The Nightmare Inflictor Read Free

voice echoes through the quiet room before I have a chance to leave.
    I turn and glare at the pixie as he sits up and leans on his elbows. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”
    “No, I swear. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t sleep. I was anxious and excited.” He swings his feet off the bed and stands up.
    I press my lips together. “So you thought it would be a good idea to pretend to sleep. Did you think that I would just jump in your head anyway?”
    He rubs a hand over his forehead. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m an idiot.”
    I’m angry and embarrassed by this entire situation. I just want to turn around and run, and never look back. I shake my head and roll my eyes, and then turn toward the door. There’s no point in sitting around and arguing with the pixie. I can’t invade his dreams if he isn’t sleeping.
    What I hate the most is that I’m going to have to go to the council and beg them to find another volunteer for me, or have someone escort me to the city. The real world outside the compound is too dangerous for me to go alone. I can’t risk getting caught by the Human Preservation Agency, my community’s enemy. I don’t know what else to do. I wish my father were home already.
    “Wait, please. I want to help you. What can I do?” James asks while crossing the room.
    I dig my fingernails into my palms and glower at him. “Nothing.” I step into the hallway and start gliding to the lobby when James douses me with silver pixie dust. I freeze in place, unable to move. This pixie is really not going to give up. Doesn’t he get it? The only thing he can do is sleep.
    He touches my shoulder. “Please, don’t go.”
    Tears burn my eyes. “I can’t even move if I wanted to.” It’s nights like these that make me wish I were something else.
    He blows more silver dust in my face and the magical hold he had on me releases. I stumble back and slide to the ground against the wall. I curl my knees to my chest and bury my face in my arms. If I sit like this long enough maybe he will just go back to his room so I can leave.
    “Just give me a few hours and I promise I’ll fall asleep and you can invade my dreams. And for putting you through this I’ll stay another day and you can invade my dreams tomorrow, too.”
    I suck in my bottom lip. His offer is tempting, but it’s against the rules to visit a dreamer more than once. Nightmare inflicting affects a person’s sanity so the more I do it the more likely they’ll go crazy. And they always go crazy.
    “I’ll wait an hour, but that’s it.” I don’t move to get up. I’ll stay here on the floor for the hour because if I move I think I’ll run out of here and then that will leave me without a dream.
    James smiles. “Okay. I’ll go to my room and leave you then. I am truly sorry about this whole situation. I never intended to meet you and make you uncomfortable. I’m probably your worst volunteer.”
    I shrug instead of answering. While James might not be the worst volunteer I’ve ever had, he’s going to be the most memorable. I’ve never been asked to hang out and wait for somebody to fall asleep. And I don’t think anyone will ever ask me again.
    James turns on his heels, sauntering back to his room, and closes his door. I play with the white strands of my colorless hair. It’s going to be a long night.
     

4. ORDINARY MONSTERS
     
     
     
     
     
     
    “You want me to come with you, Nadia?” Alyssa’s fiery red hair shines in the golden sunlight. She’s wearing a knee-length, sapphire blue dress with black tights and ankle boots. Her green eyes match the soft grass and her cheeks are flushed with heat. She studies me for a moment, pressing her thin, pale pink lips together.
    I shake my head. “No, definitely not. I can’t believe the only volunteer the council could find this week was someone who usually works the night shift.” I tuck my pale blond hair behind my ear. My hair has held its color from the nightmares