Chapter 6

(TW- harm, also some kind of self harm. Just be aware)

"When was the last time you played cards?" It had been about a month since Colin had been banished to the dream realm. All he and Gabby could do now was just get to know each other better.

"Oh, probably centuries ago with the white lady. After you started the infection, we never had time." His hand of cards was very bland. He couldn't see a possible outcome any time soon. It was true that he still sucked at Jin.

"I haven't played with another being since my confinement. I'm still adjusting to having someone else here." Gabby was starting to resent Colin less and less, a result of them both being completely incapable of affecting Hallownest in this state.

She picked up a Jack. That completed one half of her hand, all she needed was a 5. Gabby set down a 2, leading Colin to pick it up.

There was a few seconds of silence before Colin spoke again, a rather odd question. "What was it like being here for so long? What did you do?" He began rearranging his cards.

Memories flooded through Gabby's brain. Everything that had happened within the past several centuries. "Oh, um… Well, I played a lot of solitaire, I also would fly up into the air and just let myself fall into an infinite loop. A lot of dumb stuff, actually. I fully focused on the infection when it started, not having anything else to do." She placed her last card face down, signifying her victory.

Colin picked up the cards and started re-shuffling them. "Have you ever thought of… um… restarting, so to speak?" That was an awkward question. He hoped he phrased it right.

Gabby immediately picked up on what he was signifying. "Oh of course I have, though I haven't any soul. There's nothing to collect it from and nothing to kill me physically. It would work, I would be out of this dream, but I can't."

"I think there may be a way for me to gather soul. We could experiment with it and see what we could do, and if it could lead to us getting out of here." Colin knew what he was saying was a lie. He strongly doubted they could get out. All he wanted was for it to end.

"Shoot. I'm all for any way to escape this place, no matter what it costs."

Colin put down the cards. He chuckled a bit. "You sound like me." He stood up. "Ok, this is going to sound crazy. You aren't going to like it, but it's the only way I can think of." He raised his arms to expose his claw-like hands. "I have claws. I can-"

Knowing exactly what he was going to say, Gabby stood up as well. "You are going to harm me! After what we've both experienced together, you still want to attack me!" Her voice was equally saddened as it was enraged. But she knew it was the only way.

Colin was not surprised at all by her reaction. His claws were not strong enough to kill her, but it would definitely be painful. He sighed. "We don't have to do it if you really don't want to."

"No. We must. Besides, it will be the most thrilling thing since our battle some ages ago." Gabby's voice softened. Colin was right with his theory. Even if she didn't have soul accessible to her, he would still get soul from harming her.

Gabby laid down on the floor, face up. Colin knelt down beside her chest. She took a deep breath. "Just do it." Her gaze wandered to the endless skies above of the dream realm, preparing for the immense pain about to come.

She felt the cold sensation of being clawed at, and then the searing that followed. She used all of her strength to fight her instincts and stay put. She couldn't suppress a screech of agony.

This hurt Colin as much as it hurt Gabby. He could feel the soul flowing into his arm and expand throughout his body. He was wincing as he did one claw after another. He couldn't tell what he was feeling. There was a bit of satisfaction, being able to finally scratch away at his ancient enemy. But he felt bad for doing so. Gabby didn't deserve what he was doing to her.

After one final yell of pain, it ceased. Gabby could hear Colin stand up next to her. She took several deep gulps of air. That was awful.

Finally, that was enough soul. He could finally finish what should have been done centuries ago. Mind blank, he conjured a sword from the soul he had received from Gabby. This was the end.

Everything hit Gabby all at once. Colin was about to kill himself. That was his plan. They could both die. Gabby would be able to take the sword and end herself as well after Colin. But she would be reborn, and she couldn't bear it. Even if she would be out of this dream, she would still be in the dream realm. And most importantly, she would be without Colin. From the deepest parts of her chest, she yowled.

The sword was touching his stomach when Colin looked up at Gabby. She clearly had said something, barely being able to sit up. His mind was foggy, he couldn't hear what she said properly. All he could see on her face was desperation.

"Don't… don't do it…" Gabby could barely speak after her previous caterwauling.

"You'll be able to go too. You can take the sword from me and leave this wretched place." His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. His mind wasn't anything beyond what he wanted to perform. He was about to take another attempt.

"… but I won't be with you!" She finally said it. The truth. Gabby spoke what she had felt for centuries. Colin entering the dream realm confirmed her feelings. How stupid of her to think they could be together! The former king had a wife… but she abandoned him! She even closed the kingsoul! Gabby's mind was a mess. They were all each other had. But would he feel the same way? She doubted it. But all Gabby wanted was for Colin to stay. Even if it meant being in here for eternity.

After hearing those words, the fog cleared the way for a messed up train of thought. The Radiance. His first and biggest enemy. The one that had him locked up in his workshop. The one that hated his guts. The one that made him kill thousands of his own children. No, that was his own doing. He couldn't formulate words. He dropped the sword. So they reciprocated feelings for each other. Colin just breathed to calm himself.

Colin slumped onto the ground. Gabby was clutching her aching wounds with one wing while half propped up on the other. She was still gasping for air. Colin looked deep in thought. What is he thinking? Probably that I'm an idiot and that I'll never be good enough for him. In hindsight, why WOULD he feel for her the same? They hated each other a month ago.

Colin looked up at Gabby. It was time. "It's scary to admit things like that." He wondered if his former wife could see him, watching him act like a fool. He wanted nothing to do with her now though, so he let his words escape. "But this is the part where I admit it too."

(Author's note: It is a bit weird for the Radiance to have soul, but it is canon since she gives you soul when you attack her in game. This story is NOT finished lolololol. Id say we are a bit over halfway.)