Jamie seemed a little surprised. "Oh, I see we are."

I snorted a little. "Because so many people are moving to Burgess that need a handicap lift." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Sorry, I don't talk to many people. Come on in." I used my crutches for balance as I took a step backwards and Jamie stepped in, and a little girl from earlier in the park walking in too. After that, a woman came in, but that was it. I smiled at them. "I would offer take your coats, but I'm already a walking coatrack," I joked, trying to break the ice a little. "But the coat closet is over there." I balanced myself and pointed to the closet door with my crutch. I hobbled over to the kitchen. "Mom, they're here. Is everything ready?"

She seemed distracted, but nodded and smiled. "Go ahead and show them to the dining room, the food will come out in a minute."

"Okay." I walked back to the entry hall and motioned with one crutch. "The dining room is this way. My mom said dinner should be ready soon." Jamie followed behind me and I had to resist the urge to crawl back into bed, away from any boys. I puffed a little air, not used to using crutches and braces, which were much heavier than walking alone. When we got to the table, my dad was sitting there already. I took my usual seat on the side and rested a moment. "Just take a seat, anywhere is fine." Jamie sat right next to me and I internally groaned, I would have a hard enough time as it was keeping my phobias and obsessions under control, now I had to literally sit next to one of my fears. I stopped focusing on it and looked across the table at the little blonde. My vision blurred for a moment, and I tried for a smile as I blinked it away. She smiled back. "I'm going to go check on my mom," I said quietly, dwarfed by both my phobia and Jamie's literal size. He towered over me. I hauled myself to my feet and crutches my way into the kitchen. "Is there any way I can help?" I asked tentatively.

She shook her head. "I just can't carry everything in at once."

"Oh." I went over to the sink and wet my hands, then rubbed my eyes. "Actually, you do need help. I'll take off my braces for a minute."

I sat down at the kitchen table and started unhooking the braces. I unstrapped my crutches and laid them against the side of the table. I took a deep breath and stood. Walking was easier now that I was lighter. I took a large bowl of food and my mom took two. I carefully walked into the dining room, concentrating on not tripping or dropping the bowl. I set it down on the table and turned to go back into the kitchen, almost stumbling over my own feet. I calmly and carefully walked back in and grabbed another platter. It was the last one, in the time it had taken me to do one, mom had brought out the remaining dishes. I went back into the kitchen and strapped my braces back on before going back to the dinner table and sitting in my seat. After everyone was settled, my mom started passing around the bowls and dishing out food. She went to help me, to put my food on my plate, but I tried very hard and managed to fill my own plate without a single spill. It was a very uneventful dinner, with the adults discussing boring things like politics and the weather, while my phobia was starting to dominate my willpower to stay here. I placed a hand to my temple and excused myself. I went to the bathroom to splash water on my face and took some headache medicine to prevent it before it started. I convinced myself everything was alright and switched the music in my head to happy, leaving it on. I came back and made it through the rest of the dinner. I actually stayed for dessert, although I denied it. I didn't really want ice cream. When it was over, the adults went to my dad's office to talk, and I was left alone with Jamie and his sister. I got up from the table and hobbled into the living room, not sitting, just waiting for them to follow me. They came in and stood also. The fear was starting to become crippling, along with my headache. "Guys?" My voice was hoarse. "I'm going to go to my room, if you want to come." I crutches at top speed to my room and dove into my bed. I sat up and started taking the braces off. I leaned them against the wall and sat back, resting among my thousands of pillows and plush objects. The blonde sat on a beanbag chair and Jamie followed suit after I signaled it was alright. I hugged a pillow to my chest and adjusted my beanie, reveling in the comfort of sitting down in my bed. There was an odd crackling sound I heard often, but I usually ignored it. Jamie went looking for the window and once I pointed it out, I realized the time. It was 9:00, and it was dark out. "No!" I yelled and dove for the curtains, slamming them closed. "It's dark out there. So, so dark." I sat on my bed and pulled my legs up, hugging myself.

They seemed a little shocked at my aversion to darkness.

I shuddered. "I just- I just really like light. I hate the dark. It's where the Boogeyman hides. It's where terrible things happen. It's evil."

They exchanged glances. Jamie started. "That's a little-"

"Extreme? Overenthusiastic about light?" His sister broke in sarcastically. I was about to make a withering comment, put her in her place, but something caught my eye and I froze in place. I just stared at the figure in the corner.

"Guys? Do you see him?" I raised a shaking hand to point.

Jamie whirled around and looked where I was pointing. The man grinned evilly and took a step forwards. Jamie didn't see anything.

"Are you alright? There's no one there."

The man snarled and I shrank back in fear. He started advancing on me and I scrambled backwards, almost hitting my head on the wall, but I stopped myself just in time. "Who are you? Why are you in my room? How did you get in? What do you want from me? Why can't they see you?" I said, trembling.

He laughed. "I am Pitch Black,-"

"The Nightmare King, The Boogeyman," I whispered.

"Ah, so I'm known. I finally have a believer in this backwater town."

Jamie stuck his hand out to the side and it went through Pitch's chest.

I gasped. "They don't believe in you."

"That's right. And it makes my work here that much easier." He laughed and stretched out his arms towards me. I shrank back, hiding under my blankets. Jamie and his sister seemed mystified by my behavior. I started to panic, thinking he was just a hallucination or a sign of my insanity. Then a gust of wind blew my window open and the curtains billowed. It gave me courage, seeing the moon through the window, despite the darkness. I stood up, independent of my braces. "Look here, Mr. Pitch Black, I don't care what you came here to do. Who do you think you are? If you think I'm coming with you that easily, you thought wrong. I don't give up that quickly. I can tell you, my parents are just waiting for me to die of some random disease so they can have more money available, but I'm not dying that easily! I will fight, I will never rest, I will never give up on life! So go give your pathetic nightmares to someone else. 'Cause I ain't falling for it. Screw off." I shoved him and he tripped and fell backwards.

"Mark my words. This will not be the last you see of me!"

I snorted an crossed my arms, blowing a piece of hair out of my face. "I'm sure it won't be, since you're the infamous pedophile who hides under children's beds and stalks teenage girls. Get out!" I pointed at the window.

He stood and brushed himself off. He examined me. "Hm. Not bad. Timid and frightened to the core, but sometimes infused with boldness and bravery. I like it." He almost purred.

I wrinkled my nose. "Um, no. Go date someone your age. I'm seventeen, you're thousands of years old and a creep. Not going to happen. Now get out of my room!" I grabbed a crutch and raised it high over my head. He flinched and scampered out the window. I closed and locked it behind him. A voice, the same one from the park, said, "Great. Now how am I supposed to get out?" I turned, and upon seeing yet another male figure in my room, curled up in a ball on my bed and promptly had as a panic attack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got writers block around chapter six, and I'm re-writing this as I go because it sucks as of right now. I'm getting better at chopping up my little brainchildren.

And now, a quick question!

Dear @xXElla_RiddleXx,

Should I kill off Tooth?

A huge fan of your writing, @iamanawesometaco

Anyone else can answer. Once I get enough advice/opinions/ideas, I won't say yes or no definitely, but it will probably sway my decision.

Toodles my noodles!

~iamanawesometaco