Page 13 of Nightmare For Hire
I know it’s probably dumb to be this excited about going on a first date, but there’s something about the endearing rambling.
Cyrus: Got a date with a Nightmare tomorrow morning!!!
Devon: Yay! You have to tell me all about it! What is a Nightmare like?
Cyrus: I’ll keep you updated.
But now, time to relax and eat something. Maybe play a few video games to wind down.
Chapter 7
Nox
“Do I look okay?” I ask Dani, who gazes at me with one eye half open while he leans into his door frame.
“It’s too damn early, Nox. Why is this one different?”
“Dunno. Just is. Have you seen his eyes?” I pull my phone from the pocket of my white skinny jeans.
“Yes,” Maddox says from behind Dani. “We’ve seen his eyes.”
“They’re sad.” I pout. “Whyare they so sad?” I must get to the bottom of it.
“Aren’t you supposed to give him nightmares?” Maddox asks.
“Technically, yes. But I don’t trust the merman. I think he did something to make Cyrus so sad and if that’s the case, I won’t be giving Cy nightmares.” I’ll wiggle into his brain to see what the hell that merman did to him. Uncover the truth.
“Nox.” Dani grabs my attention and I look away from my phone. “If you think he’s the real victim, pleasedo notgo into his head.”
“But it’s the easiest way to find out what’s wrong.” I shove my phone back into my pocket. How does he always know what I’m thinking?
“Yeah, but you usually get a feel for the person ahead of time and this is the first time you feel they don’t deserve the Nightmare treatment, right?”
“True.”
“Then get to know him instead of violating his trust by looking into his memory. Maybeactuallydate him.”
“But I don’t know how to date.”
“I’m sure.” Maddox yawns, making his jaw pop. “You’ll figure it out. Just talk to him to get to know him and do fun things.”
“Exactly,” Dani says.
“Sounds complicated. Anyway, I look cute, right? That’s the main thing.” My pink and blue tie-dyed crop top slips down one shoulder exactly how I want it to. I chose my bright yellow star-shaped purse for snacks. My pink platform boots give me a couple of inches. A thin silver belt hangs off my waist to complete the look.
“Yes, you look cute,” Dani assures me. “Can we please go back to bed now? I love ya, but it’s too early to function.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.” I turn around to head out. It’s almost time for my date with Cyrus, anyway. Pretty much everything is within walking distance here, with well-maintained sidewalks that have easy access for wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
The morning birds chirp their happy little songs. I try to sing along, but my haunting voice makes them scatter. Nevermind the silly birds, Nightmares have their own beautiful songs.
A shriek comes from an open window from the apartment building beside me, and I shut my trap. Nightmare songs create nightmares, and I told myself I’d stop feeding from my neighbors. I pick up speed to get out of view in case the affected person peeks out the window. Only a few people know thatI’mthe famed Nightmare in Rivenfield. Everyone else just knows a Nightmare lives here, but not who they are. I like to keep it that way, and everyone that uses my Nightmare for hire services is made to sign a contract that says they won’t blab about what I am.
Once out of hearing range from my apartment complex, I let my Nightmare song unleash again. Some would say it’s low and mournful, others would swear they heard a banshee scream. I enjoy a little chaos in my day. The sound makes the dogs in the area whine and the squirrels skitter away. The human in front of me shivers and when they turn to look behind them, I give them a bright smile and a finger wave. They give me an uncertain smile before going off the path to walk across the street. I shrug and continue on.
Personally, I don’t think love and relationships are for me, but I’m still open to the idea. Sometimes I wonder if Nightmares deserve love, then realize that’shumanthinking and not Nightmare thinking. I don’t miss romantic love because, as far as I know, I’ve never experienced it. Nightmares don’t have families. We just popped into existence one day. I still remember floating around in nothing,wasnothing. Starving. Not knowing anything. Then an entire round planet for us all to play with—us being the beings that camebefore. Then plants and animals popped up, and finally, humans. Well, the humanoids before the current homo sapiens. And Nightmares feasted.
Portal Place Diner comes into view and it takes everything in me not to skip the rest of the way. There’s a billboard with Dani and another monster right behind the diner. The portal to themonster realm is stuck in a tree next to the diner. I never got the story on that, but I’m guessing someone got the coordinates wrong when they were creating it and just left it. There’s always two armed human guards. As if humans can actually do anything if the right type of monster tries to come through.Puh-lease. Humans think they’re so damn smart.
