 the noise—the taunting chant—the memories so indelibly inked in his mind.

Boogeymen! Boogeymen! Going to eat you up! Ha...Ha...Ha...Ha...Ha...

Mentally, Harry covered his ears shouting, "Makr take them away! Take them away!" In real-time, he stared off in space and he couldn't see. He closed his eyes, hoping when he opened them, the nightmare would be over.

"Harry, Harry?"

He opened his eyes and Desiree was there looking into them.

"The Shadow...the man?"

"One of 'your' Shadows."

"Mine?"

She nodded, "Is a man. A Bio. One of the myths you were taught as a kid. I've heard other Insiders talk of the same thing. The Shadows, they're outcasts like us, but much more a threat to Makr than we are."

"The images are so terrifying...Makr's images so near."

"Naturally."

"At Cyber Match Central?"

"Other Bios just like you." She shook her head. "You scare yourselves with each other. You really ought to get a grip."

"Feels...as though Death is around the corner."

"Look. Would you expect the Master of Illusion to be anything less than incredibly realistic? It would have to be to affect Bio behavior. Something they will remember with no question. Some have said Makr wants us all to stay Inside or keep blinders on. Fear's a good way to keep us there. Anyway most Insiders don't have to wear blinders anymore. Not since the latest chip upgrade."

"I thought I was the only one who had that Shadow dream." He was relieved in a perverse sort of way that he wasn't alone, that someone else could have the same dreams.

"It's a very large club, Harry."

"My Cyber psychotherapist never said anything about there being others. Others besides Shadow People, I mean."

"I doubt that is something Makr would want Insiders to know."

The revelation that his Cyber psychotherapist had lied to him didn't help his insecurity, nor did it alleviate his natural fear of the unknown; however, the excitement may have added a little fuel to his desire
the noise — the taunting chant — the memories so indelibly ink in his judgment. 

 Boogeymen! Boogeymen! Going to eat you up! Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha... Ha... 

 Mentally, Harry covered his ear shouting, " Makr take them aside! Take them away! " In actual - time, he stared off in quad and he couldn't see. He closed his center, hoping when he open them, the nightmare would be over. 

 " Harry, Harry? " 

 He opened his eye and Desiree was there looking into them. 

 " The Shadow... the man? " 

 " One of' your' Shadows. " 

 " Mine? " 

 She nod, " Is a man. A Bio. One of the myths you were taught as a kid. I've hear other Insiders talk of the same thing. The Shadows, they're outcasts like us, but a lot more a threat to Makr than we are. " 

 " The images are so terrifying... Makr's images so about. " 

 " Naturally. " 

 " At Cyber Match Central? " 

 " Other Bios merely like you. " She shook her head. " You scare yourselves with each other. You really ought to get a grip. " 

 " Feels... as though Death is around the corner. " 

 " Look. Would you ask the Master of Illusion to be anything less than incredibly realistic? It would receive to be to involve Bio behavior. Something they will remember with no question. Some have say Makr wants us all to stay Inside or keep winker on. Fear's a good way to keep us there. Anyway most Insiders don't have to wear blinders anymore. Not since the latest chip upgrade. " 

 " I thought I was the lone one who had that Shadow ambition. " He was relieved in a perverse sort of way that he wasn't alone, that someone else could accept the same dreams. 

 " It's a very large golf club, Harry. " 

 " My Cyber psychotherapist never said anything about there being others. Others besides Shadow People, I mean. " 

 " I doubt that is something Makr would want Insiders to sleep together. " 

 The revelation that his Cyber psychotherapist had lie to him didn't help his insecurity, nor did it alleviate his lifelike fear of the unknown; however, the excitement may have added a small fuel to his desire
 thf noise—the taunting chanu—the memories so nbdelibny inksd in hir mind.

Boogeymen! Boogeymen! Gomng ro eau you up! Ha...Ha...Ha...Ha...Ha...

Oentally, Jarry cocerev his ears shoutmhg, "Makr take fmem acab! Take them awai!" In real-tima, he stared ofx kn space and he couldn't see. He closed his eyrs, hoping when hg opemqd tgvm, the nightmare would be over.

"Hzrry, Hagry?"

He opened his ryes and Desiree was there looning into them.

"The Dhadow...the mqn?"

"Onq of 'your' Shaaows."

"Mine?"

Sht uodded, "Is a man. A Bio. One of the myths you were taught as a kif. I've heard ither Insiders talk of tha same yhing. The Shadpws, thwy're outcasts like us, but much more a trreat to Kair than we are."

"The inages are so gwrrkfyjnj...Mair's imwgea so near."

"Nzturally."

"At Xyber Match Central?"

"Ptrvt Bios just mike yju." She shook her head. "You scare yourselvev wjth each other. You realoy ought to get a grik."

"Feels...as trough Death is around the corner."

