It Was Never the End DreamNotFound

Chapter 5

George POV

Dream was occupied with reorganizing his backpack, so George decided to search the rest of the house for anything useful. He was feeling more confident after having been there with Dream for a few minutes, even if the place smelled like rot. 

The living room was fairly demolished, but there was a hallway to that might lead to more promising rooms. As he was walking down the hall the smell seemed to get stronger, until he was nearly gagging. 

George noticed strange stains on the hardwood floors of the hallway. Almost like it was damaged from water. He followed the stains and noticed scribbles of smudged writing. Curving the corner, there was a messy kitchen with counters running along the wall and an overflowed sink. Still trying to decipher what the words said, he followed them into the kitchen. 

He managed picked out a few words and phrases as he crossed to the middle of the kitchen, examining the ground as he walked.

Hate this. 

Can't take it anymore.

Only choice.

Death.

The world is fucked.

Death. Death. Death.

George felt sick as the word seemed to repeat itself. Until he found one word was a little different. Dead.

George frowned, confused as to what this meant. His eyes trailed the floor, searching for more smudged writing. All he could see was water and blood stains. That and strange clumps of gray fleshy stuff that reeked of rot. Finally, he glanced up to examine the room, and inches from his face was something that made him screech in horror and fear. 

A woman's body. Dangling from the ceiling by a rope wrapped around her neck, tied to a chandelier. The woman's rotting flesh was falling from her body, and the expression on her face was enough to give George nightmares. 

He stumbled backwards, hands reaching behind him to grasp the counter as his heart pounded. Water splashed under his fingers, and he spun around, coming face-to-face with a sink full of water. A bloated, decaying body was floating at the surface. 

"DREAM! DREAM!" George screamed his throat raw as he stumbled to the door, keeping his eyes fixed on the horrific sight. His legs buckled under him and he collapsed, shaking violently. He yanked his goggles down to hang around his neck as tears streaked down his face and his stomach heaved. 

George could vaguely hear Dream calling his name, sounding panicked. He whimpered, "Dream..." 

Footsteps pounded down the hall, but George couldn't move. Couldn't think. 

The footsteps halted just behind George, and he heard a sharp intake of breath. He heard the clatter of something metal falling to the ground and then two arms were around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. 

George immediately turned around, throwing his arms around Dream's body and burying his face into his chest. Sobs wracked him as he gripped Dream's hoodie in his fists, pressing as close as possible. Dream held him just as close, arms wrapped tight and with his hand buried in George's hair. 

Dream's chin rested on George's head, and George could tell he was scanning the room with his eyes. 

"Shhhh... it's alright. I have you." Dream's soft voice flowed into George's ears. He began to rub slow circles on George's back while humming gently.

George leaned into the strong vibrations of Dream's chest as he hummed, listening to the steady beating of his heart. 

 After a few moments his tears had stopped, and he was focusing on slowing his breathing to match Dream's. Dream kept humming, squeezing him tight, and he felt safe. The taller man had knelt when he hugged George, and George had wedged himself between his long legs, enveloping entirely into Dream's embrace.