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anyone hear me? Let me out!’
    But Luke Smith was alone. All alone in the Nightmare Man’s world.

Chapter Twelve
    Terror at night
    Sarah Jane lay on her bed and yawned. She was tired, but she couldn’t sleep. She glanced over at her clock. It was nearly 1 a.m.
    ‘This is silly,’ she muttered to herself. She switched on her bedside lamp and reached over for her book. Then she remembered that she had left it in the attic. She sighed, got up and pulled on a dressing gown. Then she left her room and started to climb the stairs towards the top of the house.
    In the attic, the Nightmare Man was relishing being alive. He was like a child, swinging from the beams and jumping over the desks. He looked at Luke’s unconscious body and started to laugh again. Then, he heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs.
    ‘Night, night,’ he whispered, with a giggle, before fading away.
    The door opened and Sarah Jane entered. She jumped as she saw Luke, apparently asleep on the sofa. Then she smiled. At least tonight he was getting some sleep, even if he wasn’t in bed. She found a blanket and pulled it over him. He looked so peaceful. She saw the discarded digital camera on the floor next to him and went to pick it up. Luke’s last night on Bannerman Road…she smiled. It would be good to see the party again. Sitting down, she pressed rewind and then play on the camera. And she smiled as she watched the guests from earlier. It really had been a lovely evening.
    Back in Luke’s bedroom, Clyde and Rani were still fast asleep. Which is why they didn’t see the Nightmare Man step out of the wall. He looked down at them and smiled. They were going to be the first of so many…
    Sarah Jane was smiling as she watched the video of Clyde snoring. She hoped Clyde and Rani would still come round to visit her after Luke left.
    Then the screen went dark and there was a burst of static. Suddenly, Luke’s face filled the frame.
    ‘I need to tell you about the Nightmare Man…’
    The Nightmare Man stood over Clyde and Rani and waved his hand over them.
    ‘Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Catch a tiger by the toe. If he squeals, let him go. Eeny, meeny, miny –’
    His hand stopped over Rani. He smiled down at her.
    Sarah Jane watched the video in shock. She watched as Luke fell asleep. She watched as the black smoke came out of him. And she watched as the Nightmare Man appeared in the attic. She dropped the camera and ran over to Luke.
    ‘Luke! It’s your mum! Wake up!’
    In Luke’s bedroom, the Nightmare Man placed his hand on Rani’s forehead. He shuddered.
    ‘Oh, what sweet dreams. Soon change that...’
    He stood back from her and clasped his hands together. There was an unearthly crackling sound and black smoke started to appear around his hands – he was creating pure nightmare energy! He reached down and touched Rani’s forehead again. She started to whimper as the nightmare energy entered her.
    ‘Please, Luke!’
    Sarah Jane was almost hysterical. She couldn’t wake Luke no matter how hard she shook him.
    She turned and screamed out. ‘Mr Smith, I need you!’ And as Mr Smith opened, she continued shouting. ‘K-9! K-9, where are you?’
    She started to shake Luke again. ‘It’s your mum! Wake up!’
    Sarah Jane’s voice was echoing throughout the house. The Nightmare Man smiled.
    ‘Voices crying out in the night…’
    He looked down at Rani as she started to flinch.
    ‘Aw,’ he said with a grin. ‘Is someone else about to have a nightmare?’

Chapter Thirteen
    A world of nightmares
    Rani Chandra yawned as she opened her eyes. She was on the sofa in her living room. In the background, she could hear a reporter reading the news. She must have dozed off in front of the telly. Stretching as she woke up properly, she looked around for the remote control.
    ‘Questions were asked in Parliament today about the Prime Minister’s handling of…’
    Rani found the remote and switched off the telly. She yawned again.