I smiled lying there, surrounded by my new things, I felt safe and happy. I closed my eyes, ready to drift off into a peaceful sleep, knowing that I was finally home. I began to feel myself fall to sleep, cuddling up with a stuffed rabbit, I felt safe—truly safe. This was my home now, and I knew I was safe. That thought alone filled me with happiness. I closed my eyes, ready to drift off into a peaceful sleep, knowing that I was finally home.

But the peace didn’t last.

The warmth of the bed vanished, replaced by a cold, damp chill that clung to my skin. I shifted, trying to get comfortable again before I opened my eyes, expecting to see my room. But when I did, I froze. This wasn’t my room.

I was in a dark, cramped space. My heart pounded as I looked around, fear and confusion bubbling up inside me. The musty smell of mold and mildew hung in the air, strangely familiar but distant. I blinked, trying to understand what was happening, when suddenly it hit me.

I knew this place.

My eyes widened as the realization sank in, my chest tightening with panic.

“I’m back at the orphanage...” I whispered, my voice trembling. My whole body began to shake uncontrollably, fear washing over me in waves. I stumbled backward, falling onto the cold, hard ground as I felt tears well up in my eyes.

“No... no, I can’t be back here,” I whispered, my voice trembling. This place was... a punishment for me, where I would be sent if I didn't behave. My head screamed as memories of this place came flooding back, becoming almost painful until I couldn't hold back a scream.

After a bit, the pain stopped as I forced myself to stand up, still crying a bit from the memories—all the pain that had happened to me. It was almost too much. I walked toward the stairs, my heart racing when I saw a locked door at the top, bound with chains. I knew that was my way out of this nightmare.

“How in Celestia’s name am I supposed to get through that?” I said to myself as I began to think. After a little bit of pondering, I looked around, suddenly hearing a pony walking through the basement door. My body froze, and my breathing quickened. When I glanced at the door, it swung open, a bright light spilling into the darkness as a dark figure stepped out—the same one from last time.

It growled, fixing its gaze on me as it began to walk down the stairs. I slowly stepped back, my heart racing, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

“What the hell was all that screaming about?” the figure spat, venom dripping from its words.

“I—I’m sorry. I tripped and hurt myself,” I stammered, hoping it would believe my lie.

“You’re just like her,” it said shaking her head at my lie “Just like your sister—just like Cozy Glow. A manipulative little monster, always causing trouble everywhere you go, well, i'm going to make sure that doesn't happen again.”

I shook my head, trying to block out the words, but they echoed in my ears. Cozy Glow... my sister. Everypony knew about her, a perfect filly at the school of friendship turned into a villain who used friendship as a weapon and this... this was claiming I was just like her

“I’m not like her,” I whispered, my voice shaking.

“What did you say?” the creature snapped, its voice filled with anger.

My body instinctively backed away, but I forced myself to stand tall, staring at the figure with more confidence than I truly felt. “I’m not like Cozy...” I said louder.

The shadow laughed, a chilling, hollow sound that made me tremble. “You’re exactly like her. A liar, a troublemaker. You’ll always be alone,” it sneered before its expression twisted with anger again. “Now, I think it’s time I fix that tone of yours, young lady,” the figure growled, leaping toward me with its hoof raised, ready to strike.

I barely managed to dodge, the figure crashing into a stack of boxes behind me. I winced at the sound of the boxes tumbling down and a jumble of objects clattering onto the dark figure. I let out a shaky breath, relief washing over me, but there was no time to waste.

I turned and dashed for the stairs, my heart pounding as I scrambled toward the open door at the top. My hoof reached out for freedom, but just as I was about to escape, I felt something cold and dark wrap around my leg.

I looked down in horror to see a black aura coiling around me, pulling me back down into the nightmare.

I struggled, desperately kicking and pulling to free myself from the dark aura that had me in its grasp. My hooves scraped against the floor as I tried to push forward, inching closer to the door. Just a little more... just a little more!

But the grip tightened, yanking me back with a force that sent me tumbling. “No!” I screamed, my voice shaking as fear took over. I tried to reach for something, anything to hold on to, but it was no use.

