Ch4 - Mourn

To lose a loved one hurts more than any other pain.

Two males entered a home.

One with short hair, light brown in coloring.

He had green eyes, and set his things away.

He looked about as the two talked absently.

The other male had longer black hair.

And appeared of an Asian decent.

"What's up?" the black haired male asked.

"The dog.
He didn't come to great us."

The black haired male shrugged.

"He's probably just being lazy."

The green eyed male didn't look convinced.

"I'm gonna check on him."

He walked out of the room, looking about.

"Buddy?" he called out.

He then headed up the stairs.

Before reaching the top he saw a dog.

The dog was mainly white, with large black patches.

"Ah, there you are, Buddy."

The dog began slowly laying down.

The male looked confused,

"You feeling alright, Buddy?"

He stepped up and saw red on the dog's head.

"You're bleeding!" he hurried up the last couple steps.

As he stepped he saw the dog's head looked cracked.

It was open, the dog's skull was open and looked hollow.

The man quickly wrapped his hands on the dog's face to examine the wound.

His eyes spotting behind the dog was a pink mass.

"What the fu-?"

Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder, and the words "Wake up" were whispered.

---

Lanz laid with his eyes open, some people had some messed up dreams.

He was just laying, thinking of all the nightmares he'd seen.

He got up, and got dressed.
Today would be his first day at the school.

He knocked on the door to Kanzo's room.

No response.

He shrugged, and slipped his shoes on before leaving.

Down in the shop, Kanzo was sitting behind the counter, reading.

Lanz paused and stared at him a moment.

Kanzo looked to him, "Excited to learn about yourself?"

"Wanna go in my stead?"

Kanzo laughed, "They have nothing to offer me."

Lanz rolled his eyes, "You keep claiming you're a prodigy,

but I've never seen you do anything besides make people sleep."

Kanzo shrugged, "And hopefully that's all you ever need to see.

Now hurry up and get to school."

Lanz huffed, and walked to the door he paused a moment.

He looked back to Kanzo, "Do you think we were kicked out in hopes it would get us killed?

Like they wanted us to die?"

Kanzo shook his head,

"Lanz, my dad suggested we leave because it honestly was the best option. 

I was going stir crazy in that house.

And no one there could have helped you figure... you out."

"Mom knew what I was."

Kanzo frowned, and gave a deep sigh.

"I don't think Auntie Ja knew you were a nightmare demon.

Auntie knew something, that was not shared with anyone.

But I doubt Auntie knew exactly what you were."

Lanz was quiet, before leaving with his thoughts.

He walked and paused seeing a male walking a dog across the street.

Lanz tore his eyes away, before continuing to school.

Finally he arrived at the building.

It didn't look like a school, it looked like an asylum.

He felt himself grumble, before heading inside.

He looked about, before finally walking up to a desk.

The woman was working, and he stood silently.

Finally the woman looked up, "Oh, hello young man.

May I help you?"

"I was told-"

An event erupted to his left.

A girl was screaming, throwing a tantrum almost.

She lashed about, kicking and clawing at everything.

Yet as she did two men were attempting to restrain her.

Items began flying all about them.

One of the two men pulled out a syringe.

They jabbed her with it, and after a moment she went limp.

All the items dropped to the ground.

They then carried her away.

Lanz stared in silence, the woman spoke.

"Sorry about that.

This is a specialty school for those who can't control their abilities.

Many students poses some form of telekinesis.

Were you coming to visit?"

Lanz looked back to her, "Wha- No.

I, um..." he glanced back to where they'd taken her.

"Does that happen often?"

The woman gave a reassuring smile.

"At least once a day.
That is why they are here.

But some days are to much for them."

Lanz sighed, and closed his eyes, before looking to her.

"I was informed that I am a nightmare demon."

The woman suddenly looked excited.

"A nightmare demon?" she stood up, and continued speaking.

"A school did tell us they were sending one.

I wasn't sure what to expect.

You look rather normal.

Based on your personality exam I imagined-

Well, that isn't important.

Your teacher will be so excited to meet you.

His class room is just down the hall.

Third door on the left."

Lanz looked to the hall, then bowed his head politely.

He walked to the hall, and counted the doors.

He paused outside the third door.

He took a deep breath, when the door behind him opened.

Lanz instinctively turned around, and exiting the class room was the girl with pink eyes.

She barely glanced at him, carrying a book as she walked down the hall.

He watched her, before shaking his head.

Staring was rude, besides she didn't remember him.

He knocked on the door, and inside a voice shouted, "Come in."

Lanz turned the knob and pulled the door.

He went inside, and there was a male teacher.

Even wearing glasses.

There were no students, and only a circular table.

There was a couch in the corner.

Decorated on the walls were various charts.

As well as lists of various things.

The teacher looked to him, "I think you're lost.

This is a fear control class room.

You don't look very afraid."

Lanz looked to him, "The secretary told me you'd be my teacher."

The teacher stood up, "She must be mistaken."

Lanz shifted his weight a bit, "My name is Lanz.

I was told that I'm a nightmare demon."

The teacher's eyes went wide and he stood.

