Clank!

With claws coated with silver flame, Ash destroyed the chain in the wardrobe.

"Meow", the big cat then called out for the child to come out, but there was no signs of movement inside.

The big cat felt sad about that, it did not know who the child inside is. But Ash knew about one thing.

Learned helplessness.

How long have this child been imprisoned inside to developed such behavioral conditioned. Ash can't imagine how large the mental damage the child has suffered, that the child went quiet instead of quickly escaping the already open doors.

So instead, the big cat stands with its hind legs planing to open the wardrobe itself.

The big cat was just about to put its paw at the wardrobe, when it stiffened. The grey fur started to stand up, it silver eyes widen and it's iris shrunk terrible degree. Reflected on its eyes, was the dark mass with its creepy big round eyes and maniacal smile.

Ash eyes shakes, it's slowly put down it's paws and made a quick steps back. 

It's heart was still unable to recover from this another surprised, it's fur was all still bolt upright.

Thankfully, Ash was already used to this thing suddenly appearing in front of it.

But still! Ash tiny heart almost escape it's chest everytime!

The big cat shrieked at the black mass, thinking what it was planing to do. 

The black mass stared at the big cat for a moment, before it smile slowly vanished. It then turn away and looked behind.

It gazed at the chain that were broken through Ash claws. Ash did not know what it wanted to do, but the big cat readied itself just in case this thing was planing on harming the child inside.

But to the big cat's surprised, the black mass softly opened the door revealing a curled up child inside.

And what shocked Ash the most was, it knew who that child is.

It was Kevin!

The child lightly opened his quivering eyelashes to peak at who opened the door of the wardrobe. He did not move, but just slightly opened his eyes.

He knew that if he move or go out, his mother will get angry again.

Nevertheless, when the child saw the black mass with big round eyes staring at him, he immediately opened his eyes. 

Without moving an inch, he asked, "...did you broke the chain again... Nightmare?"

Hearing the innocent, milky whisper of a young Kevin, the big cat forcefully get it's wits back.

It silver eyes keenly looked toward the child and observe his appearance.

He was really the young version of Kevin, Ash was sure about that, but...

The big cat gazed at the child's body. Bruises, fingernail scratches, pale sickly skin, and a malnourished body. His clothes were dirty as well, and it looked like the child did not change it almost a week.

Ash did not know how and what it was feeling right now. It's silver eyes blur and trembled as many speculation appeared in its mind, thinking why the small Kevin was in such situations. 

Its furry mouth opened and closed, not knowing what to do. But it's body moved by instinct, and rush to the side of the child.

The black mass ignore the big cat and just stared the child. Because it knew, that the cat was not visible to the child at all.

Ash hopped and called out to the child, it went closer and rub its head on the child's cheek, but was surprised to see it's body just went through.

This is when Ash realized that the child can't see it at all.

However, the younger Kevin clearly saw the black mass. Why can't he see the big cat? 

Then Ash saw the black mass moved, the big cat panicked and attacked the black mass, only for the big cat to passed through it as well.

The black mass picked up the younger Kevin and walked out of the room. Despite the big cat's panic and confusion, it still followed behind, afraid of that thing might hurt the young Kevin.

They walked through the long corridors and climbed a stair, Ash realized that the black mass brought the young Kevin back to his own room.

The young Kevin was silent throughout the whole journey and he did not move even a slight twitch.

He only utter another whisper when he was already laying down the bed with blanket covering his entire body.

"...mom will scold us again..." he fell asleep after murmuring that to the black mass.

After confirming the younger Kevin was completely asleep, the black mass turn to looked at the quiet grey cat by the bed.

It walked over without making a sound, and crouched down to looked at the cat eye to eye.

The big cat was not surprised anymore. It knew that it meant no harm and Kevin seems to know this thing too. So, the big cat did not move.

But Ash still can't help but feel goosebumps all over its body as it continue staring at the creepy dark shadow. It really looks scary.

Then a beautiful voice of a child, clearly resounded in the room.

"Dont care him, Nightmare."

It was the 'supposed to be sleeping' little Kevin.

"You brought him here, so don't scare him away."

The black mass twisted it's head to stared at Kevin and let out a creepy smile again.

Little Kevin, who was now sitting on the bed, smile back as well. He reached out one of his hand and the black mass turned into smoke that was quickly gathered into Kevin's small hand. 

