Warning! Slight mention and implying of torture

~~~~

Sam's words were muffled in my ears, where my head was placed between my knees to help my uneven breathing. I could also faintly hear Ranboo trying to talk to me.

But the buzzing sounds were fading out, being replaced with a ringing sound with the absence of the humming.

As it disappeared, something evil shed off of me, losing its almost full contact on my mind.

The Egg had brushed against my very soul.

Suddenly, I was picked up into someone's arms, my head resting against their shoulder with my legs over their arms. A minute later, we were walking and a weight fell into my own arms.

I blinked several times, trying to regain my stability.

The person carrying me, Sam, moved my hand to rest on the weight that nestled onto my stomach. Fur and purring instantly brought me closer to reality.

Patches had been placed on top of me, her forest-green eyes looking up at me concerned. She mewled softly, scooting closer to rub her face against my cheek.

"Hey, baby," I murmured, stroking my hand down her tawny back. Her tail flicked in ease, accidentally hitting Sam's mask just above.

She was all I could focus on as Sam carried me somewhere, with Ranboo walking beside us. The world passed, and large spruce buildings shot up accompanied by the sound of water sloshing below.

The warm lanterns above L'manberg were beginning to dim as the night was slowly changing into morning, the sky lightening with pink and yellow.

Sam brought me to Ranboo's house, gently placing me on the white bed in the corner. The strange scent of nether wart and dried ink wound itself into my nose, easing my racing nerves.

I pulled myself out of the fog of lingering pain as Sam nealed beside the bed, pushing his mask to the side. Clearly, he didn't care if Ranboo saw his face.

"Y/n, are you alright? We lost you back there," He said, his gentle demeanor shining through.

I took a deep breath, savoring the cool air that was free of the scent of evilness and crimson vines.

"I should be fine in a bit, but the Egg gave me the worst headache I've ever had." My words were a bit rough.

"How did you even end up down there? Ranboo saw Bad take you into his house, but he seemed normal."

I looked up at Ranboo, wondering where he was that he saw me.

Purple gleamed slightly in his red and green eyes, a thin film that was disappearing.

"I had asked where Skeppy was and something took over Bad. He brought me to the Egg, trying to get me to touch it, and asked me if I heard it say anything to me."

"Did you hear anything?"

"Just one thing, but I quickly took my hand off it," I said, lifting up my navy sleeve where the red was leaving. "It told me I was the one, whatever that means."

"It sounds like a bunch of hocus pocus to me," Ranboo said simply, sitting on the end of the bed next to my feet.

"Yeah, there's some freaky stuff going on in that basement," Sam agreed. "Promise me you won't go back down there. At least not without me."

"I promise," I said without hesitation. There was no way I was going back down there alone after the awful pain it put me through.

Sam stood, walking slowly towards the door. His trident was strapped to his back, almost touching the door frame when he reached it and turned back to face me.

"Good. Now get some sleep. The best way to get rid of migraines is by sleeping."

I nodded, moving to be more comfortable on the bed. Patches curled up beside me, her whiskers tickling my hand from where she laid her head.

"Thanks, Sam." I waved goodnight, watching as he disappeared through the door.

As soon as he was gone, I turned to Ranboo, who was casually flipping through his memory book. The leather creaked a bit from frequent use, each of the pages full.

"Ran?" I started.

"Hm?" He hummed in response.

"I know that it was you who snapped the twig below the Prime Path, but how were your eyes purple?"

His head locked on to mine, fear and stress quickly replacing the concern he had for me.

There was something there that he wasn't telling me. I now know for a fact that it was him watching me, but it didn't make sense for his eyes to be that vibrant of a purple.

"I-I," He stammered, lowering his gaze to his book. "I don't know."

"Can you not remember?"

He hesitated, debating if he should tell me his secret. Ultimately, he gave in, turning to face me with resignation.

"I can, but it's hazy. I wasn't in control when I saw you with Bad." He ran a hand through his hair, pushing some of it back.

I noticed small horns, kind of like Tubbo's, were sprouting out of his head. They were the opposite of his hair color, black on the white hair and vice versa.

"It's like... someone else is in control of my movements but I can still see what's going on. I just blackout and then suddenly I'm somewhere else, my feet moving on their own."

A chill snaked down my spine. That sounded like someone was using him, and they had tried to spy on me tonight.

"Why haven't you told me before?" I asked, scrunching my brows.

Ranboo fiddled with the long bookmark that hung from his journal, nerves making his chest rise and fall slightly faster.

"I thought it would make me sound insane." He looked up at me. "Someone controlling your mind isn't exactly normal. And I'm still newish around here, so I didn't want to freak anyone out."

