It hits me. What I've been seing all along. Naya. Naya and her ghostly friends. There's nothing wrong with me. I can't get nightmares. Those things were never nightmares either - they were Night People, whatever those are.

"What..."

"Please, Cillian. Don't be afraid. We don't hurt humans." I thought Naya was my best friend. We promised never to keep any secrets.

"You're not even meant to see us like this."

It's been 3 years since Naya told me what she was, and today on the 3 year anniversary of it, my friend holds a party. What a great way to celebrate, even if he doesn't know it's what I'll also be celebrating. No-one in our town knows of the Night People. No-one but me. Me and the Night People.

"Hey! Cill, so glad you could make it, bro, little late though. Uh, I think Jinny's in the front room with Sophie. Everyone's pretty drunk, but I'm laying off. See ya around." Harris was one of my friends. One of many friends. There's too many to count. It's the package deal of popularity. A slightly overwhelming one.

Jinny's my girlfriend. I think she actually loves me, but there's so much drama within our uni, that you never know who really cares and who doesn't. I've been with her for a while, so if she didn't love me, I think I'd know. We were nothing like the other couples. They were always being gross and making out. Even the idea just makes me sick, and Jinny supportes me there... I think. She's never said she's not happy with my view on it all. 

"Cillian, you're heerrre." Oh god. Maybe I should have come earlier. Even Jinny's drunk already. 

"Woah, take a seat, Jin." I took her hand and lead her to a faux-fur armchair. She pulled me down onto the seat with her, and we ended up squashed between the arms. Jinny rested her head on my shoulder, and began to mutter.

"Didn't see you at uni today. Are you off on Thursdays? Yeah you are... uhm. I failed another mock in English... not sure why I'm taking it, I should switch..."

"Jinny, I know I haven't been here long, but you need to be taken home. I'll drop you on my way home. I've never been a fan of parties."

"Yeah, OK." She looked up at me and kissed me. I could taste the alcohol on her lips. No wonder she was drunk - she'd been drinking vodka.

I walked her to my car, and sat her in the front passenger seat. I clicked the ignition and drove her the 5 whole five minutes to her home. I escorted her to the front door, where her sister took her inside after Jinny kissed me one last time for the night. I hadn't been at the party long. Oh well, parties aren't my thing.

"So you're all fullfilling your jobs, because it's great if you are. Means I don't have to deal with so much trouble. Not my favourite job." Our King was visiting. At 21, he's the youngest King on record. 

"Yes, King Nicholas. All's fine." Agatha answered. She's the oldest Night Person in the town. 67 years old.

"And there's no other issues with the community?" he asks.

"No, si-" Agatha answered again, but a loud creak cut her off. The door was opening... but I heard no bolt click. 

I turned around and saw Cillian stepping through the doorway. Shit, I hadn't told him there was a meeting with the King. And if I'd left the door unlocked, he'd be about to shout...

"Naya, did you leave the door unlocked again? You know this is a cafe. There's cash in that cash register. Alex doesn't really need to be theived from."

"Who's this?" the King asked.

"Let me deal with him." I replied. I ran behind the door to the staircase to the second floor, and switched forms. Then I emerged - human. I dragged Cillian behind the door and began a harsh conversation.

"Shut up you idiot, and don't look at the meeting."

"What? What meeting. Meetings are on Saturdays. It's Thursday." 

"It's our King. He's visiting. He's checking up on our people. He'll be here until Sunday. Just don't come into contact with him," I explained.

"OK." I left him there, and returned to the meeting.

"Thank you for dealing with the human, Naya. Who is he?"

"Cillian Haste. He lives here with his cousin." I would say he could see us like this. It would risk a lot, including our lives. I just hope that if the King does ever find out, he lets us off.

There's something about the Cillian human. He seemed... bright. I analysed his soul. There was nothing nightmarishly harmed about it. It seemed he had never had a nightmare. He was free of it. Most humans sould have a damaged aura. It's because of the nightmares we give them. This human has a perfect aura. Nothing wrong about it. Something about himis off. Strangely off, but I couldn't show the Night People of his town that. I believed that they are already stressed over something. They are hiding something. Maybe this is it. This human boy. Why is he different?

I pondered the question. The only way not to get nightmares, is to somehow be immune, but there's no recordings in the history of humans and Night People that say anything about a human immune to the nightmares. The only being unable of getting nightmares are the Night People themselves, but this boy has an aura, so cannot be a Night Person. He is a mystery. One I will have to solve myself.

I need a plan. I will work him out, even if it means lengthening my stay. Something's stange about the Cillian human. He's a little bit strange. But why?