1
It was a cold night. I was sitting by my window, frozen in deadly fear, for what I saw was not something of this world. It crept towards my house, up to my window very slowly, but yet I sat there shaking in fear. I watched its pale thin blue hand grab the vines I didn’t cut, I watched its four large blue eyes looking up, I watched its torn body climb higher into view, I could see its ribs, there were 4 on each side, each was sticking out broken exposing rotten flesh. I just sat there as it opened the window and snarled at me with its sharp teeth, in neat little rows. I just sat there as it leapt up to bite my face.
 2

I awoke in a cold sweat. It was just a dream, I told myself, just a dream. But I could not shake off the feeling of horror. I sat up and looked at my clock. It read 8:00 pm with the date in blood red (10-31-0000)
 
I looked towards the window; it was wide open with strange claw marks, on both sides of the pale blue wall. I stood up and closed the window before I looked to where I had seen the claw marking, but there was nothing there.
 
“Just sleepy.” I mumbled trying to shake off the feeling that something was wrong.
 
I headed downstairs, to grab a cup of water. I was pouring a cup when movement caught my eye. It was a blur of pale blue.
 
I dropped my cup and shattered it as I turned around, thought my eyes were failing me; it was the monster from my dream. Its pale blue eyes looked me up and down, as it growled, sitting on the kitchen counter.
 
“I see you fell for my little trap, you fool.” It purred.
 
I took a step back in fear; it jumped off the counter in one smooth movement.
 
“What’s wrong little human? Scared I’m going to bite and rip your throat out with my long claws, scared I’m going to take that lovely hair of yours and use it to break your neck? Don’t worry, that’s what I have planned."
 
“Please I’ll give you anything you want, just don’t-”
 
“I don’t want your filthy mortal junk,” it spat.
 
“Please, I just don’t want to die!” I cried, cowering at the wall.
 
It gave a cold cruel cold laugh, “I didn’t give you a choice.”
 
“This is just a dream, this is still a dream.” I mumbled holding my legs, my whole body shaking in fear.
 
The monster moved closer. To me I could feel its cold breath on my bare legs; it sits very sharp nails tugged at my long brown hair.
 
“I want you to scream real loud for me.” It purred, as it took a handful of my hair in its hand.
 
“Please,” I begged. “Please don’t-”
 
“Didn’t I tell you didn’t have a choice?" it purred, feeding off my fear.
 
I screamed as loudly as I could, as it yanked my hair, tearing it from my head, then it wrapped it around my neck, its large eyes bursting with happiness. As it pulled the hair tight into a chokehold the same moment it dug its claws deep into my neck. I felt pain. I know at that moment it was not a dream, as blackness filled my vision.
                                                             3
I awoke, tied up, sitting in a cold dark cell. I didn’t know where I was, but it was freezing in here.
 
Is this hell? I wonder.
 
“No, this is not hell, at least not yet.” A deep voice said from behind me.
 
I turned to see a man dressed in blue; he was leaning on the wall picking at his nails.
 
“W-w-who are you?” I asked and I looked around, trying to get a feel of what was going on.
 
“Oh what a pity you don’t know me.” He said looking up at me with glowing yellow eyes. “I’m Mare, you mortals may know me as Nightmare.”
 
“Nightmare?” I asked as if this was some type of joke.
 
“How funny you think I’m playing.” He snared. He waved his hand and the blue monster appeared. I shirked back as it rushed me, then it flopped back hitting a wall that I could not see.
 
“Still think this is a joke?” he asked with a cruel smile.
 
I shook my head, as I watched the blue monster claw against the air wall that was holding it back.
 
“My pet.” He said as he glanced down lovingly at it.
 
“Call it off.” I begged.
 
He snapped his finger and it was gone.
 
“My pet broke your neck, but I see it grew quite well.” He purred walking towards me.
 
I glanced at myself, to see I was wearing a blue cloak with torn jeans. My hair was back and was hanging down. I was wearing black knee-high boots.
 
The man came over to me and reached down to touch my cheek. I shrank away from his touch in fear. The man just smirked and moved his hand down to untie me. As he did he looked me over and said, "You know, my pet used to be just like you, scared and lonely just like you. I gave it a purpose in life, just how I can give you one.”
 
I shirked away from him in fear as he reached out to touch me.
 
"You're not ready yet,” he purred, eyeing me over. Agree to be my pet, and I’ll bring you back, or face your nightmares till the end, and I’ll set you free. He waved his hand and suddenly I was in a forest. It was dark, and I was alone.
4
“Hello?” I said looking around trying to get a feel of where I was.
 
“Hello darling.” A voice purred.
 
I spun around to see an animal; it had the body of a horse, the feet of a cat, a head of a chicken, and teeth that were way too sharp.
 