I gave him a gentle look, moving so I could sit next to him. Patches stirred and relaxed once more at my side, lazily falling back asleep.

"Ran, I don't know if I've ever told you, but I've had someone in my head too. I've had my own will snatched away and I had to watch, painfully, as someone else hurt my friends."

Now that I was closer, I could see faint scars that ran down his face in twin streaks. Traces of purple lingered in them, just dusting the marred skin.

"So, no, I don't think you are insane. I'm more worried about who is controlling you," I finished.

Something flicked where my feet ended and Ranboo's knees bent. It wavered and wrapped around my leg in an almost protective and comforting way.

Apparently, Ranboo had a tail.

It was long, matching the dark side of himself, ending in a bush of white and black mixed together. Unlike Bad's sharp tail, Ranboo's was fluffy.

"You have a tail?" I asked, peering as it settled around me.

A faint grey blush powdered his cheeks in embarrassment. "Um, yeah. I usually hide it because I thought it was weird ... but I thought since you don't find me weird, you wouldn't mind it."

I smiled warmly at him. "Of course I don't mind. What happened to your face?"

"When I cry, it leaves scars. This is from the night Tubbo found Tommy's pillar in Logstedshire," He said, faintly touching his permanent tear streaks with a far-off look.

I looked at my hands in my lap, thinking back on the memory of the looming tower. Tommy had almost lost his life thanks to whatever had control of Dream.

Perhaps it was DreamXD.

Ranboo broke the solemn silence, "So, you don't think I'm completely out of my mind?"

"No, of course not. Crazier things have happened here before." I lightly patted his shoulder before laying back down. "Welcome to the club."

Amusement glimmered in his eyes, a smile touching his face. His small canines poked out, glinting in the rising sun behind rain clouds.

"You better get some sleep like Sam said," He said, leaning back against the windowsill and propping open his journal.

I hummed in response, sleep already pulling me under.

And I let it, a plan already forming in my mind to find Ranboo's mystery manipulator.

-

Like I planned, I had woken up in the room where I used to meet Noemi.

It was bare without my mother here, but the never-ending light still pulsed with life.

It brushed against me, feeling warmer than ever, clinging to me as it had clung to Noemi. I could feel the way it warmed my bones and practically bloomed inside of me.

I looked around the strange realm, a small shard of hope still lasting in my heart.

There was no way that she could be here, yet I searched and based my plan on finding Noemi here. If she had been here, she could've given me much-needed answers.

But, she wasn't.

And deep down, I had known that.

I sighed, releasing the plan to ask Noemi about Ranboo's controller. There had to be another way to get answers.

As I was about to let myself fade back into the real world, a shout snapped me out of it.

"Help!"

My head snapped in the direction of the yell, my feet already moving. They ran on a path as if I knew where I was going, yet I had no clue where this strange instinct was leading me.

There was another scream, this time it was more ragged and high-pitched in pain.

Recognition registered in my mind.

I knew that person.

"Karl!" I shouted back, panic flooding my system.

The light turned into marble walls and floors, the large windows letting pastel light of a sunset through in long streaks. I ran past potted wither flowers, not even paying attention to where I was or the cracks in the ground.

Something crackled in the air, agitating my magic. Even though it was so focused on trying to find Karl, the magic became on edge.

The scream of pain turned into heart-wrenching sobs, quick and heavy breaths in between each.

My ears strained, leading me down a long staircase and into a courtyard in the middle of the castle. A large birch tree bloomed with glass leaves, their crystal material tinkling in a phantom breeze.

A person, who I assumed was Karl, crouched at the base of the tree, the shadows completely bathing them in darkness. I could see the aggressive sobs of pain shaking them.

But as I ran to them, I didn't notice the way the roots had died at the end of the tree and how the grass had turned brown around them.

I didn't even sense the thing watching from behind a pillar.

"Karl!" I shouted, sliding on my knees next to him.

As I placed my hand on his shaking shoulder, my eyes began to adjust in the unnatural shade.

And as he was becoming clearer, Karl slowly raised his eyes to meet mine.

Except, it wasn't Karl.

I screamed, flinging myself backward, away from the person. Every single reflexive part of me shrieked to get out of this awful place.

Dream looked up at me, his green eyes practically glowing. His mask was still there, but it had been pushed to only cover half of his face.

There was a twisted and evil smile on his lips, yet it didn't reach his eyes. Brokenness and dread were there, behind the neon light of his eyes.

Something was wrong here.

"Ah, see Dream? I told you she would believe it," Someone mused behind me, their voice having a slight echo.

I spun, my hand digging into the dead grass and dirt.

