E-404 | Dreamnotfound

Chapter Twenty Seven

A/N: Short beach chapter because it's hard for me to write fluff whenever I knew there is angst within the next chapter or two. 

"Where are we going again?" George asked.

Dream was leading him and practically the entire group towards a mystery territory without context. The kids walked close to them, not wanting to step on bugs, while also wondering out as they approached an opening.

George could hear something similar to a lake and gasped upon seeing waves of water approach a sandy shore.

"Woah! The sea?"

"Yup," Dream answered. "I saw it a while ago when it was still too cold. Now that it's April it may actually be warm enough."

It seemed to be getting a lot warmer now with barely nine snow on the ground. It seemed irregular but everything is when you're in a simulation.

"This is fucken epic!" Tommy cheered.

George could feel the sun's warm rays lay against his body. It felt so peaceful.

They'd been back for about a week without any findings on the next pieces to the mission's puzzle. It was frustrating to George who was constantly reminded of the threat against his slow pace.

Dream knew he needed to relax. What better place where the sun was shining and the final remnants of winter dissipating?

He also figured it would be good for the kids.

Philza ran after said children, prompting them to create a barrier of sand. Karl had gone further down the shore, Sapnap leading the way. Others such as Sam, Punz, Halo, Skeppy, and more were accompanying them.

"Look!" Dream pointed towards a seashell.

George could remember seeing many before, but it didn't matter as this moment was just as precious. Get

"We should go out in the water," George suggested, pulling Dream along with him.

"You have to strip for that," Dream teased.

"So do you," George reciprocated.

The brunette was left in only his shorts, Dream the same but layered with an unbuttoned shirt.

"Follow my lead, Dream," George laughed, rushing towards the ocean and picking up Tubbo with him.

"I'm so tall!" Tubbo yelled, body held in the air.

The rest of the kids ran after George, jokingly threatening to destroy him if he didn't return Tubbo.

They tackled him into the water, holding his legs down so he couldn't move.

"Dream catch!"

Tubbo flew through the air, splashing through the water before Dream carried him as George had.

"No!" Tommy complained, "Dream's like a gorilla."

"Yeah?" George laughed, picking up the boy in his hands. "I've got Tommy too!"

"Gogy when I'm let down from here I will destroy you."

George splashed him into the water in response.

"You know this is kind of fun," Tubbo giggled, sparing through the air in Dream's arms.

"Do me!" Fundy said.

George laughed, spinning him around and tossing him into the water.

He looked over towards Dream who was fending himself off from Tommy, Tubbo still in his arms.

Dream wore the biggest smile, one only seen by the slightly messed up mask that revealed his lips. George just started, taking it in.

He imagined the look that could've been in his eyes, one filled with joy and happiness. George wished he could always see Dream's face.

And then he remembered another moment, one without pain which meant it didn't have any big impact on anything.

Despite that, George genuinely loved reliving them. Not only did it give him little facts of the outside world that we're probably more important than suspected, but he also got the chance to regain himself.

"George!" Karl called, beckoning him towards the ocean.

They looked older now than in his recent remembrance.

"Karl, you're out too far!" George warned.

"I think- hold on. Is that someone who's out of the gang?" He laughed.

The brunette rolled his eyes, "You know I don't like to go into deep waters."

"Your mom went into deep waters."

"What-"

"Just come on."

By now Karl was pulling him further down into the sea, far enough to the point he could no longer touch the bottom of the ocean if he tried.

"This is dangerous. Do you see how big the waves are?"

"We'll be fine," he countered, flicking water into George's face.

He surveyed the area, a large island at the horizon of his vision. He wondered what life would be like in a completely different country.

His lips were hit with chills as a wave crashed over him. He had been too distracted, unaware of the water tumbling over him as his body fell under the pressure.

"George!"

Dream?

"Are you okay?"

He paused with a familiar feeling of deja vu. Not from the shore or the sandy beach or the color of the water.

But from the land on the other side.

It wasn't similar by any means, probably a much larger country on the other side but the idea that land could be seen from the viewpoint of another territory was enough to intrigue his interest.

"George?"

"Do you see it?" He answered. "There's an island north of here."

"What?"

"Over there." He pointed, losing a bit of balance in the meantime.

Dream couldn't believe his eyes. There was an island on the other side. It was easily the most important information they'd gotten so far.

Depending on how the simulation was constructed could make or break their escape. If they were mentally present, forget it. There was a large chance the other island was also a part of the simulation.

However, if they were physically in the simulation, that could very well mean freedom. There was a possibility it was also a part of the construction, but a chance it wasn't still remained.

Either way, they couldn't be hasty. There was still a spy among them. If that person found out, there was no telling the repercussions.

"George, we can't tell anyone about this but Technoblade, Sapnap, and Karl."

"It's too much of a risk." George agreed.

"Are you okay?" Dream asked again, placing a hand on his face. They had both regained their footing.

"Yeah, it didn't hurt. Whoever messed with my memories must've forgotten about what this one could affect."

Dream nodded, taking the brunette's hand in his, "Let's go back to the stronghold, we should probably inform Technoblade as soon as possible."

"We've barely even been here for that long though," George complained.

"We can cuddle when we get back," Dream offered, smirking.

George rolled his eyes, glancing back at the barely visible island. 

There was a possibility.

There was hope 

And there was optimism.