I took a step back, but I bumped into a wall of air that stopped me from escaping this monster's clutches.
 
“What’s wrong, I only want a little bite.” It said clicking its beak.
 
“Y-y-your not real!” I yelled.
 
It looked at me and tilted its head to the side, letting an eyeball dangle.
 
I screamed and tried to run past it, but it scooped me, throwing me in the air. I shut my eyes, readying myself for the impact when I felt something grab me by my waist. I opened my eyes to see a huge bird was carrying me away; its beak was covered in red eyes. It was holding me with one foot, as it flew higher and higher into the sky. Then it dropped me, I started to fall fast, faster and faster and faster.
 
I landed hard on my side, breaking some of my ribs; I staggered to my feet, then fell over.
 
“Give up yet?” A voice said.
 
I looked up to see Mare, leaning on a tree watching me.
 
“Just kill me.” I begged as I crawled over to his feet.
 
“No, my young pet. I have more use for you then you know.”

“Please, I just want this to be over.” I begged.
 
He gave another one of his cold laughs and gently touched my ribs, I could feel them healing. “Not until you are ready to be mine you will stay here.”
 
I grabbed his leg tearfully, “Please-“
 
He waved his hand and was gone.
 
5
 
I stood shaking, it was getting darker, and darker but I didn’t even know where I was.
 
“Lost?” A voice said.
 
I turned around to see a blob in darkness, it was darker than the night, darker than death itself. “I know the way out of this place.” It purred.
 
I took a step back and as it took a step towards me.
 
“What’s the way out?” I asked.
 
“Submit to Master Mare and he will take you with him.”
 
“W-w-w-what does Master Mare want with me?”
 
“Only the Master Mare knows,” The blob purred.
 
“Do you know another way out?” I asked.
 
“Death, but nobody here can die. You may jump from the highest cliff, drown in the bottomless lake, and stab yourself. But you will not die, it will only anger Master Mare, and we must not anger Master Mare.”
 
“Thank you.” I said quietly, this was the first creature here that did not try to eat me.
 
“Fear attracts fear.” The blob said before disappearing into the darkness.
 
6
 
I looked around to see that nobody was there; I was alone in the middle of the woods that were filled with my deepest fears. I took a step forward unsure where to step next. Do I go back, or foward.

“Hello, want to play a game?” A voice said from in front of me?

I saw what my mother use to tell me about when she wanted to scare me into doing what she wanted. It was a deadly pale, with long finger-like claws, its eyes were dangling out of its head, its body was just bone, not a hint of skin, just bone. Fear Rushed into me in and out before I could stop it.
 
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I purred as it grabbed my leg with its claw-like hand.
 
“Let me go!” I yelled.
 
“Wrong, we don’t yell here, you will only awaken the bigger one’s, and they won’t be so happy.”
 
 Fear shook my body, there was a bigger monster in this place, wherever this place was.

Suddenly everything changed again, and the monster was gone.

7
I looked around unsure of where I was. My whole body felt disoriented, I was standing in a grassland, a few horses were eating around me, but none paying me any mind. I stepped towards the nearest one, causing it to look up at me. Its eyes were bright yellow, and dangling out of its head, its body was covered in black flies, it turned its head towards me and pawed the ground gently.

“What happened to you?” I whispered in horror.

“I became the master’s pet,” The horse said. “ But I was still ungrateful for everything he did for me, so he banished me here for the rest of my life, why are you here?”

“I-i-i-i’m not sure.”

The horse looked at me for a long while, and said, “I see why,  when I look at you I only see your black heart and black soul.”

“My soul is black?” I asked confused.

“Yes.” The horse replied, “but it’s not what you think, a black soul means how pure you are, it shows you have a rare soul that almost nobody can find anymore.”

“So why does he want me?

“Because he does not have one like you, the only way to get free of him is to beat him in his game.”

“How do I do that?”

“Fear attracts fear, what you don’t know you fear, what you know you fear.” the horse turned its head back around.”

“So don’t be scared?”

“To be scared is human, to be scared of nothing will make you weak, you won’t be brave. You must overcome your fear to live.”

“How long do I have?”

“One hour.” the horse said, then faded away, along with everything else.

8
I was now standing by a lake, I could see the water rippling peacefully, I could see the sun rising, it gave off a wonderful glow, bathing me in the light.

“Now can’t you just stay like that?” Mare asked from behind me.

I flinch in shock at the sound of his voice, I turned to see he was sitting on a rock, he was surrounded by darkness, so I could only see his glowing yellow eyes

“I don’t want to stay here forever.” I said taking a step back.

“If you are my pet, you will be by my side forever, no lost in your deepest fear.”

“I want to go home.”

Mare stood up and took a step towards me, the darkness followed. “There is no home left for you, your time ended the moment you fail into my hands.”