DreamXD floated behind me, coming out from a marble pillar. His void wings spread in a long arch, not even flapping to keep him off the ground.

Even if I couldn't see what was behind the mask, I could tell he felt victorious. It only built when he saw the fear on my face.

"Long time no see, y/n." DreamXD chuckled, moving silently towards where I was on the ground. "I'm glad to know that you care so deeply about Karl."

Anger shot hot and fast through me, making me stand. "Where is Karl? Where the hell is he?"

DreamXD stopped a little in front of me, tilting his head like a puppy.

"Karl isn't here. I just used a little trick to manipulate Dream's voice," He said, twitching his fingers.

The abnormal shade disappeared, revealing that it was indeed Dream crouched there against the white trunk. DreamXD moved his hand in an upward motion, and Dream stood, coming to stand next to him.

"Dream put on a very good show, wouldn't you say?" DreamXD studied the slightly shorter man at his side. "He's quite the puppet. Him and Ranboo."

Ice froze my blood, stopping my heart.

"What did you say?"

This seemed to grad the god's attention, a confident curl in his shoulders. If I could've seen his mouth, it would be formed in a smirk.

"Oh, that's right. That reminds me." He swooped in faster than I could think, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I struggled to get away, but it's like he reached across the snapped bond, taking complete control of my magic. A gasp left me as I felt my magic ripped away and shoved deep inside of me.

He leaned in towards my ear, Dream watching in a frozen stare. "I thought I would show you what you could save if you obey."

I went still. "What?"

This amused him, and he pushed me towards Dream. My feet halted a foot away, where I could reach out and touch his face.

DreamXD moved around behind Dream, placing his almost snow-white hands on Dream's lime hoodie. He was tall enough to lean over his 'puppet', peering down at me.

"You see, Dream cares very much about you. And he has been putting up quite the hassle lately, trying to get to you. But I can't have him escaping my grasp just to go frolic with his precious girl."

My eyes darted back down to Dream, seeing a new emotion enter his eyes. A plea pooled there, begging me to run.

But my feet were rooted to the ground, partially because I could see Dream trying to get to me, and because DreamXD would quickly kill me before I could escape.

"I have a plan, y/n, and you stand in the way of that. I'm sure you realized by now that you can free Dream with the use of your powers."

"But if you did that, you would be killing me and all the darkness I've created." He tutted. "We can't be having that, not after how long I had to wait to take control of Dream."

I found some courage, my voice a bit wobbly, "Why did you have to choose Dream? And what did you do to Ranboo?"

DreamXD looked down at Dream like he was a prize. "Ranboo is young and innocent. Dream had the perfect skills, a sharp mind, and even better, a weakness."

The world dropped out from beneath me.

DreamXD laughed as he saw the blood drain from my face. "Y/n, you were a flawless weakness. His love for you made him weak, allowing for me to take control, even after you tried to flush me out many months ago."

The memory of seeing Dream crumbling and on the edge of spiraling entered my mind.

I thought I had gotten rid of the whispers.

"Anyway, getting back to the point, I brought you here because I want you to stop trying to save him, stop trying to save the world. If not, I'll break him." He talked about it so casually.

"How will you break him?"

Red light flickered on the lines of the X and the D, his mask raising slowly to stare at me.

"I'll torture you in the most painful ways possible."

I shook my head slowly, every single part of me recoiling in fear and anger.

But above all, my courage peaked.

"I won't stop. I'll never stop. Not until you piece of shit let Dream go and you're exiled from this world." My words dripped with acid.

The god simply shrugged. "Call me all your swear words. I have other names: God of Chaos, Nightmare, Dreamon. But, have it your way."

He raised his hands, most likely to inflict pain, but someone cracked into the air, shielding my body.

It was the strange man, his jewel eyes heated with anger. Foolish, slightly glowing, stared DreamXD down.

"You won't touch her, brother." Brother?

Anger sliced through the air from DreamXD, the red lines growing brighter. "She's mine!"

He brought his hands up quickly, pain mirroring deep inside my body. I screamed, my knees giving out.

But I never hit the ground.

Foolish shot his arm out and held me, dragging me out of the Inbetween and into the veil of sleep.

As I fell, I could see DreamXD raging and trying to break through to where we were falling, while Dream watched frozen.

A tear slipped free from his visible eye, something inside of him fighting.

The world went dark, the pain disappearing.

The whispers were still in control.

~~~~

whispers.

PFFFT YALL READING YOUR ANGRY COMMENTS ON THE LAST PART WAS SO FUNNY, YALL ARE HILARIOUS

anyways, I wasn't gonna say anything after the 'whispers.' part for spookiness, but I couldn't resist telling u how funny u are. luv u all

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND GET SOME SLEEP AND DRINK WATER MY CHILDREN