the ghost nobody asked for

Lantern hated walking around GMAD Headquarters at night. It made her feel uncomfortable and on edge. The shadows seemed to mock and insult her, as if they were taunting her, trying to get her to come closer so the darkness could coil itself around her and pull her into the ever cold night.

Or maybe she was just delusional.

Either way, she had her sword strapped to her waist. It didn't look very intimidating with the yellow and blue pajamas, but she had been too lazy to change. She slowly walked down the hallway, the floor freezing against her bare feet. She shivered at the sudden feeling she was being followed. It felt creepy. It felt wrong. And when she heard a small cough, her mind went blank. Purely relying on instinct, she overreacted.

Immensely.

In a flash, she grabbed her sword, which made a loud SHNK noise and pointed it behind her as she spun around on her feet, shaking. She shivered again, peering into the darkness.

Her sword was poised against the neck of Dream.

Oops.

The black-and-white haired female took a couple steps back in surprise. She was glaring at the velvet black metal as if she was tempting the wielder to fight her. (like Lantern, it failed to be intimidating due to pastel pajamas.)

When she noticed Lantern was the one wielding the sword, she relaxed a little, still thoroughly freaked out.

"So," she said nervously. "Care to explain why you have a sharp metal object against my skin?"

Lantern blinked, her vision clearing and her heart stopping as soon as she realized she had almost beheaded her friend. She sheathed her sword, still shaking. "S-sorry… kinda overreacted."

"Understatement of the century." Dream snickered. Lantern's cheeks flushed red. "I'm just always on edge at night…" she explained. "I blame insomnia. So why are you up?"

"I wanted to get a glass of water." Dream explained. Lantern raised an eyebrow. "Can't you just make water with magic?" Dream frowned. "Shit, you're right." she laughed. "Thanks for telling me that before I walked down ten flights of stairs to get to the cafeteria drinking fountain." She began to walk back towards her room. "Well, good night Lantern. Oh, by the way, why are you up?" "Bathroom. No way I'm using magic for that." Dream laughed again, opening her bedroom door. "Later."

… "Later." As soon as the door closed Lantern could feel her nerves tense up again. She was alone in the hallway again.

Her sword suddenly feeling heavy against her waist, something moved in the corner of the hallway. Something white and transparent.

She couldn't tell what it was, but again (slowly this time) she prepared her sword if she would have to fight. As she got closer and closer to the light, her brain was screaming at her to just run away.

But she felt drawn to the light. Her body felt like it was moving on it's own. Then light turned, and then took the shape of a person.

A very, very, very familiar person.

The form of a vampire demon lord who also happened to be incredibly short. Slick black hair, a red sweater and pale skin, now tinted in silver.

He was floating.

Right in front of her.

Lantern had her sword through his stomach. She hadn't even noticed she had until she moved her arm, noticing the sword was passing straight through her dead father as if he wasn't there.

Because he wasn't.

Alcatran was dead.

Maybe she was hallucinating. But before she could even convince herself of that, Alcatran's voice rang out crisp, clear, and annoying.

"Did'ja miss me?"

isn't this asshole supposed to be dead?