I took another step back, as Mare walked slowly towards me, I felt my boots splash in the water.

“Maybe you need to see more of your fears, I’ll come get you when your ready.” Mare said gently, then shoved me into the water. The water was cold, and I did not know how to swim. I tried to stay flowing but was bitterly failing.

“Next time listen to me.” Mare said, then waved his hand.

I felt something grab my kicking legs, and pull me under.

9
I awoke chain under the water, somehow I could breathe but it was painful, very painful. I tried to move, but the chain was holding me fast.

“Is anyone there?” I cried out.

“Nobody is here to help you now.” A voice echoed around me. “You had an hour, now you have none.”

Horror passed over my bones at the thought of staying in this place for the rest of my life.

“What’s wrong, you wasted your hour hopelessly trying to find a way out of here, now you will be here forever.” The voice said laughing.

“Where are you!” I yelled, tears falling down my already wet face.

“I’m here, I’m there, I’m everywhere.”

The chains fell off, and I fell into the sandy floor. It was cold, colder than colder, it bit into my knees.

“You have be assigned underwater life for three years then you will be judged to see if you are ready.”

“I won’t stay here!” I yelled.

“You didn’t have a choice in the beginning, what makes you think you have one now?”

More tears began to fall from my cheeks, the voice was right. If I just gave in I would not be here, if I just let Mare do whatever he wanted, I could have at least been dead by now, and that was a very tempting offer.

“Can’t I just die?” I wailed hopelessly.

“No,” the voice said, only Mare can bring death to those under him, and he does not wish for you to be set free.”

I looked around hopelessly trying to find the source of the voice, but like it said it was everywhere. I stood up with what felt like the weight of the world trying to push me back down, I looked up towards the bright sky.

“Sit down,” the voice said. “Master Mare is awaiting you.”

“Why?”

“So he can give you commands for your next job as his underwater slave.

I sat down slowly as the ground started shaking, then everything changed again. I was back home.

10
Mare was sitting on the kitchen table, the drapes were closed, making it very dark. The time read 9:00 pm 10-31-0000.

“Yes,” Mare said looking me up and down, "this is real.”

I stood up shakily and shook my head in disbelief. “You're not real.” I gasped.

Mare laughed coldly, “after everything you've done, you still believe this is not real, you still believe you will wake up and everything will go back to normal?”

“Yes,” I said bravely, “because that is what is going to happen.”

“I don’t have time to argue with a lower, I’ll give you one more chance to gain your freedom.”

“I’ll do it.” I said without thinking.

“Don’t agree so easily.” He laughed. “If you lose I’ll make you my slave forever.”

“If I declined?”

“You will become my human pet, or serve underwater duty for three years, and let me tell you, it's painful boarding.”

“I'll go with your offer.” I said, shaking from fear.

“Ok, But your going to have to survive on my little island, for three hours.

I was speechless, I didn’t even know where to start.

“What’s wrong, though I would make it easy?”

I glanced at the clock to see that not even a minute had passed.

“Well?” Mare asked mockingly.

“I-I-I-”

He waved his hand and we were both standing on a small island in the middle of a large lake.
I looked around to see dozens of animals watching us. They all looked hungry. “If you cry I win, deal?”

I nodded, feeling hopeless.

Mare smiled at me again and beckoned me forward with his hand.

I took a small step forward.

“All the animals here will be trying to kill you,” He purred happily.

Once again I was left alone standing on this island, full of animals trying to kill me.

11
I looked around trying to take my whole situation in, trying to see that I was about to lose, seeing that I fail for another one of his stupid tricks again, I was on the veage of tears, with fear pouring off me.

One of the smaller animals stepped forward boldly, looking me right in the eyes.

It reassembled as a cat, but it was furless, and it was very boney. It looked to be starving with the gaze it was giving me.

I took a step back, and it began to stalking forward, licking its lips.

“N-n-n-nice kitty.” I said taking another step back.

“You're a coward!” The cat yelled, ''You'd rather save your own skin instead of us, you'd rather live your foolish mortal life and leave us here to rot!”

“I-I-I don’t know how to save everybody.” I said taking another step back.

“The answer was right in front of you the whole time!”

“I-”

“You were too foolish to see it and now we all have to pay the price.”

“What is the price?”

The cat looked me up and down, before raising one of its paw’s to show it it was decaying and was full of bugs. “We are being eaten alive, while you stand there to mock us, we have been starving for years, and years. Do you know how it feels to be hungry but unable to get food? Do you know how it feels to be eaten alive?”

“I-I-I don’t.”

“That’s what I thought.” It growled. “Master told us that if we can kill you, he will set us free.”

“B-b-but I thought nothing could die in this place?”

“True.” The cat said, now sitting down to lick its paw.

