The Nightmare Man Read Online Free PDF

everywhere. Under the bed. In your wardrobe. Hiding in the shadows.’ Then he whispered. ‘I’m a monster. ’
    Luke shook his head. ‘I don’t believe in monsters. You’re just an alien and I’ve stopped aliens before.’
    ‘ But wouldn’t it be terrifying if I was so much more than that? ’
    Luke backed away. He knew that the creature was just an alien. He had to be. Luke didn’t believe in ghosts or demons or anything like that. There had to be a rational explanation.
    ‘ Get ready for the end of the world, Luke. ’ The Nightmare Man reached out and stroked Luke’s cheek. He smiled as he continued. ‘An eternal sleep of nightmares and it’s all your fault.’
    Luke woke up. And he lay there in bed. With the light on. And he started to cry.

Chapter Ten
    Thursday
    The next day, Luke went downstairs and met his mum in the living room.
    ‘Morning,’ she said, cheerfully.
    ‘I had another dream,’ he replied.
    Sarah Jane frowned. She hated seeing her son so upset. ‘What happened?’
    ‘I...I can’t say.’
    She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. ‘You’re scared. It’s just your mind playing tricks on you.’
    Luke took a deep breath then stepped back. ‘What if I wasn’t leaving home? Would that stop it?’
    She stared at him, her heart breaking. ‘Oh, Luke, I’d love to say yes. I’d love to say “don’t go, stay here”, but I can’t. You can’t not do something because you’re scared.’
    ‘It’s more than that!’
    ‘I’m sure it feels like that, but it isn’t,’ she replied, gently. ‘I’ve had nightmares about you going. I bet Clyde and Rani have as well. You know how much we’re going to miss you but...sometimes, you have to be brave. And you’re so brave and so clever. Trust me. The nightmares will stop.’
    He nodded, unable to speak.
    ‘Now, come on,’ she said with a smile. ‘Everyone’s coming round later, so you’ve got to finish packing!’
    Luke nodded and left the living room.
    Sarah Jane sat down and tried to stay calm. She needed to be strong for Luke. Of course he was scared. She remembered when she had first left home and how terrified she’d been. But he needed to do it. Everything would be all right in the end.
    Luke’s last day on Bannerman Road went by really quickly. He finished packing and both he and Sarah Jane had a little cry as they stood in his bedroom, surrounded by boxes. Then they cheered themselves up by getting the house ready for his party.
    ‘Two parties in one week,’ she said, as they blew up balloons. ‘Don’t ever think you’re not going to be missed!’
    And the party was truly fantastic. Everyone was there. Clyde and his mum, Carla. Rani and her parents, Gita and Haresh. Sarah Jane’s oldest friend, Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart and his wife, Doris. Professor Celeste Rivers and Toby from the Pharos Institute. Lucy Skinner and her dad from the Tycho Project. Martha Smith-Jones and her husband, Mickey. All people Luke had been through so much with. Maria and her dad sent a holographic message over from America so it was like they were there as well. It really was the greatest party ever.
    But Luke wasn’t enjoying it. He was so tired and so scared. People tried to ask him what was wrong, but he couldn’t say, so they just assumed he was overwhelmed by the party and scared about leaving.
    Like all good parties, it eventually came to an end and by 11 p.m., it was just Sarah Jane, Clyde, Rani and Luke. The gang. Rani had been filming the party on her digital camera and now she was pointing the camera at Luke and Clyde.
    ‘Here’s to Luke’s last night on Bannerman Road,’ she said.
    Luke smiled weakly into the camera.
    ‘You all right, mate?’ asked Clyde.
    ‘You’d tell us if something was wrong, yeah?’ said Rani.
    ‘You’re going to be fine,’ said Sarah Jane. ‘This time tomorrow, you’re going to be in a mad, new, exciting place.’ She went over and took the camera from Rani. ‘Come