Page 9 of Demon of Dreams

Then again, if all of this was real, there was no way I could drop this mess in her lap. No. If this was real, the best thing I could do for my friends was to keep it away from them. Until I figured it out. Somehow.

Vesperwood Academy. Was it some kind of fancy private school in Wisconsin? That didn’t sound very useful to me, considering I’d already graduated high school. But maybe it was worth looking into further. Right now, it was the best idea I had.

Unless it led me straight back to those monsters. I wasn’t sure I liked the fact that the demon in my dream had said it. But the raven had said it too, and then it and all its friends had helped me. That had to mean something, right?

Exhaustion rose as the panic from earlier drained out of me. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick nap. The driver was sleeping anyway. He didn’tlooklike he was going to murder me. I’d just close my eyes for a few minutes. Just for a…

Bright light flashed above me, blinding me for a second. I looked around in confusion. I was in a men’s room, the kind you’d see at a stadium or a library or—or a highway rest stop. I didn’t remember leaving the car to use it, but that had to be where I was.

“Don’t be nervous,” said a voice to my right, and I blinked. The driver was walking towards me. Only, I could have sworn he wasn’t there a second ago.

He was taller than I’d realized. Over six feet, and rangy. His stare was intense.

Nervous? Had I told him about those monsters, or was something else going on?

“Why would I—”

“Everyone has a first time. You’ll enjoy this.” His stare wasn’t just intense. It was hungry.

What was going on?

“Enjoy what?”

“What I’m about to show you.” He grabbed my wrist and tugged. I stumbled forward, letting him drag me into a stall, more out of surprise than anything else.

He pushed me inside, then stepped in after me and locked the door in one rough motion.

“Now,” he said, pressing me up against the wall of the stall. “How about you show me a little gratitude for the free ride? A little something in return, huh?”

“In re—?”

My jaw dropped open as comprehension dawned. Sex. He was talking about sex. With me. He wanted me to…to pay him back.

His tongue entered my mouth before I finished speaking, his hands roaming across my shirtless body, so thin compared to his. His tongue curled around my own, pushing and probing deeper into me. He tasted like grain alcohol and peppermint.

Wait a second. Shirtless? No matter how gross and sweaty my hoodie was, I didn’t remember taking it off. Or my jacket, for that matter. So how the hell was I—

Dream. The word whispered across my mind, and I knew it was true. This was just a dream. None of this was real.

The driver’s calloused hands teased me in places I hadn’t realized were sensitive. His left hand pinched my nipple as the right dropped down to palm my crotch. Fuck, I was hard.

At least it’s not a monster this time.You might still be dreaming fucked up situations, but at least you can see this guy’s face. Is there any harm in giving into it?

Except I wasn’t gay. And this was disgusting.Iwas disgusting, for wanting this. For wanting him. For wanting a stranger to manhandle me in a public restroom, and for liking it when he pushed me up against a wall.

His hand dipped down under my jeans, palming my cock. It throbbed, aching for more attention.

“I knew you were a slut,” he said, his laugh lecherous. “Knew you wanted this.”

Before I could say anything, he shoved me to my knees. My skin pebbled as it scraped the ground. I looked down. When had my jeans come off?

Dream, said the little voice.It’s just a dream.You don’t have to worry about it.You can just enjoy—

Faggot. That wasn’t the voice in the back of my mind. That was my dad’s voice. I could hear it, as gruff and clear as if he were here with me. My skin crawled at the sneer in his tone.

Pathetic excuse for a son. Enjoying this like the slut you are.

I cringed. I didn’t want to hear his voice anymore. I didn’t want any part of him infecting me.

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