Helium - A Dreamnotfound Fanfic

Subject Log #8: Better Luck Next Time

Dream tapped his fingers on the cold desk counter as he checked the time. He groaned. "It's 10. Fundy said the receptionist would be here by 9."

"Having trouble friend?"

Dream whirled around. "Oh, hi, Wilbur."

Wilbur chuckled. "You seem stressed. Why is that?"

"I was just waiting for the "receptionist" to come. Fundy said they'd be here by 9." Dream looked out the front door at the never-ending miles of dry land.

"It must take a long time to get here. We're basically in the middle of nowhere."

Wilbur smiled. "Dream, that's the point. Did you really think that this foundation wants to be found?"

Dream looked back at Wilbur, confused. "I thought the whole point of our research was to help biologically mutated creatures and humans." 

"It is, but we don't want the world knowing that. I don't think people's first reaction to altered DNA creatures and humans with powers will be calmness," Wilbur stated.

Dream nodded. "I guess that makes sense. I'm just having a hard time getting used to my new work, I guess." 

"I assume you're here for me?"

Dream turned towards the desk. "Eret...you're the receptionist?"

"Well, I am also a scientist. But it doesn't take rocket science to be a receptionist."  Eret chuckled.

Dream side-eyed Wilbur. Wilbur gave him a thumbs up and left.

"Uh, I wanted to talk to whoever...runs this place." Dream stated.

Eret smiled. "Sure."

He stood up and walked around the counter. "Here, hold my hand."

Dream frowned. "Why?"

"Just trust me. No matter what crazy stuff you've been through, I'm the one to trust." Eret put out his hand.

Dream hesitated. He sighed and put his hand on top of Eret's.

Eret smiled. "Hold on tight."

Dream's question was cut off as the world went black around him. He struggled to squeak out a voice as he felt his body being squeezed and pushed. The weight of his body disappeared and a floating sensation came over him, feeling Eret's hand disappearing from his and leave his body cold. He tried to speak again. "E-ERET! ERET!"

The folds of darkness closed tighter around Dream's torso. 

"Dream?"

Dream heard the voice echo in his head. 

"Dream?"

He panicked. Icy air enveloped his lungs as a hand reached out to him. Wait, a hand?

"Alright, here we are." Eret gestured towards the door. 

Dream looked around. He frantically checked his hands and body. "We're...here?"

"That's the second time I've taken someone shadow traveling, and you're by far the most confused one."

Dream rubbed his temples. "Okay, yeah, here we...are."

Dream took a closer look at the sign on the door. "J...Schlatt?"

"Just call him Schlatt. He's a nice guy, but you won't want to be on his bad side." Eret leaned forwards and knocked on the door. A confused-looking man swung the door open and looked at the two for a moment. 

"Eret! Hey come on in. And uh...who are you?" Schlatt pointed at Dream's face. 

"I'm Dream, I uh...I work here."

Schlatt stared at Dream blankly. "Huh. Alright well step on in!"

Dream carefully stepped inside the office and looked around. It was small, smaller than he expected, and it smelled of whiskey and old wooden furniture. There was only a desk with chairs on either side of it, and a floor lamp that looked very outdated. Dream gently touched the dusty fake plant and analyzed the room. 

"So you're the head person of the Altre Foundation?" Dream asked.

Schlatt sloppily sat down and nodded. "Yep. Sure am. What do you need?" Schlatt picked up a random bottle and downed whatever was inside it. 

Dream sat down and paused to stare at Schlatt drinking. "I was wondering if I could get more information on the foundation and what it does in general."

Schlatt leaned to the left and picked up a stack of papers. "Here." He plopped them down in front of Dream. "Take these. Read them, eat them, burn them, whatever. We have many more copies." 

Dream picked up the stack of papers and looked at the words. 

"The Altre Research Foundation. (And all you need to know about it.)"

Dream nodded. He looked up at Eret standing next to him. 

"Well, you got what you wanted. Thank you Schlatt have a nice day." Eret nodded and waved Dream over to leave the room. 

Schlatt pointed a finger gun at Eret. "Thanks man!" He burped.

Dream was pushed out of the room roughly by Eret. Eret closed the door behind him and snatched the papers out of Dream's hand.

"What-"

Eret walked to a trash can and somewhat threw the papers into the shadow of it. 

Dream stood there, baffled as Eret dusted his hands off and smiled at Dream. 

"Sorry, had to. There's a reason why he always says read it, eat it, burn it. Those papers give you useless information about this Foundation. Absolute crap. There's a reason he has so many copies of them. Because they're useless." Eret patted Dream's shoulder and walked past him.

Dream turned around. "But, how will I get back to my dorm?"

"I'm not sure shadow traveling is cut out for you anymore. I'm sure you'll find your way." Eret smiled and disappeared into a shadow. 

Dream cursed. "I know absolutely nothing about this place and I've spent over 3 weeks here. This is stupid."

Dream started walking down the unfamiliar hallway. He spotted a dark figure appear in his peripheral view. Dream quickly looked. 

The same half black half white Altre that appeared in the coffee room a week ago stared at Dream. Dream slowly stepped forwards. The Altre panicked, quickly disappearing into thin air, letting a book drop to the ground. Dream ran over to pick it up. It was an old leather-bound book, faded from years of existing and cracking from the repetition of opening it.

Dream opened to the first page. He ran his finger over the ink writing. 

"Ranboo."

AYO 

ello, Dove here! Sorry for not posting in a bit, but I am BACK BABY

anyways, thank you for 50 reads! I actually quite enjoy writing this fanfic and I'm excited to write more!

hope you all are swell and make sure to take care of yourself! love you all - Dove <3