(Prologue: ?)

After a bowlful of surprisingly chunky stew, Duster leads me into his guest room.

"Come, m'chap, y' can sleep here tonight. You are a guest in m'home, so you're more than welcome to ask for anythin' you need."

"Of course." Bemused by his kindness, I smile. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"Don't worry y'self," Duster says, waving a hand. "It's no trouble at all. Sleep well tonight, 'n' I'll keep an ear out for the Dead Alive."

He leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

I lean back against the woollen pillow. It's not exactly the softest thing ever, but it's much better here than sleeping under someone's doorway. The room is pretty, filled with the faint scents of oak and sunflower oil. There's a painting on the wooden wall that could well have been painted by a child. A basket on the floor suggests a dog slept here once.

Staring into the innards of the thatched roof allows me to finally collect my thoughts. Of all the places to end up, Tazmily wouldn't have been top of my list, considering Porky's plan and the oncoming Onett armies. Unfortunately, it puts me in a moral dilemma; I know what's coming, and I know what's at stake. Does that mean it's my responsibility to stay and help?

I have always been a man who took on the roles he was given, but this is a new type of challenge. I'm not a saint, nor am I going to be a martyr. I can't fill out a form to make the terror go away, and then there's the issue of the Dead Alive, which, as far as I'm concerned, has very little to do with Porky and his ideas. Tomorrow, Porky will be here in the village, and that'll be my chance to decide what to do. I don't know exactly how he's brainwashed these people, but I'd guess he's built up some sort of heroic persona. As if he's their saving grace.

I notice a newspaper sitting on the side of the bedside table. Interesting. I haven't been up to date in the news since escaping.

Onett Declares War on Tazmily.

Porky's plan has officially begun.


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.

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~~o00o~~

Chapter 17: Night Terrors

(Ness)

~~o00o~~

.

.

..

—~0o0*### ###### #############

####### ######## ##*0o—- ###############

It's coming. The Cloak is coming

It's slow, but don't let that fool you. It's coming, always and forever; always closer than you expect. It never gets faster, never gets slower. It will not die, it will not wax or wane. It will not give up, not until it has won. No matter where you hide, no matter how far you run, it will always be one step behind you.

It gets you in those moments when you stall to catch your breath. It gets when you turn your back. When it wins, that is the end.

So don't stop running.

Because you'll be running for the rest of your life.

—~0o0*### ############## ##

#### ###*0o—##### ####

—-~~o00o0*##### ##

(Ness)

###### ### #####*0o—~—

—~0o0*######### ####### ##

—-~~o00o 0*######## ### # ##### ###~

In an instant, I'm somewhere else.

The object in my hand falls to the floor with an almighty crash.

Three knocks. The wardrobe. A Future Human, crying into its hands.

I shudder, trying to understand where I am, where I've been taken. How I can possibly have moved so far in such a short amount of time...

#########

...I wake suddenly, panting, and so does Lucas. It takes a while to ground myself, but I manage, swimming in the throes of the night.

Lucas's hands grip mine tight.

Three knocks.

There was nobody there when we opened the door. It shouldn't bother me this much, but it does. There's something off. Something is deeply wrong. Lucas feels it too, I can sense it in his occasional twitches, and his eyes, darting like frenzied fish. He's so alive with movement, with paranoia. I never knew I was so tuned in to the smallest elements of his character, but I see everything. Is it wrong to observe him? Am I trespassing upon him by perceiving him so deeply?

No. I'm looking out for him. Danger surrounds us...

#########

...Marble arches stretch like crescent moons above me. Pillars engraved with images of mythical creatures pile upwards towards a domed roof. It's like a cathedral. But how can that be possible?

I pick the object off of the floor. It's an egg, a golden egg. My chest tightening, I pinch myself, in a desperate attempt to return to the dormitory...

#########

...Lucas pulls the covers from our bodies in a trance-like turn. Something's set him off. He gets like this sometimes, getting little premonitions about this and that. They usually turn out to be correct.

On the train, Lucas tensed. He knew something was wrong, and then the Face appeared.

Last night, Lucas demanded that we search the room, despite no obvious signs of anything being amiss.

He's funny. Funny peculiar. Yesterday, I kissed him.

That wakes me up. Dammit - yesterday, I kissed him!

"Sensory check," Lucas whispers in my ear, lurching me back into reality.

Everything is pitch black. The smell of blueberries lingers from the candles, but otherwise, nothing is out of the ordinary. All I feel is Lucas's warmth, and tiredness. A lot of tiredness…

I dissolve back into the night...

#########

...My feet find themselves walking forward through the marble.

I'm alone. The thought slices through me like a hot knife through butter. Usually, Lucas is by my side. Lucas is my voice of reason.

There's a stab of fear. Without him, I have no hope of getting home. I screw my eyes tight shut, praying that I'll be safe. Praying that it'll be okay...

#########

...When I wake again, light is streaming sleepily through the curtains. Lucas's head is sound against my chest, his mouth very slightly open. Red lies sprawled out on the floor, whilst Villager's body rises and falls against the morning light.

Toon Link is nowhere to be seen.

Concerned, I shift, letting Lucas's weight fall onto the bed. He moves in his sleep, grabbing onto the pillow, hugging it tight. I worry that he's having a bad dream, but still I tiptoe out of bed, being careful as to not wake him up. Turning back, I take the blanket, carefully tucking him in. He's inhumanly cute when he sleeps - no! No. I can't think those thoughts about him.

He's just my best friend.

Chills trickle down my spine as I meander into the hallway. Conveniently, I spot Toon Link a little way ahead, walking with purpose, deliberation in his footsteps. Curiously, I follow, not wanting to interrupt him quite yet, but on the stairway, he turns around.

Toon Link's hand flies to his heart.

"Holy hell - Ness, did you follow me?"

"Yeah," I say quietly. "What are you doing?"

"Insomnia." He rubs his eyes. "I had to get out, I just had to go… anywhere else."

"Did you get any sleep at all?"

"Not really."

