"*ha, ha, ha...*"
In a dark cave, a boy was running. Why he was running, even he didn't know.
But one thing was certain, stopping now would result in death. That reason was enough for the boy to not stop.
Hearing aggressive laughter behind him, the boy knew that if he is not going to find an exit soon, he would practically count as dead.
After some time running, he saw something. Something that filled his entire body with strength and hope. He saw light at the end of the cave. Beautiful, blinding, white light.
The closer he got the more hope the boy got, but before he could reach the light the boy tripped, falling face down. Full of pain, the boy heard a screech.
Suddenly he felt something grab. The unknown creature turned the boy around and the boy was finally able to tell from what he ran away, a goblin.
Before the boy could scream or do anything, the Goblin raised his arm holding a dagger. It aimed the dagger at the chest of the young boy, and swing it down.
Before the dagger could went into the chest.
BAMM
Alex opened his eyes frantically looking at his chest for a stab wound, but there wasn't. Mumbling unter his breath Alex could only say:" I survived…"
After a couple of seconds Alex realised that he was sweating from head to toe. Grabbing his phone from his nightstand, he saw that it was 2 a.m..
"Stupid Nightmare, stupid challenge."
Getting out of bed the boy went to the bathroom to wash his face with some water. Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw that he had bigger eye bags than usual and he was paler then usual.
Next he went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water, swallowing the water he felt a sensation in his chest, which let him remember his nightmare were he was almost stabbed.
Quickly putting the water inside the dishwasher, he went to bed to sleep.
---
*beep beep beep beep*
Noticing his alarm clock, Alex realised that he didn't get an ounce of a sleep after waking up from his Nightmare.
With no energy, Alex went inside his dads room and tried to wake him up.
"Dad. Dad. Dad!" Alex called out, shaking his dad.
"Hmm." His Dad answered with closed eyes.
"I don't feel so good, can i stay at home?"
Looking at his child and seeing Alex's pale face, he immediately jumped up. He checked his sons temperature with his hand and noticing it burning.
"Of course, sweety. Go to your room and rest, i will call your school."
Going to his room, Alex dropped on his bed and closed his eyes. His consciousness slowly drifting away.
Before finally falling asleep, he heard his Dad talking.
"Hello, here is Michael Dawn. My son Alexander Dawn is sick he can't come to school. He's in Cla..."
Hearing his fathers voice he felt reassured and he fell asleep.
---
Opening his Eyes, Alex saw a cave. The same cave in which he was the day before. More accurately he was in the Goblins part of the cave.
Realising that, he frantically looked side to side, in hope that there was no Goblin or any other Monster.
Seeing no Monster, he sighed in relieve. Thinking about the Goblins corpse, Alex felt sick. After shaking his head, he looked at his hand. His hand disappears and then reappears with a dagger.
To ensure that there really were no Monsters, The User cautiously looked around every column. With relief, he looked at the clean dagger.
'It's good that I still have the system.' Alex thought to himself in relieve.
'I need to move forward. Last time, the challenge updated after I left the room'
Coming to the decision to leave the Goblins area, Alex wasted no time and began to walk towards the tunnel which connected both areas.
After a short while, he was surprised. The Goblins corpse was still there, with all the blood, organs and the wounds Alex gave it.
Seeing his work, Alex couldn't stop himself anymore. He began to cry and hold his mouth with his hand, to ensure nothing came out of it.
"I'm sorry"
"I'm sorry"
"I'm sorry"
He could only repeat those words, kneeing down. But everytime he said that, his heart felt heavier. Remembering how it felt stabbing the Monster, Alex felt guilty.
"Tell me how do you feel."
Hearing a familiar voice, Alex turned his head around. Seeing who stood behind him Alex jumped up.
"Thomas! What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here, are you okay? Did you get attacked? Are you also..." Alex asked a barrage of questions. But before he could close the distance to Thomas, Thomas held his hand up.
"Don't come closer murderer!" Thomas demanded.
"What are you talking about? I didn't murder anybody."
"And what is that behind you? Is that not a corpse lying on the ground." Thomas looked at his friend, with disgust. "I really thought that you were better then that. You really are a barbarian with no moral."
"What are you talking about i didn't kill anybody, just for fun. It was self defense."
"Really, did it attack you first or did you attack it first? To answer my question, you did, you invaded his place and charged at him, the Goblin defended it self."
As realisation hit him that he attacked the goblin first, Alex began to cry again. Thomas continues talking, but Alex couldn't properly focus. He heard a new voice calling him.
"Alex."
"Alex."
"Alex!"
Opening his eyes, Alex saw his father.
"Da...d." Alex said in a weak voice.
"Come sit up, I made soup for you. Wait, let me help you." Helping his son, Michael put a tray with chicken soup in front of Alex.
"Thank you" Alex said so silent that it couldn't even be Considered a whisper. As he began to eat the soup. Alex began to cry. "I'm sorry..."
"Did you have a Nightmare? Don't worry, I am here. I will never leave your side, never forget that" Micheal said in a warm tone.
Micheal watched his son eat. "Let us go to the hospital, if you don't get better soon"
Alex finished his meal and began to lie down again. Looking at his father: "Dad, I have a question."