S̵̑͌-̶͛̿t̴̂͝-̵̆͛-̴̀͝ȧ̵͎y̵͌ | Mr Crawling x Reader

A Man With A Red Umbrella

FIRST PERSON POV

As I was completely dozing in my sleep, I was suddenly awoken by the frightening image of a man with a red umbrella. My heart raced as his face hovered in my mind, a distorted grimace hidden beneath that striking crimson shield.

What does he want with me?!

The darkness around me felt thick, almost suffocating. As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, I registered I was not in my dimly lit room but somewhere softer—somewhere safe. Confusion wrapped around me like a heavy shroud as I turned to my side only to find Mr. Crawling laying right next to me.

"???, ???. !" (You Awake) he exclaimed, his wide eyes reflecting a mix of excitement and concern. (You Awake!)

I tried to respond, but my voice was lost, strangled by the remnants of my nightmare. The soft bed cradled me, but the remnants of my terror lingered. My clothes had changed too—somehow more comfortable, yet foreign—as I was completely tucked in the blanket covers like a child after a long night of fear.

"???, ???, ??? !" he chirped, beaming. (Me Cover You With Cloth/Fabric)

As he fussed with the bedding, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. I couldn't shake the image of the man with the red umbrella. Why couldn't I recall where I had seen that face before?

Oh right...

I was in the middle of a test of courage. That crazy ritual everyone at school whispered about, especially after the rain—a dare to explore the old ghost's apartment, the one people said was haunted by a man with a red umbrella who only appears on rainy days.

There he stood before me, far away, his usual red striking look both alluring and horrifying. The laughter of my friends echoed down the darkened halls of my mind, each taunt pushing me further into dread. They'd shared stories of the legend, how the mere utterance of your name would summon him to take your soul. Typical ghost stories, to be sure. Except for the fact that people had simply vanished after visiting that forsaken place.

I was tangled in an enigma. Somehow, I was the only one who ventured in and out of that cursed apartment unscathed. What separated me from the others? 

I breathed deep as clarity washed over me; perhaps he was not the monster they painted him to be.

I lay back against the soft pillows. If the stories were true, the man with the red umbrella wouldn't be the end of my story; he could be the beginning of understanding. 

Closing my eyes, I tried to think of something else but failed, His face just kept haunting my mind.

What is it that he wants?