Prologue : A night to forget

"Die!"

"Remember that you are just a soul without purpose, leading a modest life. You are nobody. You aren’t known for what you really are. Give up everything and return to the nothingness!"

As these words stroked to the ears of Iwao, he cried instantly. Not tears of sadness but tears of joy. As they were streaming down his face, he thought that only in a dream he was able to confront himself with the harsh reality that was his life.

He was standing there, alone, in a dark space. No one, nothing, emptiness was everywhere. It was just him. The only things that were left inside this space were the echo of the strange voice and him crying. The terrifying – but at the same time calming – mood set up by all this elements was propitious for a deep thinking. What should Iwao do? As he was browsing his memories, he tried to find an answer. Why this voice, in just a few words, could have hit him right in the heart? Despair. The despair of trying everyday to survive in this jungle that was life. Trying to prove who he was beneath the mask he wore. He was trying to show an open door to anyone who wanted to walk through it, and see who he really was behind the shelter he had built for himself.

"If this could be real... Please let me go. No one's waiting for me on the otherside. Come take me. Don't leave me just hanging here in the dark. I'm scared... I try everyday to put up a good work on my look, on my grades, on my work, on my life. I try to please them all. I'm not happy! That’s not what I want. I want to do the things I love, not those that I was forced to do to meet the expectations of everyone."

While he was yelling, his voice was choking due to his tears that couldn't be stopped now. He was emptying himself of all the sorrow, the sadness and the loneliness he always felt inside of his bleeding heart.

If this was a dream made up by his mind, he thought that he could do what he wanted. Maybe it would not be real, but just for this time, he wanted to do what he wanted, not what others could have told him to.

He decided to follow the advice of the voice and die, but he couldn't find the strength to move an inch. Was it because he was in a dream, or maybe... was it really a dream?

Suddenly, the dark space became so bright that anyone outside of a dream could have been blind. Then, came a shelter which built itself around Iwao. He was trapped inside, the air started feeling like a cage. Anxiety began its way inside of him. Something was coming. Something big.

"NO! NOT AGAIN! WHY? WHY ARE YOU HERE!? LEAVE ME ALO-"

"Leave you alone my dear? Oh there must have been some confusion here I see.

I

Will

Never

Leave

You!"

That strange and malicious voice rang inside Iwao's head. It was like when someone makes his nails grind on steel. Iwao was yelling in agony, his heart was beating faster and faster. He fell to his knees, which he was now able to do, unlike earlier when he couldn't move an inch.

One by one, the lights in the shelter went out, leaving just one on. Nothing. Something was coming, Iwao was just vomiting.

There! There it was. A hideous creature. Two meters tall and with brown eyes. A wolf-like monster, but it was standing on its two hind legs. Above its ears stood two horns which were linked by a rope, on which there were rocks as bright as the moon. But the most peculiar characteristic of this abomination was its smile. A chilling smile, rising to both ears and which was accentuated by its two bloody and wide-open eyes. He was standing still, watching Iwao as he was vomiting his heart out. The creature took the opportunity to tease him while he was in a weak position.

"You know Iwao, haven't you ever thought of why you can't wake up of your nightmares when I am here? It's because of the fact that you were the one that created me. YOU gave me the power and superiority over your weak mind! YOU are the one to cage yourself in your own nightmares. You like me don't you? If that wasn't the case we wouldn't be here. You like the fact that I am the only one to understand what you want, what you have been through. I-"

"Shut up!"

Iwao who was recovering from all of his emotions couldn't stand the condescending speech of the nightmare creature. He was panting. He was terrified to talk to the one at the origin of all his nocturne terrors.

"I never wanted to create you. You are an error, a thing that should have never seen the light. Yes I can't wake up until you leave. That happen more and more often and I don't know what to do. Everyone would take me for a liar or a madman if I told what I live in my nightmares. So even if I fear you... even if I die in my sleep of a heart attack, I will fight with all I can."

The creature was truly amazed by the will of Iwao. What an amazing child! It thought to itself.

"Good spirit! Love that. But you will lose for sure. I am everywhere in you, I'm now a completely independent part of you. Fear me!"

The walls of the shelters disappeared, leaving the two of them in the bright light of the space which surrounded it. The creature turned around and told one last thing to Iwao.

"Enough with the entertaining tonight. You don't please me enough with your pitiful speeches. Wake up and repeat the cycle once again."

Dark.

Then, eyes wide open.

Birds singing.

Iwao was sweating and crying.

The nightmare was over.