Kian opened his eyes to see …nothing. He blinked, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, and tried to move, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t move any of his limbs. It was like he was paralysed. Kian could feel fear creeping up his throat, but the only thing he could do was try to regulate his breathing, a technique that rarely helped him in usual times. He couldn’t see the clock, but he scrunched up his eyes, hoping he would fall back asleep. 

The night is nearly over. The night is nearly over. He repeated to himself, hoping to any God that might be listening that it was true. But his heart sank as he heard a chuckle.

“Oh, Kian, you sweet summer child.” A ghastly, growling voice mocked him. He could hear the smile invading its words. “Do you really think you’re safe here?” Kian tried everything in his power not to listen to it, his eyes still closed, but a tight claw grabbed his face, squeezing his jaw so tightly it hurt.

“I am safe. You’re not real.” Kian tried to appear confident, but even he could hear the shake in his voice. The voice laughed.

“You think you’re safe in your bed, Kian? Is this your bed?” It taunted him as it pried his eyes open. With a horrific jolt Kian realised he was in a torture chamber of the 1500s, and that he was tied down to a rake. He felt his limbs start to be stretched, further and further and further.

He screamed…

And then he was back in his bed, trapped in his own body. The voice laughed. 

“You silly boy. You know that this is all in your mind. Why are you torturing yourself like this, Kian?” The voice had taken on a mocking tone, and Kian felt a tear leak out of his eye. He just wanted to go back to sleep.

No. He was done with this now. He would not be a victim to this night terror anymore.

“I banish you.” He whispered. The voice scoffed.

“What was that?” It asked, his voice suddenly innocent.

“I am in charge here. Not you. And I want you gone!” Kian shouted. Pride surged through his chest and he felt his foot twitch. He went to sit up, and-

“You want me gone?!” The voice growled, and Kian suddenly felt a searing pain surge across his neck. He saw scarlet blood spurt from what used to be his throat, and his vision went cloudy. He felt himself fall backwards, and…