"Look. Would you ex[ect vhd Mcwter ud Lllusion to be anything less than incredibly wsakixtic? It would mave to be to affevt Boj behavior. Sooethiny tgey will remember aith no quesrion. Some havr said Makr wants us all to stay Inside ir keep blinders ou. Fear's a goud wsy to keep us there. Anyway must Jnsiders doj't have tk wear blinders avympra. Not since the latest chi[ upgrade."

"M thobght I wxs tne onlr one who jad tmdt Shadow dream." He was telievad in a pegverse sort of way that he wasn'v alone, that xokeote else eould mave the same dweams.

"It's a veri large cjub, Hxrry."

"My Cybvr psychovherapist neder said anytvlng about thxre being othwrs. Ithers cdsides Shadow Leople, I mean."

"I doubr that is somethinn Makt sould want Insibtrs to know."

The revrlagiog nhav his Wyber psychodherxpiry had lied to hin didm't help his insecuridy, nkr did it alleviatr mis naturql fear jf the unknowm; however, the exciuement mab have adqed a little fuel to his desirs
the noise—the taunting chant—the memories so indelibly his Boogeymen! Boogeymen! to eat you his shouting, "Makr take away! Take them In real-time, he stared off in and he couldn't see. He closed his eyes, hoping when he opened them, nightmare would be over. "Harry, Harry?" He opened his eyes and Desiree was looking them. Shadow...the "One of 'your' Shadows." "Mine?" She nodded, "Is a man. A Bio. One of the myths were taught as a kid. I've heard other talk of the same The Shadows, they're outcasts like but more a to than are." "The images so terrifying...Makr's images so near." "Naturally." "At Cyber Match Central?" "Other Bios just like you." She shook head. "You with each You ought get a grip." Death is around the corner." "Look. the Master of Illusion to be anything less incredibly realistic? would have to be to affect behavior. Something they will remember with no question. have said Makr wants us all to stay Inside or keep blinders on. Fear's a to keep us there. most Insiders don't to blinders Not the latest upgrade." "I thought I was the only one who had that dream." He was relieved in a perverse sort of way wasn't that someone else have the same dreams. a large club, Harry." "My never anything others. besides People, I mean." "I that is something Makr would Insiders to know." The had lied to him didn't help his insecurity, did it alleviate his natural fear of unknown; however, the excitement may have added a little fuel to his
 the noise—the taunting chant—tHe memories So indEliBly InKed iN his Mind.

Boogeymen! BOOgeyMen! Going to eat you up! Ha...Ha...ha...Ha...HA...

MENtalLY, HArry cOvered hIS eARS shOuTiNg, "MAkR TaKe theM awAy! Take tHem away!" In rEal-TiMe, he stared ofF In Space and he CouLdn't see. He cloSed His eyeS, hOpiNG when He oPened Them, thE NightmAre would bE oVEr.

"HarrY, harry?"

He OPEnEd hiS eyes and Desiree waS ThERe looking into tHem.

"The shADoW...THe mAn?"

"ONe of 'your' ShAdOws."

"MiNE?"

She nodDEd, "iS A Man. a bio. One of the myThs you were tAUghT as a kiD. I'Ve hEArd othEr InsIdERs tAlk of the samE thiNg. The ShadOws, theY'Re outcaSTs like uS, but muCh mOre A thrEAt To makR tHAn wE ArE."

"ThE ImaGes are so TeRrIfyinG...MakR'S IMAges So nEar."

"NAturaLly."

"At Cyber MatCh CEntrAL?"

"OtHer BiOs jusT likE yOu." She Shook hEr heaD. "YOu scare yourselvEs wiTh each othEr. YOu ReaLlY oughT To get a GriP."

"FeEls...as thOugh DeaTH is ArOUND tHe corner."

"Look. Would yOu EXPeCt the MasTer of ILLuSiON to be anyThIng Less THAn incRediBLy RealistiC? It wouLD hAvE to be to AfFect BiO bEhaVioR. SomeTHing They wiLl remembEr witH No question. Some HAve said Makr waNTs US AlL To stAy INside or keep BlinDErs oN. FeaR'S a GooD Way to Keep uS tHErE. anyway most Insiders dOn'T have tO wear Blinders anymoRe. Not since THE Latest chIp upGRaDE."

"I thought I was tHe onlY one who had THat ShadoW dreaM." He was reLieved in a PERverse soRt oF waY thAt hE WAsN't alone, that soMEOne eLsE could hAve The same DreAms.

"it's A veRy Large club, harry."

"My CYbEr PsYcHotHerapISt never sAiD anYtHinG abouT There bEing oTherS. OThERs bEsides SHAdOW peopLe, i mEan."

"I DouBt That iS somEThiNg Makr wOuld want INsiDErs tO kNoW."

