You've Convinced Me

Chapter 15: Gone

Sorry this took a month ;-; uh
I've re-written this chapter a couple of times, each one had ended up with a different outcome, which would make the story go different ways. I didn't want to write myself into a corner.

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The creeping shadows of the night, cast onto the walls by the soft moonlight. Yet the ceiling was the first sight that greeted him, where the light did not reach.

The sheets crumpled as he tried to heave himself forward to rest in a sitting position. His eyes found interest in the contorted shadows, bringing just a little more excitement to the unchangingly dull wallpaper.

There was the uneasy feeling to his right leg, something that wasn't quite right. The presence of bandages registered in his sight, and suddenly it all made sense. The memories came filtering through, and Dream felt himself curl up.

It was only superficial. The bandages provided no restoration. Useless, like taping broken glass togther. It would be silly if he didn't try his own hand at fixing this issue, for everything was so wholly inadequate. Squeezing at the bandaged area, he focused hard to call upon any inner strength. When a whole lot of nothing happened, Dream wouldn't dare say he was surprised.

He felt something akin to rage, blanket scrumpling at his grip. But before it could grow and spill, he pushed it down, forcing it into submission.

However, nothing was infallible, and things just didn't want to work out this time. Rising sludge filled at his throat, forcing him to throw it up like sick. He made sure to avoid the fabric, having it spilled onto the ground instead. Disgusting. All that he was left with was now a indescribable frustration and confusion.

The waning full moon observed almost mockingly, framed perfectly by the window. But it was clear who was really the one confined within the frames.

Looking back down, he noticed there had been a pile of monster food stacked atop each other, balanced on the foot of his bed. It was a bit much, but they would help with recovery.

But, what then? He'd been absent for months, and staying here wasn't doing anyone any favours.

-----

Eyes opening, only then did he realise he had drifted off to sleep. Everything a still, darkened silence.

Dream dragged himself across the sheets to sit at the side of the bed. One foot tapped the ground tentatively, then the other one with the injury. He pressed the wronged leg against the ground, testing it's weight. It would be better to say that the pain was to his still intact parts, and the severed one should be seen as a separate object. He wasn't going to be walking any time soon.

At least it was better now than before, after he had eaten the healing items. But they only really sped up recovery, rather than presenting with instantaneous results. Funny how ridiculously overpowered his healing was, it was something people would seek him for. Now nothing of value is left.

Sometimes he would feel the presence of the others outside, passing through, or even waiting. In those moments Dream would dread and brace himself for any interaction, but they never came in.

It was clear staying any longer would only be foolish. He'd been idle for far too long, He deserved to be free, not treated like this.

But escape seemed so far away when he couldn't even use his legs. He'd even take the risk of dying if it meant Nightmare will toss him out. But Nightmare would never do that.

-----

Very soon he found himself waking up from another nap, or was it a full night's rest? It didn't quite matter.