1 Black Cat

Walking through an old rustic looking town with mysterious figures of mist that lurked in the darkness that you'd wish only belonged in stories is a boy that goes by the name Zack. Most people would be afraid or scared of walking in the middle of a creepy town, right? Especially this one, but Zack isn't afraid. Why? Because this is his own dream.

Ever since he was a child, Zack would always dream of being in this place of darkness. Usually when children get scared they cry, but for some reason, Zack never cried during his entire childhood. No matter how hard he tried to cry and fit in, he always failed. His mother kept going to several different doctors of varying professions, but just couldn't find anything wrong, no matter how hard they looked.

In school, however, Zack had earned himself the growing reputation as the 'Bravest Person in Class.' Being unable to cry, he was praised by his peers, being called 'brave' and cool' as a child certainly was thrilling to him. Growing up, however, Zack began to notice other people distancing themselves from him, as if he was deemed unapproachable. Zack had always been fond of gaining friends, but it seems he's only restricted himself to a certain group because of his condition.

It seems that Zack had also gained a reputation of being intimidating, where people's standards of him grow too high to approach him. Whenever he would try to approach others, he would simply be met with nervousness and dry responses, but not in his dreams. In his dreams, he could do anything he put his mind into. He could fly, make cities with the snap of his finger, but, in here as well, he couldn't cry. While traveling within his dreams, he tried to find the answer but to no avail. Now, he walks through the rustic looking town, still searching for answers.

As he walked through the empty village, he found himself facing the nearing edge of a forest. He knew this as the forest with trees that span miles tall, and a thickness that would envelop anyone, and make everyone who goes through it very lost. Not to mention, a sudden invisible wall above the treetops, which prevented him from flying over. It usually signified the barrier of these worlds he's created, but now, he felt a sense of urgency to walk through it.

Wading through the forest, some leaves and pines and other plants often caught his clothes, but he managed to push through. It seemed like there was no end for him as he sighs and trudges through. Suddenly, he could now see something in the distance, through the thickening of the brush. Excitedly, he runs through the trees, eager to see what was behind all of the forest. As he exits the forest, he now sees this peculiar river. It was shiny and crystal clear river that smelt of the ocean. Walking towards it, he felt an immense sense of calm and relaxation within him; suddenly, he was at peace. Feeling this, he wondered where it came from; Zack knows he definitely didn't make it, so where?

As he questioned the river's existence, he suddenly noticed a cat, simply sitting there by the riverside. It seemed to not be bothered by his presence. Zack waved at the cat,

"Uh, hello?"

The cat simply looked at him, blinked, then went back to observing the river.

"Not much of a talker, huh?"

Zack scratched his head, but proceeded to observe the river as well. He knelt down to take a closer look, took two fingers, and tasted the water out of curiosity. It tasted like salt water, not like the ocean; this salty river tasted completely different. It was warm, comforting, and familiar, like family. Thoughts ran across his head, feelings he couldn't describe. Zack's thinking was interrupted, though, when he noticed something across the lake.

Zack stood up to get a clearer look at the figure. Fear chilled down his spine, and the supposed serenity he got from the river had worn off as he saw this figure loom closer and closer towards him, slowly but surely. It had glowing red eyes and teeth so sharp it could cut steel; with claws the size of an old viking axe, its entire body was shrouded with a black mist. As soon as he saw it, Zack ran as fast as he could down the steep hill, not even thinking twice nor looking back behind him.

The beast let out a terrifying roar from behind him, and it stomped giant footsteps that shook the very ground itself! Zack kept running away from it until he fell, he grunts,

"Agh... This is bad, I think my foot's sprained!"

He attempts to stand, then run, but the pain was too immense for him to even try walking. Just then, the cat from the riverside appears, running towards him it speaks,

"Follow me, I know where you can hide,"

"You can talk?!" Zack replied screaming in shocked, and a bit of pain,

"Yes, yes, I can talk. What's the problem? Anything can happen in a dream, right?" the cat tells Zack and continues, "Now we need to hurry! It won't be long until that creature finds us."

Suddenly, the creature lets out another, more vicious and louder roar. It burst in waves that shook the forest, so loud that even the trees screamed in pain. Zack quickly composed himself and hobbled over to follow the cat as it hurriedly walked towards a huge old tree near an incline. Through its back was a hollowed out entrance into the tree where the two could hide in. Zack covered his ears and curled into a ball. Wanting this nightmare to be over, he tried his best to wake himself up, telling himself,

"It's just a dream, it's just a dream..." repeatedly.

As he opened his eyes, expecting to be in his room, he was still inside the tree with the cat.

"Why am I still asleep?! I could always wake up on my own..."

However, Zack had noticed that it had grown quiet.

"It seems the noise has stopped..." said the cat,

"Did I make it go away or something...?" asked Zack, but the cat simply shrugged.

"I'm gonna... go check," he said shakily.

As he peeked his head out to survey the scene, he was immediately greeted by something that shook every fiber in his body. It was the monster, staring at him straight in the face with its huge soulless eyes that only knew how to kill. It was baring its huge blood-stained fangs that he could tell had killed some people and animals. He could feels its breath blowing onto his face.

Zack stood completely still, careful not to make any sudden movements. He tried walking out, slowly, still hobbling a bit from his sprained ankle. Taking some steps backwards, he sees the cat at the corner of his eye,

"What ever you do, do not look at the swirl in its chest!" the cat warned him,

Zack asked, "Why?! Am I gonna die?!"

The cat tried to calm him down,

"I don't know— M-maybe! But just in case, don't look at it!"

Zack then closed his eyes for good measure, scared he might accidentally look at it. Then, slowly walking away, he tried not to grab the creature's attention too much, but he could still feel its breath on him.

As he was walking back, Zack accidentally trips over a tree root, and falls down the steep incline of the hill, which led to a cliffside. Falling downwards, he was afraid to hit the floor, but was hopeful that it would finally wake him up from this nightmare. As his back and head hit the ground hard, he grunts and opens his eyes. His vision was blurred, but sure enough it was that creature with the swirl upon its chest, and Zack was staring straight at it, unable to look away. A sudden jolt then snaps Zack out of it. It was the cat, who grabbed him by the neck, and, with immense and amazing strength, threw Zack up in the air and over to the other side of the forest, back towards the riverside as he screamed at him,

"THIS IS NOT A GAME!"

Zack screams as he flies through the air, unable to control the trajectory as he was flung too hard. Nearing the edge of the forest, towards the riverside, he braced himself for impact of the invisible wall; and yet, nothing happens as he passes right through. Confused, then suddenly worried, Zack was about to fall into the river. He crashes with a large splash as he's knocked unconscious, floating along the river's current as it heads south in this seemingly new dimension that he used to know as his dreams.

Chapter 1: Complete.

Hope you enjoyed :D