losthunter | Writing Prompt: Monsters Under the Bed

There is a large slab of marble in the middle of Hunter's art studio. He has been studying it for hours... and occasionally marking small points on it with a felt marker. It is only by his stomach growling lightly, that he realizes that it is time to eat.

As he makes a light supper, Hunter notes how late it was. After finishing his meal and cleaning up his dishes, Hunter immediately heads for bed.

The first few hours of sleep is undisturbed, until the very early hours of the morning, when Hunter's mind enters a dream-like sleep.

He finds himself in a crowd of faceless people. There are so many people around him that he finds it hard to move. There is a light smoke filling the area, like he is inside a club. There are flashes of color from strobe lights, which makes it harder to see.

But even with the difficulties to his senses, Hunter knows where he is -- he is in the same club where he had tried to plead with Kendra to change his curse. And his instinct is that he is there to find Kendra once again, but this time for entirely different reasons.

He pushes through the crowd quickly, twisting and turning through the maze of faceless people. It does not take long before he spots Kendra herself. She is dancing in the middle of the crowd.

Unlike the last time, Hunter is able to reach Kendra with ease, until he finally places a hand on her shoulder. "Kendra..."

"Hello Kyle..." She tilts her head, her hair a bright blonde, twisted up into dreadlocks just like the night when he had sought her out to break the curse.

"I have been looking for you."

"You have sought with only your eyes. You are not ready to truly seek me out," Kendra moved to walk away from him. Hunter followed her.

"What is this all about Kendra? There must be a reason why you and I still have this connection... And I want to know why."

Kendra stopped to face him again. Hunter noted that this time, there were not that many people around them. "You know why. You must face the reason yourself."

"Does this have something to do with your magic? The curse?"

"Who was truly cursed, Kyle? Can you see, or did you become blind like your first love? Can you truly find me, if you are not looking everywhere." Kendra moved closer to him, putting her hands on his arms. It felt so real.

"I am trying as hard as I can..." Hunter answers. "I know that something is missing. I am doing my best..."

Kendra tilts her head again. "You must look within yourself. You have to be ready to find answers that might be a little difficult to face."

"How do I do that?" Kendra answers him by leaning close to him. Hunter closed his eyes for a moment. He could feel her magic and her power, just by standing close to her. He could feel a tingle of energy go through his body.

"Look for the Monsters, Hunter. Look for the Heroes. Look at things differently than you normally would. You must take the first step... by yourself..."

With a jolt, Hunter awoke with a sensation of magic and energy still on him. He took several deep breaths, as he tried to make sense of the dream itself.

Slowly, returning to the marble slab in his art room, he looked at the piece again. Before using his carving tools to finally start revealing the hidden art piece that was there. There was a monster wanting to be released in the marble.

And all he had needed was the dream to help capture the moment.