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29. Nightmares

He was dreaming again. Just like he had been the night before, and the night before that. It was rare for him to go even one night without experiencing a dream of some sort.

It was even rarer for him to have a dream that wasn't a nightmare.

Cursing under his breath, he ran. What he was running from he couldn't be sure but he knew he just had to run and do it quickly otherwise he would die. He couldn't see where he was going but he just kept running because it was the only thing that mattered. His life, his existence, hinged on his ability to keep ahead of whatever it was that pursued him. He barely noticed the scenery around him, forever shifting to something he recalled from his waking moments. Perhaps a forest, or a haunted house, or a hallway in Deus Ex. It didn't matter where he was, because it would always end up the same. He would be plagued by fear and terror.

It was hard to define what it was that was trying to kill him. Because every time he dreamed it would be something different. It might be a zombie, it might be a werewolf. It might even be Caelius or H. It didn't matter, because no matter who or what it was, or how much he cried or screamed or begged, no one would come to help him. He was alone, facing something he had no hope of defeating. He had tried countless times to hide or fight back but it never worked, he would always end up the same. Paralysed by his fear, unable to move as he watched his inevitable death approach him slowly. painstakingly slowly. rising out of the gloom, ready to destroy him in whatever way they deemed. He was powerless, weak, a coward, what hope in the world did he have against fear itself?

Eventually he would wake up, drenched in a cold sweat and fighting the urge to scream and alert anyone nearby. Shaking like a leaf he would lay back down and convince himself that it was a dream, it was only a dream.

Eventually, he would go back to sleep. Only to have the cycle repeat.

26. Food

With a crack that echoed in the empty kitchen, four eggs were broken in quick succession, their contents dripping into a large bowl. soon more ingredients followed, things like ham, onion, spinach, all dropped into the mixture and then whisked together with some milk until they were all combined in one gooey mess.

Feeling his stomach rumble, Jason poured it all into a ready heated pan and listed to the exited hissing and sizzling as his meal began to cook. In a second pan he placed a few bacon strips, and then paid careful attention to each so they wouldn't burn.

About ten minutes later, the moon hunter took the now ready omelet and bacon combo, letting them cool on a plate as he cleaned up the area so the next hunter could come in and use it. Then with his meal in hand, he retreated back to his room. Normally he would retreat to the library but as with most libraries he was pretty sure food wouldn't be allowed, so he had brought some books with him instead.

It was nice, to just sit in his room and eat a meal while reading a book. Perhaps he could relax for a little until they required him to -

vvvrrrm

There went his phone.

s**t.