Ejected Casings

Why is he here?

I can't run from him.

The corridors all lead in the same direction.

I glance back, he still persists. The time seems to fly, but the clock doesn't tick.

He is slowly gaining on me.

I can't escape.

NO-ONE. Can escape. He doesn't give in.

His spindly limbs.

His twisted face.

The way he smiles.

It's all demonic.

Why he chases, I don't know.

How he chases, I don't know.

Will he continue to haunt me throughout my life?

I don't know.

He's getting closer. I can hear his footsteps behind me.

I push myself, but my body won't cooperate.

I start to slow down.

I can't right now, not when he is right there! Come on legs, you can do this, just one final burst of ener-

No.

I start to jog.

He's right behind me.

He grabs me, and I finally glance upon his face for the first proper time.

I wish I had closed my eyes.

I stare into his eyes.

He stares back.

He leans in. He whispers in my ear.

"I know what you did."

I wake up with a jolt, cold sweat staining my body. The bedsheets are a mess, half on the bed, half off. I look myself over, i'm fine, no injuries. I glance around my room.

The Chandelier is moving.

The closet door is open.

Someone was here.

I sit up as fast as I can and put on some slippers, I need air. And I need it now.

The air is thick and warm, as I walk down the dark corridors, the hot oxygen escaping into my trachea like trying to swallow a frog. It is dark outside. How I like it.

Reaching for the door handle at the end of the corridor, a pull downwards and let the cold air wash all over me. It feels so good, so calming. I step outside into the cold and start making my way down to my favourite place to unwind in the early hours of the morning. The castle courtyard.

I start to jog through the dense bush of the shortcut to my destination, some pesky nettles stinging my skin like fire bursts. After a minute of so I reach my destination, the air quiet and peaceful.

Just the way I like it.

I slowly make my way to the centre of the courtyard, taking a moment to admire the intricate pattern of design used on the grand Canterlot castle structure. Many ingravings of pegasi and earth ponies going about with their days are shown, along with the two royal sisters placed at the top of it all. It truly is mesmerizing.

I stop a second.

"It really is rude to eavesdrop, your highness." I say.

"How did you-"

"I am trained," turning around and glancing apon the princess. "How so, is none of your concern, sister of the night."

Luna smiles at me, her cheeks mildly reddening.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" I ask her.

"We have a break in the night court, and I sensed trouble. I have the ability to monitor dreams, and yours seemed troubled."

"I assure you, I am fine."

"Then why are you standing in the castle courtyard at midnight? We assure you that thou does not consider that fine."

I take a moment to admire her old tone of voice.

"So, I had a bad dream. So what?"

"So what, is the fact that when we attempted to enter your dreams to see if everything were alright, I was greeted with a white plain. Nothing can prevent the royal sisters magic, except for another royal sister. Sadly, we learnt that the hard way."

"Get to the point your highness."

"What we are saying is, we are here for you. If there is anything you need to talk to us about we are willing to listen."

She says this with a sense of pure concern on her face. I consider telling her the events of the night's dreams, but my piece of common sense decides against it.

"Sorry, but I think this is something 'we' can handle on 'thou' own."

She chuckles at my use of old tone of language, and turns away.

"Very well, I trust we shall meet soon again. In the meantime, please try to get some rest. You will thank thou for it later."

And with that, she took off into the night.

"That's the problem, your majesty." I say out loud to myself.

"I can't rest."

Again, I slowly make my way out of the courtyard and towards the barracks me and my squadron reside in. The journey is longer this time, as I want to take in the details of the most recent conversation I have had with the princess.

How can she enter dreams?

Will she be able to enter my dreams, and will I be aware of it?

And, most intriguingly, why was she not able to enter my dreams in the first place?

I decide on leaving these thoughts for another day as I reach the door to the barracks. Twisting the knob and stepping inside, I am greeted with the all too familiar hot stuffy air I have had to reside in for the last couple of months, ever since the spire raid as we refer to it now.

I walk into my room, set up the covers, open a window and prepare for the rest I deserve, if I can get it of course. Atleast it is not as stuffy in here anymore.

I climb into bed, pull the sheets up to my neck and tuck myself in. Reaching over to turn the bedside lamp off, I had failed to realize something.

Right before my eyes.

Was a long, spindly shadow.