I lie awake, middle of the night. Close my eyes, shutters closed, blanket over, head still going.

Thoughts erupting, bursting, making sleeping impossible. Dreams. I wish I could dream. Go to that world where I belong.

What are my thoughts? What is it? I see nothing…

Finally, eyes melted shut, soul worn and sleepy, body comfortable and warm, I begin to rest.

Alack! What is that noise!? Did I hear wrong? Was it false? Something from my mind gone wild?

No, t’was far too clear. Too vivid. I know what it said. But who had said it?

It was real. Not something your mind makes you hear. Dagger? Dagger? I call out in my mind, searching frantically.

Is it odd? I sleep with my daggers. Unnecessary paranoia? Most likely. But a comfort nevertheless. I cannot find it.

The darkness seeps over my eyes like fingers wishing to grasp and strangle me. Could it be? No, not possible. Why not? Reality. What is reality? What is the answer? So unclear!

My thoughts, rapid, like gunfire from a tommy, bring upon me a demonic sight. But that wasn’t real. Yet I could describe how it would hurt me…enough! I will not bow down to some childish fear of demons! There is nothing under the bed! Nothing but what I put there. I yell at myself. My courage is back home.

The light turns on, I jump over boxes and boxes, there it is. My dagger. I hug it close. I feel and hear my heart beat, still like a rabbit in a forest…being hunted.

I knew of course, she must be talking in her sleep. But I could not ignore it. I had to go. Make sure. For if something happened and I did nothing…just ignored it, I would become a shell.

I take my dagger, open the door. The eyes off my posters watch me as I go…do they know something I do not?

But I have already decided. Long ago. No fear will cripple me. If it is in there…I will go. And most likely die if it is so. But I will not be a coward. I will not die a coward.

I open the door, it does not creak, how odd. How rare. My parents lie still, but still there is movement. It is all ok. Of course it is. I knew it would be…

I breathe again. Ask my mom if she’s alright, she mumbles as always. Acts dumbfounded…she sounded like she was acting…no. No. No. Paranoia! It was nothing…of this I’m sure. …

But I could not escape that sharp, vivid yelp. It haunted me. I could not sleep. I could not go home to the world where I belong.

That horrifying yelp of…evil. It was there. It was real. Not imagined. I would not lie. So demonic…

“SATAN!”

I had overcome my fear of facing Satan. Maybe that’s what it was all about. But someone screamed it. In a voice not theirs. Of this I am absolutely sure.

But you see…I cannot sleep. I feel…far too awake. Slammed down and nailed into this world.