Prompt 2: Dreams

Light in the Darkness

Where...where am I? asked Count Bleck.

Count Bleck found himself in a large white landscape, his voice echoing around him. The air was as cold as an arctic wind, his cape blowing in the wind. He put his arms around himself, trying to keep himself warm. He found breathing to be a bit difficult, the icy air hurting his lungs.

What is this place?

"...Help, somebody help me!"

Nastasia?

The sound of his secretary's voice echoed in Count Bleck's ears.

"Help, help!"

"Nastasia, where are you?" Count Bleck called. "Tell Count Bleck where you are!"

"Help, help!"

Nastasia's voice was growing more desperate, growing weaker. Fear going through his heart, Count Bleck ran in a random direction, trying to find the source of the voice.

"Nastasia, keep calling out!" Count Bleck shouted, hoping that she could hear him. "Lead Count Bleck to you with the sound of your voice!"

"Count, Count Bleck!"

Nastasia's voice was growing louder and louder, and Count Bleck felt hope rise with in him. He was getting close, he was going to find her!

"...Help!"

Count Bleck stopped all movement.

That...that voice!

"...Timpani?"

"Blumiere, help me!"

There was no doubt about it, that was her voice. His truelove, the woman he longed to see again.

"Timpani, my love, I'm coming!"

But when Count Bleck turned around, he heard Nastasia's voice again. Count Bleck froze, for now both voices echoed in his ears.

"Count Bleck, help me!"

"Blumiere, save me!"

"Count!"

"Blumiere!"

Tears started to form in the dark count's eyes as he put his hands over his ears.

"...S-stop!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Please, stop it! Don't make them suffer because of..."

"Lord Blumiere!"

"My love, Blumiere!"

Count Bleck fell to his knees, shaking with cold as the voices continued to torture him. Tears ran down his cheeks, for it was pure torture to hear them in so much pain and despair.

"...Please," Count Bleck whispered, his voice cracking. "Please, don't make choose!"

"Ah ha ha! But I'm afraid you don't have a choice!"

Count Bleck's eyes widened as he looked up to see someone levitating in front of him. It was a man, but he couldn't see his face clearly, only his mismatched yellow and gray eyes. The dark figure gave a malevolent smile.

"You brought this upon yourself," he said in a mystic voice. "You wanted to destroy all worlds and everything in them. And that includes the two people you hold most dear."

The dark figure laughed, making Count Bleck shake in terror.

"You really are pathetic, not able to live with the consequences of obeying the Dark Prognosticus," the figure continued. "And now you will pay for your ignorance."

He snapped his figures and Timpani and Nastasia gave blood curling screams of agony. The dark figure gave a mad, sadistic laugh, while Count Bleck covered his ears trying to block out the voices.

Stop it, stop it, stop it! Please, oh God, have mercy on me!

"Count, are you okay?"

Count Bleck opened his eyes wide. He sat up in his bed, his body and shirt covered with sweat. He was in his bedroom, no pure white world or dark figures anywhere.

And no screams.

"...Count?"

Count Bleck turned to see Nastasia standing in front of his opened bedroom door. She was in her robe, her long pink hair in a complete mess as her red eyes gave him a concerned look.

She was unharmed, perfectly healthy.

Count Bleck stared at her for a long moment.

"...N-Nastasia," the count finally said, unable to keep from stuttering. "W-why...?"

"I heard you screaming my name from my room," Nastasia explained. "And you were also screaming...her name too."

There was a small pause as Nastasia walked to Count Bleck's side.

"Luckily, the others didn't hear you," she continued. "But I couldn't help but worry if something was wrong."

Count Bleck sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"I...Count Bleck just had a dream. A dream that he had multiple times before. Only this time..."

He sighed.

"Only this time the stakes were higher and more torturous."

Nastasia gave a puzzled look. "What do you mean by that, if you don't mind me asking, count?"

Count Bleck gave a crooked smile, wheezing out a small laugh.

"It...it is nothing. Only something Count Bleck, and Count Bleck alone, can face by himself. His own inner demons and guilt. However..."

He looked deeply into Nastasia's eyes.

"Count Bleck hopes...that you realize you mean a lot to him. You have no idea...how much he appreciates you."

No idea at all...

Nastasia blinked, as if surprised by the counts words. Even in the darkness, Count Bleck could see Nastasia's face grow red as she smiled down on him.

"...Yeah, I know. And I will always be by your side."

She took a hold of his hand.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, count?" Nastasia asked.

Count Bleck nodded as he settled down in his bed.

"Yes. Count Bleck would appreciate it...if you stay by his side until he has fallen asleep again."

Nastasia nodded, her grip on his hand growing tighter.

"K. I will do that."

With that said, the dark count gave her one last smile and closed his eyes, returning to his dreams.

Only this time, his dreams were more pleasant, for he had his best friend by his side.