It was dark in the Morlock tunnels, but Leech was used to that. He'd lived underground for so long, any memories of his short previous life were faint and far away indeed. Mere impressions, if anything: the smell of a woman's hair, the sound of a man's laugh, patterns of light and shadow on a wall… No, Leech was a denizen of the underground world of the Morlocks now. And the dark didn't bother him.

Until now.

His teeth were chattering with the cold. The small drainage pipe was damp and chilly, but he didn't dare leave. The monster was gone, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't come back. Or that there weren't other, worse things out there.

Caliban was growing cold too, the blood from the terrible wounds across his stomach still flowing, but sluggishly onto the curved floor of the pipe. Leech hadn't known it was possible for someone to bleed so much. The pipe was sticky with it. He'd tried his best to staunch it, but there was so much, and the wounds were so big… He was so afraid Caliban would die, and leave him alone in the tunnels. Maybe Caliban was already dead. He hadn't moved or spoken for such a long time.

More screams, more gunshots. More deaths. More of Leech's family were dying out there. Leech didn't know why, only that they were killed by Upworlders, mutants like themselves who laughed as they took life. As if it was all a game. The gunshots were closer now, and Leech curled into a tighter ball, shielding Caliban as much as he could. His muscles were cramping with the cold and the prolonged immobility. More than anything, Leech wanted to run to Mama Annalee, feel her arms around him. But maybe she was already dead too?

It was so dark…

Leech sat up in his bed, shaking, sweat pouring off his body. His throat felt raw, as if he had been screaming aloud. Had he? In the dim glow of the nightlight, he could see Artie curled around his teddy bear, sleeping peacefully. No, he hadn't screamed then. Perhaps just as well. He didn't have the words to explain his dreams to Mr Sean or the Frost Lady. But there were times when he wished someone would come, just as he had in the tunnels.

Leech saw a shadow pause at the strip light under the door, and held his breath. For a moment, he was back in the pipe, afraid to breathe lest Scalphunter hear him, protecting Caliban with his body. Then the door slowly opened, and the dim glow of the nightlight was joined by the dim glow coming from the bandaged chest of Jonothan Starsmore.

[You orright, squirt?] he asked. Even with half his face bandaged, the concern shone through. [I could feel the fear coming off yer from all th' way down in me basement. Nightmare?]

Leech nodded wordlessly, and before he knew it, big, silent tears were streaming down his green, noseless face. Equally wordlessly, Jono came to his bed, and scooped him up into his lap, the customary leather jacket creaking comfortingly.

"L-leech is a-afraid- of the monsters," the small boy sobbed.

Jono rocked Leech, patting his shaking shoulders awkwardly. There was no point telling Leech that monsters weren't real, because that would be a lie. Monsters did exist. No-one knew that better than the small refugee from the Morlocks.

It was dark in the Morlock tunnels, but Leech was used to that. He'd lived underground for so long, any memories of his short previous life were faint and far away indeed. Mere impressions, if anything: the smell of a woman's hair, the sound of a man's laugh, patterns of light and shadow on a wall… No, Leech was a denizen of the underground world of the Morlocks now. And the dark didn't bother him.

Until now.

His teeth were chattering with the cold. The small drainage pipe was damp and chilly, but he didn't dare leave. The monster was gone, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't come back. Or that there weren't other, worse things out there.

Caliban was growing cold too, the blood from the terrible wounds across his stomach still flowing, but sluggishly onto the curved floor of the pipe. Leech hadn't known it was possible for someone to bleed so much. The pipe was sticky with it. He'd tried his best to staunch it, but there was so much, and the wounds were so big… He was so afraid Caliban would die, and leave him alone in the tunnels. Maybe Caliban was already dead. He hadn't moved or spoken for such a long time.

More screams, more gunshots. More deaths. More of Leech's family were dying out there. Leech didn't know why, only that they were killed by Upworlders, mutants like themselves who laughed as they took life. As if it was all a game. The gunshots were closer now, and Leech curled into a tighter ball, shielding Caliban as much as he could. His muscles were cramping with the cold and the prolonged immobility. More than anything, Leech wanted to run to Mama Annalee, feel her arms around him. But maybe she was already dead too?

It was so dark…

Leech sat up in his bed, shaking, sweat pouring off his body. His throat felt raw, as if he had been screaming aloud. Had he? In the dim glow of the nightlight, he could see Artie curled around his teddy bear, sleeping peacefully. No, he hadn't screamed then. Perhaps just as well. He didn't have the words to explain his dreams to Mr Sean or the Frost Lady. But there were times when he wished someone would come, just as he had in the tunnels.

Leech saw a shadow pause at the strip light under the door, and held his breath. For a moment, he was back in the pipe, afraid to breathe lest Scalphunter hear him, protecting Caliban with his body. Then the door slowly opened, and the dim glow of the nightlight was joined by the dim glow coming from the bandaged chest of Jonothan Starsmore.

[You orright, squirt?] he asked. Even with half his face bandaged, the concern shone through. [I could feel the fear coming off yer from all th' way down in me basement. Nightmare?]

Leech nodded wordlessly, and before he knew it, big, silent tears were streaming down his green, noseless face. Equally wordlessly, Jono came to his bed, and scooped him up into his lap, the customary leather jacket creaking comfortingly.

"L-leech is a-afraid- of the monsters," the small boy sobbed.

Jono rocked Leech, patting his shaking shoulders awkwardly. There was no point telling Leech that monsters weren't real, because that would be a lie. Monsters did exist. No-one knew that better than the small refugee from the Morlocks.