Tabula Rasa

Disclaimer: I own it all… except the concept of dreaming.

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 4: The Nightmare King

(Sean’s Nightmare, 11:57 P.M., July 1)

This isn’t happening. Thought Sean. I don’t care if this is just a dream- this isn’t happening!

When Double Stinger took control of Sean’s dream, Sean experienced despair and suffering.

This was the first time he could remember in which he was experiencing fear.

Needless to say, Double Stinger enjoyed it, a lot.

What’s wrong boy? His voice answered from seemingly all directions. “Not so high and mighty now, aren’t you?”

“Ah… ahh….” Said Sean. He wanted to say so many things right now, but was too afraid to.

“Hey, stand back!” Said Sam, turning her hands into pure fire, and waving it at the scorpions. “Back away from my friends! … And me!”

“Zer0!” Cried Gregory.

“Right.” He said, as he took out a few marbles from his pocket. All of which were different colors. “This oughta do it.” He said, holding the black one, and throwing it at the scorpions, clouding the scorpion’s -and Double Stinger’s- view of them.

“Common.” Said Cecelia, tugging on Sean’s shoulder. “Zer0, blow a hole open.”

“As you say, leader.” Said Zer0, with a bit of resentment in his voice.

This time, he threw a red marble at a wall- causing an explosion.

“What’s the point? Can’t he just freaking play God here and find us!?”

“No.” Said Gregory, smiling. “It’s not part of his haunt- only this house is. We checked. In effect, he can send stuff out after us, but he can’t play God, and he isn’t one, by the way.” He said, calmly walking out.

Samantha quickly ran out, on all fours, and curled up by Cecelia’s leg. “I haaaaaaaate those little things!”

“…………….. As do I.” Said Yume, after yet another pause.

What is it with this weirdo? Thought Sean.

“……………………. I just don’t like talking so much.” She said.

“Y-you can read my mind!?”

“………………………. Yes. Surprised the weirdo can do that?”

“………………….”

“…………………. Thought so.”

“What are we gonna do!?” Asked Sam, to Cecelia.”

“Hmmm…” She said. “We should try focusing which room in exact Double Stinger is i-”

“My mom’s room.” Said Sean quietly.

“Huh?” Asked Zer0.

“He’s in my mother’s room.” Said Sean, loud enough for everyone to hear. “He always has been… and as long as he controls my dreams, it’s were he always will be controlling everything.” He said, holding his arm. “Mom….”

“Most likely, we can storm in.” Said Cecelia. “However, Double Stinger might be expecting it.”

“As long as we can get the Awakey to his mama’s room though, we’re good!” Said Sam, smiling.

Sean raised a eyebrow at being called that again. Gregory noticed this, and walked over to him.

“You may be sleeping, but you count as a Awake- someone who lives in the real world, outside of dreams.” He said.

“Wait… so not all of you are-”

“You, Cecelia, and Yume are the Awakes of our little team. Myself, Samantha, and Zer0 only exists in dreams.” He said. “If we’re not in a dream, we’re in the walls of the Dream Citadel.”

Sean couldn’t help but feel a bit of sadness, knowing he could never meet the three people outside of…

…

…

…

His dreams.

Yeah, their was no denying it anymore, at all. This was all a dream… but everything that happened in it, was going on for real.

Their really was a Nightmare controlling his dreams.

After all, look at everything that had just happened. How could he keep denying everything? Denial could only last for so long.

“So… what’s it like?”

“Just like the Awake world in terms of economy. The Citadel is incredibly large and makes up a total of four countries, but in all it about the size of the States. My area is very similar to a metropolis, although I hear the oldest of the part is still Mayan in times.”

“Wow…” Said Sean. He would have asked more questions, but knew he couldn’t do to the situation at hand.

“Anyway, let’s discuss how we’re gonna get in…”

Meanwhile, in the room of Sean’s late mother…

“What to do…” Thought Double Stinger to himself out loud- or herself in this current state, as he was now assuming the form of Sean’s mother, and speaking in her voice. “When they get in, how should I be rid of them…? I know! I’ll swarm the damned Liberators with my scorpions, watch them squirm and die out… hmm…. Then for the Reader boy… ah, yes! I’ll change the scenery to that of a medieval torture chamber! Then I’ll screw around with him, while in his mother’s form… hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he killed himself just to wake up from this dream!” He/She said laughing. “Common boy, show yourself, give me that despair and fear!”