A cherry size black bead took form at the center of Kevin's small palm, he gasped it and opened his mouth.

Gulp.

Ash was still yet to recover when it saw Kevin just ate the black ball made from the black mass, and swallowed it directly.

Little Kevin, then showed an apologetic smile towards the big cat. 

"...sorry. I did not expected Nightmare to brought you here."

The big cat gazed at little Kevin, it's silver eyes shows many different emotion as it wanted to asked many questions but can't, because it doesn't talk.

And little Kevin saw it all.

"You should try talking. This is my world, no, my dream after all."

The big cat flinched, then it looked at Kevin. Its eyes were shaking, and Kevin just smile after seeing its reaction.

"–you..." 

"Yes. Sorry, you experienced that again and again." Kevin climbed down the bed and walked closer towards Ash.

"You saw it."

"Mn." Kevin nodded as he picked up the big cat and let it sit in his lap, while he sat on the floor. 

"...seems like, I'm not the only who went back this time?" 

'this time?'

Ash heard little Kevin murmurs, the big cat observed Kevin, and thought, 'this is the Kevin I knew.' 

"Kevin, this place is?"

"Oh. This is my mother's mansion at Frelighsburg."

"Quebec?"

Kevin nodded indulgingly answering all the big cat's questions one by one, at the same time stroking it's grey fur. Kevin could see the excitement gleaming in Ash silver eyes as it keeps talking. It's been a long time since the big cat speak again, expressing your opinions and asking are really great!

"This is real?"

"It was, but not anymore. Basically, this is just a memory."

The big cat revealed a complicated expression when it heard that. The big cat already knew it but seeing Kevin's body, Ash just wanted to reject that idea.

Why?

Because Ash can't believe that there's something that it did not know about Kevin, and more so, Kevin's appearance when the big cat just found him in that wardrobe was really unbelievable.

"You never mentioned about it before." Ash pouted, trying to act cute as it speak out it's complain.

"Sorry, I don't remember it at all."

Ash went quiet as it heard that. The big cat knew what it meant, it saw Kevin smile helplessly while he explained. So, Ash just shrugged its shoulders and change topic.

"That 'thing' you called Nightmare just now. The 'thing' you just swallowed."

"Ah. That is Nightmare. Did Nightmare scared you? Don't worry his not that bad. But really. I did not expected you to go after me." 

The little Kevin stared down at the big cat who was looking back at him as well. What his eyes were saying already evident.

Kevin already knew.

Ash could only sigh. "Hey. So this was your memory?" It changed the subject.

"Yeah. That's right, we should go now too." 

Kevin got up while holding the big cat in his arms, and walked out of the room.

"Where are we going?" Ash looked up as it asked.

"Remember how you were forcefully went through that event?" 

Ash frown, thinking about that time. If the big cat did not managed to calm it's emotion, it did not know what could have happen.

"...you're going through with it too?"

Kevin continue walking through the corridors, and went down half way through the stairs. He then, stayed and sat beside the railings and looked down towards the wide entrance hall below.

"Yeah. I need too. If not, I'll be forced to sleep again and went on it several times like you did."

"What?! Then that time when you can't see me..." Ash exclaimed with stunned expression. 

"Yeah. But thanks to you, I managed to wake up again. If not, then this nightmare will really eat me alive."

"Then, h-how many times?" Ash hesitantly asked. And surprisingly little Kevin just answered casually.

"I don't know. I didn't really count. But I've been here for a very long time now."

Ash trembled hearing that. The big cat almost went crazy, dying many times in that dream...

"Why don't you just get out or broke out of this dream. It was that black thingy that brought you here, right? We can just fight it!"

Kevin chuckled and shake his head. "You still haven't change. But Ash, Nightmare is part of me so we can't fight him."

"Really?" Ash looked at Kevin doubtfully, then continued excitedly. "That's makes things easier, then! Let's directly get of this dream!"

"Can't."

"Why?" Ash stared unbelievably at Kevin who was smiling wryly and was avoiding the big cat's gaze. "My mind, you see...was rejecting this part of memory."

"Huh? Rejecting?"

"Mn." Little Kevin pointed a finger into his temple. "Here, can't really accept such memory. My mind wanted to forget it for eternity."

"...why?"

Kevin didn't answer Ash but looked towards the huge wooden door at the entrance.

At that moment, someone suddenly barge in. 

BAM!!