"Why not?" I ask. It's probably a stupid question.

"Nerves, I guess." He looks sheepish.

Nerves? So, maybe his 'thing' for Villager is a little more than just that? I'm not really sure what to say though, so I keep quiet.

"It's 6 a.m.," he mumbles shakily. "I'm so tired, but far, far too tired to fall asleep."

"You won't sleep if you're wandering around."

"I guess so," he says. "I'm going to the music room. You should probably go back to bed."

"Wanna jam?" I say.

"Jam?" He raises his eyebrows.

"You play the percussion, I play the harp. Let it all out."

He shrugs. "Sounds good. Let's do it."

I follow him to the music room, taking my position by the harp. I let my fingers glide over the strings, following my instincts. It works wonders, playing sweeping melodies that fill the space with vibrance. Toon Link comes in with the percussion, a steady bass-heavy beat that accentuates every note I play...

#########

...The air around me is cold, thick with mystique. Through the cathedral windows, there are no features, simply a white blanket of sky. Ahead, there is nothing but a single, solid door. I look from left, to right, from forwards, to backwards. I clamp my mouth shut. I wonder if someone is listening.

How did I get here?

I don't know where I am...

#########

A while later, we head back up to the dorm. It's all just as we left it, Lucas tucked up, Red on the floor, and Villager sleeping in Toon Link's bed.

"You've got no reason to be nervous," I say, as Toon Link slips under the covers, a little closer to Villager this time. "He's cool with you. He has no problem with you being there. He wouldn't judge."

"Right you are." Toon Link smiles. "It's why I like him, after all. Goodnight, Ness."

"Goodnight," I echo, as he disappears beneath the blankets.

I make to join Lucas, but something tugs at my subconscious.

Knock. Knock. Knock

They keep replaying in my mind. Why won't they stop?

Maybe something is going on?

Buttercup, please, not now. I just want to go to sleep.

It could kill you.

No, that's ridiculous-

Knock. Knock. Knock.

That's it. I'm going to have to look around the room. Under every bed, in every nook and cranny. Just to prove that everything is okay.

I stand in trepidation, every hair standing on end. I have the horrible feeling that I might unearth something, or someone, very unpleasant.

Even worse, it's as if I know exactly where to look. Under the wardrobe, it's calling me. There's something there.

Heart pounding, I crouch down, casting my eyes under the big oaken structure. There's an object, small, glittering, out of place. I reach out slowly, my breath catching in my throat, and then-

#########

That's the last thing I remember. The golden egg. I touched it, and it brought me into a cathedral. It's impossible. Yet, it has very much happened.

The Face is impossible. So is the grave. So are the Future Humans. The boundaries of what we know are slipping away. In a frenzy, I feel the egg all over, desperately hoping that it might take me back, but nothing happens. I bite back mounting fear, trembling from head to toe. What if I can't ever get back? What if I die here?

There's only one thing to be done. The door ahead of me. I start moving towards it.

Someone must've thrown the egg into the room - when we were so busy examining the Future Human, there had been that thud. But who'd want to take me here, and why?

I close my eyes momentarily. What would Lucas do?

All at once, there's a voice in my mind that causes stars to fill my vision and my head to sting. I almost lose my balance, catching myself on a pillar.

'I'd do a sensory check.'

I shudder. I hadn't been expecting a response! I clutch my head, rubbing it. But yes, a sensory check seems like the safest thing to do for now. I breathe, willing myself to calm down. To figure out exactly what is going on here.

I look all around the cathedral. It's majestic, tapestries of fruit hanging from the tallest rafters, impossibly tall pillars skyrocketing into the ceiling. But something tells me this is just the beginning; beyond that door will be more.

'Something's wrong.'

Ah - that throbbing pain in my head again! But I freeze. I swear, I'm hearing a voice. An actual, human voice, speaking into my mind. It's different to Buttercup, it's softer, yet... it causes this awful pounding. I stumble against the wall. I close my eyes, frustratedly probing inside of my mind.

Feeling like an idiot, I speak inside my head.

'Hello?'

There's a little pause, before a response reverberates my skull.

'Hello?'

What the hell? I throw my eyes open, thoroughly panicked. What on earth? I close my eyes once more, feeling my chest compress.

'What is happening?' I speak again.

'Ness - it's me, Lucas!'

I almost fall over. Everything here is so far beyond my comprehension. I'm going crazy. Is this some elaborate trick played by Buttercup, some deceit to drive me into further misery? My head throbs once again, and I blink back tears of pain.

'Lucas? How can it be you?'

'I don't know, Ness! How did you get there?'

'I'm not sure! There was a golden egg, I touched it, and I ended up here.'

'A golden egg?' Lucas's voice sounds concerned. How his voice can hold the nuances of his tone in my mind, makes no sense whatsoever. There's another pause.

'What can you see?' I ask.

'I can see you, but in the third person. I don't think I have a body. My vision is just following yours, wherever you're going.'

I push open the door, trying to process this. Is he trapped?

'Lucas, I'm scared.'

'I know, Ness, so am I.' The sound of Lucas sniffling plays in my head. He's losing his composure. 'I don't understand this at all. It's all - this is all - so impossible.'

'What do I do?'

'I guess you should explore. I don't know what'll be here, but I'll stay with you, okay?'

'Okay.'

Just like that, his voice falls quiet, and my head clears. Deciding it's best not to stay here much longer, I tread carefully down the corridor I've unveiled; the floor is smooth, slippery and it takes a lot of skill to keep my balance.

There's a door on my right with the number 'one' written on a placard. I open it, and it leads me into an empty room. There's an ominous silence inside - it's just a small, square place, completely devoid of anything. Blank walls, no windows, no nothing, but there's still light. Why is there light?

I blink.

Suddenly, I'm plunged into pitch back darkness. So much for light! I back away in haste, but I can't see a thing. I panic, slipping, yelling, blundering into a wall, falling down…

"Ness."

A mangled voice seeps out from the darkness, wrapping all around me, echoing horribly around my form.