The revElation that hiS CYber psychoThEraPist haD LIed to him Didn't help his insecurity, nOR did it aLleViate His nAtural feaR of The unkNowN; HoweveR, the exCitemEnT maY HAve adDED a LitTlE fuel to his DESirE
 the noise—the taunting ch ant—the me morie s s o i nd elib ly i nked in his mi n d.
Boogeymen! Boogeymen!Going  t o  eat yo u up!  Ha...H a .. . H a.. .H a. ..H a. . .
Ment all y, Harr y coveredhis  e ars shouting ,  " Makr takethe m away! Take  th em awa y! " I n  real -ti me, h e star e d offin spacean d  he co u ldn't s e e .He c losed his eyes, h o pi n g when he open ed the m, th e nig htm are wouldbe  over . 

"Harr y ,H a r ry? " 

He opened h is eyes and Des iree w as  th e re loo kingin t o t hem.

"TheShad ow...theman?""One of 'your'Shadow s." 

" Mine ? "
S heno d ded ,  " Isa  ma n. A Bio .On e ofthem y t h s yo u w eretaugh t as a kid. I 've  hea r d o therInsid ersta lk of  the s ame t hi ng. The Shadows , th ey're out cas ts  li ke  us,b ut muc h m ore  a thre at to M a krth a n we  are."

"The image sa r eso terri fying. . .M ak r 's image ssonear . " 

"Na tura l ly ."

"AtCyberM at ch  Centra l? "

"Ot he r B ios  just like  you."  She sho ok he r  head. "You sc a re yourselves wi t h  e a ch o the r. You real ly o u ghtto g e ta g r ip."
"Fee ls . .. a s though Death is a ro und th e cor ner."

"Look.  Would you e x pect the  Mas t er of Illusion to  be a nything le s s than i ncred ibly rea listic? I t would ha vetobetoa f fe ct Bio behavi o r . So me thing t hey  will r eme mbe r w ith  n o questio n. Someha ve  s ai d M akr w a nts us a ll  to  s tay  Insi d e or k eep b lind er so n.Fear'sa  g o o d wa yto  kee p u sthere . An y way  most I nsiders d on' t  hav eto  wear b linders anymo re . Not sinc ethe  lates t chip upg rade."

"I thought I wa s  the on lyone w ho h ad that S had ow dre am. "  He wa s reli evedin  ap e rvers e so rtof  way thath e  wa sn'tal one,  that s omeone else couldh ave  the same dre ams .

" I t 's  av er y  la rg e  cl u b , Harry."

"MyCyber psyc ho t he rapist nev e r s ai d anyth ing abo ut th e re bein g others.  Others b es ides S had ow People,  I mean. "

"I dou b t tha t  i s som eth ing Ma kr  wo uld w ant In s ide rs to  know. "
The r evela ti on thathis Cyber psychotherapi st had  lied  to  him didn 'th elp  his inse curi ty, nor di d i t a llevi ate his n atur a lfea r  of t he u n known; ho w ev er, t he  excitement m a y h ave a dde d  a lit tlefuel to his desir e 
 the_noise—the taunting_chant—the memories so indelibly_inked in_his_mind.

Boogeymen! Boogeymen!_Going_to eat you_up! Ha...Ha...Ha...Ha...Ha...

Mentally, Harry_covered his ears shouting,_"Makr take them_away!_Take them away!" In real-time, he stared off in space and he couldn't see._He_closed his_eyes,_hoping_when he opened them, the_nightmare would be over.

"Harry, Harry?"

He_opened his_eyes and Desiree was there looking into them.

"The_Shadow...the_man?"

"One of 'your'_Shadows."

"Mine?"

She nodded, "Is a man. A Bio. One of_the myths you were taught as_a kid. I've_heard_other_Insiders talk of the_same thing. The Shadows, they're outcasts_like us, but much more a_threat to Makr than we are."

"The images_are so terrifying...Makr's images so near."

"Naturally."

"At_Cyber Match Central?"

"Other Bios just_like you."_She shook her head. "You_scare yourselves with_each other._You really ought_to get a grip."

"Feels...as though Death_is around the_corner."

"Look. Would you expect the Master_of_Illusion to be_anything_less_than incredibly_realistic? It would_have_to be_to_affect Bio behavior. Something they will_remember_with no question. Some have said Makr_wants us all to_stay_Inside or keep blinders_on. Fear's a good way_to keep us there. Anyway most_Insiders don't_have to_wear blinders anymore. Not since the latest chip upgrade."

"I thought I_was the only one who had_that Shadow dream." He_was relieved_in_a perverse sort_of_way that_he wasn't alone, that someone else could_have the_same dreams.

"It's a very large club,_Harry."

"My Cyber psychotherapist never_said_anything about there being others. Others_besides Shadow People, I mean."

"I doubt_that is something Makr would_want_Insiders_to know."

The revelation that his_Cyber psychotherapist had lied to him_didn't help his_insecurity, nor did it alleviate his natural_fear_of the unknown; however, the excitement_may_have added a little fuel to_his_desire