Rain battered the window, nonstop and loud. The boy slowly climbed onto the bed, settling against the pillows.
"When would this friken rain stop?" he muttered, a hint of impatience in his voice. The raindrops only answered by falling harder, rattling against the glass.
He slammed his hand onto the bed.
"God damn rain, it's annoying me so much."
He let out a heavy sigh. One drop of rain hits me like a tiny rock falling off a cliff, he thought, staring at the ceiling.
After some time awake, sleep finally crept over him.
"Heh… where am I!?" he asked as his eyes slowly opened.
The room around him disappeared. Darkness stretched in every direction, with no walls, no floor, no sign of life.
His throat tightened. What should I do? The words came out weak.
Suddenly, a shadow flickered across his vision. He froze. Please don't be something scary.
"Deng deng deng."
Silver-white hair shone like crystal, blue horns curved sharply, and pale skin glimmered in the darkness.
"I'm the judge of this world," the small monster said, puffing its chest with pride.
The boy stepped back cautiously. Is that… a demon?
The creature raised a hand, eyes fixed on him.
"There haven't been any humans who visit this world for a long time."
A cool wind spiraled by, carrying distant screams.
"Who is nearby?" he whispered, shivering slightly as the cold brushed his throat.
"It's the souls of the dead ones," the creature said, clearing its throat calmly.
"The dead ones?" His eyes widened.
The monster spread its glossy red wings and floated gently around him. Fog rolled in, creeping around the boy's legs.
"Stop talking in my ear!" His face flared red, and his voice sharpened.
"Haha, you get mad easily," the little monster teased.
He swung his fist forward.
Another hand intercepted it midair.
"Heh?" he tilted his head in curiosity.
"Who dares to hurt my pet?"
A silver-haired man with blue horns appeared, glaring at him.
"What's your name, you naughty boy?"
"Eh, why would I tell you my name?"
The fog thickened, locking his movements.
"Argh! What are you doing? You weirdo!!!"
"Tell me your name now!!!"
The man leaned closer, his voice dropping low. Every muscle in the boy's body stiffened.
"Stop, let me go," the boy begged, tears sliding down his cheeks to his chin. "I'll tell you my name, just let me move."
After that one sentence, the man drew a circle in the air with his right hand.
In an instant, the fog that had trapped the boy vanished. He flexed his fingers, feeling the freedom to move again. Without hesitation, he bolted forward, hoping to escape this endless dark space. Yet no matter how far he ran, the darkness had no end, and eventually he found himself back in front of the small monster and the man.
The man laughed, a sound both awkward and chilling. "You can't escape this space unless I allow it. I control this dream world."
The boy froze, realization dawning. "Heh… no wonder wherever I go, I end up right back in front of you."
"Exactly. So don't try to run anymore. Tell me your name, and I will set you free," the man said patiently. "I need to know who you are first." The boy questioned.
"I'm the demon and the strongest existence in this world," the man said with pride. "You can call me Osac. This little monster is my pet, and it helps me monitor this world. Its name is Little White."
"I'm Osca," the boy replied, swallowing hard. "I'm a human who accidentally traveled to this world after I fell asleep."
Osca tilted his head, curious. "Oh, Little White? Such an interesting and simple name."
Osac nodded. "It seems you have the ability to travel to different places in the dream world once you fall asleep in your own world."
The boy frowned. "That seems bad… I don't know where I'll appear next."
"You need to learn to control this ability over time, so you can teleport wherever you want instead of ending up in random places."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Osca asked, disbelief shadowing his face.
"I'm telling you because not everyone has this ability," Osac said proudly. "I want to help those who do."
"Okay," Osca said aloud, but deep inside, worry gnawed at him. He still thought about the souls Little White mentioned earlier. These questions weighed on him, and more than anything, he just wanted to return to the human world.
Finally, he asked, "Now… how do I go back?"
"I'll give you one-time access to exit this world." Osac summoned a wand and drew a large circle in the air. A door appeared, framed by massive flame-like wings. Inside, darkness swirled like a black hole, hiding whatever lay within.
Osca's legs trembled. Fear of the unknown gripped him. Could it be a trap?
"Here you go," Osac said. "Once you go through, you will return to your world."
"Okay," Osca whispered. His body shook as he stepped toward the door, every nerve alert to the uncertainty beyond it.
A faint, almost sinister smile flickered across Osac's face as Osca approached, but the boy's eyes were fixed forward, determined despite the unease creeping through him. Every step toward the door felt heavy, as if the darkness itself resisted him. His legs trembled with anticipation, and a cold shiver ran down his spine as he glanced at the swirling blackness inside the doorway. The air was thick, almost suffocating, carrying the scent of smoke and something metallic he couldn't place.
Osca's hands tightened into fists, and he forced himself to take another step. The flames on the sides of the door seemed to flicker and twist, casting long shadows that danced like strange creatures across the floor. A low hum vibrated through the air, sending vibrations up through his chest and making his teeth chatter. This is it… I have no choice, he thought, swallowing hard.
Finally, he reached the threshold. The blackness inside the door seemed to reach out, pulling at him like invisible fingers. His heart pounded in his ears, each beat echoing like a drum. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and stepped fully into the void.
The darkness swallowed him completely. Weightless, disoriented, he felt himself falling, twisting, spinning through nothingness. The sound of the dream world faded, replaced by a ringing in his ears that made his head spin. Panic threatened to rise again, but he forced himself to focus on the thought of home, of his own bed, and the safety it represented.
And then suddenly the spinning stopped. The ringing faded. He landed with a soft thud on something solid. Blinking, he realized the world around him had changed. He was in his room. The familiar furniture, the quiet hum of the night, the gentle shadow cast by the lamp, all of it was real, grounding. Relief surged through him, and his knees weakened as he sank onto the bed, clutching the blanket.
His heart slowed, but his mind raced. The dream world, Osac, the strange little monster… it had all been terrifyingly real. His palms were clammy, and his body trembled slightly, though the safety of his room comforted him. He leaned back against his pillows, letting out a shaky breath, closing his eyes, and trying to process everything. For the first time since the journey began, he felt a flicker of calm, but the memory of the fog, the souls, and the swirling blackness lingered, refusing to be forgotten.