"Ah!" I yelp, falling abruptly onto the hard ground. My voice comes out high. "Wh-Who's there?"

"Aha - ahaha!" The cackle ensnares me, practically pinning me down. "Ness! It's so good to finally speak to you!"

I force my eyes shut. 'Lucas, can you see anything?'

'No, it's all gone dark - what's that voice?'

'I don't know!'

"Who's there!" I call again, sounding braver than I feel. I probe around on the floor for anything I can hold onto, but it's bare. Completely bare.

"You know who I am."

"What is this place?"

"Let's play a game! I love games."

The voice is childlike, petulant yet terrifying, scrambled somehow beyond recognition. I hold myself in the darkness with bated breath, still trying to sound brave.

"What's the game?"

"Let's play hide and seek!"

"I don't want to play your game!" I call. Chills run down my spine, and I'm inexplicably reminded of Porky. "Where am I?"

'Ness, don't move,' Lucas probes. 'Anything could be around you. I'm working on it.'

"Can you find me, Ness?" The voice echoes, in some kind of sing-song tone.

I can hardly speak, as the light floods back into the room, and I'm left alone, panting on the ground. I try to calm my breathing as much as I can. I glance up, again trying to process it all, aware that I've been sweating, and that my shirt is stuck to my chest.

Crash.

I jump up. Suddenly, I'm not alone. Of course, there's always a monster - I scramble upwards, eyes wide, hand trailing the wall. The creature is robed unceremoniously in a ragged, white cloak, with no visible face or body. The cloak ripples ominously as it approaches, and webbed, grey claws reach from its folds. An obnoxious grinding noise fills my ears, causing my lungs to wither, and I shudder as it comes nearer and nearer, grotesque and awful. I shrink back and back, yet still it glides, with no signs of fear or, or mercy-

'Ness, run!'

I'm jolted to attention. Taking a risk, I duck past the creature, sprinting out of the room, into the corridor, slamming the door shut behind me. I turn the key that appears to be in the keyhole, trapping whatever it is inside. I lean back against the door, breathing heavily.

I still myself.

'You know who I am,' the voice had said. But who? Who is it, who's trapped me in this place? Who has brought me here so deliberately?

I close my eyes.

'Lucas, what do I do?'

'Keep exploring, I think. Find a way out. If you can get in, you can definitely get out.'

'Alright. I'll try my best.'

'I know you're scared, Ness.' His tone softens a little. 'But try and stay strong, okay? I'm scared for you too."'

'I'm glad you're not here with me. This place seems dangerous.'

'Agreed."

I open my eyes again, rubbing my cheek, and - IT'S REACHING OVER ME! THE CREATURE - I - I - IT'S GOT ME! IT'S GOT ME! IT'S-

Everything freezes.

~~xx#########xx~~

"Ness."

Through the darkness of my mind, I can make out a figure. A mess of soft, blonde hair. Lucas.

He stands opposite me, coming into focus, holding out both of his hands in front of him. I take them, staring into his bright blue eyes, and he smiles.

"This is the part where you tell me how you're going to get away."

"I-I don't understand - are we, are we dead?" I look around the space. There's nothing here, nothing but thick, black darkness.

"We're not dead. We're just elsewhere, somewhere inside your consciousness, I think."

"How do you know?"

"No idea." He shrugs, grinning shiftily. "Sorta have a feeling, I guess."

"That happens sometimes," I note.

"It seems to," he says, rubbing his neck. "Now, first things first, we need to work out how you're going to get out of this tight spot."

"W-What? How? I'm done - I'm dead, I'm sorry Lucas, I, I'm scared, I-"

"Ness, don't give up." Lucas's face grows worried. "Think, what do we know?"

"Nothing!"

"What does the floor feel like?" He says more insistently.

"The floor? Slippery, I guess?"

"Then slide! Slide under the monster, and run."

"S-Slide?"

"Yeah. Go for it!"

"I-I-" I look at him with wavering uncertainty. "I'm not sure if I-"

"You're running out of time," he says. "There's no time to debate it. Escape."

"Escape," I repeat hoarsely.

Lucas smiles. "Show me how it's done."

My eyes fly open. The creature reaches, but this time I'm prepared. Thinking quick, adrenaline coursing, I shove the wall, pushing off of it. My body slides - I fly beneath the folds of its cloak, slipping from under its impending reach...

'RUN!'

My pulse races. I sprint down the corridor as it twists and turns, becoming an elaborate labyrinth of paths that all look the same. But the creature, it's not chasing - it's not coming for me - it's - I check behind me. I'm safe?

'I knew you could do it!' Lucas's voice exclaims.

'Yeah!' I grin, a little bit giddy.

'Now, keep going. You've got this.'

I stop to catch my breath. "How?" I ask, accidentally speaking aloud.

'Keep exploring. There has to be a way out somewhere.'

He's got to be right. I stare down both directions of the corridor that I've found myself in; the walls shine a brilliant white, with glittering chandeliers hanging down sequentially across the ceiling. There's carpet, it's some awful maroon and bottle-green pattern that I decide is horrible. It's completely out of place with the cathedral-like room that I'd initially found myself in… it's almost like some kind of hotel, the ones that the ultra-rich stay in when visiting cities. As soon as I think this, I notice maroon doors embedded across the walls; they're all numbered… had those been there before?

Perplexed, I start to walk. There's another slight chill in the air, but there always seems to be a chill in the air.

I come to the end of the corridor, and I'm met with a T junction. I choose to turn right. The new corridor continues exactly the same as the last, and slightly unnerved, I continue. I take another right, and another. I realise that should lead me in a square, but there doesn't seem to be any-

'Ness, stop!'

"What is it?" I ask, accidentally speaking aloud again.

'That door - it had your name on it!'

I freeze, turning back. Surely not? But he's right - on a placard, where the room number should be, the name 'Ness' is written.

