Nightmare Nights Novels & Stories

“Son of a bitch, “Dannie said in a sigh. She rested her forearms on her knees. With a slow, deep breath she waited until her heart finally caught on to the fact there was no danger. It was only a nightmare. Another fucking nightmare. As long as Dannie could remember, she had them. On a typical week, Dannie would suffer three to five nightmares. They were all similar in theme: death, mayhem, and suffering— all the good stuff. Though, she never actually had a nightmare with the deabru before. Usually, her nightmares were vague concepts and seemingly symbolic. The only time Dannie stopped having nightmares was when she was away from home. It was the negative energy thrown at her in this place,

Her thoughts drifted into the treacherous realm of her own nightmares, which had morphed into a nightmarish ordeal of their own. These dreams were insidiously becoming more vivid, more nightmarish, as though the universe had conspired to transform her nights into an unending reel of terror. Each night, it was the same haunting scenario that played out with relentless persistence: the pleading eyes of an unknown figure, the thunderous echo of gunshots that tore through her consciousness, and the paralyzing sense of despair that gripped her very soul. These nocturnal horrors had become a prisoner of her mind, relentlessly ransacking her peace.

Salvatore Villa – Julian’s Bedroom Julian's eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Another nightmare, his constant companion over the past twelve years, haunting his every waking moment. They all spoke the same message. Revenge. Impending danger. And the haunting past. But this time, there was something different. He saw a figure, shrouded in shadows, with a face that refused to take shape. He couldn't fathom if it's a male or female. Julian's mind recoiled from the memory, his thoughts fragmenting like shards of broken glass.

I woke with a gasp, my heart hammering in my chest. The terror of the nightmare lingered, and I sucked in air, trying desperately to calm down. Every night, it was the same. I was standing in the dark woods, and there across the clearing stood Matt. Only, I never got to him in time. I ran and screamed, begging him to get away, but Ronan always appeared to tear out his heart. I’d have to watch him fall to his knees, blood staining the snow.

I jolted awake, trembling violently as cold sweat clung to my skin. A nightmare. Only a nightmare… though Hazel remained strangely restless beneath my skin. Suddenly, the door pushed open and Dominic crossed the room in seconds, concern darkening his expression. He was beside me before I could steady my breathing, his hand closing around mine. "Are you hurt, Natalia?" "I heard you from the room beside yours.” I turned my gaze to him as I regained my composure. "I–I'm fine. It was just a nightmare," I said, brushing away strands of hair from my face.

It was Nightmarefest Night. Nightmarefest is held on the last night of the third month of summer and runs until dawn on the first day of fall. Although to call it a celebration would be to dignify it. In certain towns and villages where people had already been victims of the depredations of the dark powers and other enemies of humanity, the inhabitants locked themselves in and bricked up the doors and windows until the sun rose on the first day of the first month of autumn for fear of what might be loose that night.

Until now. Camille switched on the bedside lamp, chasing away the shadows. The digital clock read 3:17 AM. She pushed back the tangled sheets and moved to the window, pressing her forehead against the cool glass. Below, the estate's gardens stretched out, security lights casting strange patterns across the manicured lawns. Beyond the gates, Manhattan glittered in the distance. This was the third night in a row the nightmare had returned. Each time more vivid. Each time harder to shake off.

Just a nightmare. What was happening?

No, a puzzle, but somehow a clue, that goes like this. "Don’t you remember those happy voices in your mind as you sleep? Or maybe the screams you hear of terror in a nightmare. What is a nightmare? Isn’t a nightmare a small prison you’re trapped in, with no hopes of waking? Why? Because you never know you’re asleep. You forget everything, your name, your life, and who you are. The only thing to accompany you are the monsters that laugh in your mind, that taunt you, knowing everything. Your life, your happiness, everything that had been stolen away. But the scariest part of the nightmare won’t be the monsters. They aren’t scary themselves. The most fearful thing of all is that they are yours.

“Sleep, Aria. When you wake, we make sure your nightmares don’t own you.” It’s such an odd promise that I nod without thinking. In bed, I stare at the ceiling for a long time. The city hums below. My chest aches. Eventually, I drift off. The nightmares come, as promised. I’m back in the hall, Liam’s voice echoing as he rejects me, the pack’s laughter swelling. Except this time, the pain doesn’t stop. It builds and builds until I’m sure my body will rip apart. I try to scream and no sound comes out.