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[withamagicword]

Billy falls into nightmare. Pitch blackness is broken by screams, and by images.

FLASH

He sees his family, dying, bullet wounds in the bodies and the scream that rips from his throat makes it go raw. Blood is everywhere and fills his sight until he thinks he will drown in it.

FLASH

Images whirl away and back and now he sees his sister trying to summong the power of Shazam as rocks hit her, one smashing into her mouth as she falls. He tries to go to her, but she sees him and skids backward. she mumbles out words of a broken mouth.

"This is all your fault, Billy. You did this. You killed us all!"

FLASH

Blood and death rains around him as an explosuion goes off near him and he turns to see him family dying before his eyes.

FLASH

Ace is standing there, a bullet wound in her stomach, a stain slowly spreading underneath her.

"I wouldnt have known if you hadnt told me. I would have understood if you had done it better. They killed me because of you!"

FLASH

His scream wakes him up out of the nightmares, his throat raw and his eyes straming tears and Billy Batson lays in bed and cries as his whole world slowly shatters. he slowly sinks back into dream and his nightmares reach for him again

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[futures_of_ash]

She's been hiding in Milliways for a over a day now, and oddly she's come to peace with it. She's goingto survive the terror, the horror and the fear. She'll go back, she'll face it all...but not yet, not now.

So she's headed upstairs, to shower and change...

Little expecting the sheer wave of nightmarish terror that swims down the hall and strikes her in a near choking mass. Such fear, such sorrow tinted, mind boggling blame.

She sinks to her knees slowly, taking a few deep breathes. This she cando, can handle, nightmares...

She reaches slowly back along the way that the terror came, a like of gentle flame, of calm, peace...to touch a child and call gently. ::Wake up little one. Wake up::

[withamagicword]

He roils in nightmares thick enough to choke him. Blood and worse stuff slides down his throat and into his mind and his soul cries out. he screamsagain and again and in the darkness hears nothing.

But her flame, her call, comes to him like a siren and he wavers, hearing it and desperately wanting to flee the nightmares...

But didnt he deserve them? Didnt he put his family at risk? He shudders, torn.

[futures_of_ash]

The small trickle of flame grows to a flow. Strength, compassion, sorrow...until there's a woman in his dreams, wreathed in flames that spread into wings, just watchng, waiting, and offering her hand.

She understands things like blame and self-punishment, she understands nightmares. She also knows that in this case, perhaps, it isn't necessary.

[withamagicword]

He wavers again. She is beautiful and she seems kind and he wants to go and.... he finally steps to her and takes her hand.

he shivers even so.

[futures_of_ash]

Flame reaches out to wrap around him, warm like a blanket or a hug. Comforting. But she doesn't draw himout, no, it's his mind, andas such, he needs to draw himself away fromthe need for nightmare.

She looks out past the sheeting flame, a sad smile on her lips as shetakes inthe sights beyond "Why?"

[withamagicword]

His facr twists in pain.

"Because I screwed up. I trusted the wrong person, told my secret, started too anyway, and it went all wrong. And now she dislikes me powerfully and I have no idea what will happen. My family is in dager and she is in danger and nothing is going right, all because I am so stupid!"

His voice builds from a whisper to a scream of sorrow and rage and panic. he is shudderring and crying .

[futures_of_ash]

In reality, it would probably be awkward for a woman of Rachel's height to fold around the boy in a hug, but in a mindscape, reality seldom applies. Gentle fingers trace the path of his tears, leaving warmth and strength behind at each touch.

::Stop::

Just that simple word for now, to get his attention, cut through the building panic.

[withamagicword]

He shakes as he feels her hold and his mind tumbles to a stop as he looks up at her tears falling from his eyes.

"I am...afriad."

And he buries his head in her side and cries more. He is thirteen but he also rarelt has shown such emotion. A well has opened and she is lucky enough to be the one who has seen it.

[futures_of_ash]

Yes, such fear. It's no less for coming from a child, far from it, children often know pure fear when adults let too many factors cloud emotion. All she can do is wait and watch, holding the nightmares at bey beyond theflames and letting cry.

So, she simply holds him closely, stroking idle circles along his back and accepting, after all, what is an aspect of life but that of mother, comfort? ::I fear too. Often:: she assured.

[withamagicword]

He sniffles a little as the fear seems to lessen and the tears slow. he looks up at her.

"What could make you fear? You are amazing! And Beautiful!"

[futures_of_ash]

She just laughs at that, a jumping, joyful sound and cuddles him close ::For every strength one has, there is an equal and deep weakness. I fear for those I cn't protect, I fear those few who have taken my strength away and broken me. I fear loneliness, and others hatred. So many things::

[withamagicword]

"Wow."

He looks a little lost for a moment.

"I dont know what to do. Everything is screwed up now." He shakes his head.

"I thoguht I could shows someone. i thought I had chosen right, but I didnt or I didnt even get a chance, and I know it wasnt completely my fault but... I am still afraid of what will happpen."

[futures_of_ash]

::Some advice?:: she offers quietly.

::Milliways is a safe place, it's alright to share. People may get suprised, upset, angry, but they tend to think things through. Even more importantly, they tend not to be allowed to run off and do stupid things. Give this person a little bit of time then talk to them again.::

She smiled gently, waves of warmth flowing in flames to thaw and warm the deep chill of fear. ::Do not assume the worst, not yet, not now.::

[withamagicword]

He shivers slowly. then he looks up at her.

"I... you're right. I am just afraid and ...I guess I wasnt thinking..."

The area around them starts to fade away as his mind is drawn towards awakening.

"Who are you?" he calls as he starts to fade.

[futures_of_ash]

::Most people don't think straight when they're frightened:: she assured. ::It's a skill that comes with time::

She actually smiles as the dreamscape fades in a wash of water colors soft edges. She let's flame fill his mind once more, the energy leaking out enough to dance shadows and light alongthe walls in his real room. ::Rachel::

[withamagicword]

Billy starts awake and blinks.

"Rachel? That's a beautiful name. Thank you. Very very much."

He shivers a little and drags his covers up over him. then he peeks out

"I dont suppose you could stay awhile?"

[futures_of_ash]

::Well, I suppose...:: her mental voice chuckled as the flames slowly died in the room.

A moment more and the door swing open, Rachel in the flesh, a little less impressive in her torn jeans and barefoot and far closer to mischievious older sister than benevolent mother figure...but hey, it's her.

Without preamble she sinks onto the edge of the bed and strokes his hair softly "I'm not any good with bedtime stories though...all the ones I know start "Well, there was this emergency, someone goingto blow up the world..." and get worse from there"

[withamagicword]

He chuckles a bit, worn out and already sinking a little.

"Maybe ...just stay? Don't wanna be alone."

[futures_of_ash]

She tilts her head to the side, hair pooling on the sheets for a moment as she thought about it, then nodded "Sure kid" she promised softly.

"Sweet dreams"

[withamagicword]

He snuggles down in the sheets and then one hand extends outward and finds hers and hen there is no more sound as he sinks into sleep.