“So how can you kill me?”

“We can’t.” I growled, jumping to its paws.

“So how can I free you?” I asked.

The cat blinked at me slowly, and tilted its head, “I will help you break free of Master, if you help me.”

“How?”

“Kill me.”

“But I-”

“You can, you are wearing a Master's cloak, you are another Master, only Master can help us.”

“What about the rest of them?” I asked, waving my hand towards the rest of the animals that were watching us.”

“Killing me will break the spell that is holding them here, and we will all find peace, but you will not, you will be here forever, because master will be angry, and will make you suffer.”

“I’ll do it.” I said looking down at my hands.

The cat moved next to me, and that's when I saw the baby kitten that was next to it. It had silky black fur, and yellow eyes.

“Take care of my kitten.” The cat said.

I bent down and picked up the kitten, its fur was starting to fall off, but at my touch it began to grow back.

I reached forward to pet the other cat, and the moment my handmade connection with it, it fell to the ground dead. Along with the rest of the animals. I was still holding the baby cat, it laid its head on my arm, I stood up and looked around to see the island was beginning to fall apart, I know there was nothing I could do now, since I was going to touch the water and lose, but maybe I could help the Kitten, maybe i could make a deal with Mare and have the kitten stay safe. I dropped to my knees and covered up the kitten with my whole body, and everything when dark.

12
“What do we have here?” I heard Mare said.

I blinked to see I was laying on the floor of a warm room, Mare was sitting on the bed holding the crying kitten, who was trying to break free from his grasp.

“Y-y-you're scarding it!” I said, trying to sit up.

“Ahh so this little monster is yours.” He said, stroking the kitten lovely.

“Yes.” Said with my head down.

“Don’t look so said pet.” He said gently, putting the kitten down.

“Please, do whatever you want to me just don’t hurt that kitten.” I sobbed.

“Pet, why would I hurt a kitten?”

I pulled  myself up and grabbed my knees because I needed something to hold.

“Pet.” He said in a disapproving voice, “don’t be so sad.”

“I followed all your stuip rules, and played all your stuipd game, but i still lose it all in the end.” I said sobbing.

“If I were you,” He said gently, “I would have waited until the last minute to help all the animals, into the hours were up. The animals would have been free, with you, but since you lost what will your pick be, Underwater serve or pet?”

“Can’t you just kill me?” I begged.

“Why? If you died, what would happen to your kitten?”

“I-”

“I’ll make you my pet, and you can keep your kitten, deal?”

I nodded feeling hopeless and lost into a life I never wanted and tried hard to get away from.

“Aww, my dear little pet, don’t be so sad all the time!” He said as he stood up and bent down next to me.

I flinched back as he tried to touch my head.

“Naughty little pet.” He said, wiggling his finger in my face.

I turned my head away, as he gently touched my face, with his freezing cold hands.

“Nice little pet.” He said.

“Please just kill me!” I begged, pressing myself against the wall.

“My poor, poor pet.” He picked me up gently and laid me on the bed. “Get some rest before you get sick.” He said gently, leading the kitten next to me.

I grabbed the kitten, which seemed much happier in my arms and fell asleep.

13
I woke up and rubbed my eye, my clock said it was 10:00pm. I looked around to see I was back in my house, but the kitten was still laying in my bed. I got up  and  went downstairs to the kitchen, to see a broken glass cup, with spilled water, but next to the cup, was a body, it was my body, my head had been snapped off with my hair, my throat had been pulled out, leaving a bloody mess all over the floor.

I screamed and fell to my knees, how was I dead there and right here?

“You!” The blue monster that killed me growled, It was standing over my body, its face full of blood.

“You rotten spoiled brat, you ask for too much, Master has tried to make you happy, but just keep on whining, and whining, Master is getting angry, he does not want a sad pet! I don’t like it when Master is angry, angry Master hits pet, angry Master does not feed pet, angry Master does not love pet.”

“I’m sorry.” I said sobbing, I was dead, my body was right there in front of my eyes, I might have made this pet’s life a living hell.

“Sorry will pay the price, Master is angry, Master wants to know why he;s not good enough to make everyone happy!” I growled, flashing its sharp teeth at me.

“Just kill me.” I begged.

"Master will be more angry if you're hurt!" It growled tilting its head at me. "You want Master to hurt me!"

"No!"

"Your lying!" It growled.

"No I'm not." I cried out.

"You think I'll believe you? You think your sick games will work on me? I don't play with-"

"Enough." A voice said from behind me.

I felt a hand creep up my back into my shoulder.

"Pet,"Mare purred. "What can I say…

I felt his hands creep up to my neck, I felt blinding pain, as he snapped it and I was suddenly surrounded by water.

"You life sentence of underwater duty starts now….."