“Sadisitc as always, aren’t you?” Asked a very deep voice. It came from nowhere, however. It was like when one thought to himself- you can hear what you are thinking… but from no true source.

“M-My King!” Said Double Stinger, instinctively bowing to the direction he was facing. “T-to what do I owe the divine pleasure of your voice, o’ powerful King?”

“Humble as well, I see.” Said the Nightmare King chuckling, as Double Stinger also went into laugh.

“Double Stinger, one who resurrects the painful memories of the dead…”

“Y-yes, My Lord?” Asked Double Stinger, trying not to sound nervous. ‘Dammit, Double Stinger! This is the Nightmare King, don’t screw this up!’ He thought to himself.

“I would like to offer you something.” Said the imposing king of all nightmares. “A membership of my Imperial Court.”

“F-for real!?” Asked Double Stinger, smiling, and laughing. ‘I-is this really happening!? Is it possible for a Nightmare to possible just be asleep and dream!?’

All his life, Double Stinger wanted more.

More power! More fame! More Blood Crystals! More food!

More everything!

The nightmare Imperial Court was always the highest honor of Rasa- to serve the almighty Nightmare King himself, direct speaker of the Nightmare God. To be not a servant, but a consort.

If he were to join the Court, he would be made a Judge, be given land, and hold power over other Nightmares- if he were to see a powerful nightmare that would be useful to the King, he would report it.

If he saw a true threat, he would report it to the King.

A bunch of other crap also, but to Double Stinger, it was worth it.

“W-what must I do, my King!?” Asked Double Stinger, excited.

“If you are to follow me, you must relinquish what you have now.” Said the King. “You must allow yourself to be defeated by the Liberators.”

“W-what!?” Asked Double Stinger, in his true, male voice. “Lose purposely… to cursed Liberators!?”

“If you are willing to join my Court. You must be willing to handle a little defeat.” He said. “Willingly lose and relinquish control over that boy, and the power you lust will be belong to you.”

“…”

Double Stinger had to think this one over a little- as a possessor Nightmare, he took great pride in his work. This boy, this weak, pathetic, and overall worthless boy, his favorite food…. Why!? Why would he have to lose to him!?

He was ok with giving it up… but loosing? Feeling defeat?

…

“Well?”

“Fine.” Said Double Stinger, once again using the voice of Sean’s dead mother.

“I shall lose to the boy, for you, my King!”

“Welcome to my Court.”Was all the King said.

The King then cut off his own communication line.

As usual, he was standing in what appeared to be a giant graveyard.

“And you accuse him of sadism? You, asking him of loosing what he values most willingly?” Laughed a voice on his right shoulder.

His Jester. He was wearing clothes expected of that of a Jester, although they were bloodstained, and was wearing a disturbing mask.

It was white, and black- it’s colors changed in the middle.

The eyes seemed to be upside down smiles. The white side- the right side of his mask, had the eyepiece black in appearance, and vice versa on the other.

He didn’t sound old or was tall at all. In fact, in all, if he wasn’t wearing his mask, most would have presumed him to be around twelve in age.

“One who will not give up everything they own is not fit to join my royal Court.” Said the Nightmare King.

“Whatever!” Said the Jester, jumping on his head.

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t question me, Schizophrenia.”

“Aw, common boss, whatever happened to Jester Schizophrenia?” Asked Schizophrenia. “Now it’s always just Jester or Schizophrenia! That makes me saaaaaad.” He said, with a bit of a giggle.

“By ‘appreciate’ what I meant was ‘don’t’.”

“Awww, fine.” Said Schizophrenia, smirking. He knew he was the only one who could talk like this to the Nightmare King and get away with it.

… Not to mention the other reason why…

“You spared Reader a horrible fate, did you not?” He said chuckling.

“Enough.” Said the Nightmare King. “I wish to think over things alone. Be gone, Jester!”

“Just like what I said earlier!” He said, sighing.

Schizophrenia smirked, and teleported away, spinning.

Oh, how I pity you, Reader. He thought, smirking, a mental image of the boy popping in his head.

“‘For long, your gonna wish you only had to deal with that scorpion…………. Kyahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

Chapter End.