A Boy with Monsters

Niko scanned the dimly lit dining room where his relatives had gathered. They all sang “Happy Birthday” slightly off-key as his dad brought over a cake shaped like a baseball with two flickering candles on top. Niko’s gaze fixated on the wax candles shaped into the numbers one and three, their flames dancing with a gentle breeze. When the song ended, and the cake was placed before him, Niko closed his eyes and extinguished the two candles with a single breath. Smoke swirled around him as his family erupted in cheers and applause.

Struggling to maintain a steady smile, Niko understood that everyone there wished to see him happy. It was his first birthday without his mother and marked his entrance into the chaotic teenage years. The sympathetic looks he had already received from guests upon their arrival were enough; he didn’t need them throughout the entire duration of the party.

Soon, the cake was sliced, the presents were unwrapped, and the guests departed. Niko, clad in his pajamas, sat cross-legged on his twin bed, gazing at an old photograph from his first little league game. In the picture, his mom and dad stood behind him, beaming with pride. Tracing his finger over his mother’s face, a few teardrops landed on the glass frame. A knock interrupted his reminiscing, and his father’s voice rang through the room, “Hey, bud.”

Niko hastily wiped his eyes and mumbled, “Hey, Dad.”

His father’s smile faded, morphing into the expression Niko had been avoiding all day. He approached and settled down beside Niko on the bed, studying the photo clutched in his son’s hands. “I miss her too. And I know it was hard not having her here on your special day.”

“Yeah,” he murmured, his voice trembling as he sniffled. “I think I’m going to go to bed now.”

His father nodded, offering a comforting pat on Niko’s back before planting a quick kiss on top of his head. As he went to leave his son’s room, he turned back and said, “Good night, Niko. I hope you managed to have a relatively good day today despite everything.”

Niko nodded, watching his father exit the room and gently close the bedroom door behind him. He glanced back at the picture still clutched in his hand, carefully returning it to its place on the nightstand. Tugging the string of his lamp, he plunged his room into darkness. Rolling over, he closed his eyes and surrendered himself to sleep.

Within the depths of Niko’s dreams, flickers of white light pierced through the enveloping darkness. He found himself standing in the wooded area behind his house—a chilling, fog-laden place that evoked fear within him. Peering into the distance, he could barely discern several sets of beady yellow eyes fixed upon him. Paralyzed by apprehension, he remained motionless amid the dream forest, surrounded by a cacophony of whispers.

“Help us…”

“See us…”

“Save us...”

“Free us…”

The volume of the whispering escalated, assaulting Niko’s ears. He instinctively covered them, but the relentless voices persisted, as though they resided within his own mind. Suddenly, a pair of hands clamped onto his shoulders, their long, sharp red nails piercing through his t-shirt. A piercing scream erupted from his lips as he jolted awake in his bed, drenched in a thin layer of sweat, his heart pounding vigorously within his chest.

Scanning his darkened room, Niko found comfort only in the gentle glow of moonlight peeking through the curtains. He recognized it as nothing more than a dream, or rather, a haunting nightmare, yet its impact felt all too genuine. He settled back into bed, his gaze fixated on the dark expanse of the ceiling, making an effort to calm his breathing. He wished he knew how to understand dreams because this was the first time he had dreamt of something like this. While he tried to make sense of his terrifying nightmare, he drifted off to sleep again, oblivious to the forthcoming onslaught of night terrors that would torment him throughout the ensuing week.

***

Niko lazily rested his head on his hand, his elbow propped up on the dining table. He absentmindedly pushed around the chocolaty pebbles in his bowl, while his eyes repeatedly fluttered closed. He had hardly slept; every nightmare seemed to worsen as the days went by. He couldn’t comprehend why this was happening to him and just longed for it to end.

A gentle grip tightened on his shoulders, causing Niko to startle, mistakenly thinking it was the hands from his nightmares. In his moment of surprise, he jumped and accidentally toppled his cereal bowl, spilling milk and chocolate pebbles across the wooden table. A concerned voice called out to him, “Niko, it’s just me.”

