Chapter 1– Nightmares Are Constant (Part 2)
"Hm, hm, hm… Aaand... it's done!" Zane exclaimed as he lifted the sheet of paper he'd been scribbling on for the past hour. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and a wide smile stretched across his face as he admired the drawing. He couldn't help but feel proud—it was easily his best work yet.
The picture showed a small boy wielding a sword, his innocent smile undisturbed by the monstrous threat before him. Towering over him was a massive red creature, its jaws gaping wide, ready to devour him. But just before it could strike, the boy had driven his sword deep into the monster's chest. Around them were lush green trees and a bright, smiling sun high in the sky.
"I like this…" Zane muttered, nodding to himself. For a moment, his imagination drifted into the scene he'd drawn, living the fantasy in his mind.
This was his dream. His desire since he could remember—to become a hero. To fight monsters and save lives. He wanted to be a Dimensional Knight, one of the legendary guardians who protected all realms from the savage jaws of beasts and upheld order across worlds.
Ever since that day, when he first saw them—those awe-inspiring knights battling gruesome monsters to protect the innocent—his life had never been the same. He could only dream of standing where they stood, living as a hero, fighting for good.
But at only thirteen years old, that dream still had to wait. So instead, he spent his days working hard, studying diligently, and training relentlessly. All in preparation for the day he could take the entrance test to become a Dimensional Knight.
"Hehe, I can't wait. I really can't wait," he whispered, leaning back in his chair. His gaze wandered around his room, taking in the walls plastered with countless drawings. Most showed him as a hero in all kinds of epic scenarios. Others were tributes to the real Dimensional Knights he had seen the day monsters attacked his city.
Swinging his legs idly, Zane admired the sight in silence.
That silence didn't last long.
"Zane! Dinner is ready! Get down here!" a voice called from downstairs.
"Just a second, Mom!" he shouted back, gently setting his drawing aside. He stood, gave it one last glance, then turned and walked out of the room, heading down the stairs toward the kitchen.
There, a woman was setting the table, her warm smile lighting up the room. She bore a strong resemblance to Zane—both had striking silver hair and beautiful red eyes. He had inherited those rare features from her, and they made the pair stand out wherever they went.
"Go wash your hands," she said.
"What are we having tonight?" Zane asked as he walked past her.
"Hmm…" She gave a proud smile and pointed behind her. "Chicken pasta with red sauce—your favorite."
"Oh!! Really?!" His eyes lit up.
"Of course. I promised I'd make it if you got good grades in math."
"Thank you so much, Mom!" Zane exclaimed, throwing his arms around her in a tight hug. She chuckled softly and patted his head.
"You don't need to thank me, my little Zane. You've been working really hard, and I wanted to reward you. Now go wash your hands—and don't forget to wipe."
"Mm!"
Zane rushed off toward the bathroom. His mother watched him leave with a gentle smile, then shook her head with a laugh.
A few minutes later, Zane returned and sat at the table. She served him his plate, and he immediately dug in, a wide grin on his face.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
"A lot! Thank you!"
"I'm glad. Just be careful not to stain your shirt."
"I won't, I won't."
They ate together, chatting about different things. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful. Life had been good for Zane—he had a loving mother, a safe home, and a dream he was determined to chase. What more could he ask for?
"Oh right! I'll show you the picture I made earlier! It looks awesome!" Zane said between bites of pasta.
"Oh?" Her smile twitched, just for a second, but she quickly composed herself. "What did you draw today?"
"Hmm, I drew myself slaying this huge beast with my sword! I looked so cool, doing this—and this—and this!" He stood up slightly and waved his fork around, mimicking battle moves.
Unbeknownst to him, her smile had already vanished, replaced by a look of deep concern.
"Sigh… again with that stuff, Zane?" she said gently. "I've told you—it's really dangerous to become a Dimensional Knight. Fighting monsters is no joke."
"Hm? I don't fear them! I'll fight and defeat every one of them!" Zane shrugged. Even though he'd only caught a glimpse of those monsters before—and yes, they had terrified him—he still burned with the desire to face them, to protect people. That was his goal.
"But…" She faltered, her voice trailing off. Then she looked down. "You could be putting your life in danger, sweetheart."
"I'll be fine, Mom! I'll be so strong, no monster will be able to touch me!" He flashed her a confident grin. His eyes held no hesitation or fear, only unshakable determination.
That look tore at her. She wanted to believe in his dreams, to support him… but the thought of losing him made her blood run cold.
'I can't lose my boy… I can't… If that happens, I—' She couldn't even finish the thought. Her whole body trembled.
"Mom?" Zane noticed the change in her expression and frowned.
"It's nothing. Finish your dinner," she said, forcing a smile. 'It's still years away… he's just a kid caught up in fantasy. He'll grow out of it…'
As she watched him eat, a swirl of emotions filled her chest. Zane was kind, bright, full of energy. Always curious, always smiling.
'He really is just like his dad…' she thought, her eyes watering. She quickly wiped them away. 'I'm sure you're watching over him from up there, dear…'
"Mmm, I'm done! Thanks for the food!" Zane said cheerfully. He stood, took his plate to the sink, washed it, and left it to dry.
"I'm going to study now, Mom!"
With that, he darted back to his room, sat down, and took a long breath. He set his drawing aside and pulled out his notebooks. Slipping on his headphones, he turned on some music and began to study.
The cold winter night wrapped around the house, but inside, everything was quiet and peaceful. Time drifted by—an hour, then two, then three—until Zane glanced at the clock.
"It's already 10 PM… I should take a break." He stretched his arms and stood up. Opening his door, he found the hallway cloaked in darkness.
'Hm? Did Mom go to bed already?' He raised an eyebrow. It was strange—his mother usually stayed up late, working in the living room. The lights being off meant she was probably asleep.
"Hm…" He rubbed the back of his head, stepping out into the hallway. Then, something caught his eye—his mother's door was wide open, and soft light spilled out from inside. The TV was still on.
"Oh? She's watching TV," he muttered, feeling oddly relieved. For some reason, anxiety had been crawling up his spine, but there was nothing to worry about.
He began walking down the hallway toward her room. The flickering sounds of the TV echoed eerily off the walls.
Then he reached the doorway.
"It's rare to see you—" Zane began, stepping inside.
But he stopped.
He froze.
Drip... Drip...
The smile vanished from his face. His eyes widened in shock. The sound of the television mixed with an awful dripping noise.
His body wouldn't move. His soul felt like it had been wrenched out of him.
There, on the far wall...
His mother was hanging.