1:06 AM
In a hotel room a few hours away from home
The Unknown was a place that haunted Wirt's dreams even years after he and his most important person, Greg, his brother, luckily escaped. The stubborn personality of Beatrice, the old-timely but also somehow uncannily sweet people were overshadowed by dreams of The Beast lavishing them all in his horrors. Wirt shuddered to think of a world where Greg was left as a willowing tree in the cold forest… no more exploring, no more excited smiles… instead dim and dark and nowhere to be found.
Wirt winced as he turned over. There was a crick in the back of his neck from staying up late reading poetry he brought from home.
"Wirt?" Greg whispered.
"Yes, Greg?"
"… you don't have to be scared anymore… I'll protect you! With Jason Funderburker by our side, Captain, no one can defeat us!" He exclaimed, making a tiny fist and determined expression.
"Shh! Everyone's still asleep, you don't want to wake them, do you?" Wirt shout-whispered back. Despite what his proclamation, Wirt felt incredibly warm after hearing Greg, and while he felt guilty about not being a very good older brother to him, he was going to do his best to be the best brother he could be and protect him. Without Greg, truth be told Wirt wasn't sure if he'd be able to function as well as he did.
Greg tiredly nodded. He must have only wakened from Wirt's restless squirming, the older assessed. He smiled softly and reached a hand from his bed to Greg's bed aside from his and ruffled Greg's hair. "Goodnight, brother o' mine."
"G'night bro' o' mine, maybe if we're lucky we'll see Beatrice someday with her family!"
Despite being struck with anxiety at the thought of the Unknown, Wirt chuckled softly. "Maybe, now get some rest."
They both settled into their respective beds and soon soft snores filled the room as the moonlight peered in from the window and kissed their skin. The night was calm and the crickets chirped faraway in the night as the leaves blew throughout the starry sky and for once in a long time, Wirt forgot his nightmares and snuggled his pillow in his sleep, mumbling melodically about something no one else knew but him.
