You've Convinced Me

Chapter 16: Troublemaker

Dream inhaled deeply, his breaths quickened and restless. He sat on a pavement.

What had he done?

Something he had to.

It had been a dizzying change of scenery, and the orange burned into his view. Gone were the purple hues, and he finally let himself breathe properly again. It evened out eventually, but it was no time to relax.

There were buildings of concrete, raised up to the skies. He was above ground, somewhere to be particularly cautious. The condition of the universe was yet to be known.

From simple observation, the streets had been lacking in any monsters, of any signs of them. Humans were abundant, many heads tilted down to look at their electronic devices.

It wasn't anything rare, but Dream usually only went where the monsters were.

It told of a timeline that never made it above ground, or was in the process of. As a suspicious monster, he would only draw unwanted attention. Too bad he couldn't control where he landed in a universe.

He reached out to sling over his cape to conceal his being, only that... it wasn't there.

It wasn't...

He had left his cape behind.

Internally panicking, Dream had half a mind to return to retrieve it, disregarding all consequences. Thoughts running like a whirlwind, even his worrying demeanor could do them no justice.

It really had been an unpardonable error on his part. How could something like that have happened? It was unthinkable. But going back was inconceivable as well.

In the end, the stronger emotion won out. He was most definitely not going back there. He couldn't, and there was no reason he should turn back now.

Unforgivable.

Dream grit his teeth, then hurried near a building wall, the pain now a dull ache. He was hoping to reduce his own visibility, but looking like he was now, really did not help.

It was okay.

If he could make it to night time, he would be able to go wherever he wanted. He could go underground where the monsters were. This was no time to be negative. He need not leave this universe yet. He still hadn't done his job!

He hadn't done it for months.

But that was alright! He would do it now. He would do it as soon as he can. He wouldn't be useless. Everything would be fine.

Dream trailed albeit aimlessly, feeling uncomfortable as he continued to recieve odd stares. Though none dared to approach.

Maybe this was how Nightmare must have felt. He looked like a mess. He felt like a mess. Surely it had to get better in time.

He coughed.

How was he going to do it?

In the end he settled below a tree, having arrived somewhere less busy than the streets that had been filled with cars and people.

He watched as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Mesmerising were the colours of the skies. It reminded him of simpler times. A tear fell over his cheek, and this realisation only brought more over the edge. He let them flow, as if he hadn't cried enough already.

Then with a harsh wipe, he desperately wiped away all traces of tears. "Stop crying." He told himself. "You've done enough of that." No words of comfort. "It's time to do something."

-----

"That bastard..." Nightmare growled as he stared at the ink puddle. He had to find Dream. He had to. It didn't matter that he wanted to get rid of Dream just a moment ago. He turned to Horror. "I trust that you can deal with things here?"

Before Horror could respond, Dust sprinted into the room, shocking the other two as a knife swung across the room, smashing yet another window. This time the one in Dream's room. Another found itself embedded onto the wall.

"What do I have to do for some peace over here..." Nightmare's voice dripped with disappointment as he dragged his palm over his face. "I'm leaving this to you, Horror." He opened a portal and left.

"What the fuck!" Horror stood confused. "Dust, what's going on?"

Dust didn't pay him any mind, more focused on Killer who had been the perpetrator. He summoned bones to defend himself from Killer who had finally ran out of sharp things to toss. Well except for the favourite knife in his hand that he would never throw, of course. "Snap out of it." Dust told him.

Eyes leaking determination more than ever, it only spoke of insanity. "I saw..."

"Huh?"

"Dream... he," Killer started laughing, one that was broken, and didn't quite sound like joy. "It's strange."

"... You saw Dream?"

"Why do I... I just wanted to make it go away, ya know? Why'd you gotta stop me." Only now did Horror notice that Killer's bandaged arm wasn't quite bandaged anymore, and it was possibly, what one might consider, bleeding.

"Dust, what the hell?" Horror was absolutely horrified.

Dust shook his head, giving a quick shrug. He looked just as distressed as Horror, worried eyes never leaving Killer.

"Maybe if I had stabbed him harder." Killer said as he attempted to plunge the knife in his own wound. He was stopped by Dust knocking the knife away and gripping onto his arm. "If he died too, just like the rest," A sharp grin. "It would all fade away in time." Horror helped with the restraining of Killer. But it wasn't hard considering Killer wasn't resisting. He slouched over, and put a palm over his face. "Something is wrong with me. I know it." He slurred. "It just doesn't make any sense..."

"Right..." Horror dragged Killer along back to Killer's room. "Looks like you need some sleep. And some more bandages." Which Dust had went to fetch.

So not only was Dream missing, Nightmare had left them to deal with an unstable Killer. What was it that was happening anymore? Nightmare had better come back soon, because he can and will devour the entire fridge from this stress.