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𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒

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Sunshine tossed and turned in her bed, her sleep restless and plagued by the same nightmare that had haunted her for what felt like an eternity. The dream always started the same way: the room cold, bathed in darkness, and the subtle creak of the door opening slowly. Her breath hitched as she felt his presence before she even saw him—the Rubber Man. His silhouette stood in the doorway, his featureless mask gleaming in the moonlight.

She wanted to move, to scream, to run, but as always, her body betrayed her. Paralyzed, frozen in place, she could only watch as he moved closer. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her chest tight with fear. The sound of the latex suit stretched as he climbed onto the bed, each movement unnervingly slow.

Sunshine's mind screamed, but no sound left her lips. The Rubber Man hovered over her, his cold, gloved hands pinning her down. Her limbs were heavy, like she was sinking into quicksand, unable to escape the inevitable. He had his way with her, again and again, just as he always did in these dreams, the sense of helplessness overwhelming her. No matter how hard she fought, no matter how much she struggled, the outcome was always the same.

Sunshine shot up in her bed, her skin drenched in sweat, breathing ragged as she struggled to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the erratic thudding of her heart.

Her eyes darted around the room, desperate to reassure herself that she was safe. But then, her heart nearly stopped when she saw a figure standing still, outlined in the shadows near the corner. She held her breath, her muscles locking up in terror. 

She slowly reached for the lamp on her bedside table, her fingers trembling as she switched it on. The warm light flooded the room, chasing away the darkness, and in an instant, the figure was gone. There was nothing there—just empty space where she swore someone had been standing only a second ago.

Sunshine let out a shaky breath as she pressed her palms against her face, trying to steady herself. 

She lifted her head and stared blankly at the room, the silence now deafening. The events in the basement earlier flashed through her mind—Leah's terrified screams and the monster that had taken Tate's place. That hadn't been a dream.

Sunshine wiped at her face, trying to pull herself together, but her hands were still shaking. She felt like she was slowly unraveling, her grip on reality slipping away piece by piece. What was happening to her? What was real, and what was just a figment of her mind?

Finally giving in to the restlessness, she slid out of bed. The cool air of the house hit her skin, and she shivered as her bare feet padded quietly across the cold wooden floor of the hallway. She focused on the slightly cracked door to Violet's room just down the hall.

She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering near the doorknob, before gently pushing the door open. Inside, Violet lay in bed, facing the wall, but Sunshine could tell from the tension in her body that she wasn't asleep.

"Can't sleep?" Sunshine whispered, her voice soft as she moved toward her sister's bed.

Violet stirred but didn't turn around. "No," she replied, her voice quiet and distant, her hands tucked under her cheek.

Sunshine slipped under the covers beside her, the warmth of Violet's body a small comfort against the lingering chill of the night. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Violet, pulling her close.

"Me neither," she admitted softly.

There was a long pause before Violet finally spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you see it, too?"

"I don't know what I saw," Sunshine admitted, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. "I saw Tate and then... something that wasn't Tate."

Violet shifted slightly in her arms, her body tense. She was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "It had to have been a mask, right? It couldn't have been real."

Sunshine's chest tightened as she felt her sister's desperation. She wished she could give Violet the comforting answer she wanted, but she couldn't. "I don't know," she whispered, her voice cracking. "But whatever it was... I don't think you should hang out with him anymore."

Violet didn't say anything for a moment, but Sunshine could feel her nod. "I don't plan on it,"

The piercing shrill of the house alarm filled the room, yanking both Sunshine and Violet out of their momentary peace. The sound echoed off the walls, bouncing through the house like a siren in the night. Sunshine shot up in bed, heart hammering as adrenaline surged through her veins.

"What the hell?" Violet muttered, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.

Sunshine was already moving, her bare feet hitting floor. "Stay here," she instructed firmly, glancing back at her sister before cautiously walking to the door.

Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a brief second, her pulse quickening as she wondered what could have set off the alarm. Slowly, she twisted the knob and cracked the door open just enough to peek into the hallway.

Her eyes caught movement at the far end of the hall. Her body froze until the figure came into focus. It was her mother moving quickly but quietly. When Vivien spotted Sunshine, she frantically motioned for her to go back inside, her eyes wide with urgency.

Sunshine's stomach knotted in fear as she stepped back and let her mother slip into the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

"Someone use their phone, call the police," Vivien whispered urgently.

"What? What's going on?" Sunshine asked, panic rising in her throat. Her voice felt too loud against the sudden silence as the alarm abruptly cut off, leaving a heavy, unsettling quiet in its wake.

"Someone's in the house. Just do what I say," Vivien ordered, her voice sharp as she glanced toward the door, listening for any sound outside. Without explanation, she hurried out of the room.

Sunshine's head spun as she turned to Violet, who was already reaching for her phone. Violet's fingers dialed 911, her eyes wide as she relayed their situation to the operator. 

After what felt like an eternity of sitting in tense silence, Sunshine and Violet were huddled on the bed, their nerves stretched thin. Every passing second seemed to drag out, the faint creaks of the house only heightening their anxiety as they waited for any sign that it was safe.

The door suddenly creaked open, and both sisters jumped as Vivien stepped back into the room. Her face looked calmer now, the fear and urgency replaced with something more like exasperation.

"It's just Addy," Vivien sighed, running a hand through her hair. "She snuck into the house again."

Sunshine and Violet exchanged a look, both visibly relieved. The tension in the air began to dissipate as they absorbed their mother's words, but the adrenaline still lingered, buzzing beneath their skin.

Vivien nodded, clearly frustrated. "I'm going to have a talk with Constance tomorrow. This has to stop."

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