Grindleby had night terrors for the first time in a few years but it was about the same as always.

He was in bed, being pestered by the immense heat welling up under his covers. After flipping his pillows over severally and trying hard to find a cool spot on his sheets he would resolve to leave his bed and step out into the cool air of the night. He would look up into the sky and be awestruck by the stars then climb onto the roof as if it would get him significantly closer to the twinkling beauty. He would reach out into the expanse of wonder, a smile wide on his face, and remark that the world was a beautiful place. He would then recoil as the entire night sky turned red in the blink of an eye.

The moon would become a gaping wound in the night sky, spewing blood on the canvas of the sky. The night would, in an instant, change from a pretty sight to a scary one. And what showed it's face next was even more horrid. It would force Grindleby to press himself against the clayed roof and pretend to be an insect so insignificant that it wasn't worth the effort spent in killing it. He would shut his eyes tight so that he would not have to look upon the visage of terror once more. He would curl up into a ball and cover his ears to block off the sounds that accompanied the moment. A cacophony of wails, shrieks and thudding that came ever closer to him. It would come so close that he would burst into tears and beg for mercy, staring horror personified in the face, staring deep into its eyes, paying little attention to its sharp claws nor the abhorrent gait with which it approached, nor the eerie flowing of its long hair, nor the awful grin on its pale face. No, he focused on its eyes, for they were the least frightful part of this creature.

The anomaly would stare back and, as though it had seen something in him, it's smile would turn to a frown and the night would turn black as pitch as it reached out its hand, gently touching his cheek almost as a mother would. Everything would fade into nothingness...

And he would wake up. Not in a cold sweat, not breathing heavily, not thirsty. Just fearing. For this was more than just a nightmare...

It was a memory.