Nightmares.

Everything has been so silent so far, most would take that as a good sign.

Not myself the silence was so deafening, that it kept me wide awake, I could hear my heart thumping within my chest in a rhythmic beat. I glanced over to the dresser at the head of my bed, the flame still burning atop it's wick, though the candle itself was wasting away.

Hot wax cascaded down the sides slowly, pooling near the bottom before dripping off onto the wood below. Why could I not sleep?

I just want to dream...if only for a few moments.

" Stay calm or else they will come. " The soft voice echoed around me as I swung up from my resting position, eyes darting back to the corner of the room it was drenched in fresh darkness.

It stood there, a silhouette of a pony, its single eye watching me closely as I felt a chill run down my backside. I was swift and lifted my sheets above my muzzle as one might lift a shield.

" Do not fear me child., I will not bring you harm..." The soft voice echoed eerily around my bed.

" Wh...who... are...you? " I choked out in a shakey tone, my heart began to race faster in my chest.

" I'm not allowed to say...you may call me The Watchful Eye...if you desire..." It replied to me in a chilling tone, I could feel the temperature in the room begin to drop.

My hooves shook wildly as I lowered my sheet, the shadow of a pony so bleak and vast. No part of its frame could be made out, even if I made a move for the candle.

My ears twitched, I could hear soft hoofsteps outside my bedroom door. I swallowed the growing lump within my throat, I know if I don't make a run to whichever of my parents are up now, I might not get another chance.

" Calm..." The Watchful Eye spoke in a stern voice, my teeth chattered softly as I quickly flung the sheets off my bed.

My hooves rapidly galloped across the wooden floor. Heart racing faster than I've ever known it to, I swung open the door and escaped into the pitch black of the hallway.

" Mom!...Dad!! " I whimpered into the shadows, straining my eyes down the long hallway trying to see through its wicked veil, a deep pitched laugh echoing around me suddenly.

I gasped aloud, seeing eyes so black it could not belong to anything but the wicked, it's gaze locked onto me, I could make out that it was lifting a hoof up slowly.

A sudden jolt of pain shot through my body as I screamed aloud, my eyes swept down seeing long silver pieces of string had stabbed into my front hooves, blood tricking down my fur and onto the floor.

" Ahhh!!!-Please! " I yelled out as the figure just laughed, two more razor sharp strings sprang out from the darkness, they dug into my hind hooves as I wheezed aloud in pain. I could feel the strings intertwine with my bones within, blood pouring out onto the hallway floor.

The figure walked forward into view, it was covered in black fur, rows of razor sharp teeth lined it's jaws as a slimy forked tongue ran across it's lower lip hungrily. It had a light violet mane, streaked with ghostly white coloring. In its hooves it held control bars used for...

A puppet.

I felt tears roll down my cheeks as this wicked puppeteer moved the bars down the hallway. My body forcefully and painfully began to walk closer to this monster. Sobbing I cried out for my parents, yet nopony came for me.

" Never tell, They who fell, If you try, I promise you will die. " The Puppeteer hissed at me as it moved my body to the railing of the stairway, I felt myself climb up onto it, gazing down to the abyss below.

The strings painfully lifted higher, I could feel myself levitate over the edge. My whole body quivering in pain, this would be how I would die, alone and scared.

" Calm!!!! " The Watchful Eye spoke out from my room, I gazed down to the open doorway the soft glow of the candle now placed in front of my door.

I gritted my teeth in pain, the feeling of my warm blood oozing down my hooves made me uneasy. But I did all I could to focus, my thoughts running wild through my broken mind, doing everything in my power to calm myself.

I slowly felt my hooves lower, I glanced down the strings placing me off the railing and back on the floor. The razor strings grew limp and fell to the floor as I jolted for my open door. I felt as if I were free at last when pain shot across my body again, the strings tightened once more.

Pulling bloody strings back into the shadows, I screamed in terror falling onto my belly. I could feel myself being pulled into the pitch black with that monster, leaving a streak of crimson across the floor.

" Noooo! " I screamed in pain rising to my hooves, as I roughly yanked back against the strings.

I felt as if I were going to pass out, the pain was so intense as I yanked against the Puppet Master. The strings pulling rougher in return, I gasped aloud as mucus rolled down the sides of my nose, tears filling my eyes. I was so close to the door.

With one last yank the strings broke from the control bars, I wheezed aloud in relief as I ran into my room, swooping up the candle in my hooves before falling down onto my plot, looking to the open door.

" Sccccrreeeee!!! " The figure screamed in a horrible wail as it thrust its head into my room, razor teeth drooling saliva hungrily, it's soulless eyes locked on me.

All I could do is lift the candle in front of myself in fear, body unable to stop shivering. Yet no pounce ever came, the monster howled in pain, the light burning into its pitch black fur before it retreated back into the darkness.

" Slam! " The door swished shut, The Watchful Eye pressing its hooves firmly against the door, making sure it was secure and closed.

I whimpered in pain as I ran back into my bed, trembling non-stop, clutching the light firmly in my hooves. Looking down I could see the open wounds on my body, blood staining my white sheets.

" Calm yourself!- or they'll come for you! " The shadow spoke as I couldn't catch my breath, the room around me seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.

" It's not your fault! " The voice spoke onto me as I shook my head side to side frantically.

I felt so dizzy, seeing those gamboge eyes glow brighter from the window. I could feel my stomach flipping around inside my body, shadowy hooves lifting my window slowly.

" Please calm down! " The Watchful Eye plead to me as I shot a worried glare in its direction, tears staining my cheeks.

" I CAN'T!!! " I sobbed aloud closing my eyes tightly.

The night had just begun.