A New Nightmare Awakens

Ryan exited the mall running after Nightmare, unfortunately she was already out of sight and nowhere he looked he could see trace of her. He started wandering the parking lot in hope to find her somewhere, but just like when he exited he could not see her, that is until he decided to look up.

Nightmare stood on the roof of the mall quite visibly, by the fact that the illusion she casted on herself earlier this morning seemed to had dissipated with her current state of mind. Her ethereal mane billowed in the air, like he saw when he woke up this morning. The more he approach the form of Nightmare, the more he saw that she was shaking, probably sobbing her heart out at what happened inside the bathroom, even though he did not know what she did in there.

He took a deep breath and exhaled, he repeated this little exercise multiple time to regain his breath. He look from side to side making sure that no one was here, and when he saw that no one was in the area, he call out to her to gain her attention. ''Moon what are doing up here?'' He could not see her very well from how high up she was, but he knew she heard him by her little jump she made in surprise.

Nightmare did not expect anyone to find her with the 'notice me not' spell she casted on herself to be ignored, and the fact that she was found, by Ryan of all person made her jump in surprise at hearing him call out to her. She looked up in surprise and then down at Ryan who was clearly looking at her. She checked herself making sure that the spell she casted on herself when she exited was still active, and indeed it still was. 'So why is he seeing me? Is it because of all the time we spent together? Or is it because of the fact he bonded with me via the dreamscape?' She shook her head and decided to let the subject drop. Instead she began focusing her power via her horn that now adorn her head since she returned to her 'true' human form, and cast a teleport spell to bring Ryan beside her and ask him herself.

Ryan upon feeling that weird tingling sensation, and seeing Nightmare's horn glowing with power, thought she was about to run away again, was about call out to her again. Only to fall face first on the roof of the mall, with a heavy sense of nausea. His vision was swimming, and he felt like puking, and he probably did by the smell that came to his nose.

Nightmare knelled down near Ryan to make sure that he was alright, but did not touch him otherwise. ''Are you alright Ryan?'' She asked unsure. She was not use to teleporting others, and so easily forgot the sense of nausea that overcame those that get teleported for the first time like Ryan.

''I'm okay,''Ryan said after taking a few long breath to make the sense of nausea disappear. He sat down to look into Nightmare's eyes and saw relief wash over her at seeing him not puking his stomach out like did moments ago. ''But what did you do? How come I'm on the rooftop of the mall!?''

''I teleported you using magic so that we could talk without you yelling all the time.'' She said without directly looking at him feeling a little guilty for him feeling bad, and worrying him by exiting like she did at bathroom.

''Well why didn't you just flown down, instead of teleporting me?'' he said looking at her a little bit irritated by her, but overall relieved to have found in the end.

''It was the first thing that came to mind... I'm sorry leave alone if you want.'' And with that said she turn around, completely forgetting why she brought him up in the first place, and sat down near the edge of the building with her legs hanging out. She looked to the side when she heard Ryan sitting down beside her as well. ''What are you doing?'' She asked.

''Well originally I came to find and find out what happened in there that got you so upset, and I can't get down alone form here!'' He said that last part teasingly, as he poked her shoulder in a friendly gesture. He quickly sobered up though since he was worried about her and ask. ''So what happened in there Moon?'' Seeing her turn her head to the side only meant that she was ashamed by what happened. ''You can tell me anything Moon, I won't get angry I promise, I'm your friend and friend should trust each other.'' He said softly in an attempt to reassure her, to make her open up so that she could speak without fear.

''I-I-I do not want to talk about it, not right now at least.'' She had trouble speaking and telling him what happened, even though he reassured her that he would not be angry. She could not get the image of Ryan shouting at her about how disappointed he was in her, and how he never wanted to see her again, this is why she did not want to tell him right now.

Comfortingly, Ryan rubbed Nightmare's back to calm since she started panicking again. ''I understand I'll wait till we're back at the apartment, but you will have to tell me what happened.'' He said with authority, not to scare her, but to make a point. ''You know it's not good to keep things inside or they will accumulate and blow up in the end.'' He explained his point to her and made the gesture of something blowing up.

