Something Ancient

He's most commonly known as the Boogeyman. Seeing how this piece isn't going to be published yet, expect an unedited commentary on the information I've gathered.

The Boogeyman is someone I never considered to exist. I think many wizardfolk are with me in this. I assumed it was a human explanation for nightmares much like Jack Frost. I don't believe I've ever heard of anyone in the magic realm having witnessed one. And I am less inclined to believe in individual figures over a "mythical" species. A single entity thriving by itself without a race seems doubtful. Even the Loch Ness Monster is actually a species of Sauropterygia that are endangered and sparse in between, but still considered a population.

I considered the possibility that Violet's friend might be a long-time fan that was just trying to get me on a wild-goose chase (this has happened sometimes). However, he was a former human and did not recognize any of my works. And I don't think anyone is dedicated enough to look as horribly as he did on purpose. It wasn't magic or make-up like some fans have done before. It was a genuine tiredness caused by insomnia. The young man was absolutely terrified of sleep.

I will keep his identity hidden, but I must note that this is a big muscular young man who has were-hyena strength to back him up. He still believes he cannot face the Boogeyman. A man he says was the one to transform him. In an unnatural way.

The young man, we will call him Canid for now, told me that he was actually a native to Africa. I'll try to summarize his story:

Canid had fought with a man in his village constantly. They seemed to be competitive with each other, but not in a friendly manner. One day, his rival went too far [our young speaker did not remember or want to share these details] and that had caused Canid to become enraged and want to seek what he believed to be retribution, despite his mother's protest. He said he became so engulfed in this hatred that he couldn't settle on what it was he wanted to do, so the nights grew and he would have fitful dreams that he was now ashamed of. This was a pattern until one day, a tall, jet-black figure had approached him. Canid believed he was still dreaming when this happened, similar to that condition of sleep paralysis that humans experience, and felt he could not move. He said the figure was spidery and he did not like how he moved. Unnatural and disjointed movements. He said that when the figure opened his mouth, it was even more pitch black, a blackness he never thought possible and that his eyes were milky white, sticky and sick-looking. Canid felt that he would die that night. But the figure spoke to him.

Canid could not describe his voice to me. He said it was impossible to put into words, that it felt as wrong as the long, lanky figure looked. And he said that the figure had promised the perfect revenge to him. He knew deep inside that he shouldn't accept it, but he did.

The figure reached his hand over to Canid to shake. And Canid took it.

He blacked out afterwards.

The rest of the story was very emotionally-driven and filled with deep regret, but essentially, making a deal with this nightmare figure is a double-edged sword. The Boogeyman had turned Canid into a were-hyena permanently, as if a curse, but he also brainwashed Canid and controlled his actions like a puppet that night. Canid did not want his rival to die, but the Boogeyman had forced him to kill him. He did not stop there, he made Canid murder his rival's family, children and grandparents. And in the end, Canid's very own family. The young man awoke the next day in a horrible massacre and he panicked, and escaped, living the rest of his life in deep guilt and fear. He said that the Boogeyman had left him, but he had told Canid that he could control him again whenever he'd like. Canid escaped to America, but feels that there is no safe place to turn. And that sometimes, when he sleeps, he can feel if the Boogeyman is getting closer or not, that his dreams are a way to connect him back. If he feels that the figure is too close, he tries to escape to a new place but is growing poorer and just lives in torment.

He said living feels worse than death.

I could see why Violet was worried. I've never experienced such torment from an individual. She attempted to help him with sleep and anxiousness, but he was so vehemently against falling asleep. She came to me for information, but I've never heard of this creature in my life.

1. What had summoned the Boogeyman to Canid? Was it his extreme emotional distress? Is this the only way to summon him?
2. Does a contract or acknowledgement of agreement (handshake) have to be completed in order for the Boogeyman to attack? Canid was the only victim of his I met so it's too soon to deduce anything just yet.
3. It's important to note that he seems to break logical rules. I've never heard of a were-person being turned any other way outside of a bite. And even then, as you can see in my study on them, were-people actually don't attack often.
4. What is that worrying mind-control? It seems that Canid himself felt like he was a passenger in his own mind and didn't have a chance of fighting back. He sounded like a strong-minded individual before the incident had happened. Even mind-control inclined spells have resistance from the user.
5. It's too early to imply this but…. Could the Boogeyman have kept Canid under his control for as long as he wanted? He was the one who chose to leave. Where did he live?
6. Lastly, is he really the only one of his kind?