IDENTITY-SWAPPED

chapter 12: shadow morning wonder

Inks POV:

I stared up to the intimidating tower. Large blocks of wood like smooth evenly cut down trees held it up. A single ladder in the center reached all the way to the top like a stairway to heaven. I took a deep breath and grabbed onto the first latter rung. Just as soon as I did, I heard the leaves of a nearby Bush begin to rustle. I froze for a second. Struggling to look behind me. Beads of cold sweat dripped down from my skull. I slowly turned my head, feeling a gust of wind rush by me. only to find nothing there.
Ink: "ok.... definitely paranoid now."
I was almost relieved to be able to see dream again, let alone ANYONE at this point. I couldn't remember the last time I talked to anyone. I spent way too long inside my house just afraid to come out. Looking back at that, I kinda regret it now. I just hope it isn't too late to reconnect with someone. As I climbed up the ladder I slowly stopped shivering as it became warmer, which is strange considering that normally when you go really high it's supposed to get colder. I tried to shrug off the feeling but at this time I was all but stuck inside my own head. I looked up. A large wooden door hung slightly open. I pushed it up and crawled my way inside...

It was empty...
Ink: "no! No no no no no! Dream!? Dream answer me this isn't funny! (Sob) please..."
(Gone. Want. Save. You.)
I spun around quickly. In the very corner, just under the window, was a curled up sans. His body was completely made of shadows though two things stood out from himself, a crown like dreams, and a necklace... or maybe locket?
Ink: "where did he go? What do you mean?"
(Sent him away, wanted to stay, need save you. Very cold?)
Ink: "yah I am. But, it's gotten warmer since I got here."
(Good. Found body. Help you now. Wake up soon.)
Ink: "I'm... asleep? So does that mean none of this is real? Dream wasn't really here?"
(Real. Very real. Not sleeping. Dying.)
Ink: "I'm... dying..."
I sat down, well... more or less fell down from shock as I stared off into space. How did this happen. Why me? Why am I here? What did I do to deserve this...
I was so distracted that I didn't notice the shadow sans approaching closer. He sat down across from me, and across from the door waiting for my full attention again.
(Very sad too. Didn't want this. Want go home.)
I thought about it for a second. Dream must have left because he was better now... with I guess whatever was wrong with him. But that also meant...
Ink: "did... did you die? Why are you here? Why are you... I mean... unless that's just the way you... sorry. I'll shut up now."
(Was home. Became cold. Was here. Lost. Taken. Now sad.)
Ink: "I... I'm so sorry. How long have you been here?"
(Can't. Remember. When. Came. Memories fuzzy. after taken.)
Ink: "um... why do you talk like that?... if you don't mind me asking I mean..."
(It's. Hard. To. Talk. It. Hurts. So. Much.)
Ink: "what hurts?"
(Soul. Hurts. Painful. Cracking. Fading. Dying.)
Ink: "what happens when it does... you know..."
(Saw others. Like me. Wandering like monsters. Lost souls. Lost themselves. Them gone.)
Ink: "what happened to them?"
(Body's wander. Searching souls. They take. Living corpses.)
Ink: "but... you're not like that. Are they savable? Are you?"
(Me. Yes. Still not... lost. Them. No. Gone. Forever.)
Ink: "wouldn't it be more merciful to destroy them completely? You know, put them out oh their misery?"
(No. Them gone. Just body's now. Can't feel. No more.)
Ink: "are their others like you or... are you alone?"
(Alone. Wandering. Lost. Was. Guardian. Last. Longer. Here. Long time.)
Ink: "oh. Well... if they can't save me... will I become the same way?"
(No soul. Body is soul. Can't die. Like us. But. Can die. Not sure.)
Ink: "oh. I see. Do you remember anything about yourself? Maybe where you came from?"
(Name. Dream. Water cold. Scary men. Had. Friends. Can't breath. Cold now.)
Ink: "so you drowned? Is that how you died?"
(Not sure. If dead. Still think. Loosing hope. Getting colder.)
Ink: "..."
(Ask friend. Come back. For me. Not here. For body. Outside. Where cold.)
Ink: "I'll do what I can too."
(Thank you. Good. Bye.)
Ink: "wait, are you going? What do you mean?"
But everything had already gotten brighter. I tried to move a little bit. As I began to "wake up" I felt something moving against my body. It was warm like a blanket. I opened my eyes and looked up to where the bright light was coming from. It was quiet at first but every now and then I heard voices calling my name. I recognized them. And then I woke up...