Curiously, I test the door, and it swings open. My hand tremors very slightly as I open it to reveal…

A bedroom. It's just a normal bedroom. I enter, still exercising caution, because, well, this place is undoubtedly full of surprises. But there's a double bed, two bookshelves on either side of it, a neat wooden desk to my left, and a wardrobe to the right. There's nothing special about this room at all. So, why was my name on the door? I exit the room again, swinging the door back open, and I reread the placard.

It's changed.

It now reads: 'You Will Never Escape.'

I shiver.

Crash.

The fear hits. It comes out of nowhere, catching me off guard - I stagger backwards, coughing, a roaring in my ears - I'm sure I hear the call of a rook - I dizzily plunge back into the room again, the sensations starting to fade… what the hell? Questions burn in my mind yet again; how can any of this be possible!?

'Ness, you're really tense, please be careful!'

How can Lucas be inside my head!? I collapse onto the bed, feeling foreign pressure rising inside of me. I'm going to burn, going to explode, this isn't right, this is impossible, this is, this is-

I break into sobs, curling up on top of the patterned quilt. My mind, my emotions, my body, they all feel so far removed from one another. I can hardly think for the rushing noise, the pressure, the cold, everything that threatens to pile up at once. I can't tell if I'm scared, lonely, or sad, and in that one awful moment, my emotions are not my own.

My face plunges into the white pillows, my body shaking like a leaf. Caught in the darkness, I think I feel another hand.

'Ness, I promise, you'll get out of here.'

'How? It's a prison. I'm not supposed to.'

'Because you're Ness, my best friend. You're incredible.'

'There must be something wrong with me. That's why I've been put here.'

A wave of nausea overcomes me, and the light in the room disappears.

'Ness, there's nothing wrong with you. Don't say things like that. I don't understand any of this either, but you have to stay strong.'

'How?'

'I'm here with you, Ness. I'm trapped too. You're not alone.'

'But it's my fault, Lucas!'

Lucas's voice disappears momentarily, before it comes back with more force than ever.

'Ness. I wish I was there to hug you, to tell you that it's all going to be okay, because - because I believe it will be! Because hope is one thing they can't take away, so you have to hold onto it, okay? Something's making you want to give up already, but we only just got here. There's time. Ignore it, please. For me. I'm here.'

I'm silent. My thoughts combine, my body alive again.

'You're right.'

I open my eyes.

"Ness."

The mangled voice speaks again. With no light in the room, I stay still, listening intently for a cloak's hem sweeping the ground.

"Neeeeeeeessss! Can you hear me?"

It's taunting me. I'm funny, I'm stupid and emotional, but I'll let it think that if it wants. Lucas is right, I'm not alone. I feel the golden egg in my pocket press against my thigh.

"Come on, you're no fun. Why don't you wanna play my game?"

"QUIET!" I scream suddenly, surprising even myself. My heart pounds, and I find myself standing up. "Explain why I'm here, or I won't speak to you again!"

"Well! Temper, temper! You're fun to play with, Ness."

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"I'm not your toy."

"You are. Now, play! Find me!"

"I don't want to play with you." I fold my arms like a stubborn child.

"You have ten hours, Ness. If you fail, you will never escape this prison. If you find me, I might let you g.!"

I refuse to answer.

"Would some music cheer you up?"

Awful, discordant organs start blaring out of who knows where, pounding into my skull, clouding my thoughts, scraping like nails against a chalkboard.

"Stop it!"

"Much better!" The voice is loud, even over the cacophany. "Good luck - oh, wait. I hope you fail horribly. Heheeee!"

"WAIT!" I cry out, as light fills the room. "Where is this? Tell me more - tell me where I am! How did I get here!?"

But there's no response, and the room glows with colour. The music stops. However, spurred on by the voice's taunts, I stand. I will get out of here. I will find them… and I will make them pay, not for mocking me, but for taking Lucas. In stoic defiance, I kick at the desk, causing one of the legs to collapse. I pick the leg up - a good weapon, for any other horrors that may be hiding in this place. I scan the room, working overtime to turn fear into anger and courage. I have to be strong. But how do I find this person? What would Lucas do?

'Search - but quickly. This room is important, I think. Try the books on the shelves.'

I turn to the bookshelves, and with a striking realisation, I realise that every book is exactly the same. I grab one; it's entitled 'The Cloak.'

'What does it say?'

I open it.

It's coming. The Cloak is coming.

It's slow, but don't let that fool you. It's coming, always and forever; always closer than you expect. It never gets faster, never gets slower. It will not die, it will not wax or wane. It will not give up, not until it has won. No matter where you hide, no matter how far you run, it will always be one step behind you.

It gets you in those moments when you stall to catch your breath. It gets when you turn your back. When it wins, that is the end.

So don't stop running.

Because you'll be running for the rest of your life.

Shuddering, I turn the page. There is a picture of the creature I encountered earlier. But I look closer - even in the image, the hem sways, the hand reaching further and further forwards. I grip the pages, entranced, as I feel something brush against my shirt.

A hand.

I scream, throwing the book against the wall. From it, a webbed claw reaches out, grabbing wildly at the vacant air. It's followed by the sweep of a cloak, and clambering from the tiny book, the entire creature emerges, emitting a terrible scream.

It's here.

White in the face, I grip the desk leg, holding it over my back. A stack of books tumble to the floor with an almighty thud, and the thud of the egg plays again in my mind. My breathing quickens. The Cloak writhes forward. I grip the leg like a baseball bat. I haven't played baseball in so long…

~~oo###############oo~~

Onett Primary School.

"Ness, welcome to the team!"

I smile nervously, looking at all of the bigger, stronger boys around me. Father forced me to join the baseball team, and who am I to disobey him? Miraculously, I got past tryouts. I'm a slow runner though, which worries me, and I'm not very good at catching, but I reckon I might be okay at swinging a bat. I'll try my best - that's what Lucas always tells me to do. I'd asked if he wanted to join, and he'd gone pale and mumbled something about hating sports. I wish I could be sport-proof, like him…

"Today, we're going to practice batting," Coach Falco says jauntily. "Say, Ness!" He claps me on the shoulder. "How would you like to go ahead and bat first?"