''Ok,'' Nightmare said unconvincingly, but knew that in the end Ryan was right, it was not good to keep things inside, she and Luna were the prime example of it.

''But i have to ask though before we return to Eric, how can you see me? I mean I casted a 'notice me not' spell on myself so as to not be disturb!'' She said intrigue by what his answer is going to be. ''Yet you can, why?''

Ryan was surprised by what Nightmare just told him, yet it made sense since no one saw Nightmare on the rooftop earlier, before he found her. ''I don't know, but I would think it is the connection we have as friends. But then again I don't know how magics works so it can be something else!'' Ryan said with his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

Sighing in defeat as she thought the same thing but had no way to prove, it she started channeling another teleport spell, but remembered at the last second to warn Ryan. ''Brace yourself Ryan we are teleporting again''

With a flash of light they reappeared on the asphalt of the parking lot, with Ryan falling on his ass, but Nightmare standing on her feet as she was used to the spell. Apologising to Ryan she extended her hand towards to help get up, he grasp her hands and she lift him back up on his feet, with him with a surprise expression on his face, which shifted to embarrassed at having forgotten Nightmare's strength.

Channeling her magic once again Nightmare changed back to her normal human, without the horn and dragon eyes. ''I just actually remarked that you had a horn now, when did this happened?'' He asked Nightmare confused.

Nightmare looked back at him, to answer him.'' Probably during the bathroom incident, which I will not talk about until we reach you apartment!''

''Okay so shall we head inside?'' He said as he made the motion to enter the mall.

''I am right behind you Ryan.'' Nightmare replied grateful for Ryan to not press her more on the bathroom incident, although she was pretty sure that Eric will have plenty of question about what happened.

__o0o__

They were inside the mall once again, only to come face to face with Eric, who was looking at Ryan with relief. But his look of relief was gone and replaced by one of fear and confusion the moment he saw Nightmare by Ryan's side. ''Seriously girl what the fuck did you do to those guys in there!?'' He said and pointed to the bathroom where the same thug that Nightmare assaulted still lay unconscious. ''I mean they are both unconscious, which would not be a problem with me since they kind of deserve it for their behavior earlier. But_''

He was interrupted by Ryan, who held a hand in front of his face in a silencing manner. ''Eric yelling at her will not make it easy for her, and i promise that she will explain everything to both of us. You will won't you!''

He said as a question, but Nightmare knew that that was no question and more of a fact instead, and so she did not try to argue. ''I will I promise Ryan.'' She said apologetically with out looking at Eric directly with her still puffy red eyes from all the crying she did earlier.

That answer did calm Eric as his demeanor softened, and it was then that he took a good look at Nightmare for the first time since she got back. He could see that her eyes were red, probably from all the crying she did, even he did not knew why she cried. ''All right but I'm holding on to that promise, both of you, to explain to me what happened.''

''I did not expect any less from you dude.'' Said Ryan with a little relieved smile that Eric took it that good thus far, he just hoped that it will remain the same when Nightmare will start explaining things.

Nightmare looked relieve as well, but she realize also that the previous good mood was now thoroughly gone, and said the only thing to alleviate things a little. ''So what about that movie that we are suppose to see?'' She asked, trying to change the subject to a more happy one.

''Well we can go see it now since it took me a good half an hour to find you in the parking lot!'' Ryan said agreeing with what Nightmare just said and started walking towards the cinema. They both followed him, Nightmare because she did not remembered where it was, and Eric to stay at Nightmare's level to keep an eye on her. They could say whatever they want about his friendship with Ryan, but he cares a lot about Ryan, to the point of considering him as a brother.

They arrive at the cinema, they were slightly annoyed that they will have to wait to buy their ticket since a file was present now, but decided to wait nonetheless. Ten minutes later with their ticket in hands they made their way to room number five to watch the movie Red with Bruce Willis. Two hours later they exited the mall, happy as anyone can be after watching a damn good movie. They found Eric's car park in the middle of the parking lot, where they left it before entering the mall, and made their way back to Ryan's apartment, where Nightmare will start explaining her special situation to Eric, and what happened exactly to him and Ryan what happened inside the bath room. To say she was looking forward to it would be a bold lie as she was sweating with fear of what will happen once everything was said.