The Blinding Light of Sunrise: The Las Nevadas Arc - AU Short Stories

Chapter 11.5 Leaving Las Nevadas: Part 1 - Fundy and Jack Manifold

The sun shone through the giant panes of glass that lined the wall of the hotel room, casting bright rectangles of light over the room onto the king-sized bed and shirtless body of the man who lay sprawled out on top of it - right into Jack Manifold's face.  He groaned and covered his eyes with his arm, trying to find some remaining darkness in the shade of his elbow.

It was no use.  His eyes felt swollen.  His belt felt too tight on the camo pants he'd fallen asleep in.  He hadn't even bothered to get under the covers and he could feel his arms shivering in the cool Las Nevadas air conditioning.  There was a dull hum in the background, like somebody speaking.  He'd had too much to drink.  There was a reason, but he just couldn't remember it.

Jack picked up his phone and looked at the time. Was it noon already? Ugh. He sprawled out over the large bed. What a night. What a crazy dream! Wilbur and Dream taking control of Las Nevadas? Quackity saying he loved Wilbur? Dream out of prison? Whatever he'd drank last night to cause such mad nightmares, he was never going to drink again! 

Dream wasn't out of prison, he reminded himself. There would have been sirens. There would have been a lockdown. Quackity probably had some plan for that. Quackity always had plans. An evacuation or a bunker or something where they could be safe if Dream ever did escape. He rubbed his brow and eyes sloppily with the palm of his hand, feeling the dull ache in his head, and groped for his glasses on the bedside table.

He'd gone bust at the card table last night, he remembered that much. It was a bigger loss than he'd liked, but he had more at home. He'd only brought what he was prepared to lose. But the room was already paid for so he might as well use it.  He found his glasses and slid them on, the red and blue lenses giving relief from the brightness of the sun.

Wait.  Had he seen a text from Niki when he checked the time? He should probably look. Ugh, but he didn't want to! No. It was Niki. She might need something.  He wasn't going to put her out just because he'd had too much.  It wasn't her fault.  He brought the phone back to his eyes.

I'm so sorry, Jack. Niki's text read.

Sorry?  He kicked his legs over the side of the bed.  Sorry for what? He was about to hit send when his brain registered the name Wilbur Soot from the hum of voices.  He looked up to see he'd left the tv on.  As the reporter spoke, words ran across the screen on a red banner.

Wilbur Soot... Hostile Takeover... Las Nevadas under control of The Syndicate.

A picture of the new Board of Representatives flashed on the screen.  His heart stopped.  Sitting in a leather chair, dead center, wearing that ever-smiling round mask that had become synonymous with dread and fear, was Dream.  Beside him stood Wilbur Soot, and behind them were Phil, Technoblade, Niki, and Ranboo.   He could see the slight smile that turned up her lips.

What the hell did you do?!?! he typed furiously.  He hit send.  F-ck!  Blocked!  He threw his phone on the bed beside him and stood, stalking about the small room.  It hadn't been a nightmare; Dream had escaped and taken over Las Nevadas with Wilbur's help.  He remembered now.  Quackity was probably long dead.  He looked at the screen again. Dream and Technoblade, his two worst enemies, free and working together.  He'd probably be joining Quackity soon if they found him here... in their city...

He had to get out of here! He grabbed his shirt, yanking it on.  Snatching up his phone and putting on his headset, he pushed open the door so hard it slammed into the hallway wall.  A bearded man in a maid dress glared at him from a cloud of cigar smoke.

He ignored the sour look and sour alcohol stench of the glaring maid as he pressed the button for the elevator.  He bounced impatiently as he waited, hearing the faint chime as the elevator slowly traveled up the floors.  The maid cart moved closer.  He let out an exasperated huff, pretending not to notice its threatening approach.  Was he really a maid or a plant from Dream meant to quietly take his enemies out?  Jack pushed the button thrice more in rapid succession, trying to look impatiant and not as nervous as he felt as the wheels squeaked closer.