"Okay-"

I'm ushered to the batting position. The bowler is, of course, the biggest bully in the school, Meta Knight, with his rocket-powered aim. I have to do this. I have to hit it well.

The ball flies towards me.

CRACK!

"The furthest shot," Lucas marvels faintly, later on. "In over forty years of this school's history. That's… wow."

I glow with pride. "Yeah."

~~oo###############oo~~

I grit my face with determination, raising the desk leg over my shoulder.

The book had said: 'It is immune to any damage.'

But that doesn't mean I can't strike it out of the way.

'Don't let it touch you!' Lucas says. It reaches out a greying claw.

I won't.

It all occurs in a blinding sequence. I duck, I swing, I strike, and I run. I'm away - I throw the door open, hurling myself into the corridor. The Cloak turns, but ever so slowly. It's slow. I'm fast! I sprint, finding a downwards stairway - and of course I'm out of breath already - but I don't care. I laugh! I laugh, despite the fear, despite this place. How do you like that, malicious voice?

'I did it, Lucas!'

'That was brilliant!'

I thunder down the stairs. I know the voice's owner is watching me from somewhere, so maybe I need to use that to my advantage? Ha, I'm thinking like Lucas! Good. He's smart. I want to be more like Lucas. I look around, thinking hard… what now? Where to go? I'm still in the hotel-esque corridors, but I can't possibly try all of these rooms. There has to be a clue.

I take a moment to catch my breath. Everything's changed so fast. One minute I'm in school: maths competition, Bayonetta's party, Business Plan, The Face, Future Humans, friends, chaos, virus, war declared on Tazmily, but then suddenly, I'm plunged into this world.

It's a world of fear, a world where the only way to survive is to run. There's no fighting this thing, no knocking it out. There's only running. I turn a corner, and to my surprise, I'm met with the open sky.

I breathe in the fresh air. Yet, it's odd. It seems to be some sort of garden, but certainly not a nice one.

Thistles and weeds climb up every available post or pole, seeking to snag onto anything they can. The trees are leafless and barren, and the garden is surrounded by a mountainous solid stone wall. There's no hope of scaling it, not when there's so little traction… I scramble over the weeds, inquisitive. There still might be an exit amongst all this. I notice a dark protrusion amongst some ivy - aha! I pry apart the leafy constraints, and I find… a shovel?

"What's this? Gardening?" I shout aloud. There's no reply.

'What's that for?' Lucas's confused voice sounds in my mind.

'I don't understand it either,' I admit. I turn back, dropping the desk leg, replacing it with the shovel in case I need it. But something has changed about the garden; an abrupt red cross has appeared, seemingly painted onto a specifically barren patch of grass. X marks the spot. So, following my instincts, I ram the shovel into the soil, and I dig.

And I dig.

And dig.

It takes half an hour or so, but eventually, my efforts are rewarded with the prize; a little box, buried six feet deep in the dirt. I'm quick to open it, and I take out a tiny placard.

Room 47.

Oh. It's one of the ones from the doors. But why would it be buried here? Perhaps… I need to find that room? Maybe that's where the owner of the voice is hiding! Keenly, I close my eyes and explain my theories to Lucas.

'That sounds good! I'm keeping my eyes out for you. Stay safe, Ness.'

I smile. Progress! I close the box, and I pocket it. It might be useful later, I reason.

I wipe the sweat from my brow, and back into the building I go. Again, the corridors stretch out lazily, sprawled everywhere I look. But it should be a simple matter of counting the rooms. I look at the door closest to me - room 680. Okay, that's quite far away from 47. So I check the room next to it. Room 358.

Oh.

The doors aren't sequential. That's okay! Possibly. Probably not. I'll, I'll - I don't know, I'll just wander along. It can't be too hard to find it. Thinking smartly, I dash back outside, grabbing fistfuls of grass, shoving it all into my pockets. I'll leave a trail, so I'll know not to go back on myself.

And so, I begin my hunt.

.

.

.

.

.

An hour passes. Okay, no luck so far. I get into a rhythm, dropping grass by every door I come across, and travelling down the corridors I've left empty. But every corridor looks the same, and I'm fairly sure some doors have come up more than once, which is slightly disturbing. There haven't been any signs of the entrance back into the cathedral building; I have the mildly unnerving feeling that these halls might actually move. I haven't seen The Cloak either though, fortunately. I must be moving faster than it is. But if I have a whole ten hours to search this place? There's no chance that I'll fail.

I must not stop running.

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.

.

Two hours have passed. Every ten minutes, a large crashing noise sounds, telling me how long I've been here. I'm feeling a little tired, but I know I can't rest, or The Cloak will catch me. My repetition theory has been proven now; I've seen Door 70 multiple times, leaving grass next to it on every occasion, but every time I come across it, the floor is bare.

One time, Door 70 appeared next to 71, but on other occasions, it's not been next to any rooms at all. I'm certain that the corridors, or the rooms themselves, are moving. I never see them do it, though.

The Cloak has only been observed once, at an intersection when I stopped to think things through. I managed to get away by hitting it with the shovel. Lucas keeps me company, telling the occasional joke, giving moral support. Reminding me of the simple fact:

I must not stop running.

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.

Three hours have passed. I'm tired, my feet are heavy. I want to stop, I want food, but there is no sustenance for me. I have to keep going, or I may never get out. I've seen doors 46 and 48 countless times at this point, but still never 47. The highest number I've seen yet has been, ominously, 666, but other than that, it's just the same old random digits.

I don't really know what I'm doing anymore. My concentration often lapses, and frequently, I have to go back on myself to check on the number I just read. Even more frustratingly, my grass has run out, so I could quite possibly be going back over trodden paths again.

But I must not stop running.

.

.

.

.

.

Hope disappears so fast.

Five hours. My thighs burn. No water, no food. Cloak. No 47. Numbers. Fading away.

The halls are evil, and I hate them. The voice is wicked, and I will send it to hell when I find it. Sometimes I hallucinate steak, luscious and medium-rare. It's never real.