Looking up, Niko met his father’s worried gaze. Clearing his throat and attempting to steady his breath, Niko spoke, “Sorry, Dad. I was just... lost in thought.”

His father placed a soothing hand on his cheek and asked, “Have you been getting enough sleep lately?”

“Not really,” Niko sighed, his voice laden with fatigue and the weight of restless nights. Almost on the verge of tears, he began to explain his sleepless torment. “I’ve been having nightmares. Creatures... monsters... voices.”

His father pulled him into a comforting embrace and softly stated, “I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.”

Niko stiffened in his father’s arms. “What do you mean?”

“Sit,” his father gently urged, pulling out a chair beside him at the dining table. “Your mother shared with me that this was a possibility.”

“You knew about this?” Niko questioned, his voice tinged with surprise and confusion.

“Not entirely. Your mother had a deeper understanding,” his father replied, sighing as he glanced down at his own hands. “According to what she told me, when she was your age, she began seeing monsters in her dreams, which were actually lost spirits in a state of limbo.”

“Ghosts? Mom saw ghosts?” Niko queried, his father’s revelation leaving him skeptical.

“Yes, she did. These spirits were attempting to escape their purgatory and enter our realm through your mother. It started with her great-great-grandmother, then her great-grandfather, followed by her grandmother, father, her, and now you.”

Niko stood up, restlessness pushing him to pace around the kitchen. “No one ever told me about this.”

“We thought she would be here to explain... or that you wouldn’t have to deal with it,” his father admitted.

“Well, apparently I do,” Niko sighed heavily. “I feel like a freak.”

“You are not a freak,” his father countered, stepping closer and placing a comforting hand on Niko’s shoulder. “You’re special and possess a remarkable gift.”

“Some gift,” Niko muttered. “To have the dead trying to communicate and enter our world through me.”

“I understand it’s far from ideal, but it’s the hand you’ve been dealt,” his father empathized. “Your mom left me some items in case this situation arose.”

“Do you think they’ll actually help?”

“I don’t have the answers, but I believe she wouldn’t have left them if they weren’t meant to.”

After a brief absence, his father returned to the room, holding a wooden jewelry box and a small leather-bound book. He handed them over to Niko, who accepted them with a mix of curiosity and doubt. As he examined the two items, he asked, “So, these are supposed to offer assistance?”

His father shrugged, crossing his arms in front of him. “I don’t know for certain. I wish I could be of more help, but I’m just as lost as you.”

Niko opened the box, revealing a wooden talisman in the shape of a crescent moon, adorned with a vibrant sapphire gem at its center. He carefully lifted the necklace, its black suede cord spinning in the air. His father raised an eyebrow and remarked, “I had forgotten that was in there. I think your mother mentioned that it’s meant to protect you from the entities in your dreams. They are less likely to approach you when you wear it.”

Niko placed the talisman around his neck and nodded. “I hope it does.”

***

For the remainder of the day, Niko immersed himself in reading the journal passed down by his ancestors. The handwritten entries were difficult to decipher, but he managed to grasp the essence of their messages. It appeared that he had now become the guardian of these lost spirits trapped in limbo, and his task was to utilize the box he had received within his dreams. This box would serve as a means to seal off the passage between the mortal realm and the realm of those trapped entities.

Uncertainty clouded Niko’s mind. The responsibility of being a keeper or guardian, safeguarding the divide that prevented the monsters from breaching into their reality, seemed daunting. He wished his mother had informed him earlier, but he understood that her death had been unexpected. It made sense why she chose not to disclose this information until now, so she could provide him with guidance through whatever was ahead.

As he prepared to sleep that evening, a newfound determination welled up within Niko. He clutched the empty box close to his chest, hoping that whatever awaited him would be manageable and lead him back to peaceful dreams. As he entered the realm of slumber, he found himself once again transported to the familiar location—the forest behind his home.

