Chapter 11

Nightmare didn't want to open his eyes, he was too scared to. After yesterday, where ever he is now, he doesn't want to be. True Ink and Dream tried to save him, but after he managed to gain control of his other hand, seeing that doesn't come to his mind as a reason to be grateful. He peaks open one eye only a sliver, so if anyone were there, they couldn't tell it was open as he looks where he can see. He can't hold back a flinch when he realizes he's in the forest still, and this time he's by himself again. He lifts his head up and looks around, now very confused and scared.

Eventually, his sight lands on something in the distance, some black that doesn't match with the snow. As he squints a bit, he realizes it's a figure, one he remembers too well. 'Cross..' Nightmare says as Cross' suddenly turns to him. His expression doesn't show anything and it creeps Nightmare out a little. Neither of them say or do anything as they stare at one another. Nightmare finally decides to try and get closer to Cross, attempting to hide his fear as best he can. "H-Hey! What's going on...?!" He gasps out, shaking a little as he takes another step forward.

Cross doesn't respond, and at Nightmare gets closer, he realizes the skeletons sight isn't on him. Nightmare quickly swings his head around, expecting one of the others from Cross' group to be there, but it isn't. The figure that stands there has one glowing blue eye, the other not even visible threw the black goo that covers his body, which Nightmare realizes is the same goo that is his right hand now. Fear covers Nightmare like a blanket as he backs away from the figure, and the figure smiles, and starts laughing in a tone too familiar to him.

"Nightmare.. I thought you'd be glad to see me.." He says, the smile widening as Nightmares fear rises. "N-No.. this isn't possible..! I'm dreaming.. this isn't real!" He cries, his back hitting Cross, who is now right behind him. "Say what you want, but this isn't a dream you're leaving.." At that, Nightmare starts coughing, the same black goo comes out as he does. The sides of his vision slowly blur as he tries to stop, but it gets worse. Cross summons his knife in his hand and slashed it across Nightmares back, causing him to lose balance and drop down, unable to comprehend what's happening anymore.

Something quickly wraps around his waist and slams him at a tree, the pain shooting all threw Nightmares body as he makes contact with it. 'Wake up.. c'mon..!' He growls weakly to himself as he drops to the floor and the two figures get closer. Nightmare closes his eyes, and tries as hard as he can to wake up, but he never does. Suddenly, he sees something bright that stands out to him, something that clings onto his missing hope, his brother. A blue arrow hits the gooey figure in the head, causing it to lose form and him to fall back in surprise. Cross swings his head towards Dream, only to immediately block another arrow aimed towards him.

"Leave him alone you monsters!" Dream yells, his tone furious, shocking Nightmare as he stares at his brother in awe. The other ones head reforms again and he turns to Dream, growling. "Dream.. you know entering enemies dreams is rude, right? I guess not.." The figures sudden change in tone to a darker one causes Nightmare to flinch. This voice sounds so familiar to him, but he can't put his finger on it. "I knew I recognized what hit Cross.. you made a mistake messing with my brother.. my real brother.. and now you're going to pay for it!"

The figure bursts out laughing, and places his hand on his head, shaking it a bit as well. "You're joking, right?" He says, his sight landing on the yellow skeleton. "You wish you could, Dream, but we both know how that fight would end.." Nightmare doesn't know what's happening as he pushes himself to his feet, unsure of what to do. Cross glances at him, his face still empty like before, but more dark now. 'That isn't him.. his expression is too dull..' The other figure doesn't look at Cross but gives him a nod of approval, causing him to jump forward and try to stab Nightmare.

Nightmares instincts tell him to dodge, causing him to slide to the side and make Cross swing his knife into the tree. As he tries to yank it out, Nightmare dashed towards his brother, only to get tripped by what seems like a tentacle is his way. Dream quickly summons another arrow as Nightmare is lifted by the leg and brought towards the other figure. "Did you never learn? All this, all that's happening now, it's your fault.. why would anyone forgive a mistake like you?" They growl, looking a Nightmare with a face that is unreadable.

Nightmare looks them straight in the eye, unable to tell the truth from the lies anymore. He is a mistake, isn't he? That's all he got treated like, because it's what he is. Cross was right, maybe he wasn't meant to be good. Negativity isn't good, it only causes pain and hate. "That's not true!" Nightmare snaps into reality and looks at his brother, a bit surprised by his response. "If this never happened.. I would have never met some truly amazing people.. and I wouldn't have learned that sometimes negative emotions can be good.. and without them.. we would never truly be alive.. we would never truly be happy.."

The figure looks at him, also surprised by his response, but more angry. "That's pathetic. Just because some good stuff happened to you, you think that what he did was good?" "Not what he did.. what you did.." Dream says, summons magic in his hands before murmuring something under his breath. Suddenly, the world around them starts to fade into darkness, and the figure lets out a furious scream. "YOU B—RD! I'LL KILL YOU!" His words echo in Nightmares head as Dream takes one last glance at his brother as the two fade as well, his eyes full of sorrow that tells Nightmare exactly where he'll wake up next, and this time, for real.

~{TBC}~