Each time I hear the ten minute clatter, I allow myself to scream.

I must not stop running.

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.

Nine and a half hours have passed.

I'm weak. My legs scream with every step. I've been walking without a break for so long. I've tried to keep talking to Lucas, but our conversation fizzles out so easily. Moral support has become meaningless. Everything has become meaningless. I've seen The Cloak multiple times. I think it's catching up to me.

I fall to the floor, almost ready to quit. I'm stuck here. What if this is my life now? Eternally hiding from The Cloak - never sure of its location, always searching for a room that probably doesn't even exist.

This dry monotony can only last so long. Ten hours is my limit. Ten hours, or I'm trapped here forever, for good. I'm stifled by the blinding reality that this may well be the case, that this might be my eternity, this might be where I spend the rest of my days… Everyone back at school will easily forget me. I'm not special, I will disappear, dust to dust, ash to ash, just another missing student for the records, another disappearance, surplus to all requirements. I am lost, lost in a cold reality of hopelessness, drowning in the depths of time itself, I-

'Ness?'

'Yeah?'

'What if Room 47 is inside a different room?'

...

How, how did it take nine whole hours for either of us to think of that?! Buoyantly, I stand up, swinging open the nearest door, door 502, stepping inside with renewed hope.

But it's just another ordinary hotel room.

I turn to leave, but to my horror, the door has disappeared. I shout in alarm, stepping back. The light flickers, and suddenly, lumps suddenly seem to be rising from the carpet - something's coming up through the ground! Panicked, I throw open the wardrobe to hide, but a swarm of bats fly out, surrounding me, and I scream. The organ music starts again, even louder than before, as the lumps in the carpet form figures, figures with hands, and vicious faces - they're going to get me - they're going to kill me! Their eyes are glassy, and they're writhing around, and they're rising, and they're all floating towards me, and there's screaming, and roaring, and I turn back in horror - the door has returned! I force it open, throwing myself out, panting, slamming it shut behind me.

Everything stops. The organ music, the bats, the rushing noise - it's perfectly still. Hesitantly, I take a glance through the keyhole, and I see that the room has, somehow, become just as normal as all of the others.

'What was that?'

'That was nightmarish. But weird.' Lucas ponders. 'All the clues… everything being so dramatic… it's as if all this for show.'

'The voice said it liked action and drama,' I comment wearily. 'I'm its toy. I'm entertaining it.'

'We need to get into their head. They've set out clues. They want things to be dramatic. Every room probably has something terrifying inside of it. But if that thing kills you, that's the end of their fun. So… I'm guessing the stuff inside the rooms will be non-lethal. Or, at least, it'll take its time to get you.'

'Reassuring.'

'Just, watch out for The Cloak.' He ignores my snark. 'It could appear when you're not looking.'

I open my eyes again. If Lucas is right, then the only thing to do is to try more rooms.

Room 58 - I open it. Again, it appears normal. I step inside, staring around, expecting something to happen. And it does! The desk suddenly collapses - the ceiling starts descending - fear strikes into me, yet again - I'm going to be flattened underneath it! Images of the rockfall slice into my mind. Images of Dark Pit… The ceiling lowers, and I lay down flat on the floor. I try and turn for the exit, but the ceiling has lowered below the door handle - I scream - I spin round, and I see a space in the wall - I slither through, out into the corridor, breathing hard. Another impossibly narrow escape.

I'm not sure I can face many more of these rooms. What if I slip up in one, and I die? Panic builds, and my lungs burn. I want to scream, suddenly worrying about the time limit. How many rooms can I even check before time is up? What happens when the time is up? I look down the corridor, devoid of hope - and there's The Cloak again, gradually floating towards me. Maybe I can, maybe I can do something clever to get around it, but I can't think, I can't think clearly, so I turn, and I run.

I'm sick, sick and tired of this awful place. This prison. It's like a torture chamber. Everything is designed to hurt me, to exploit me, to torment me. But why? I don't understand - I don't know why - and, and I've been here so long! For hours! I want to see my mother and my sister. I want to see Lucas's pretty face. It feels like the walls are closing in, my chest compressing, there's a rising feeling inside of me, desperation. The claustrophobic thoughts batter me senseless. I try not to weep with despair.

'Ness, you're doing it again!'

'Doing what?' I cry.

'Giving up.'

Yeah. So what if I am? It's a lost cause! I drag myself into another room. Maybe this time, this time I shouldn't leave. This time, I should let the horror kill me. My eyes are so glazed over; everything is tinged with purple… I stagger, this has to be the end. But nothing happens - there doesn't seem to be anything horrible in this room - why not!? There should be! I glare up at the wall. A clock glares back at me, but it has nine hands, spinning rapidly around. I don't understand. I haven't understood for so long.

Crash.

The hands spin as the clock strikes 9:40. Seemingly that's what made all the noise every ten minutes. I feel so, so faint; I'm thirsty, I'm hungry, and I'm exhausted. I step further into the room, and I turn back to face the door, and…

It's… my family? Mother, Father, Tracy, all just standing there.

I freeze. What are they doing here? Why aren't they moving? But suddenly, The Cloak, it's reaching through the door and I stand up in alarm.

"Watch out!" I shout, but I'm slow. I dash forwards and The Cloak reaches out a greying hand, plunging it onto Mother's chest. She collapses to the floor.

"MOTHER!" I scream, but The Cloak turns, gliding towards Tracy.

"TRACY!" I yell, pleading, but she doesn't hear, and The Cloak reaches forwards, the clawed hand grabbing her neck. Her face lights up in momentary terror, before she too collapses to the ground.

"FATHER!" I sob, as The Cloak turns. I try to still the bitter sting of tears. "Father, get away from it!"

"There's nothing there, Ness," he says angrily.

"Yes there is!"