"Nightmare demon...?" he walked around Lanz examining him.

The teacher continued, "You don't look much like any nightmare I've seen."

"What do nightmares normally look like?" Lanz asked, truly curious.

"They're black. Almost like a shadow demon's true form...

Though... You do have the red eyes.

You sure you're not just a fear demon?"

Lanz shrugged, "I dunno. They just gave me a personality test, and when I said I don't dream they decided I was a nightmare demon.

If I'm a fear demon then that's fine.

I don't care much, either way."

The teacher examined him further.

"Don't dream...? Like ever."

"Never. I usually just end up in somebody else's nightmares."

The teacher nodded, "Well, that usually is the defining difference.

Fear demons can't do that."

Lanz sighed, "What are you, sir?"

The teacher was walking to his desk.

"I am a fear demon.

And thus the closest thing to your skill set.

I'm gonna be honest and upfront with you, because I feel you should know.

Nightmare demons can be considered on par with shadow demons, shifters, and deformis.

They are extremely powerful, and honestly...

No one knows how nightmare demons come to be.

New ones just show up.

Now, this means that if you learn properly you will quickly become very strong.

You'll easily begin to surpass my skills...

But, I offer you a warning... If the lord, or anyone with power begins to feel threatened...

They will not hesitate to have you killed.

There isn't exactly a lot of love for nightmare demons.

This school doesn't disclose our students, but regulations states we have to report having a nightmare demon.

Though no other info about you is being shared."

Lanz stood absorbing this information.

The teacher sighed, and picked up a book.

He offered it to Lanz, who gently took it.

"This is a book on various fear demon specializations.

I can't offer you perfection, but I can teach you all the little parts that make you up."

Lanz opened the book examining it.

The teacher continued, "Nightmare demons are considered dream demons,

With every type of fear demon thrown in, plus a dash of a few other demons just to keep things interesting.

No one really understands nightmare demons.

And what people don't understand they fear.

Which... in turn makes the nightmare demon more powerful."

Lanz looked to him, "So... Where do we start?"

"In truth, we did... But you didn't notice."

Lanz looked all about, "How so?"

"No need to be concerned, it's a show of how powerful you really are.

My specialty is becoming the thing which my audience fears most.

You were unaffected, because even if you claim different, you truly fear nothing."

Lanz was quiet, he closed the book.

"You can teach me various skills and abilities?" he asked.

The teacher nodded, "Yes. Though I do warn you, this school...

It specializes in teaching suppression.

They will insist on having you see others who will try to force your abilities into suppression."
"I don't want more people committing suicide..." Lanz said sadly.

The teacher nodded, "I do understand that.

You'll just have to feed properly if you want it to stop."

Lanz looked up, "Feed?"

The teacher looked to him, "You truly know nothing of yourself?"

Lanz looked confused, "That's literally why I'm here."

The teacher sighed, "I thought you looked rather malnourished.

You are a nightmare demon.

You feed on nightmares, and fear.

Your body has been supplementing it's lack of nightmare feedings... thru suicides."

"What how do I possibly feed on nightmares?"

The teacher thought a moment, "I'm not an expert...
But you said you jump into people's nightmares, correct?"

"Yes..." Lanz said quietly.

"What do you normally do?"

Lanz shrugged, "Well, usually I'm just observing.

But after their nightmare becomes apparent... I wake them up."

"Try... not doing that.
Try just letting them experience the full horror of their nightmare.

Until they awaken naturally.

Perhaps that will feed you.

And after a couple times your body's need to push others to suicide will subside.

That would be the hope, yes?"

"So... let someone suffer in hopes of preventing suicides?" Lanz asked.
The teacher shrugged, "It's a start. If it doesn't work, we can try other things.

Now, let's start a training lesson.

The first fear demon in that book should be the easiest."

Lanz opened the book to the first demon, specialty death.

The personification of death was a universal image.

Plus, it wasn't hard to push people to being afraid of death.

Types of death was harder he imagined.

But the general aspect of death wouldn't be hard to imprint onto others.

The teacher smiled, "So, our goal will be to get someone, anyone in this school to suddenly swear they were greeted by death.

And frightened enough to tell others."

"Is it okay to do this to the people in the school?" Lanz asked cautiously.

"Not sure, but it is the best way to know if it worked.

Teachers, and other staff gossip.

We'll work until we think we've got it, then I'll just snoop around a bit to see if it worked.

Shouldn't be hard."

Lanz sighed, "Not hard at all...

Except the getting someone to see death part."

The teacher laughed, "Well, you're a nightmare demon.

I'm sure someone at this school has fallen asleep.

Try entering their dreams."

Lanz sighed and sat down on the couch.

"I've never tried to force someone's dream."

The teacher nodded, "It should come rather second nature.

Just... overpower their imagination.

It may take a few tries."

Lanz sighed and closed his eyes, subconsciously seeking a sleeper.

Author's Note

Nightmare scene is... completely based on a dream I had a few nights ago.
Besides the hand part, in truth the actual shock of just seeing my dog like that startled me awake. I didn't sleep again that night. My dog's name isn't Buddy, but that seemed a standard enough dog name.