glimpse || DNF

𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛-𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍

tw: this is not for the faint of heart :')

//

Half an hour.

Only half an hour until impact. The sky was difficult to view now, the brilliant mass of rock hurtling toward them wasn't exactly something they wanted to look at, but even if they did, it was like looking at the sun itself.

They hadn't exchanged final goodbyes yet. None of them wanted to bring the horrid subject up, so they all sat in a small circle, going around re-telling their favorite memories.

Karl revealed that his favorite era was during Covid, when their friends played Among us, all working together day in and day out to entertain the hundreds of thousands of people locked inside. George admitted that his favorite challenge video on his channel was the ice-bath one, not because it was the most effort he put in or the best concept, but because he had somehow convinced Dream to edit it for him with pure will alone.

Sapnap fondly narrated his and Dream's first interaction, and tears sprung to his eyes as they echoed 1, 2, 3 for the last time.

Dream brought up the DreamSMP, thanking each of them for taking a chance on him and committing to the server which had miraculously blossomed into an extraordinary success. Warmth spread like a wildfire in his veins as he watched his friends' gentle smiles morph with laughter and nostalgia. It made all of this almost bearable.

"At least we lived. More than most people truly do." Karl mumbles blissfully, tucking his nose into the soft folds of Sapnap's shirt. Their fingers interlock as Sapnap hums in agreement.

"Yeah. I think we made a lot of people happy." Sapnap replies, eyes trapped on his best friends in front of him who were looking at him with a gentle smile.

"We did." Dream sighs blissfully, gaze flicking to George who had his focus fixed elsewhere.

He followed his gaze, eyebrows furrowing at the frail old lady that was making her way to them with purpose in her steps. Dream was immediately on his feet, walking to meet her with George at his heels.

"Can we help you Ma'am?"

Her soft smile held sorrow, like all of theirs do. She looks both of them up and down, eyes flicking to their friends who were watching curiously from their camp. She looks back at Dream smiling kindly once more. Before Dream could protest, the old woman took his hand and 4 small capsules were placed into his hand with the grace of an angel.

"My son works for the CIA. He came home with a bottle full of these. They'll ensure a peaceful end. I'm glad you all have the last four." She softens at Dream's stricken expression, nodding at him, then at George, before walking back towards a younger man who was waiting for her.

"Thank you." George gets his voice to work, and he hopes the wind carries his gratitude to her ears.

Dream was still frozen in place, staring at the deadly black pills clutched in his palm. It took George's gentle touch to snap him out of it, and he hovers his thumb over the plastic covering of the medication. Wordlessly, he makes it over to Karl and Sapnap, giving them one each. Sapnap seems to recognize what it is, breath hitching with a million emotions.

"What are these? Dream?" Karl questions, gulping at the stricken expression on his partner's face. "...dream?"

"Suicide pills."

The sparkle in the brunette's eyes dims just a little more as he looks down at it, torn between gratitude and fear.

Dream turns quietly to George, who looks nauseated at the sight of them, and sighs, pocketing both of them. It was eerily quiet among the group as they stared off into space. He feels sick to his stomach as sound carries the gentle shrieks of a family just within earshot.