A/N: I have returned! At the time of writing this, I've begun to post the chapters from Act One over onto AO3. I'm really liking the greater amount of freedom that AO3 offers when writing, letting me make small changes to smaller parts of the story, but I digress.
And yes, you read that right. I've decided to categorize each major arc of the overall story as "Acts" for organization-sake.
Anyways, I'm back. Just a reminder that new chapters will come when they are ready and that there is no set upload schedule that I'm adhering to. With that said, I hope you all enjoy reading Act Two of With You Unto Dawn!

Act Two Theme: She Is The Sunlight - Trading Yesterday

Chapter 27 - Yesterday I Died, Tomorrow's Bleeding

I was sprawled out among the wheat, gazing up into the pink sky as the sun began to set. The wind made waves throughout the field, putting me at ease. The soft crunching of steps on the ground alerted me to the presence of someone else before the sky was blotted out by the silhouette of a young child looking down at me. I smiled as I recognized the familiar scarf and whiskers that stood over me.

"Enjoying yourself, Alan?" Niko grinned as she smiled back.

"Very much," I replied, putting my hands behind my head and closing my eyes.

She giggled, "Well, Mama's making dinner right now. You better hurry before I end up eating your plate."

I peeked open one eye, "Oh? Is that a threat?"

She began to scamper away, "Only if you don't make it in time!"

I laughed and jumped to my feet, racing off after her. I followed after the tail-end of her waving scarf as we traveled through the wheat stalks back towards the village though I quickly ended up losing sight of her after passing through a thick bundle of wheat.

"Uh oh...Hope I don't end up getting lost," I said to myself. The sun had passed by the horizon, with the few remaining rays of light shining beyond it. I continued making my way through the field, trying to find my way back to the village. The night came swiftly. The golden wheat soon faded into a foreboding blackness. With hardly any light to see where I was going, I started growing nervous.

"Niko? I think I got lost! Where'd you go?" I called out into the night. I couldn't believe I had gotten lost from her. I don't remember going that far from the village…

…

...Wait, I don't even remember leaving a village...

I kept pushing through the wheat as I started to become more and more scared, "Niko! Where are you?!" I sped up my pace, running in a random direction, hoping I would come across the village and be safe back with Niko, but as I continued to run past more and more stalks of wheat, I began to panic.

"NIKO!" I cried out into the night, hoping to hear something. Anything. It only then occurred to me that...I didn't hear anything. No wind. No chirping of crickets. Not even the crunch of leaves under my feet. I felt my heart beat faster and faster as my blood ran colder and colder, "NIKO, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

I broke through one last group of wheat to find myself in a wide-open plain. Wheat was nowhere to be found. Even when I looked back to where I came from, the wheat had vanished. I turned back around and froze as I saw Niko standing only a couple of feet away with her back facing me.

"N-Niko?" I whispered, inching closer and closer to her, "W-What's going on? Where'd everything go?"

She slowly turned towards me and I saw the tears that were falling down her cheeks. The area around us became consumed by darkness as we stared at each other until she spoke, "Why did you let them die, Alan?"

I stepped back, "W-What…?"

"Why did you let us die, Alan?"

Other voices poured out of the darkness as the shadows of those I had met in the other world materialized behind Niko. Their eyes bored into me as the darkness surrounding us became more and more suffocating.

"Why did you let us die, Alan?"

I could feel my body tremble as my voice shook, "I-I...I wanted Niko to go home...I couldn't save both!"

The silhouettes resembling Calamus and Alula stepped forward, "We trusted you to save us. You promised us! And what did you do? You killed us all. Just to save a girl that you'll never see again."

I fell to my knees, "I...didn't have a choice...I wanted to save your world and her…"

The shadows of Kip and Silver stepped forward, "Did you really want to save our world? Or did you just want to feel like you mattered to someone?"

Tears fell onto my hands, "I'm sorry...please...I'm so sorry…"

"Alan..."

I looked up at Niko and watched as the area around us morphed into black and purple wireframe as the darkness began to consume us.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Niko…" My tears wouldn't stop, no matter how hard I tried. Niko walked up and wrapped her arms around me.

"...You need to wake up, Alan," I heard her say before the darkness consumed us both.

I gasped as my eyes flew open. The dust that had gathered around me while I slept flew away as I wiped away the tears that had fallen in my sleep. The coldness of the room bit into my skin as I shivered, wrapping the blanket tighter around me. From outside, I could hear the horns of cars driving by as the morning rush hour began.

