Chapter 3

As Tyler sat up in bed, the horrible events that took place in his dream ran through his mind again, like he was watching a terrifying movie for the second time.

Tyler's tiny legs propelled him at full speed. All he knew was that he was being chased by a bad, bad man. He didn't know why the man had come for him. He didn't know who the man was. Tyler just had to get away.

His heart pounding in his chest, Tyler turned a corner and darted into the woods. After a few minutes of running, jumping, and dodging through trees, Tyler stopped for a short rest. The incessant thud-thud of his pursuer's feet stomping the wet ground behind him had ceased minutes ago. Just to make sure that he was as far away from the man as possible, young Tyler had kept running.

And now, there was silence. His eyes scanned the forest around him. There was no sign of the man that had chased after him.

But, as he was pondering what to do, he heard the unmistakable snap of a twig being stepped on. At that sound, his heart almost leaped into his throat, but he forced himself to spin around.

As he had guessed, the man was directly behind him. He held a wicked knife in one hand and there was a demented grin on his face.

...And that was where his dream had ended. Even though this experience had happened to him years and years ago, the images were still vivid in his mind. Nightmares came almost every night. They were getting almost unbearable.

Looking at his watch, Tyler realized that it was almost 5:00 in the morning. There would be no hope of ever getting back to sleep, so he clambered out of bed at that moment.


Later that day, he was hunting for a decent hot dog, when he came up to a stand saying "Best In New York! Buy 3 Dogs And Get A Free Coke!" Tyler couldn't resist the offer.

The stand wasn't too far from Central Park, so he strolled over to the park and sat down on a large boulder on one side of the lake. There, he finished his meal. As he was getting ready to leave, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket.

He flipped it open. Sam was on the phone.

"Wassup, man? You left without telling me and the rest of us."

"Sam, I had to leave. I was getting sick of you guys. I seriously needed a break," Tyler explained.

"Dude, you can't take a joke!" Sam laughed. "We were just messin' around. You freak out over nothing!"

"It's not funny, Sam. You know I don't like that kind of stuff. I hate it when--"

"Wow, I can't believe you, man. We were just havin' fun. You don't have to take everything so seriously! You're so paranoid!!" Sam interrupted.

"Shut up, Sam," Tyler growled, hanging up. Tyler wanted to say so much more, but this wasn't the time. He was in the NYC to relax.

But, at that moment, Tyler saw something that ruined any relaxation he hoped to have...

~Nixx

chapter 2.

Tyler left his dorm after that night to go to new york city for a week or two. He needed to get out of the dorm and away from college life. It was just too much for him. Sam was just bugging the crap out of him, and all of his friends. He couldn't stand the horrible dreams and the people that were always following around. Tyler swore that they hid in the shadows becuase nobody else could ever see them.



Tyler was startled by the sudden vibration of his phone is his pocket. Nobody ever called him.

"Hello?" tyler answered near the hospital.

"Hey, it's Chris!" His sister giggled.

"Oh, hello sis...how are you?" Tyler inquired.

"Alright, are you in nyc?" She wondered.

"Mhm, I"m walking past Columbia Prebytarian at the moment."

"oh, well I have to go...I'm off with a bunch of friends. party stuff, you know." She replied quickly.

"bye. I'll call you later." Tyler closed his phone.



He had arrived at the starbucks that was right by the hospital and ordered a frech vanilla capp.

He swore that the city ran on caffine. Of course it was the city that never sleeps. What did he expect?



He walked out of the starbucks, and not paying attention, ran into a sophisticated woman.



"Excuse me?" She snarled.

"Sorry, I'm preoccupied." apologized Tyler.

"Wait, aren't you Tyler Smith from Mansfeild University?" she asked...

"Uhm, yes....Why do you ask?" Tyler pondered.

"Your a great author! I read your blog all the time." She laughed. "Nice to finally meet you!"

and she shook his hand.

"Oh, of course. You read my life you mean." Tyler chuckled.

"I didn't realize that you were so young." She pointed out.

"Yes ma'm." He answered. "I must be on my way, but you always know where to find me." Tyler excused him self.



And he walked, until he reached a cafe with wi-fi and entered, and he started writing on his blog.

"The city that never sleeps, always eats and runs of caffine. Here I am! I actually met one of my followers today. Very very coincedental....yawn, I'm going to get some rest. Chow."

A few hours later he woke up startled and sweating. But he was cold...that was the most horrible dream...

"Damn it!" Tyler swore. He cut his finger and the crimson red blood was seeping through the slit. He never could seem to keep himself safe. He was constantly falling down and cutting himself, or dropping things and hitting his head. He turned when he felt a hand sternly grip his shoulder.

"Don't touch me Sam!" He screamed. "You know how that bothers me!"

"Dude, chillax would you? Your so paranoid. Chill." Sam chuckled under his breath.

Tyler grumbed and went back to cutting his medicine in half. Of course they were anxiety pills, god knows he needed them just to get through a regular day in school, much less the weekend with his prank pulling friends. His stupid friends. He sighed, and wished he could go back to his childhood innocence.

"Hey, Sam?" Tyler questioned into the dark hallway...
"Dude, what do you want?" Sam answered.
"Grab me a beer, would you?" Tyler seriously needed something to cool his nerves.

After a couple of minutes and Sam didn't come back into the kitchen, Tyler went to the hallway and searched for the light switch. Then he decided that he could walk through the dark without being scared. He sighed again, it happened almost four years ago, why should he even be scared? So he walked, not at a normal speed, may I mention, but almost at a jogging rate. He hated the darkness with such an intense passion. His heartrate quickened.

"BOO!" screeched Sam.

And Tyler fainted.

"Ohhh dude, he fainted guys! Aw fuck, we better put him on the couch, he's gunna be pissed when he wakes up." someone said, over the riot of the others laughing.

It't black outside and Tyler is running. Running away from the man chasing him through the dark hallways. And he trips over something. He reaches on the wall, his hand frantically searching the texutred painted sheetrock for the small plastic switch that would end the darkness engulfing him. And when he reaches it, his eyes flutter open and he's being shaken by Sam.

"Wake up dude, you fainted, here." Sam handed him a joint. "It'll make you feel better dude."

"Sam, thanks, but you know I don't smoke weed." Tyler coughed and choked on the smoke.

"Ohh, alright dude, I forgot." Sam apologized but sucked in on the roll.

"RUN! He's coming for you Sam! Watch out behind you!" Tyler was screaming his head off.

Sam turned around and looked..."Dude, no one's there dude."

Tyler pushed Sam out of the way and stumbled to the ground. He was beating the floor relentlessly until Sam restrained him.

"Dude, chill, take a puff dude." Sam urged him.

And Tyler sucked in a long breath, and passed the joint back.