To Protect

Chapter 16.

"Stop Techno!!"

The sudden shout made everyone turn to George's direction as he walked over calmly to face me, Punz slowly behind his trail. Techno reluctantly removed his sword from my chest, stepping back. When George approached me he placed his thumb against the side of my mouth, swiping away the drool of blood that exited after I spoke earlier. I swatted his hand away aggressively to which he looked shocked at but then his expression faltered into one of understanding. He knew it wasn't me. "You're all so quick to jump on the bandwagon of killing and destruction but you come for Dream when he does it? Isn't that hypercritical?"

"He killed innocent people George you know he did, us killing him is not taking the life of an innocent man." Quackity spoke up for everyone,

"But does it make you any better? Really think, does it?" Quackity opened his mouth to respond but ultimately could not find a valid excuse. George was right. "Justice should always be served, you Quackity should know that over everyone else Mr. Law School, but that doesn't mean it has to be served by death. There are several other punishments that can be handed out."

Sapnap nodded.

"You were the one who joined us and told us he had to be stopped. You said he was a bad person." Fundy added to the conversation.

"That was until I spoke to him. Did any of you even begin to question why Dream of all people would go around mercilessly killing? That's not like him. Bad, who comforted you when Skeppy was sick? Everyone told you that you were overreacting but not Dream. He sat with you each day and took you places to take your mind off it until Skeppy was better again." Skeppy put his arm around bad protectively and gave him a look that told Bad he was right. "Techno, who has saved you multiple times from the people stood before you? Giving you loot and escape roots as well as saving Carl. Ant, who supported you when you first came here and you had no one? It was Dream. He's done so much for all of you collectively and not once did you give him a chance to talk to you all about why this was happening. If you had given him that chance we wouldn't be here right now and you'd know this isn't him." Everyone was silent, listening to George's speech as I sat back down against the rock, defeated.

"Do you remember when Wilbur became crazy? It was like something was controlling him and the real Wilbur couldn't fight anymore so what you all called Vilbur took over. He did some awful things and betrayed you all but you continue to convince yourselves that it wasn't him, it was some kind of evil parasite that took over his body. Can't you all see that this is happening to Dream? It's not him. It's not Dream. It's... It's Nightmare." His voice faltered slightly at the name as some people's minds clicked that the real Dream would never do something like this. I felt relieved, but it didn't show on my face or radiate off me like it usually would because I had no control anymore. George turned to face me and crouched, holding my cheek gently. "Dream are you there?"

I grimaced at his gesture and slapped his hand away a second time but he persisted, "Dream come on, I know you can hear me." I tried so hard to force myself to the surface and tell him that I was here, I was listening but I couldn't. He sighed. "Nightmare?"

"You think you're so fucking clever George. You think you have everything figured out, but what if I am just a shitty person who got enjoyment out of killing a few pathetic people." Quackity stepped forward slightly in retaliation to my words but Sapnap held him back, comforting him and telling him it will be okay. I sniggered. "Will it be okay Sapnap? You were so quick to push your best friend away at the small sight of inconvenience." He looked away.

"I pushed you away, not him."

"No, you pushed him away Sapnap, I promise you. In fact, you should all blame yourselves not me. He was fighting me alone, by himself and where were all you? Fighting him too. None of you gave him the support you've always promised. Not a single ounce of it." My words were laced with venom and intent, intent on riling them up. Punz stepped forward, shivering with anger and anticipation as he lifted his axe.

"Give him back." His words were calm unlike his aura.

"It's too late now." My laugh taunted them all as George's face dropped.

"What do you mean it's too late?" He questioned, hand gripping onto the side of his shirt as some sort of emotional anchor.

"It's too late. He warned you that he couldn't hold on much longer and that he was afraid the next time I visited I would take over. Well look at me. Do you even see any glimpse of him behind my eyes? Any echo of his kindness in my words? He's not coming back. Your poor Dream is gone." I could tell instantly that my words riled George up, deep down I wanted to stop so badly but I knew there was nothing I could do.

"Give him back now!!" George screamed out, shoving my shoulders. "Give him back!!" He continued as he pelted my chest with his fists. My heart ached seeing him like this.

Please stop hurting him.

Punz pulled George off me. "George stop. This isn't helping, we'll find a way to bring him back I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep Punz." My voice merely a low chuckle. George had calmed slightly, looking directly into my eyes.

"I love you Dream." He whispered as if it was his late hope. Silence overtook as everyone waited for my response but I couldn't give one, he wouldn't let me. I said it over and over in my head.

I love you George.

I love you George.

I love you George.

He sighed and turned as if he was about to walk away, Punz arm around him as Techno raised his sword again. He was prepared to do what had to be done.

It all happened in a flash so I couldn't process it until an axe was hanging out of my chest.

That obviously wasn't Techno's sword.

I coughed viciously as more blood pooled in my throat and dribbled out of my mouth. Looking up, George was leaning over me, hand grasping the wooden handle of Punz axe. Punz was shouting at him but Techno pulled him away to the group who all stood shocked, mouths open. 

Tears gently falling down Sapnap's face, Fundy's eyes filling with guilt as if he wanted to call out my name but refusing himself. George let his grip falter as he fell onto my chest, allowing his emotions barrel out as he screamed in emotional agony. He pulled the axe out of my chest and gripped onto my shirt, his tears soaking the fabric on the crook of my neck as he lay his face there.

"Dream I'm sorry. I had too." He balled.

"Hey," I said as I lifted his chin to face me. Spluttering slightly as the words came out. His eyes darted across my face as he took it all in, realising it was me. The blood pooling around me turned black as the darkness left my body. "Don't you think it's kinda cute that I died, right inside your arms tonight." I joked. He forced a small smile.

"I had too..." He murmured and I nodded. Consoling him. It wasn't his fault and I knew it, it was my fault for allowing darkness to overcome me. This was just a blip in everyone's timeline. They would soon move on.

"I'm fine." I reassured him. "Even after I have died, because it was in your arms." I pulled his arms around me, basking in the familiar scent of his cologne. I kissed his forehead lightly and let a single tear slip from my eye. It was peaceful. I wasn't at war anymore. I closed my eyes as the overwhelming tiredness took over my body. The last thing I felt was George's soft lips gently peck mine. "I love you." I muttered with the last ounce of strength I had. "George, I love you."

I cry in the afterlife. I cry hard because I have died and you're alive. I try to escape the afterlife. I try hard to get back inside your arms alive.

I'll come and find you George...

I promise.

Dream was slain by GeorgeNotFound.