It's been two weeks since my journey with Niko came to an end. Two weeks since I last saw her. Two weeks since I doomed an entire world to make sure she got home. The nightmare I had just experienced was something I've been having ever since. It always took place in the wheat field. It always had the specters of those I left to die. It always ended with us being consumed by darkness. It was getting close to the point where I dreaded falling asleep.

I felt more tears stream down my face as the nightmare played over and over in my mind. Not a day went by that I didn't think about Niko. When she left, it was like a piece of me had died. I didn't even really know why I kept moving during the day. There was hardly anything to look forward to. If Niko were here, she'd probably give me a hug and tell me not to worry, that we'd make it through together.

I chuckled darkly to myself. Yeah, that's probably what she would do. Honestly, there were times where I could still hear her voice, times where I could still feel her hand in mine as I roved aimlessly through the city and countryside. But that's ridiculous for me to think. She's gone. She's where she belongs.

I looked over at my pack that sat against the wall with the laptop poking out from the top. After leaving the motel room, I carried the laptop with me everywhere I went. I wasn't really sure why. Maybe because it was the only tangible memory I had of her or maybe it was to constantly remind me of the price I had paid, of the world I destroyed.

My stomach growled, pulling me out of my reverie. Oh, right. I probably should get something to eat. I still had some money that I, er..."borrowed" from other people. It wasn't like they were gonna go broke.

I folded up my blanket and stuffed it into my pack, making doubly sure that the laptop was snug, before putting it on and leaving the room. It was an abandoned apartment building, left to wither for what seemed like a couple of months. Perfect for someone like me to use as a hideout; I just wish there was a bed somewhere.

I froze as memories quickly overtook my thoughts:

"Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Not really..."

"Well, you should get some rest. We're gonna be entering the Tower soon and it'd be better to be fully rested before then."

"Are you going to sleep on the floor again?

"Not if you say otherwise."

"...Please?"

I shuffled onto the bed and laid down, turning onto my side so that I faced her, "Better?"

She smiled and nuzzled into my chest, "Definitely warmer."

As the memory faded, I found myself in the middle of the hallway, its emptiness acting as a mirror. I shook my head and got in control of myself. I can't think about that anymore. She's gone. Accept it.

I opened a window at the end of the hallway and mantled out onto the staircase that ran up and down the building. Trash littered the alleyway as I made it to ground level and headed out onto the street. I knew there was a small diner nearby that I could get something to eat, though it only served to bring back more memories:

"Hey, Alan? Do you remember where the cafe is?

"Yeah, I think so."

"Oh, good! I'm asking because...well…" A growl rumbled from her stomach, "I'm...a little hungry…" Another growl. "Actually, I'm REALLY hungry! I haven't eaten anything since I got here...so is it okay if we go get some food before we enter the Tower?

I felt my own stomach growl, causing her to smile, "I think my stomach answered your question."

She giggled before her eyes grew wide, "I hope they have pancakes…"

No, I can't think about that. She's gone. I have to accept it, no matter how much it hurts.

I found the diner and walked in, the bell above the door sounding out my arrival. I took off my pack and took a seat at one of the booths. As I ordered food, my thoughts continued to fall back to Niko:

"...Y'know, I used to be scared of the dark, Alan. It's...a little hard to imagine that now, after spending so much time here...but not long ago, I couldn't even go to sleep without a lamp…"

"...Me too."

"Really? Even though you're a god?"

"I'm not a god. I'm just a person like you. Though, to be honest, I still don't really like the dark. Too many...bad memories. It's a good thing you got over that fear."

"Yeah. Otherwise, I wouldn't last long here...Then again, I've been carrying around the sun, so it's not too bad. And also...I don't feel scared at all with you guiding me." She leaned against my shoulder, "So...thanks for that."

The world through the window near the booth blurred as my heart ached to go back to that time, to see Niko's smile one more time. I held back my tears for fear of breaking down in public. It'd just draw unwanted attention to me; something that I really didn't want.

The waiter came back with my plate. I stopped when I saw the small stack of pancakes in front of me. Was I really so broken that I ordered pancakes without even realizing it? I chuckled to myself. If Niko were here, they'd be gone in a matter of seconds while she asked for more. I felt a single tear escape as I began to eat, every bite reminding me more and more of her:

"Do you have a birthday, Alan?"

"I do...but it's been a while since then."

"Oh! Then...what's your favorite food? Is it pancakes? Wait, DO you like pancakes?"

"It's been a while, but I'd say I enjoyed them. You're really passionate about pancakes, huh?"

"Well, yeah! On my last birthday, I ate ten of them! I was so full I didn't eat anything else that day…"

"Those must have been good pancakes then."

