The darkness surrounded Hinata, making her tremble in fear. “Help me!” she cried out, hearing it echo into the emptiness without reply. She sat on the ground, curling up and wrapping her arms around herself. “Papa?” she sobbed. She heard clawing sounds all around her, adding to her fear. Feeling an icy breath on her neck she shivered and closed her eyes tightly.
Her eyes opened again with a start. Flinging her bed sheets off of her, she ran down the hall. “Hinata?” a soft voice called out to her. She turned around to see her older cousin rubbing his eyes sleepily. He blinked at her, noticing her tearstained face, “Did you have a bad dream?”
“Itoko,” she whimpered, flinging herself into his arms.
He stroked her head lightly, “There, there. It was just a dream. There's nothing to be scared of."
