Toys

"Rashid."


My adopted older brother glances up at me from the bed next to mine. "Yes Master Malik?"


"Don't call me that." I roll over onto my back and stare at ceiling. I could have sworn he had been asleep. "Do you want to talk?"


"About what topic?" He sits up, turning towards me to show I have his undivided attention. I hate it when he does that.


"Well, truth be told there is none. Unless you count the fact it's 2 o'clock in the fucking morning and I can't sleep."


I saw his shake his head and for a brief moment I wonder why. Then it hits me.


"Oops not so pretty language coming from the Guardian. Oh well no one cares at this point anyway. Is anyone even listening? Nope? Didn't think so."


He's silent. That's okay I'll just sit here until I get bored. That shouldn't take long.


"Insomnia is a bad thing." I roll again this time so that I'm facing him. One hand propping up my head. "It does evil things to me. Around 3:00 am I might crash but I slept until 2:30 pm yesterday so I doubt it. I don't have a normal sleeping pattern anymore. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to get up at 6:30 am after 3 hours of sleep."


He nods. Just to prove he's still listening.


"And as you can tell I don't do anything interesting when I am awake."


I sit up as well and bounce from my twin sized bed to his. He scoots over calmly ignoring my sudden hyper state.


"The house is too quiet."


"The radio is on." He gestures to the window where the cd player is sitting. It's on but only up loud enough that you can make out a low murmur but no actual words.


"It speaks! I have the radio so I can hear something beside my own breathing but it's not settling my unease. Noises seem magnified by the night. I like the dark but I hate night time."


He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. "Master Malik after all the time we spent underground I can understand your unease."


"Don't call me that. I know it makes no sense so let me explain. The dark of clubs, storms or a dimly lit room is comforting. I'm used to it. The darkness that night brings with it is unforgiving. I'm not scared of the dark I fear the night. So many unexplainable things happen when the sun sets."


"When I was younger, before you were born, I would sit in my room with the door closed and pray I'll make it through the darkness into a new day." The soft confession startles me. He's not supposed to be afraid of anything. I've often had dreams that involve the night. These dreams are nothing to be happy about I assure you. Quite the opposite."


"My friend Ryou has the same kinds of dreams I do and as a result suffers from the same sleepless nights as I. Now many people would tell you these dreams stem from our pasts which are very similar in history. I disagree, however. My unease has only matured to it's full and unwelcome bloom as of late. There is no reason. No event in my recent life has brought this up. My days have been sunny and bright in all ways." It's true. i have friends now. I live in the light. "I sometimes wonder if it's something in this house that feeds my fears. My older sister doesn't sleep well either and her dreamless nights started about the same time mine did."


Rasid seems to take more interest when I mention Isis. Sometimes I wonder...I don't want to know though.


"There is the chance that all my discomfort is part of my...disorder." He opens his mouth to say something but I stop him. "And Isis' could be due to her sensitivity when it comes to me. Ryou, well, Ryou has had a hard life and that is what his dreams revolve around. But dreams aren't what bother me. I don't have bad dreams. I haven't had in a long time. It's something else. Something deeper."


He goes to stand but I grab his arm and pull him back down. I need to get this out of my head. It's been tumbling around in there long enough.


"Someone once said that the reason certain people accept unusual things is because they still believe in magic. I agree with that. I only question what magic has brought this about."


"The only magic in this house is nothing that can harm you little brother." He gently removes my fingers. I let him go and watch as he moves to my bed and settles down. I hestate before I do that same.


"Daylight and a calm time to sleep is still hours away."


He closes his eyes. A silent plea for me to do the same. He doesn't like these late night talks. They seem to unnerve him for some reason.

"This does not bode well for our charming hero." I bury my face into the pillow that still smells of spice and sand, of my brother, and try to lure Morpheus to me with tender thoughts.


In case you were wondering it didn't work.