"You're a liar." His face turns purple. "You're a LIAR, Ness! You disappointment! You've failed me. You've failed me time and time again, and - and-" The Cloak cuts him off, pressing a hand to his chest . He falls to the carpet, where he dissolves into nothingness. It turns to me, and I stand back, dropping to the floor, screaming from the horror, the horror of it all. Tracy. Mother. I want to be sick, but it's coming, it's coming for me, I - but I want to die, I should let it get me, I should allow it to catch me, I should!

'Ness!'

But Lucas.

Tears drip down my face as I face the creature, backing me into the corner. Something else is by my side; a wooden door, with a missing placard.

Room 47.

Panicking, I force it open, jumping inside and slamming it shut behind me. My hands shake. My body convulses.

'Ness, you should sit down.'

Sit down?!

'Ness, please, I've figured it out!'

"I don't care!" I screw my burning eyes shut. "My family is dead, Lucas!"

'Ness, hear me out!'

The Cloak's outstretched arm starts to come through the door, and I back away, my vision blurring.

'Ness, the strange clock, the light without a source, the unending passageways, where have you seen all of that before?'

"I don't know!" I cry out, tears stinging my cheeks. "I don't know, Lucas! Just tell me!"

'It's a dream! This is all a dream!'

I'm silent for just a few moments. Lucas's voice comes once again into my head.

'Every bit of this is impossible, Ness!'

"It feels real!" I exclaim. But if it's a dream, my family is still alive. They can't be dead. It must be a dream. I won't let it be any other way.

My tears slow slightly, as I step back further from The Cloak. I turn to see what's in the room; it's a grand looking space with a golden throne at one end, and in it, there's a hooded figure.

I swallow the lump in my throat, and I dry my eyes. Now is the time to look strong. I feel Lucas's calming presence in my mind.

'I'm here for you.'

'I know. It's time.'

I surge forward.

When I reach the throne, the figure stands, their robes draping purple and gold on the tiled floor. There's some sort of intake of breath as they advance, and I stand firm, gripping tightly onto the shovel's handle.

"I know what this is," I say, mustering all the courage I have left. "This is a dream!"

"Oh, clever Ness, who's a clever boy?" The figure sneers. Their voice is steadier here, less searing. It fills me with more confidence.

"Let me wake up!" I demand. "Keep your end of the deal!"

"Aha." They shift gleefully. "Well, you see, I can't really do that."

"You said if I found you, you'd let me go."

"I said I might. Which means I might not." They come forward, their hood rippling. I try to make out the figure beneath them, but it's well-hidden. "Unfortunately for you, you're at my mercy."

"That's not fair," I snarl. "This is my dream. How did you get here? Who are you - Buttercup?"

It's a shot in the dark. The figure throws its head back, roaring with laughter. "No! Of course not."

"Then who?" I ask.

They laugh again. I can just about make out pale, white skin.

"Full of questions today, Ness! For the time being, you can call me the Dreamlord. Now, check your pockets."

"That's not your real name."

"Pockets, Ness." The Dreamlord sweeps forward, ignoring the question. "Names come later."

"This?" I draw out the golden egg, now icy cold, glowing with some sort of radiance. Angry as I am, I'd still like an explanation before I go.

"That's right. My invention!" The Dreamlord rubs gloved hands together, cackling like a stereotypical villain. "When you touched it, it breached your mind. It put you right to sleep, allowing me to fabricate a dream, to create a world suited just to you. Look upon my works, Ness, and despair!"

"That's a lie," I say stubbornly. "That's impossible."

"Nothing's impossible when you're a genius like me. It worked so well on you! All the darkness, all the sadness, all the self-hatred in your mind… making you so very susceptible to new horrors."

The Cloak's grinding sounds louder behind me, but I stand my ground. I hold my own before the figure, raising the shovel in menace.

"You should've done your research, Dreamlord. I may be susceptible to horrors, but I'm also susceptible to solving my problems with violence. Tell me who you really are."

"Oh, Ness, I forgot how overdramatic you can be." He laughs again. "You know who I am!"

"Just tell me." I advance. "And then let me go!"

"Well, I could," he cackles, cheerily throwing himself onto his throne. "But the best thing about being incognito? Not. Telling. You."

This isn't going anywhere. I feel my courage beginning to wane.

"Why me?" My voice cracks, my resolve slipping away. "Why pick on me? Why send me here?"

"Because, Ness…" His voice darkens. "I hate you."

"Why?"

"Why?" The Dreamlord growls. "You don't know? Your suffering… it scarcely makes up for all you've done!"

"But I haven't done anything!"

"Ness." He spits on the ground, pointing an accusing finger. "Even now, you're so deep in denial. You're wicked, Ness. Twisted!"

There's a horrible silence. Only Lucas's presence in my mind brings me back to courage.

"Why won't you just tell me who you are?" I ask.

"That's no fun, Ness." He waves an impatient hand. "I like to keep it a mystery! You deserve to play my games!"

Suddenly, the grinding sounds again, much louder than before. I turn, seeing The Cloak gliding gracefully along the floor.

"What's that thing, then?"

"Oh! Another idea of mine!" The Dreamlord laughs again, twisting keenly on his throne. "I thought it would keep you on your toes. And it did! And it will, for a very, very long time."

"You're going to make me stay here forever?"

"I think you've earnt that much, don't you?"

'Ness, ignore him.' Lucas gently pokes my mind. 'I don't think he knows about me. He doesn't know I'm here.'

Drawing courage from Lucas's words, I stare at the Dreamlord, trying again to see who's really under that hood.

"Before you trap me, tell me more about your golden egg."

"Why should I do what you say?" he snarls.

"Well, you seem awfully proud of it. It's such an impressive creation, after all..."

"Fine." He draws himself back, puffing his chest out a little bit. "It's ingenious. It sends a signal to your brain, connecting me to everything you experience. I can imagine the scene, and imagine everything that happens. It's built here in this imaginary world. I get to control every little thing you see. I can torture you forever, Ness."

"Very clever," I nod, drawing the golden egg back out of my pocket. "But why is the egg still here with me, in my hand?"

"Aha!" He gives a mad little laugh. "That's because it contains a lovely surprise!"