I was pulled down, and in that moment, a wave of utter terror consumed me. My heart raced as I fell, helpless, before slamming hard onto the cold basement floor. Pain shot through my body as I lay there, gasping for breath, as i held the back of my head in pain

“You little bitch,” the shadowy figure snarled, forcing me down onto the cold floor with one of its hooves pressing hard against my chest. I gasped, struggling to breathe as the weight pinned me down, my heart racing in pure terror.

“Did you really think I would let you go?” it hissed, its voice filled with venom. Before I could respond, the figure’s hoof struck me hard across the face. Pain exploded through me as I felt a sharp sting, tasting the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.

I felt myself tearing up, I was so close to getting out but there was nothing I could do- my train of thought cut off as it struck my face again before stomping on my chest and wing cracking a few ribs and shattering the bones in my wing, before it begins to hit me repeatedly all over my body.

after a few minutes, the figure stopped before leaving, I let out a few coughs as I began to get myself on all four hooves, however, I just fell down as I coughed again seeing blood coming out of my mouth, I rolled over to my back to see what it had done to me, and I nearly broke down crying as I saw my left hindleg is broken, and my other hind lag isn't even the right way, and the way multiple bruises and a massive cut across my chest.

I rolled back over using my one hoof that wasn't broken to drag me to the stares leaving a trail of blood as I did.

I groaned as I forced myself to move, my head pounding from the blow and every part of my body screaming in pain. My good hoof shook as I pressed it against the cold floor, dragging myself forward inch by inch. I could feel the blood in my mouth, the taste of it making me feel sick, but I pushed through it. I had to.

With every breath I took, pain shot through my chest, making it harder to move, but I couldn’t stop now. I could see the door at the top of the stairs. I needed to get to it.

I gritted my teeth, dragging my body across the floor, each pull felt like my muscles were tearing apart. My side scraped against the floor, every tiny movement felt like it was going to break me. I reached the first step, gasping for breath, my heart racing, “Just a little more,” I whispered, feeling like the door was miles away.

I pulled myself up again, the pain unbearable, but I couldn’t stop now, not when I was so close.

I reached for the last step, my hoof trembling as I dragged myself up, my entire body screaming at me to stop. The door loomed over me now, so close. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to keep moving even though every inch of my body felt like it was on fire.

I stretched out my hoof, touching the cold surface of the door. Relief flooded me, just as another wave of pain crashed through my body. I pushed the door, trying to escape, but then—everything went dark.

My eyes shot open, and I gasped. I was back in my bed, but the pain from the nightmare was still there, burning in every part of me. “Aahh!” I cried out, clutching my chest as tears streamed down my face. It felt too real. Every bruise, every ache, it was as if I’d been dragged right back to the orphanage, and the pain hadn’t left me.

“Z-Zack!” I screamed, my voice desperate and broken, “Zack! Help!” I sobbed, curling up in the sheets, trembling as the pain shot through me again. My heart pounded as I cried out for him, needing to know I was safe, needing to hear his voice.

“Z-Zack! Help!” I screamed again, my voice barely holding together as the pain consumed me.

The door to my room burst open, and Zack rushed in, his eyes wide with worry. “Neon!” he called out, rushing to my side in an instant. He knelt down beside the bed, pulling me into his hooves as I sobbed uncontrollably. His embrace was warm and protective, and the moment he wrapped his wings around me, the world felt a little less terrifying.

“I’m here, Neon,” he whispered, his voice soft but filled with concern. “I’m here... I’ve got you.” He held me close, letting me bury my face into his chest as the tears kept coming.

“I had another night of terror, Zack,” I choked out between sobs, the words spilling out in a rush. “It felt so real... the pain... everything. It was like I was really back there.”

“I know,” Zack said gently, his hoof stroking my mane in slow, calming motions. “But you’re not there. You’re safe with me, okay? I promise... you’re safe.”

His words were soothing, but the pain in my body still lingered, a ghost of the nightmare that refused to fade away. I winced as another wave of aches ran through me, but Zack held me tighter, keeping me grounded.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly, his voice steady as he cradled me against him. “I’m staying right here.”

Author's Note

so this chapter is a lot darker and has more abuse than the last night terror,