Asa leans against one of the many eyed creatures as if it is a friend. His face is unreadable, but Kam feels like an insect caught in a web. Kam’s body tries to move to pick-up the stick, but moving would mean ignoring Asa. He resists. His knees tremble and buckle, but hold his position. His lips struggle to part. He needs to say something. Anything.

“Take it slow. You’re doing good. Resist the dream.” Asa says. He walks closer. “I can’t help you.”

Finally, Kam squeezes a singular question from his lips. “Why?”

“There are two scenarios where Nightmares try to eat you. If you reach your dream core and if a Dream Eater touches you. If I touch you and free you from your dream, then they’ll swarm. But you can resist it. You nearly did it last night too.”

Sweat beads down Kam’s neck. His head is pounding and his thighs strain. He takes a deep breath, revitalizing his core. He keeps his eyes on Asa. His emerald gaze pierces him. Kam’s heart beats faster. Harder. He lifts his body up and exhales. The dropped stick dematerializes along with his instrument. 

“You did it!” Asa cheers. “I’m so proud, we can-”

“Stop,” Kam orders. It comes out harsher than he means and Asa recoils. But Kam needs to say this. “What is all this?” He gestures wide. “Last time it was a ballroom and dancing and my Nightmares were giant insects.”

Asa smirks and cheerily answers. “Dreams and Nightmares are symptoms of your mind and your mind is the most beautiful thing in the world.” He steps closer. Kam steps back in response. “This dream is particularly harsh. Your Nightmares aren’t just these guys.” He pushes against one of the shadowy many eyed creatures. “This whole dream is your Nightmare. Your dream core is probably the only safe place in your head right now.”

“But then there’s you.”

“What do you mean?” Asa raises a brow, genuinely confused.

Kam points. “What’s the difference between you and them?”

Asa pauses before replying. “I care about you. I’ve always cared about you.” His tone drops from confident and steady to one that’s nervous, slow, and unsure. “Nightmares are your pain manifested. I just want you to be happy and do what’s best for you.”

The bubbling anger in Kam’s throat pops. “Then why didn’t you tell me? You tell me you care, and you want the best for me but-” Kam swallows the worst of it. “What about what I want?”

“What do you want?” Asa’s voice is barely above a whisper. 

Kam stares directly into Asa’s eyes. Asa has always been at Kam’s side. They’ve been together longer than he can remember. How much potential time had been lost in their dreams? How many memories and feelings were devoured before Kam was aware his friend defended him from his own Nightmares. Kam knows what he wants.

 “I want you to trust me….so I can trust you too.” 

Asa sniffles. Gone is the confident trickster persona. “I’m a monster.”

“So what?”

“I’m not human.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re flesh and blood on the other side. That’s who I know.”

“I devour you.”

Kam shivers remembering that morning. “I’ve gotten over it. I don’t need my dreams to be a writer.”

“I’ve killed people.”

Kam stays on beat. “For me, right?” Asa nods. “More of a reason to trust you…if you can trust me.”

In a blink, Asa closes the distance to Kam. “Your Nightmares are really bad tonight.” Asa’s playful tone returns. His dimples push his six freckles back as he smiles like a small boy opening birthday presents. “I think I’ll need an appetizer to take them all on.”

Kam daintily holds out his hand like royalty. “Take what you need.”

Asa kneels. He takes Kam’s hand as if to kiss it. The entire field erupts in a nightmarish, high pitched chatter, but it’s as if Kam and Asa are in their own bubble. Kam hears Asa perfectly clear. “Yes, my liege.”

Instead of a kiss, Asa’s head peels back. Fangs jut out and slice. Kam’s hand is gone and swallowed. Yet all Kam can feel is a pleasurable tickle from where his hand had been.

The Nightmares move but before any can lay a hand on Kam, Asa is upon them.