After the shadow entered Aaron's path, Mya stopped struggling. She too couldn't move in its overwhelming presence. Aaron didn't know what to think, but he was glad when the shadow's eyes left his. When it stared at him it was like death staring into his soul.

Slowly, the shadow's glowing eyes met Mya's. Its eyes were like lights in the darkness. Lights that you wanted to hide from.

With a voice that resonated and filled the entirety of the expanse, it hissed, "Quiet."

As soon as its command was spoken, Mya's eyes fluttered closed. She relaxed, and her head fell limp against her chest. She returned to that lifeless, unmoving, quiet state.

Slowly, the shadow's deathly gaze met Aaron's. Again, it didn't say anything, it eyes bore deep into him, through him.

And, as it did so, Aaron felt himself being sucked away from the dream. It was like the wind was being taken from him as he gasped for more. His vision became fuzzy.

Finally, he could think again. He was leaving his dream. He was going to leave Mya with that shadow.

"No!" He croaked, trying to claw back onto the last sliver of his dream. But he couldn't, and soon the image of Mya and the shadow disappeared, and he was transported into yet another dream.

He recognized where he was immediately. Thick gray and black walls closed in around him, the sickening stench of death filled the air, and the large, white freezer stood in front of him, frost rolling from it in waves. Its door was already wide open and Aaron could see the layers of crystallized frost piled along the sides of the freezer.

And, of course, he could see Lucy's colorless, frozen body at the bottom. She looked exactly the same as before, her frozen eyes meeting his, her fingers an ugly blue. But she didn't just stare at him. This time, when her lips cracked apart, she spoke.

"Help me." She whimpered softly, searching Aaron's eyes for help.

Aaron just gaped at her, overwhelmed by everything that was happening. Where was Mya? He had to get back to her. Why was he having another terrible dream about Lucy? How could he help her?

"I can't help you." Aaron answered, blood pounding in his ears, "I don't know how to!"

But Lucy didn't care about his words. She continued to watch him, desperation shining in her pale blue eyes. He could see it. She wanted him. She needed him. He was the only one there to help her.

But Aaron couldn't help her. He didn't want to help her. Lucy had died five years ago, so why was she coming back now to haunt him? He just wanted to breathe fresh air again. He couldn't stay here.

Lucy could see it in his eyes, that flicker of fear, the way he flinched at the sight of her. She had been wrong to ask him for help. He wouldn't help her. Even Aaron could see the change in her eyes, the way they dimmed with fear and disappointment.

To Aaron's satisfaction, her icy eyes turned from his, moving away to stare hopelessly up at the blackened ceiling above her.

If Aaron couldn't help her, then who could? Would she forever be trapped in this place where it watched her? Where he watched her?

Finally, as blackness entered the corners of his vision, he was sucked away from the eerie dream world and back into his own.

Immediately, Aaron's eyes shot open with fear, but also with relief. Again, he could feel sticky sweat coating his skin like slime, sticking all over him. Strangely, it suddenly hit him that the sweat on his skin felt almost exactly like the frost that coated the insides of the freezer which held Lucy's body. But that thought passed quickly as there were more pressing things to worry about.

Aaron jolted up in his bed, sitting upright. Blood pounded in his ears as he snuck a glance at the bunk below him, searching for Mya. Aaron calmed down immediately, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath of relief. She was there, just as he had hoped.

See? She had been there all along. He had nothing to be worried about. It had been a bit dumb really, worrying so much about her. But everything was fine now.

Relieved, Aaron slid down the bunk bed ladder, feeling much better than he had before. Sure, his dream still scared him, but it was just a dream.... right?

His gaze met Mya's small form resting in her bed, blankets curled tightly around her. He was just so happy that she was safe. Now when he thought about it, it was pretty embarrassing that he had worried so much. Why did she have to make his nerves race like that? If she knew about how frantic he had been, she'd never stop making fun of him. She would think it was funny.

Maybe this whole time she had wanted to make him worried. Maybe she had just been pranking him the whole time. Aaron felt incredibly embarrassed.

Mya opened one eye and then flinched, startled, as the first thing she'd seen was Aaron standing in front of her, examining her.

"Oh. Hi." She said shakily.

Instantly, Aaron's gaze darted away. She had caught him staring. This was really awkward.

"Uh... hi."

Mya's eyes narrowed as if she was trying to see through him. Giving up, she lazily rolled out of bed, yawning.

"Why are so so sweaty again?" She asked, eyeing him over with a disgusted look. Aaron frowned.

"Doesn't matter!" He exclaimed immediately, cheeks flushing slightly.

Turning away, Mya rolled her eyes.

"What're you rolling your eyes for?" Aaron snapped, frown deepening.

"Just admit it, you had another nightmare." Mya sighed and looked at her brother.

Aaron's cheeks grew bright pink.

"Whatever," He said, "you just want to make fun of me."

Surprisingly, Mya quickly came back at him with, "No, I actually don't!"

Aaron glanced at her suspiciously.

"Yeah right, I don't believe you."

"Why would I want to make fun of you?"

"Who knows?" Aaron sighed, glaring at Mya like she should know the answer.

"I don't purposefully try to make fun of you." Mya tried to explain.

"I doubt that very highly."

"Fine..." Mya groaned. "Then when have I last made fun of you?"

"Well..." Aaron said. "What you did last night was not funny. At all."

Suddenly, everything changed in Mya's face. All the color was sucked from her like water from a straw. Her playful expression disappeared and was replaced by a serious, possibly nervous one.

"Huh? W-what are you talking about?"