Torn Minds (Afterdeath)

Chapter 16

(Genos POV)
Following reaper he had such a quick step it made it hard to keep up. I was confused but curious on where we are heading.

He hadn't really said much since we started walking, the brush was getting thicker "reaper can you wait up" I called after him." He looked over his shoulder a mischievous look fell across his face.

Suddenly he slowed Making me bump in to his back. Blushing I fumbled feeling a string of curse words form but they where quickly hushed by reapers hand covering my mouth.

Feeling alarmed I could feel the coolness of his hand thru his glove. Sending him a sharp glare he held a finger up to his mouth in a hush. This reminded me over our first meeting. He pointed towards something just past the bushes.

Looking over there was some small animal bunny burrows the little creatures kept peaking their head up out of the holes before coming and and nibbling on the pieces of grass. "Why did you bring me here?" I whispered careful not to spook the bunnies reaper shrugged giving me an aloof look. "I don't know I thought it was neat" I could help but grin he was such an idiot at times. An adorable idiot but I wouldn't let him know that.

He leaned back on a tree "I don't know it's nice to get away from all that War talk sometimes" he murmured having a conflicted look on his face.

Nodding in agreement with him he was right, the pressure I felt was a lot at times and I can guess it was even greater for reaper as he's been here for so long.

We sat in a heavy silence it started to make me feel uncomfortable. I wasn't sure what to say so I blurted out something that's been nagging in the back of my skull. "What do you dream about?" At first I didn't think he heard me.

However his hand I noticed was clenched tighter around his arm as they where folded across his chest. "Why do you ask?" He finally replied I shrugged "I'm curious. That's all"

His gaze met mine, I could feel my soul squeeze. "I dream of the people I've hurt and my village" he finally said after an uncomfortable moment.

Nodding I wasn't going to push further I know I struck a raw nerve and I didn't want reaper to be upset at me.

"Let's go back" I finally offered to which he agreed and already started walking leaving me quite the bit behind but honestly I didn't mind giving him his space.

~~~~
I found my self restless in bed. The room felt like someone was missing and they where killer was no where to be found still he hasn't even been transferred so perhaps we where wrong on his initial location. Yet I wasn't doing my self any good lying in the room. Getting up I begun to creep out until a hand grabbed my sleeve making me squeak. Looking wide eyed crosses monochrome eyes reflected back at me. "Where are you going?" He whispered to not disturb sleeping Error.

"I can't sleep" I replied softly, he gave a nod getting upset him self "can I come? I can sleep either" surprised he asked yet I felt like I couldn't deny him either as he was already getting up.

He still looked funny not having his fluffy jacket or scarf on him instead he stood in a Black short sleeve shirt and black shorts.

I noticed Knicks on his bones from when he was in battle, he followed me quietly out the room his footsteps barely making any noise. When we shut the door he looked at me. "We can head to the cafeteria see if they have any more chocolate pudding?" He offered which surprised me. A playful look was across his face which startled me even more, cross I've always seen as stoic. He was a battle worn soldier to me yet now he looked more like a kid sneaking out past curfew.

I couldn't help but smile and nod. We headed down the hallway carefully "I know it's been hard having killer been kidnapped" cross started "but I'm sure we will get him back and we can listen to his lame jokes again" cross was right, we will get him back safely Dream and Nightmare know what they are doing and are incredibly powerful. They will get him back. Cross looked at me curiously. "So you and Reaper...?" Suprised i stopped. "What do you mean Reaper and I?" Cross gave a shrug "you guys seem close that's all"

Squinting at him I folded my arms across my chest "we are just friends Cross we don't see each other that way" he gave me a sceptical look "oh yeah? Well you mumble about him in your sleep~" I much preferred cross being distant and quiet. "Yeah cause I was probably dreaming how irritating he is!" I whisper yelled making cross snicker. He titled his head like he was listening to something and smiled even more. "I'm just pointing out the obvious Genocide" "don't call me that" I snapped an even bigger smile fell across crosses face "reaper and Geno sitting in a tree K-I-S- ACK" I bunched him in the shoulder to knock him stumbling. Unfortunately he caught him self and went in to a fit of giggles. "What are you thirteen?" This made him laugh harder "come on let's just get to the cafeteria" I huffed "awe Geno don't be like that I was only joking~"

He poked my arm to which I swatted at him.
we walked past a corridor and then heard someone start cursing, following by a string of coughing. Freezing we both looked at each other the joking mood gone. Slowly we went back and creeped peering around the corner.

It was Nightmare! He was hunched over his arm on the wall keeping him steady. Black splotches where on the floor that can be seen even in the dimness of the hallways.

"This stupid curse! I hate it so much" his voice distorted as he lashed out at the wall punching it. The crack of bones hitting concrete echoed in the hall making a sickly noise. Flinching I hated it, however cross leaned even more out from the hallway. Unfazed by nightmare.

"Cross what the hell are you doing!" I whispered furiously at him. However his gaze startled me it was the cold distant look he always had yet the red portion of his eye glowed brighter and more eerily. Finally cross left his post of the corner and walked towards nightmare.

Watching wide eyed I tried to grab him but he was already walking. "Nightmare." Cross spoke his voice quiet and gentle. Nightmares head whipped around his now cyan eye flowed brightly with his purple eye light. But that was the last thing I saw as a hand dragged me roughly backwards. And then thru a door which slammed.

Before I could react or process what was happening I felt my back hit the wall roughly and a hand grab my shirt. "Reaper what the fu#%!" Fear and anger swept thru me when I realized who it was. Well more anger then fear..

"What do you think your doing??"  Reaper spoke his voice stern as he ignored my question. Finding my voice " I couldn't sleep and neither could cross so we decided to raid the cafeteria for pudding" I snapped back "why the hell did you grab me like that!" I realized we where in a closet of some sorts it was even darker the hallways where. At least the halls had dim lights.

"You shouldn't be in the halls at night anymore." Reaper spoke his voice still stern, "why aren't you yelling at cross then too?? He was out with me as well" reapers eye sockets narrowed "don't worry about Cross." Wriggling I pushed reaper off of me. "What happened to nightmare" I asked crossing my arms. I wasn't going to avoid the subject not with how angry I was at Reaper right now for scaring me.

Reaper stood stiff but now held a distance as we stared  each other out. "That's none. Of your concern" he spoke thru gritted teeth. He placed a hand on his hip the other hand dangled freely. He wore a long sleeve black t shirt but had the gloves still on his hands and loose black pants. "He sure as hell didn't seem okay in the hallway, what's happening to him??" I questioned. Feeling more frustrated Reaper wasn't giving me an answer.

"If something was wrong with nightmare we might not get killer back from the humans. Our plan that we've been working so hard on might fail. And then what??" I spoke trying to keep my tone even and not tremble with each word. "More monsters like us are going to die. More towns will get taken over. I don't want to hide anymore and watch as the world around us burns"

Reaper stood still as stone, yet his hands gave him away the dangling arm was now balled in to a fist and trembling. It was the only give away for what Reaper was feeling as his face was also as still as stone and gave no emotion.

"Say something please, you never tell me anything what goes on around here" o begged taking a step forward. But Reaper took a step back shaking his head at me and looking down.

"Leave." 
Surprised by how he sounded, his voice shook and he sounded more like a scared child then the sides I've seen him, cold, calculated, Goofy, mischievous..

My anger and frustration over turned my worry for him. Turning around on my heel quickly for the door a string of words escaped my mouth before I left "more monsters are going to die, while we sit here and do nothing."

Walking out and shutting the door behind me didn't I heard a loud bang from the room that echoed down the hall.