The Burning ~ Dreamnotfound + Skephalo

Chapter 3: Time to Strike

George crouched down as he watched the figure move into the house. Though he couldn't see his face, he could tell that the person was looking around because their crown's shadow moved. "Search the house," the figure demands. "He's in here. I can feel it." His voice was cold and deep. It sent goosebumps up George's arms. Behind the man, about seven more figures entered the home. They looked close to George's size, but made squealing noises as they moved. They also had portruding ears. They weren't human. They reminded George of the zombie pigmen that his friends and him had encountered years ago, but they were slightly different. Behind them, a smaller, skinnier man walked in, holding a blue torch that gave the room an eerie blue glow. George dove away from the stairs to avoid being seen.
"Sir," the other man starts, "I don't think this is a good idea." He had a strong French accent and sounded just as scared as George felt.
The taller man laughs. "Oh, Vincent. I think it's kind of late to turn back now." George recognized that name. He didn't know how or where from, but it was so familiar to him.
"Yes, Technoblade," Vincent responds.
George listens as Technoblade's metal boots ring through the home every time he took a step. He looked out from behind his hiding place and could see a trail of blue ash falling from the torch in Vincent's hands. It made him feel better knowing where the ash came from, but it also shook him to his very core. He had seen the blue ash for five days. Had they really been in the area that long? George looks back to his bedroom doorway. If he was fast, he could look for a weapon. He knew he had to get out of there and that every second he spent hesitating was just another second that he would never get back. He could hear Technoblade's boots stomping closer to the stairs. George took a deep breath, then dashed into the bedroom as silently as possible. He waited a second behind the door to make sure Technoblade didn't hear him. Once he decided he was in the clear, George looked around for his bow.
The great thing about enchanted weapons was that they had a beautiful purple glow to them. George was easily able to spot Dream's sword sitting by his bedstand. Unfortunately, he was unable to find his bow. George peeks out from behind the doorframe and silently curses at himself for leaving his bow by the front door. Not having much of a choice, George attempts to grab Dream's sword. He rolls up Dream's hoodie sleeves and picks it up, but immediately drops it as a wave of power gets shot up his arm. The sword falls to the floor with a loud clanking noise. George had no idea how his friends were able to fight with enchanted swords when it hurt so much just for him to pick up. He begins to panic as he hears Technoblade's boots coming up the stairs. He was moving faster than before. There was no way he didn't hear George drop the sword. George shakily picks the sword up just in time to see Technoblade enter the room.
Technoblade had a build similar to Dream, making him look huge underneath the thick red robe he wore. His crown was tilted on his head and sat on a nest of pink hair. George puffed out his chest and narrowed his eyes in an attempt to look just as intimidating as Technoblade did. But there was no way he could compete with Technoblade's presence. He towered over George and made his shoulders feel heavy just by looking at him.
          The pink-haired man glanced down at George's trembling arm and scoffed. "You're seriously the man I've been worried about?" He laughs as he draws his sword. It was black and looked like it had cracks all over it. A glowing purple light filled in the cracks, warning George that it was enchanted. "You're a joke."
          George tightens his grip on Dream's sword and takes a swing at Technoblade. The man didn't move anything except his sword, which blocked George's swing and sent him flying back. George stumbled until he finally regained his balance by grabbing an end table beside his bed.
          Technoblade walks towards George, his golden boots hammering into the wooden floor. "I don't get it. You were supposed to be an omnipotent being. You killed my Wither. Yet you can barely handle a sword." George growls as he lunges at Technoblade. He jumps out of the way, causing George to swing the sword into the doorframe. "Are you sick or something? Why aren't you doing better?"
          George grits his teeth as he tries to yank the sword free, his arms aching more and more with every pull. He manages to get the sword free and points it at Technoblade. "You need to leave! NOW!"
          Technoblade pushes the sword away with his forefinger. "I just wanted to talk to you."
          "What do you want?"
          "I wanted you to join me. I have an army and you have skills. Well, at least I thought you did, but now I'm not as convinced. But that's beside the point. I want you to join me in taking over the world." Techoblade holds out his hand. "Please, join me. Together, we can show this world what power looks like. No one will ever doubt you again."
          Seeing an opening, George swings the sword and manages to cut Technoblade's left arm open. "I said, GET OUT!"
          Technoblade attempts to apply pressure to his arm, but the cut was too long and deep for his hand to do much. He takes his bloodied hand off of his wound and hits George in the head with the hilt of his sword. George drops Dream's sword and falls to the floor, holding his head in his hands. "I'VE GOT HIM!" Technoblade yells out of the door. "PIGS, TAKE HIM OUT OF HERE!"
          Three of the pig creatures walk into the room. Two of them grab George while the third one picks up the sword. He squeals in pain as he attempts to hold it, eventually handing it off to Technoblade. He admired the weapon. It was well made, but it didn't stand a chance against his own sword. He shoves it into an empty holster attached to his leather belt and motions for the pigs to follow him out.
          George tries to get out of the pig's grasp, but every time he moved, the pig's claws would dig into his skin. They weren't sharp enough to pierce his skin, but they hurt like hell. George tried yelling for help, but every time he made a loud noise, one of the pigs would hit him in the stomach, temporarily silencing him. He fought as much as he could, but the pigs still managed to get him outside.
          Right out of the front door was a giant cage on wheels with six more of the pig things ready to pull it to its destination. In the moonlight, George was able to get a view of his foes. The pigs appeared to be the living version of the zombie pigmen that he'd met before. They wore a mixture of gold and leather armor and were carrying an assortment of golden weapons and crossbows. The smaller man that George caught a glimpse of before, Vincent, avoided eye contact as he opened the cage door. His dark hair was shaggy and hung in his face. He looked like he hadn't had a haircut in ages.
The pigs holding George forced him into the cage. When their hands were off of him, he tried to run back out, but Technoblade stopped him by point his black sword in his face as another pig closed the door. "If I were you, I wouldn't scream. Bad things will happen," Technoblade threatens. "We wouldn't want your precious husband getting wrapped up in this, would we?"
George had a split second to decide what he was going to do. He could stay silent and let these strangers take him God knows where. Or he could call for help and risk getting hurt. In George's eyes, he figured he'd get hurt either way, so he decided to take the risk. He took and deep breath and screamed, "DREAM!" at the top of his lungs. It was the loudest he had ever been before. Had he not been in this situation, he would've been proud of himself for it.
Technoblade snarled and turned to one of the pigs. He motioned to the house as he ordered, "Burn it."
Vincent pulls Technoblade's arm and makes him face him. "This wasn't a part of the plan, Techno!"
"That's not my name, Vincent," Technoblade growls. "What's my name?" Vincent doesn't respond. "WHAT'S MY FUCKING NAME, VINCENT?!"
Vincent lets go of him and steps back. "Technoblade."
"AND MAY THE WORLD NEVER FORGET IT!" He grabs Vincent's blue torch and throws it into a window, smashing it open. George watches as the area around the window erupts into blue flames.
"NOOOO!" George screams, reaching out towards the home. The flames were spreading fast.
Techno hits him with the hilt of his sword again, harder this time. George hits the bottom of the cage hard. "SHUT UP!"
George's eyes begin to shut as he feels himself slipping in and out of consciousness. He reaches towards the burning house and is only able to mutter, "Dream," before falling out of consciousness.