James woke in a sweat. The nightmares had been plaguing him for months, and his psychologist was certain that the boy was going mental. He groaned. Of course, he would have to tell the middle-aged man he was having them again. As though hallucinations weren't enough. The teenager slipped into his slippers, trying to remember the most about this night's dream. Oddly enough, no two were the same. Tonight, the monsters were chasing a 16-year-old girl, with gold hair, dressed in the most unsuitable clothing for the weather. Though it was cold in that place, the girl was wearing a sleeveless tank top and shorts.
The only thing that was constant in his dreams was the scenery. They always took place in the same dreamland. James washed his tired face with water. He took a look in the mirror. The same brown eyes, the same freckled face. The same scars. James sighed and left the bathroom. He didn't feel like changing out of yesterday's clothes, simply pulling a hoodie over his shirt. He slowly walked down the stairs, hoping against hope no- one would notice him.
Apparently, he needn't have worried. There was a note on the table, reminding him to eat something and go to therapy. He grabbed a sandwich and waved down a cab. Once he got to the office, a mild surprise was waiting for him there.
"You're not Mr. Carter" James said, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Who are you?"
"I am Mr. Teller." The man said, with a mysterious twinkle in his eyes. "Won't you sit down?"
James slowly sat in the armchair opposite the therapist.
"So, mister James." The man started. "I understand you've been having nightmares, am I correct?"
"Yes." The man looked at the boy for a moment, but then reached for something. He pulled out a large mirror from behind the chair.
"Tell me what you see." He said, putting the mirror in front of the boy. James wanted to laugh at the man, to tell him all he saw was his own reflection. But that wasn't true. He saw that place, from behind a fog. Mesmerised, he stepped towards the mirror. As though in a trance he touched it, surprised when his hand passed through the glass. He hesitated a moment. But then he closed his eyes, and passed through the mirror.
The other man stood and took a watch out of his pocket.
"Right on time." he smiled, and pressed a button on the watch face. All at once he disappeared, leaving behind an empty office.
James found himself in his nightmarish dreamworld. He turned, taking in the place he was told doesn't exist. and then he saw it. The monster that always chased everyone who ever came here. But he knew how to act around them. After all, he had had so many nightmares about them, he knew exactly how to act. He made eye contact with the monster. No- one had thought to do that yet. Unblinking, the being had a melancholy air about him. But then he turned and left, with a small nod. James turned with him, walking in the direction he knew the next mirror would appear. The boy was trying not to think about how everything here was ready to kill. He also stopped feeling the joy he had felt, knowing this was real. He was aware that the monsters feed on emotions. Finally, the Mirror appeared, and he stepped through it, blinking in the bright sunlight. As soon as his eyes adjusted to the new surroundings, he turned to the tall man in front of him, in which he recognised the therapist from earlier today.
I smirked at his shocked expression.
"Took you long enough" I said. "Walk with me?" The boy nodded, and together we walked through wonderland.