A Dangerous Illusion

Chapter 32

     Ink walked through the empty halls of the jail. He was heading towards Reaper's cell. However, it was very inconveniently placed in the other side of the building. It was designed so that two powerful and smart criminals couldn't communicate and figure out a plan to escape, but was just plain annoying for any officer trying to get between the cells. Besides, any criminal who could think of an escape plan could most likely escape by themself. He finally arrived in front of Reaper's cell to see the other sitting on the cot with his back leaning against the wall with crossed arms and his eyes closed. One of his eyes opened lazily when Ink walked in.

     "Took you long enough. Now, can you turn off the magic suppressor? It's really annoying," Reaper said. Ink raised a brow and looked at him. "What? I know you're Ink and I know Error probably already confessed to you. Now let me out of this cell." That made Ink blush as he quickly turned away in an attempt to hide it. He walked over to the lever on the wall that controlled the magic suppressor and instantly felt his magic return once he shut it off. Reaper felt the same way as he shook his arms and legs, getting accustomed to the feeling again.

     "Be quick. If I get caught helping you escape I'm going to be in so much trouble," Ink snapped, walking out of the room. "You're on your own from here."

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     Geno sat on the couch in his apartment with a cup of coffee clasped in his hands and a fluffy blanket draped over him despite the fact that it was nearing noon. His insomnia had gotten worse since he found out Reaper was actually a criminal because he was spending the nights letting his mind wander. It would always inevitably end up back on the other skeleton, from their interactions to the flirts to Geno trying to decide how he felt about the whole ordeal.

     "Stupid Reaper. I can't believe he actually got me to care about him," Geno muttered, his eye trained on the floor and the mug gripped tightly. "And why do I still care?"

     "Awwww, that's so sweet of you!" He suddenly heard another voice purr. He quickly whipped around and put his mug on a coffee table, searching for the origin of the familiar voice. He only saw the familiar walls of his house. Suddenly, he felt another person barrel into him.

     "Reaper!" He yelled. It was in fact Reaper, and he had tackled Geno onto the couch. Geno glowered at him. It didn't look very intimidating, seeing as he was trapped under the other.

     "Get off me you jerk! I swear, I'm going to-" He was quickly silenced by Reaper slapping a hand over his mouth.

     "Be quiet. I don't want your neighbors coming over to see why you're yelling. After all, this is a very awkward situation for me to be seen in," Reaper muttered, glancing at the door. Suddenly Geno realized the position they were in. It most definitely would be a weird explanation as to why he had another skeleton trapping him on the couch. He blushed.

     "Awww, how cute! You're blushing!" Reaper exclaimed, completely ignoring what he had just said earlier about being quiet. "Anyways, I wanted to explain. Basically Nightmare wanted me and Error to kill you and Ink, we said no, he tattled on us, I tried to talk to you and explain, you arrested me, and here we are." Geno blinked, trying to absorb the sudden information dump. Realer uncovered his mouth, seeing that he wanted to ask a question.

     "Wait wait wait- Why would Nightmare turn you in?!" Reaper shrugged.

     "Probably to make you hate my figurative guts. Then I would go back to his gang, no more problems."

     "But don't you know info about him?"

     "Yeah, but nothing really good. Besides, I don't think you would trust me after this."

     "That... makes a surprising amount of sense. Why didn't you kill me?"

     "When? There were quite a few times I could have killed you sweetheart. There was the fight earlier where I could have killed you, I didn't kill you like Nightmare told me to recently, and I also could have easily killed you every single time we have been in the same area together. Heck, just being in the same city as me means I could have killed you." Geno huffed.

     "Stop calling me that! You know I hate the pet names. And I'm referring to when Nightmare asked you to kill me recently."

     "I like you. I also wanted to ask you a question. Would you run away with me?"

     "Haha- No," Geno laughed. "You're such a hopeless romantic." Reaper blinked and paused, slightly taken aback by the blunt answer he was given.

     "Ouch- That was a bit harsh, don't ya think? Anyways, I know you might not believe me, but I actually am capable of liking someone beyond dumb flirts. I also haven't been in a serious relationship before, believe it or not." Geno felt a little worse about what he had said, having only thought that the proposition to run away was a joke and not serious. He sighed.

     "Look, I just went through a lot of emotional trauma with this load of crap and I was never even dating you in the first place. I am not about to drop everything and run away with you like people do in cliche books," He said. Reaper looked disappointed but soon seemed to have shaken it off and he returned to his usual cocky demeanor, his grin returning.

     "Fine sweetheart. That doesn't mean I'll stop trying though. I will be back to bother you," He warned, sending Geno a wink. He got up and quickly disappeared, running off to who knows where. Most likely Nightmare's base. Geno grumbled to himself.

     "Stupid Reaper. He is totally insane." He couldn't, however, seem to stop the small smile that crept its way onto his face despite his best efforts.