"My mama makes the best pancakes!"

I finished my plate as the memory receded. I quickly paid and left, making sure my pack stayed with me.

From there, I didn't know what to do. All I had ended up doing was wandering throughout the city. I didn't have enough supplies to move back into the countryside, but I didn't have the motivation to try and prepare. I hardly had a reason to keep going.

I trudged through the crowd as I explored the city. At times, it reminded me of the Refuge. So many people crammed together; stuck in a routine that never changed. The only difference was it didn't feel like the end of the world. Well, at least...not for them. Niko probably would've been starstruck by everything…

"Wow…" she breathed out, moving closer to the railing, "I've...actually never been to a big city before!"

"I kind of figured."

"All these lights...all these people…"

"It's a lot to take in, right?"

"It's definitely a lot different from my village. It's really small and surrounded by huge fields!"

I ended up bumping into a guy in a suit, wrenching me from the memory.

"Watch where you're going, punk!" he barked before vanishing into the crowd.

"Sorry…" I mumbled to no one as I kept walking towards nowhere.

As Niko continued to occupy my thoughts, I kept asking myself "why". Why was I forced to choose between her or an entire world? Why couldn't there have been another way? Why couldn't I stay with her? Despite how crazy the whole thing was, I wanted so desperately to go back, to try and find another way, to feel like I mattered, to be with her again…

Time passed quickly as I roamed the streets and alleys, never stopping to look where I was going. The only thing I thought about was the other world and Niko:

"Hey, Alan…?"

"Yeah, Niko?"

"You know when you said not to get too excited after we woke up?"

"Yeah…"

She yawned, "...I think you may have been right…"

"Well, get some more rest. I'll wake you up when we get to the Glen."

"Mhm…" Her breathing slowed as she fell against my chest, "...you're really warm, by the way…"

I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, causing me to bump into a trash can.

*CRASH*

"Oh, crap...!" I cried out as I fell face-first onto the pavement. Pain streaked through my body as I sprawled out on the ground. Trash hovered over me before the alley I was in quickly returned to its quiet nature. I didn't feel like getting up. I just wanted to fade away right on the spot…

"C'mon, Alan! You gotta keep going! I believe in you!" Niko's voice echoed in my head like she had never gone in the first place. Maybe that was just a sign that I was finally starting to go crazy.

I sighed and slowly lifted myself off the ground, brushing off the trash that stuck to me. I looked up at the thin streak of the sky above me. The sky had turned orange as the sun was starting to fade past the horizon. I stuffed my hands in my jacket, "Guess I better get back to the room…"

*BANG*

I whipped around towards the sound of metal hitting the pavement. Someone had kicked over one of the dumpsters at the entrance of the alley, its trash scattering throughout the alley. The only thing I saw shoot past the corner was the end of a dark scarf. My Fight or Flight instincts kicked into overdrive as I waited for my mysterious follower to reveal themselves, but the alley remained empty. I began to back away towards the other end of the alley, never taking my eyes off where the sound came from. As I reached the exit, nothing else happened. I slowly relaxed as I got further and further away from the alley. Whoever that was, I'm glad they ran away. I was not in the mood to be messed with.

The walk back to the hideout kept me on my toes. I constantly looked over my shoulder, hoping that I wasn't being followed by whoever had been sneaking around in that alley. Fortunately, I couldn't see anyone that was out to get me, making it back to the hideout safe and sound just before it got dark. I set down my pack and looked out the withered window. The skyline reflected the lights of the streets below and I could hear the cheers of people eagerly walking to the nearest bar to get wasted.

My thoughts drifted back to the Refuge; To the lamplighter, the bartender, Kip, and everyone else that lived there. I wonder if they knew what happened when the sun shattered; if they were aware of their world dying before they ceased to exist.

My gaze fell to the floor as I slid down the wall. They trusted me...and now they're gone. Grief enveloped me like a storm cloud as tears began to stream down my face. They didn't deserve it...None of them did…

I didn't bother to dry my tears as I pulled out my blanket and wrapped it around myself. I prayed that I wouldn't have the same nightmare again, but I knew in my heart that it'll probably haunt me for the rest of my life.

As I began to close my eyes, one last memory flowed through me:

"...I know we've only known each other for a couple of hours and that you're supposed to be the God of this world, but…" she looked up at me with warmth in her eyes, "...I consider you my friend...and friends take care of each other."

Quiet sobs escaped my lips as I fell asleep, "I miss you, Niko...I miss you so much…I just want you here with me..."

All I want is to see you again, I thought to myself as I finally succumbed to the darkness of rest.