The Black Lake

"Of course you do not remember.."
He sighed, the breath hissing in a fog in front of his face.

The eclipse eyes remained on Samantha, and he kept the distance between them equal, stepping forward for every time she moved back.

"Perhaps you do not remember your nightmares? Or checking under your bed for the creatures that lurked in your bedroom?"

I keep taking steps back, not realizing that I'm nearing the lakes edge. "Nightmares..." I mutter, "You were never in them.. Who are you?!"

"Of course I was never in them! I rarely am!"

The man snorted, out of frustration.
"Honestly, you humans cannot use your imagination!"

OOC Actually, Pitch, Sam's just not that bright when it comes to things like this. xD

IC I shake my head, really confused, "Just tell me who you are!"

(( Pitch: excuse u. ))

Pitch wrinkled his nose in annoyance and rolled his eyes.

Holding out a long-fingered, grey hand, the man gave another suave smile.
"Pitch Black. More commonly known as the Boogeyman or the Nightmare King. At your service."

My eyes grow even wider. "W-what do you want?"

"Oh, nothing in particular. I am here , though, because you, my dear Samantha, have a very wide range of fears..."


His grin was jagged and sharp-toothed, and it spread like watercolors on a wet page; quickly.

"I see you do not doubt what I say, as others usually do."

I look down, shivering a little bit, feeling the goosebumps appearing on my arms. "I know I do..." I'm always scared... Such a weakling...

Pitch scowled, when she did not take his hand, and moved to hold it behind his back.
He lifted his chin, curtly, smugly, powerfully.

The shadows writhed and gave, what sounded to be, groans and growls.

"Ah, you believe it... and that is why I am here. Because I am hungry, and your fear is just what I need."

And now he sounds like a vampire... My heart races and my breaths are quick. I'm nervous and a bit scared. I'm such a weakling... So pathetic... It's no wonder I had no friends in the orphanage.

Pitch's expression could be compared to that of a ravenous predator.

Hungry, vicious, dark.

"You see yourself as so weak, so little... such a wonder the Strayer boy can even love you!"

The man chuckled, stepping smoothly forward.

"Perhaps you think you're too weak, that he'll leave you? I wouldn't doubt it."

Tears start to fill my eyes at his words. It's something everyone says to me... How can a Strayer love a weakling like you? I don't say anything, my knees starting to buckle, the depression settling in.

"Come now, girl, I don't bring sorrow, I bring fear. Bite back those tears, and face me! Bravery is what makes a Strayer, after all!"

He gave a laugh that could have been compared to dark syrup that dribbled and oozed sensually.
His figure stepped behind the tree and vanished into the darkness, his voice still audible though his form could not be seen.

"Let us try another. How about your father? Scared of him? No? Oh, it's scared of being like him? Well let me assure you.."

The man reappeared, just behind Samantha, his long-fingered hand resting on her shoulder, squeezing it as he lowered his mouth right next to her ear, whispering.

"On the track your travelling? You're sure to end up just like him."

I flinch at his touch, feeling a deep chill spread through me. More tears come out of my eyes as I imagine myself insane, torturing everyone without a thought. My heart races with a deep terror.

"That's it..."

The man chuckled, leaning back, placing his other hand on her other shoulder, grasping her in place.
"Feed your fear.Feel it in your bones. Poisonous, cold, dark, isn't it? But that's just the thing. Fears are not irrational. Especially for you. Because you fear your future. What is to come."

I flinch again, almost feeling numb with fear and cold and darkness. I don't want to be like my father... I don't want to be alone again... I don't want to be hated... I breathe in quick and shaky breaths, on the verge of hyperventilation.

Slowly, Pitch began to let go of Samantha.

He pulled back, away from her.
Her fear was satisfying.
Filling.
Delicious.

And it strengthened him wonderfully. With a believer like this? Someone so open to fear? No, he wouldn't cause her too much harm. Not now.
But he wondered just how much he could feed from her nightmares!
Ah, what a wonderful feast it would be!

Smirking, the Nightmare King held his hands behind his back, and spoke in a smooth, gentler tone.
"Deep breaths, girl. Calm down."

My breathing slows, but only a little bit. It's hard for me to speak. I'm too frozen. Too shocked. I don't dare look up at this demon. "W-why are you d-d-doing this?"

"Why?"

Pitch paused for a moment. And the Nightmare King thought. An almost broken, sad expression passed through his tone, and he frowned deeply.

"Because it is who I am. I have no other choice. I must feed from fear to survive, and so I must do this wretched job placed on me by Tsar Lunar. It is who I am, who I've always been."

Hearing this story makes me feel more empathetic towards him. "...S-so you were f-forced to do this?"

The Nightmare King gave a snarl.
Yet, as any question like this forced him to do, he reached up to his neck, grasping for a locket that was not there.

He scowled, and shrugged, and answered simply.

"I do not remember."

I just stare at the ground, my heart having slowed down from it's frightful race. I continue to shiver a little, my mind now racing with negative thoughts... About myself.

The man, too, remained quiet for a time, before he heaved a long sigh and shook his head.

Gradually, he turned.

"Keep in mind what I told you, my dear. And think what your lovely Strayer might think if you keep this truth from him. You will only hurt him and the ones around you if you do not seclude yourself from them. Sweet Nightmares.."

His words hit me like a dagger. I start to shake again, and I just sit there, thinking, worrying, fearing...

The man gave a liquid laugh, and turned, fading into the inky shadows once more.

And there was silence. Yet a lingering fear.

(( Ah, that was fun. Thank you for doing that with me, Ray. c: ))