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It was a quiet night at the Regretevator.
There were some late night to early morning players still in there, but the grind never stops. For them, at least.
Pest and Melanie were staying over at DrRetro's for probably the millionth time, to the point they have their own rooms. The two have had their night snack (bowl of apple slices, provided by the katball herself), and have cleaned.
"Mrrow meow mow? Meow mrrow. (Go to sleep soon, 'kay? I got patients to tend to in the morning, so I'm off to sleep too.)" is what DrRetro said to both once they recieved their apple slices.
Pest was off in his own room, doing... Pesty things, probably sleeping. Melanie had said her good night to Mozelle over the phone. Since Melanie didn't hear any chitters or noises at all from Pest's room, that meant to her that she was the only one left awake.
There was, however, one very teeny-tiny problem.
Her night light was missing.
She can't sleep without it, can she? She hasn't before. She won't. The dark scares the bytes out of poor Melanie, reminds her of that... Thing. But everyone is asleep, not counting the midnight elevator players so... She might as well.
Melanie switched off the light and absolutely dived into the covers of her bed, gripping onto the bright pink blanket. No light. No noise. Nothing.
Yet something felt... So incredibly off.
There's no harm. Melanie's safe from her. It's been quite a few months now. So Melanie stares at the ceiling for a bit before she closed her eyes, shut off the screen to sleep.
"Someone avoiding death? Hmhm..."
She's right there, isn't she.
That darned dream parasite. She'd done so much to avoid her, and here she is again. It's like the first encounter all over again, kicked onto the ground, dragged across the floor as the red eyes appeared again. "Please, not again!" Melanie would've begged, yet not a single word came out her mouth.
Hands roughly grabbed her neck, threatening to pull off her head again.
Wires almost break, last signals sent as she struggled.
Please let me wake up don't let this be another end-
Melanie woke up from that dreadful experience, almost falling off her bed. The only thoughts that ran through her mind consisted of "Where is she?", "Is she gone?", "Am I safe?".
She hadn't even registered that Pest had come in to check on her until he switched on the light for her. Pest just sort of... Awkwardly stared at Melanie until she stared back.
"You uh. You good?" Pest asks... He might as well try to care, at least. Melanie thought for a bit before shaking her head in response. No, no she was not fine. Anything but fine. "You wanna talk about it?" the beetle suggests. Most people ask what's upsetting them when they comfort other, right? He wasn't the best at the whole... Comfort thing. Another shake of Melanie's head.
"... Well, what the hell's wrong?" Pest sighed, leaning against Melanie's doorway. Melanie's voice only came out as a bit of a whisper, "My night light...". Pest glanced over to the socket it was usually at, finding it empty. "... Huh." and then Pest just... Leaves the room.
Melanie stared at the empty doorway for a while before lying back in bed. There was no way she wanted to fall back asleep after that, no. She doesn't want to see her. Doesn't want to relive the worst thing that has ever happened. Would DrRetro understand her for not sleeping the rest of the night? Or would she get scolded?
Oh- Pest's back. With a bulb in hand- "My night light!" The cheer was slightly louder than her previous whisper, but only since DrRetro is snoring away in her room. As Pest plugged it in, the bulb casting it's usual dim light, Melanie spoke up again. "You stole it!" She accused.
"Did not." The beetle retorted.
"Did so!"
"I found it."
Believable enough, as Pest had a stash of parts, which likely included bulbs. Pest then turned off the light in Melanie's room. "Happy?" He asked, once more standing at the door way. Melanie gave a happy nod, and lied back down to sleep. Pest just left, to go to his own room. The dim light of the night light always helped.
With the night light back in it's rightful place, Melanie can now finally peacefully sleep. No more dream parasite. No more interruptions. A peaceful sleep for the entire household.