CHAPTER 151

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[David Lance POV] [Nightmare]

With a gasp for air, I opened my eyes, finding myself to be lost in the woods, having no idea how I got there. In fact, I barely remembered anything beyond my day with Dinah. Taking a deep breath, I looked at the sky, and it was dark.

Staring at the black sky, I took a moment to gather my bearings, remembering that I was looking for a small shack that was located in the woods.

Though this felt somewhat off.

Like I was missing something.

But I couldn't remember what exactly. Perhaps it wasn't important if I couldn't remember it, right?

Shaking my head, I started moving toward the shack, taking in my surroundings. There were no signs of human life.

The forest seemed to stretch out forever, and it was so dark that I could barely see anything beyond my nose, which made me feel uneasy. It didn't seem like I could walk around much longer without stumbling upon something.

Pushing through my discomfort, I continued walking, trying my best not to stumble with anything until I began to hear something right ahead.

Unsure of what to do, I decided to get a closer look, following the sound. Once I reached a near enough place, I could see a small house at the end of the path. Inside the house, there was a light flickering, as well as the sound of people talking.

I could tell from the sound of their voices that they were arguing with one another, but I couldn't make out any words. It was then that I saw a shadow standing behind them. A tall looming figure, leaning over their shoulders, watching me. My heart began to race as I started to panic, taking a few steps back.

Wait...

I should be helping them...

I...

As the shadow stood watching me from afar, I snapped out of my trance, finding the shadow was no more. Perhaps it had all been nothing but a figment of my imagination; I really couldn't tell; I wonder what Di... Danah?... Dalia... Dinah would say...

Why did it take me so long to remember her name?

Something here wasn't right, but what? I could grasp a coherent thought; everything felt foggy, like walking underwater. I wanted to turn back, but where? It was almost as if something was keeping me rooted to the spot.

As I stood there, frozen in place, I heard the sound of laughter coming from inside the house as the arguing disappeared. It was a deep, guttural laugh that sent shivers down my spine. It sounded like... someone familiar, someone that I felt I should know.

The laughter echoed through the woods, and as the seconds passed, it seemed to be getting closer and closer to me. I wanted to run, to prepare for the fight, but no matter how much I willed my body to move, my feet felt glued to the ground. I was trapped, like a deer in headlights.

And then, the laughter stopped as a colossal figure appeared, towering over me with ease. Whatever that thing was, it wasn't human.

His red skin seemed to almost glow in the darkness, and his long white hair flowed down his back like a river of blood. He had antlers that protruded from his head, sharp pointy ears, four red eyes that burned with an unearthly hunger, and hoofed feet that clicked against the ground as he approached.

I tried to move, but the more the beast approached, the more it felt like my body was no longer my own. So, in desperation, I could feel the fear welling inside me, threatening to consume me whole.

The demon stopped a few feet away from me, tilting his head as he looked down at me with those eerie red eyes. And then, he spoke in a voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. "I've been looking for you."

Before I could even ponder what he meant by that, his hand shot out as he grabbed me by the throat, hoisting me up into the air with frightening ease. His grip tightened as a cruel smile appeared on his face.

I gasped for air, trying to struggle against his grip, but the more I struggled, the more his grip tightened. "No one escapes Trigon."

Trigon?

I knew that name.

I remember it well.

Like a wave of shock, understanding came to me. This demon, this creature that stood before me, I knew who it was, and by remembering that, I knew who I was, at least enough to understand this was nothing but a nightmare.

A nightmare of his own creation.

And with that realization, I found the strength to fight back.

Angry, I lifted my hand, placing it against his forehead, and with all the power I could muster, I pushed back.

Trigon's eyes widened in surprise as he was sent flying backward, smashing through the wall of the house as he went. He crashed into the ground with a thud but quickly got back to his feet.

"A nightmare? Very clever," I said, wiping some blood off my nose. "Memory doesn't work well in dreams. You almost got me there for a second."

"We'll see about that," Trigon said, charging at me with inhuman speed.

I quickly dodged to the side, but he was already on me, swinging his fist at me. I ducked under his punch and then countered with an uppercut of my own that sent him flying backward once more.

"You do realize the moment the dreamer realizes what's going on, control is no longer within your grasp, right?" I asked, taunting him.

Though I knew that wasn't entirely the case. When it came to the control of a mindscape, it was a battle of the minds, a struggle between the host and the parasite.

Especially since the parasite had taken so much control already.

"I don't need control," Trigon said, getting back to his feet. "Not right now, I just need to tire you, your mind, and eventually, you will give in. It's a matter of time, and believe me, that's resource, I have plenty to spend!"