The Nightmare Man Read Free

that his mum was talking to Rani. They both grinned at him as he joined them.
    ‘Rani’s given me some tips on what clothes we should get you,’ said Sarah Jane. ‘Oh, I’ve forgotten my handbag!’
    As Sarah Jane rushed off, Luke yawned. Rani smiled at him.
    ‘You’ll catch flies if you keep yawning like that.’
    He smiled back, but Rani could see that something was bothering him. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.
    ‘I had a nightmare last night,’ Luke replied.
    ‘What?’ said Rani. ‘I thought you couldn’t dream.’
    ‘So did I. The Bane didn’t include that in my genetic make-up.’
    Rani asked him if he’d told Sarah Jane but Luke shook his head. He didn’t want to worry his mum about something so silly.
    ‘It’s just a dream,’ he said. ‘Everyone has them, don’t they?’
    ‘I suppose it must be because you’re leaving home,’ said Rani, nodding. ‘You know, everything’s a bit intense and that’s just...activated the dream switch. You’re growing up, getting old.’ She grinned and Luke smiled back, raising an eyebrow.
    ‘I’m growing up so I start having nightmares? Great.’
    ‘And the rest of us get spots,’ said Rani, rolling her eyes. ‘I wouldn’t worry about it. Oh, you’ve not told Clyde, have you? He’ll only take the mick.’
    Luke shook his head. ‘I haven’t seen him. He’s been busy.’
    Rani nodded and smiled but she knew the real reason Clyde hadn’t seen Luke. Rani also knew that she’d have to do something about it.
    ‘Clyde! Hold up!’
    Clyde turned to Rani at the other end of the school corridor. She pushed through a group of giggling schoolgirls and joined him outside a classroom.
    ‘I saw Luke this morning,’ she said.
    Clyde shrugged.
    ‘He said he hasn’t see you in a few days,’ she continued. ‘You fancy going round later?’
    Clyde shook his head. ‘I’ve got football.’
    ‘Oh, don’t be like this.’
    Clyde shrugged again. ‘Like what?’
    ‘Your best mate’s leaving on Friday. Don’t pretend you’re not bothered.’
    Suddenly, Clyde looked angry. ‘What am I meant to do? Start crying? Beg him to stay?’
    Rani could see just how upset he was about Luke leaving but she knew he’d hate himself if he didn’t say goodbye properly.
    ‘We should be happy for him!’ she said.
    ‘I am!’ he replied.
    ‘Well, tell him that!’
    ‘Well, maybe I will!’
    ‘Good!’
    There was a pause. They looked at each other. They weren’t used to arguing, so they weren’t quite sure what to do next. After what felt like hours, Clyde nodded towards the classroom door.
    ‘I kind of need to be in there,’ he said.
    ‘Oh, right, yeah,’ she replied.
    And they went their separate ways.
    Later that afternoon, Clyde sat alone on the school wall. He was looking at his phone. He wanted to call Luke, he really did. He knew he was being stupid. Luke going to university was a brilliant thing, but Clyde was just so scared of being left behind. What if Luke forgot about him? What if he decided that Clyde wasn’t clever enough to stay friends with?
    When he’d been younger, Clyde had had these “Cool Rules” which he’d taught Luke. One of them had been how you shouldn’t show people when you’re really happy or really upset. If people saw those things, then you wouldn’t be cool. Now he was older, Clyde knew those rules were a bit silly. He wanted to show Luke that he was happy for him, but also that he’d miss him. But he didn’t want to have some big heart-to-heart chat. That wasn’t Clyde. That wasn’t what he did.
    Then he realised! He realised what it was he did do. How he could show Luke how he felt. Clyde jumped off the wall and started to run home. He had things to organise!

Chapter Six
    The Nightmare Man is waiting…
    That evening, Luke said goodnight to Sarah Jane and went to bed early. He was still tired from not sleeping well the night before and he’d had a busy day of packing and clothes shopping. In fact, he was