Chapter Text
It always started the same.
Sam would be filming a video with Colby, Corey, and Jake. They went to a cabin that was supposedly haunted. Jake would joke around, and Corey would feel less scared. Sam and Colby would set up the cameras and they’d start the seance.
That’s how his dreams have started for the past 2 weeks. This is where they diverge. On good nights, Sam would see a shadow figure looming behind Colby. When he would try to speak, he would start choking on water. No. Not water. Blood. He would gag and sputter and cry and nobody would notice. The shadow would then grab Colby and drag him, Sam would chase after him but always be just slightly to slow.
That is what he considered a good night.
On the bad nights, which seemed to come more often, the dream would become even more twisted. He would wake up with a scream, panting and drenched in sweat and he would be so scared he couldn’t fall back to sleep.
He didn’t tell anyone about the dreams, he didn’t want to scare them. Instead, he took matters into his own hands and he started taking medicines to keep him up. He couldn’t take the dreams anymore.
Nobody noticed anything off with Sam at first, except Colby. Colby picked up right away his friend seemed jittery, on edge, scared. Sam had covered it pretty well but Colby was his best friend.
It wasn’t until a week later Colby learned the reason Sam had been acting this way.
Colby woke up to the sound of Sam screaming ‘No’ then heavy breathing. Colby checked the time and saw it was 3 something in the morning. ‘He’s probably doing a scary video again.’ Colby tried to convince himself it was probably nothing, but some part of him was urging him to go check on his friend.
Colby tossed and turned, trying to ignore it but after 10 minutes he figured he’d put his mind to ease and check on his friend.
He left his room and walked to Sam’s shut door. He knocked lightly and heard Sam mutter from inside the room a small “Shit” as sam trudged his way to the door, unlocking it and barely opening it. Colby noted the fact Sam’s lights were all on and tried to look in but couldn’t. He squinted at his friend’s shadow casted face.
“What are you doing up Colby, it’s late.” Sam said, his voice on edge. He kept the door just slightly ajar and he had most of his face out of view from Colby.
“What are you doing up Sam? You good man? You’ve seemed off lately.” Colby frowned and took a step closer, hoping Sam would open the door more.
“I. It’s nothing.”
“You’re lying. Come on dude, what’s up?” Colby frowned at his best friend.
Sam stood, debating whether or not he should tell Colby the truth. He didn’t want his friend to worry about him so he instead decided to tell him. At least, part of what happened. He opened the door more to seem less on edge.
“I had a… Bad dream.”
“About what?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have time.” Colby was persistent. Sam had always admired that until it wasn’t in his favor. Reluctantly, he complied.
Sam backed up and motioned for Colby to come in and he did. Sam retreated to his bed and sat down. He focused on the ground and jumped slightly when he felt the bed sink down with Colby’s weight.
“Sam?” Colby asked softly, almost like he was talking to a scared child. Sam raised his gaze and met Colby’s. Colby’s expression turned into one of complete worry and he turned to face Sam better. “Dude, what happened to your face? You look exhausted.”
Sam swallowed. “I am.”
“When was the last time you had a good sleep?”
Sam returned his gaze to the floor, finding it much more interesting than the conversation.
“I don’t know.” Sam felt Colby’s eyes burning into the side of his face, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to be a bother to his friend.
“Sam. What do you mean you don’t know?” Colby pressed further, and when Sam didn’t respond, Colby changed his approach. “So. Was today the first bad dream?”
Sam shook his head, and Colby nodded, continuing.
“When did it start then?”
“.. three weeks ago. But last week was bad. Really bad and I couldn’t take it so i uh.” He stopped.
“You what Sam?”
“I got these pills to keep me awake.. They had been working all week but i forgot today. All my days are blending together. And the dream. The nightmare. It..” He stopped talking when he felt the bed spring back up. Colby was standing in front of him with a bewildered expression.
“Pills? To keep you awake?” Colby frowned and Sam shrinked at his friend raising his voice. Colby’s tone was sharp and Sam backpedaled.
“It’s fine. They are prescription. It’s not like, illegal drugs.”
“What are they for?”
Sam scurried and grabbed the bottle and handed it to Colby who read it quickly.
“This says ‘for shift work’. You don’t even do shift work.”
“Colby I can’t go back to sleep.” Sam looked up at his friend, trying to read Colby’s face. Colby sighed.
“I’m sorry man.”
Colby then booked it out of the room, pill bottle in hand and locked the bathroom door. Sam followed fastly behind, but was too slow. He slammed into the door and pulled on the handle
“What are you doing? Those are mine. Give them back.”
“No. You can’t stay up the rest of your life Sam. Look at yourself. You look like shit. You’re going to drive yourself insane. You can thank me later.” Colby took off the cap and poured the remaining pills into the toilet, Sam banged on the door once more and was on the verge of tears when he heard the toilet flush.
Colby opened the door, and was greeted with a weak fist hitting his chest. Sam looked beyond angry but at that moment, Colby didn’t care. He simply returned to Sam’s room and sat on his bed, fiddling with the bottle.
“Why did you do that.” Sam asked. defeated.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were having problems?”
Sam blinked. “I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Well I do. You’re my best friend and I will always worry about you dude. Now. Will you please tell me what’s been going on?”
And so Sam did, he explained the dreams. It felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He could finally breathe easier. Colby comforted his friend as best he could, pulling him into a side hug that didn’t end until Sam was resting his head on Colby’s shoulder.
“Hey Colby…?” Sam asked softly, soft enough Colby almost didn’t hear it.
“Yeah Sam?”
“Would you mind staying with me tonight? At least until i fall asleep?”
Colby didn’t answer, instead he stood up and left the room. Sam frowned slightly. Colby returned moments later with his phone and charger and an extra pillow.
He threw the pillow at Sam who placed it on the bed. Colby plugged in his phone and slid into the bed, pulling the covers over both him and Sam.
Colby faced Sam and smiled, adjusting and pulling Sam into his side.
“Go to sleep Sam. I’ll keep you safe.” Colby smoothed Sam’s hair and hummed softly as Sam closed his eyes and nuzzled into Colby.
Sam quickly drifted off into the first peaceful sleep he had had in a long time.