Niko mustered his determination, ready to push past the whispering and the unsettling yellow eyes lurking in the darkness. Taking a step forward, he ventured to move from his usual spot. But before he could fully immerse himself in the dark forest, a familiar red-clawed hand grabbed hold of his wrist. Surprisingly, the creature recoiled in pain, emitting a shrill shriek, and releasing its grip as if burned.

Startled, Niko spun around, ready to confront the nightly assailant. However, what he saw made him stagger backward, tears welling in his eyes. Standing before him was a woman adorned in a vibrant red dress. He whispered in disbelief, “Mom.”

“I never meant to frighten you,” she spoke softly. “I’ve been trying to communicate with you all along.”

“Are you trapped here?” Niko questioned her, concern etched on his face.

“No, I’m only here to guide you, to lead you on your journey. But please understand, I cannot accompany you,” she explained.

Niko furrowed his brow, confusion evident. “You can’t come with me?”

“No, my dear. You must reach the ethereal gate on your own,” she sighed, locking eyes with him. “If I were to go with you, I would be forever trapped in this realm.”

“I miss you, Mom,” Niko expressed, longing to embrace her, but she took a step back.

“I miss you too,” she replied with sorrowful eyes. “But physical contact is not possible.”

Niko glanced down at his talisman. “It would harm you.”

“Yes,” she nodded. “Anything non-human would be scorched and cursed by its power.”

“So, I’ll never see you again?” Niko’s voice quivered with sadness.

“No, I must depart now that I’ve had this precious time with you,” she affirmed. “But remember, I am always with you.”

“Okay,” Niko murmured, accepting her words.

“Now, proceed straight through the woods. Do not stray and do not succumb to the lies the ghouls may tell you. They will try to deceive you to gain their freedom. Understand?”

Niko nodded, his gaze shifting to the vast expanse of the forest behind him. “I understand.”

“Be brave, Niko. I believe in you,” she encouraged him with a gentle smile.

With his mother’s presence fading, Niko found himself once again alone. He pivoted on his heels and followed the path leading to the ethereal gate, tightly gripping the box in his hand. The forest was filled with watchful, luminous eyes that trailed his every move. The persistent whispers still echoed, attempting to divert him from his path and enlist his aid in their quest for freedom.

Hours seemed to pass as Niko walked cautiously through the woods, yet the gate depicted in the journal remained elusive. As he continued his difficult journey, a whisper caught him off guard. He scanned his surroundings and discovered the apparition of a young girl in a pink tutu standing at the edge of the tree line. She whispered pleadingly, “Help me, Niko.”

Remembering his mother’s warning to trust no one, Niko resisted the urge to approach. The young girl, who appeared to be only a few years younger than him, bore a heartrending expression as she reached out. “I don’t belong here. They’re trying to harm me.”

Shaking his head, Niko mumbled, “I can’t help you.”

“Please!” she cried out in desperation.

He took a step back, firm in his decision to stay true to his destination. “I’m sorry.”

The girl’s once sweet whispers turned sinister and menacing, as her monstrous nature seized control. “You must help me!”

Niko sprinted away, determined to evade any further encounters with the creatures. As he ran, a radiant blue glow caught his attention, drawing him closer. Arriving at the source, he discovered a large energy sphere, resembling a basketball in size. With anticipation, Niko opened the jewelry box and watched as the orb trembled and morphed in place. Gradually, it disintegrated into countless tiny particles that converged and flowed into the wooden box. Overwhelmed by the intense sensation coursing through his hand, he dropped the box, causing it to bounce before sealing tightly, while the blue light gradually faded away.

Niko retrieved the box, noticing that the whispers had subsided. The once-piercing yellow eyes had also vanished, prompting a bright grin to form on Niko’s lips. Filled with a sense of triumph, he leisurely retraced his steps, relieved that this nightmarish ordeal had come to an end, at least for now.

***

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