I shake it. This time, it makes a noise.

"Another game," I say, scowling.

"Sadly, the egg can't be used for dream-creation more than once." The Dreamlord sweeps matter-of-factly across the room. "It happens to make a good storage compartment, though. Good luck opening it up."

"That's clever," I say, trying to get my wording just as perfect as it needs to be. "But have you ever invented anything else?"

"Well," He cackles for what might be the millionth time. "You and your little friend Lucas would know that better than anyone, Ness! I've invented the future of humanity itself!"

"Future Human! It's you who's behind them!"

"I take full credit."

"Who are you?" I ask.

"I'm not telling you. Why should I?"

"What about The Face? Did you make that too?"

"The Face? I don't know what you mean."

'Don't ask about the grave,' Lucas says suddenly, urgently. 'We don't need to give him any more information.'

Suddenly, an idea comes to mind. But I have questions, more questions, and then maybe I can finally leave this hell.

"Are you someone at school?"

"Naturally."

"Why do you hate Lucas?" I ask intently. "Was it you who attacked him in the shower?"

"That was me. Whoops! And I do not hate Lucas, thank you very much."

"All of your Future Humans go after him, and him alone!"

"I send them after him."

"Why?"

"I'm not telling. In fact, that's quite enough information! I'm not telling you anything else."

"Well, neither am I," I say, giving him an impassive look. He stops still, turning abruptly to face my form.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not telling you anything either."

"What would you have to tell me?" He scoffs, folding his shrouded arms.

"Nothing at all." I fold my arms as well, grinning, almost daring him to ask more.

I sense his anger.

"What is it!?"

"Fine… if you must know."

"I must!"

"You really are stupid, you know that, right?" I glance behind me again, sensing The Cloak just metres away.

"Explain yourself!"

"It's my dream, is it not?" I bring my voice down. "And you told me exactly how to work this place..."

"What do you mean by that?"

I take in the Cloak, and I close my eyes, imagining the scene barren, lifeless. I open my eyes, and it is gone.

"I mean that you've made a big mistake, Dreamlord. You're not the only one in control here."

"Impossible!" He growls, coming forwards, but I raise the shovel in defence. I envision the space next to the throne, and I imagine Lucas, standing right there. I open my eyes, and there he is.

"No! Stop this at once!"

Lucas jumps up happily. "You're a genius, Ness!"

I envision a million daggers, all flying towards the hooded figure. They encircle him, evil, sharp and menacing.

"Ready to set us free yet?"

"You - you…" He shakes with rage. "You're NO fun, Ness! I will get my revenge! I will come for you! I'm gonna get you BACK for this!"

"That's what you said earlier," I say, grinning. "Know this, Dreamlord. Whoever you are, I will keep Lucas safe from you. You won't be able to hurt him again."

"Then you will die!"

"Yeah, right." I laugh. "Release us, or I might just put you in a pit of lions… and I'm guessing if you die in here, you die in the real world as well. Or do you want to find out?"

"Grah - just - get the hell out of here!"

All at once, the room begins to crumble. The Dreamlord dissolves into mist. Lucas dashes forwards, grabbing my hand, and the throne cracks down the middle. White pieces fall, blemishless and divine, fading away into nothing. Then, the floor disappears from beneath our feet, and we plummet into the light.

I open my eyes upon Toon Link's floor.

Thud.

The egg drops from my hands, making an almighty noise. Lucas sits up abruptly from his bed, and Villager opens a sleepy eye.

It seems that no time has passed at all.

"Ness!" Lucas jumps out of bed, and he grabs me, pulling me into a hug.

"Lucas?" I breathe heavily, my mind flooding on overload. He's warm. I missed the feeling of warmth.

"You did it - you got us out!"

"No, we did it, Lucas." I eye the egg with suspicion. Villager grumbles something incoherent, before his head falls back onto the pillow. "You kept me strong in there."

He hugs me tight. I hold him close. I don't ever want to let go.

"How do we share dreams, Ness?" Lucas says quietly. "How do these things keep happening? It's impossible."

"I've been wondering…" I begin.

"Wondering what?"

"Ryu's ideas about magic. Everything's been so weird and impossible, Lucas. It might sound weird, but... What if magic is real?"

Lucas thinks for a moment, running a hand through his hair.

"You know, that would make sense. Those books I got you for Christmas... We should read them. To see if dream-sharing is mentioned."

"We should!"

"And who is the Dreamlord?" Lucas presses. "They seemed to be a guy, didn't they?"

"I have no idea. But we've got other things to deal with first."

"Huh?"

My stomach growls. "Can we go and get some food?"


A/N

Well, this became nice and abstract. It was never meant to be this way, but it really did be ending up this way.

Next chapter will probably be a normal one, as I believe there's some character development that needs to occur. But hopefully, you enjoyed this! It was kind of long too, which is always nice. (1/12/21: NOT NICE WHEN I'M EDITING IT!)

With length comes strength.

Notes:

So, everything that occurred was orchestrated and set up by the mystery person, or the 'Dreamlord'. Therefore, Ness's family isn't dead! Hooray.

"Look on my works, (Ness), and despair!" is a quote from an old poem called Ozymandias. I felt it was quite appropriate, given the nature of the poem.

Reviews:

Guest: "I literally died at the mysterious ticking noise reference. It was hilarious! I can't wait to see what happens next."

Thank you! I'm fairly sure that you would not have expected this craziness to be what happened next. To be fair, neither did I, until I wrote it. (26/01/22: this review is the only reason I haven't scrapped that stupid joke in the edits)

Extra bonus section:

So, to clarify what's going on with me and with the world, and with, ultimately, me writing this:

Big bad coronavirus has shut school. Which means I'll be able to write more!

I still have schoolwork being set online though… But will I do it? This is disputable (1/12/2021: I did not do any of it lmfao, but it all turned out alright!)

If anyone wants to talk to me, then my discord is Redted#7175, and I'm always active there, and happy to chat or listen to anything you have to say!

Thanks again for reading!

~ReadyForTeddy