Haruka flees through the city into the wilderness, the bright eyes of the hiding fae watching her from the bushes and shadows.  They begin to cackle and laugh as she runs, the fear on her face growing stronger as she goes.  Ken clings to her back, held in place by a cloth sling, and begins to cry against her shirt.  She runs harder, but the cackling only grows into shrieks, coming closer and closer.  The stomping of paws on the ground mingle with the sound of her haggard dash, followed by hooves.

“Please!” Haruka shouts, daring to glance over her shoulder.  Yellow eyes meet hers in the dark, their bearer hidden in the night.  “Please, just let me pass!”

A cackle fills the air before the beast leaps, teeth flashing in the glimpse of moonlight as it opens its mouth wide.

Bear scrambles up in response and barks, crowding around her immediately and sniffing her.  She grabs his ruff and pushes him back gently, hand lingering on his fur as she gives the room another pass.  Bear barks again and Kelly hisses sharply.  She sees only the outline of her dresser and a floor lamp, but that doesn’t put her at ease.  Her heart pounds, filling her ears and making it hard to listen.

Moments later, Robert bursts in, a hunting knife of his own at the ready.  He flicks the switch multiple times before he realizes it’s not working.  “Kelly?”  His voice is a whisper.

“I’m safe,” she replies calmly, taking in a deep breath and releasing it slowly.  “Just had a nightmare.  Startled Bear I guess.”  Slowly, she reaches out and sets the knife back on her bedside table.

Robert sighs softly and lowers his knife.  “Thank God.”  He glances up at the ceiling.  “Guess your light burned out while you were asleep.  What timing, huh?”  He flips the switch one more time for good measure.  “I’ll go get another bulb.”  He disappears into the apartment and briefly Kelly considers taking up the knife again, but she settles for another deep breath instead.  Bear sniffs at her shoulder before settling down beside her, pressing up against her like he needs confirmation she is solid and safe.

Robert returns a few minutes later with the bulb in hand and Kelly uses her phone flashlight,  pointing it up at the ceiling as he steps onto her bed.  They both frown when they see it.  The bulb in the ceiling fan is shattered, jagged edges catching the light off the phone and outlining it in white.  Their gazes drift down in unison to the comforter, where fragments of the bulb lie.  “What the hell?” Robert mumbles.

Kelly says nothing, but that strange film of anxiety settles over her again.

Robert carefully unscrews the base of the broken bulb and replaces it.  The light comes to life and washes them in soft white.  Holding it by the metal anchor, he jumps off the bed and tosses it into a nearby wastebasket.  “Don’t move, I’ll go get the broom.”

Kelly nods and watches as he leaves, her gaze following him still when he returns and uses the hand broom and dustpan to sweep up the broken shell of the previous bulb, tossing that in the trash as well.  Once done, he double-checks for any stray pieces, then sighs.  “That should do it.”  He snaps the hand broom back into the dustpan, eyes lingering on the now clean comforter.  “You got any idea how that happened?”

Kelly stares at the same place a moment before shaking her head.  “No idea.  I woke up and I—”  She pauses, then looks at her father.  “I think it happened as I came out of my dream.”

Robert’s frown deepens at that and he turns his attention to her, looking her in the eye.  “Could you have thrown something in your sleep?”

Kelly shrugs.  “I don’t think so.”  She pats at the blanket several times before finding her phone, holding it up for him to see.  “The only thing I ever leave in my bed is my phone.”

“Hmmm.”  Robert’s stare lingers on her long enough to make Kelly shift slightly, discomfort growing within her.  Finally, he turns away and sets the broom and dustpan on top of her dresser.  “No use dwelling on it in the middle of the night.  Get some rest, okay?”

Kelly nods.  “Good night— again.” 

“Good night.”  Robert closes the door gently as he leaves.  The light remains on.

Kelly lies back in bed and Bear squishes himself to her side protectively.  She lies there for several minutes, staring at a corner of the ceiling, then sighs and rolls onto her side, closing her eyes.