Dream Stalker

Not again... How many times am I supposed to eat the same meal, over and over again?"

Leegna sighed, pushing his half-empty plate away. His tired eyes drifted to the ceiling as he let out a slow breath.

"I guess I'll just lie down for a bit. Maybe rest my eyes."

Leegna, a young man living alone in a small, dingy apartment, spent his days like he was trapped in a cage—waiting for the final chapter of a life he had long since grown tired of. After another grueling day at work, he collapsed onto his old, dusty bed, hoping that, when he woke up, everything would be different. That maybe, just maybe, this was all a bad dream—a terrible illusion with no escape.

But he had no idea that tonight's moonlight would bring something far darker than hope—something far more real than any dream.

"Why? Just why can't I get a good night's sleep? Did I do something terrible in a past life?" Leegna muttered to the empty room.

The night was still. The dark sky stretched above, not a single star to be seen. Only the moon remained—bright, shining as though it had borrowed the sun's light.

Suddenly, a chill swept through the room, an icy breeze that made him shiver, even though the windows were tightly shut. Half-asleep, Leegna felt something... off. His eyelids heavy, he spotted something strange in the corner of the room—a shadow, darker than the rest.

Fear crawled up his spine, but his body wouldn't respond.

"Damn it... Why can I feel everything but can't move?" he thought. "I must be having sleep paralysis again... Or maybe it's the caffeine."

A voice broke the silence.

"Psst, human... You seem like someone craving a life-changing adventure, am I right?"

Leegna's heart raced. The voice wasn't like anything he'd ever heard. It didn't come from outside, or even from within the room. It echoed directly inside his head, making him dizzy.

"Nothing's here," Leegna tried to convince himself, his pulse thundering in his ears. "It's just sleep deprivation. I haven't slept well in days... I'm hallucinating."

The voice returned, a little amused this time.

"Hmph. I'm pretty sure I'm speaking your language. Are you really too scared to face me?"

The moonlight spilled into the room, revealing something far from human. At first, it was just a small shape, flickering like a shadow, but as Leegna's eyes focused, it morphed into something unearthly—a creature that defied description. It had no fixed form, shifting like a ghostly blur, yet there was something animalistic about it, as though it were an amalgamation of myths.

Leegna froze, staring in disbelief, his thoughts racing. This had to be a nightmare. There was no way this was real.

Before he could react, his body moved on its own. Slowly, he found himself walking toward the window, his hand reaching out into the unknown. It felt like an eternity passed in those few moments, but then his right hand brushed something warm—so warm it was like dipping his fingers into a cup of hot tea.

"What... What is this? Why am I feeling heat in the middle of the night? What's going on?" His voice trembled, though he could barely hear it over the sound of his own pounding heart.

"Don't be afraid, little guy. Yuj just wants to say hello."

The voice grew clearer, more distinct now. Leegna's eyes snapped to the source: the strange shadow was speaking.

"You're the one who leaps and takes away. Don't be confused."

"Who... Who are you? What are you?" Leegna's voice was a whisper, his body still frozen by fear.

The creature chuckled, a sound both eerie and almost... playful.

"Yuj is me. Just me. In your world, you might call us 'nightmare demons.'"

"D-demons? That's impossible. Demons don't exist."

The creature didn't seem offended, just amused.

"Is that so? Does this darkness make you doubt your sanity? Well, don't worry. Yuj is here to help you. I can show you the way. All you have to do... is trust me."

The moonlight shimmered around them, and Yuj stepped closer, extending a small, formless hand-like appendage toward Leegna. The touch was oddly warm, almost comforting—like a friend offering a gentle pat on the shoulder.

"See? I'm not here to hurt you. Just a harmless guy looking to be your friend. Now, come on—turn on the light, and let's have a nice, long chat."

With a trembling hand, Leegna reached for the light switch. The moment the room was bathed in a pale yellow glow, Leegna turned around to face Yuj, and that's when the truth hit him. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't some trick of his mind.

This was real.

His nightmare had come to life—and there was no escaping it.

The story begins, as many do, with the familiar sensation of being trapped by one's own limitations. But for Leegna, this is only the first step. The cruel reality of his world is about to unfold, one obstacle at a time, as he moves forward—chained by his own weaknesses.

In this tale, there are no heroes. Only walls—thicker and stronger the further you go.