Knights Against the Night Part 40

The night was long, there had been nightmares for three nights in a row, and the shadows in Chester's eyes were growing.

Friendship? What would friendship do?

Bolt sighed, expecting another night of terrors. They had found all the portals, Bolt was sure of it, but still they were drawn in night after night.

Chester was getting worn down.

Night fell and Freddie drew them both under the covers. Chester seemed almost panicked by the action.

"He's not..."

Freddie was small and clingy, but Chester had a much greater experience at escaping small hands than those hands had at holding tight.

Freddie whimpered, releasing them both and curling into a ball.

"You didn't..." Bolt asked.

"Tickled the underside of his arm." Chester said abruptly, slipping out from underneath the covers. Bolt followed.

"There's a darkness underneath." Chester said, leaning cautiously over the edge.

"Nightmares?" Bolt asked.

"No. Worse." Chester pulled out a blade, it glowed dimly, and the rabbit jumped down, lifting the skirting with the blade.

Darkness pooled around him.

Bolt trumbled off the bed, drawing his bright blade out, the darkness retreated before his light.

"Monster." Bolt hissed.

"Come out and face us you coward!" Chester challenged, and the puddle of darkness rushed around them, avoiding the circle of light Bolt held, rising up tall.

Bolt took a step back, the darkness loaming over him.

"For Freddie!" Chester yelled, charging forward, even his dull blade doing damage.

Bolt gathered his courage and chased after him, slashing and jabbing, dodging and blocking.

Not everything missed.

Darkness wrapped around his arm, burning with pain, before dispersing before his light, the wound stinging.

Chester was worse off, his light dimming.

Then Bolt saw the face of the monster.

Dragonlike, familiar eyes, pain and despair and loss of hope.

"Blue?" Bolt exclaimed, freezing up.

Eyes dark with emotion widened, and he rushed Bolt.

Bolt couldn't react in time.

Chester blocked and deflected the hit.

It wasn't enough. A second follow up blow threw the rabbit, and he didn't get up.

The dark rushed him.

"NO!" Bolt screamed.

"Mine." Hissed the monster.

Freddie woke up screaming.

The monster fled.