I Am Not a Monster|| dnf

4. Nightmares and Dream(s)

SO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED, THINGS HAVE BEEN HECTIC.

Anyway, please enjoy the chapter. George discovers a power, and Dream is tired.

Comment while you read 🫶👹

TW: derealization (just putting this one bc confusion/wondering if one) is real because part of this chapter takes place

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George didn't need to sleep. He never got tired, but he did get bored. So, after Dream fell asleep next to him he decided (not for the first time) to try to go to sleep, too. He'd tried before, but since he was never tired he could never force himself to. Still, he decided that sleeping could take up some time, and he had nothing better to do.

Might as well try. Today's a day for pushing limits, I've already proved that, he thought as he closed his eyes.

For awhile, George has no idea what he's even supposed to be doing. He closes his eyes and takes deep breaths. He knows what a dream is; he's had similar visions before, so what he tries to focus on that.

George has no clue how much time has passed, but something seems to change.

"Hey, move it," someone shouts. They shoved him a bit, nearly sending him over the edge of the cliff.

He looks up at somebody he doesn't recognize and turns back to the lake of lava down in the canyon. "Close one." He stands up and dusts himself off, thinking nothing more of the situation.

He walks away toward a large yellow bus. A group of children are gathered around the door.

"Hey!" he yells to them. He's not sure what he planned on saying other than that, but he won't get the chance. A hand covers his mouth. He's spun around at the sight of Dream. "Oh! A familiar face. Finally."

"What? I don't know you. Now shut the fuck up. Let's go." He doesn't wait for a response before grabbing George by his wrist and walking quickly in another direction.

"Dream, where am I? This is really weird, and what's with the kids-"

"My name is Clay. You probably have me confused for someone else. And those aren't kids. Now stay quiet or they'll hear you."

"This place is... warm. Really warm, actually."

"Yeah, lava tends to be really hot."

"Right." George looks around. Everything is pretty barren, and the sky is red-ish with a plentiful amount of grey clouds. "This all seems so real. A shame I'll forget about it when I wake up."

"What?" Dream stops and turns to George with an incredulous look on his face. "This isn't a dream."

George stops too, realizing what he said. "Wait! Oh my gods- It worked! I'm dreaming, I think. You... You aren't real! You aren't Dream. Or Clay for that matter!"

Clay's face shifted. "I'm not a dream."

"Yes, you are! This is the first time I've ever fallen asleep... I mean, willingly. I have passed out, but never slept. Never dreamt! What am I supposed to do-"

"George, I am not a dream! I mean... I think? I'm real. I'm dreaming. I'm asleep." Dream looks around. "You're the fake one." He pokes a finger at George. Then, he glances up at the sky. "I've never had a lucid dream before. I should fly or... I don't know. This is weird."

George raises an eyebrow, barely able to comprehend Sleep-Dream's incoherent rambling. Obviously this was some weird dream thing his brain conjured in it's sleep. Still, he states it clearly: "I'm dreaming, not you."