmare that has plagued you for years, just go to bed normally tonight. If not, pull an all-nighter.” Said the girl, who’s hand was in his bag. She then stood up, picked up her teddy bear, then looked at him. “Hopefully you make the wisest decision. If so, see you tonight, Sean Reader.” Said the girl, as she walked away.

“…………..”

‘Whoa! ‘o way!” Said John, running up. Dressed in torn jeans, bandana, and a DKNY shirt, and most of all- a smirk on his face. “Your tight with her? You goin’ out with Cecelia? Man, ‘grats on getting a rich on-”

“I am not! … Wait, what did you say her name was?” Said Sean, familiar with the name.

“Cecelia! Cecelia Hawkworth! ‘ou know, one whose parents own some kinda diamond company, millionaires?”

A look of surprise went on Sean’s face. That was Cecelia? He thought.

“Aw man, that sucks. If you were, you coulda ask her for cash- she’s got plenty of it!”

So explain to me why she mooched off me for free beef jerky? Thought Sean, a tad pissed, putting his backpack on.

But not before noticing something in it.

Ten 100 dollar bills.

And a note.

‘I ate ten pieces of your jerky, accept this as my thanks.’ It said.

“….. Holy fuck.”

“Hey, common man!” Said John, now being the one who tell Sean to hurry up.

“………………………. Liberated, huh?” Said Sean quietly to himself, as he handed his ticket to John.

“’ay something’?”

“No.” Said Sean. “You go get our drinks, I’ll get us seats.”

“’Aright!”

“………….” Sean didn’t make a peep as he went into the area were the racing movie he and John were seeing, and took a seat.

“…… Ok, Cecelia.” He said quietly to himself.

“I’ll do it.”

“Let’s see if you can really get rid of this damn nightmare.”

Chapter 1 End