Chromatober 2024

Day 16 - Sleep

Series: Village of the Acolytes

TW: Mild Gore

- - - Sabre's P.O.V. - - -

The shadow sword felt heavy in my hands, weighing down on me like an anvil.  Its dark blade shone with a menacing light, still dripping with multicolored blood.

All around me were the bodies of the dead, sprawled out haphazardly in awkward positions, their eyes blank.

My hands began to tremble, one normal and the other crawling with darkness.  The black tendrils began to move, creeping farther and farther up my arm as the darkness hissed in my mind.

Look what you've done...

A Violet Steve appeared in front of me, face contorted with fear.  He yelped, trying to take a step back and tripping over a body lying in the grass.  The steve stared up at me, then buried his face in his hands, too scared to look anymore.

My hands moved of their own accord, lifting the blade high into the air, preparing to strike.  For a split second my eyes darted up, and in the reflection of the blade I saw...

Him.

I twisted the blade, staring at my shadow smiled from its surface.

Why did I feel so cold?

"You will never escape from me, Sabre.  I will find you again."

"You can't!"  I protested.  "I'm safe here.  I'm free of you now!"

"You will never be safe, anywhere you go.  I am inside you, Sabre.  I am a part of you.  I AM YOU."

"No you're not!"

The reflection smiled.

"But I will be.  Very soon."

That's when somebody screamed, and I jolted awake.  Tears were running down my face, and I stared around in panic for a moment before realizing it was only a dream.  Just Shadow trying to mess with me again, as usual.

I sat up, wiping away the tears and taking deep breaths.  I was fine.

"I can help with that Shadow of yours, Sabre..."

I jumped, but was distracted from the odd voice as another scream echoed through the house.  Stupid dreams...

I flung myself out of the bed, racing down the hall and fumbling with the doorknob to Time's bedroom.

"Time!?"  I called frantically.  "Time, are you two okay?"  Horrible images flashed through my mind as I remembered finding Time beaten up in his own dimension.  Elemental hadn't found us, had he?  Or worse, Shadow?

I pulled the door open and rushed inside.

Dark looked up with weary eyes.  He was huddled by Time's bed, comforting the taller steve.  Time had begun to cry as well, and his clock mask ticked more quickly than usual as he clutched it in both hands.

"Time?"  I asked, a little more gently.  "Hey, what happened?"

"Sorry, Sabre, it was- just a nightmare."  he stammered.  He glanced up, and his golden eyes widened a little.  "You- don't have your blindfold on."

I shrugged, one hand reaching to brush the hair out of my face.  I was too tired to be self-conscious right now.

"Do you want to talk about it?"  I asked gently, sitting beside Dark.  The young steve scooted closer and rested his head on my shoulder.  Time fidgeted with his mask for a few moments, then sighed.