Chapter Text
Last night was an...unusual dream, to say the least.
For one, the child Conductor tried to kill was happy to see him.
The room they were in was fuzzy and nondescript, like many places in dreams. All he could remember was its bright, warm atmosphere that framed the joy Hat Kid beamed with. They were like father and child, playing around and laughing without a care in the world.
It wasn't until he noticed water gathering at their feet that he realized something was...off.
Hat Kid seemed just as confused at first, but not worried. She took the opportunity to splash at the Conductor and giggled.
But the water rose fast, and the laughter stopped when it reached up to Hat Kid's armpits. They both looked around for the source of the water only to reach a new horrifying realization.
The walls were closing in.
The water was ice-cold and drained the warmth from the hazy dreamscape. Conductor panicked trying to find an opening, but there wasn't one to be seen. Hat Kid tread water for a few minutes before she began to flail.
The old bird lifted her up to the quickly shrinking pocket of air at the top. Things were only looking doomed as the walls crowded around them further and further.
Suddenly, just as things were going black, a light from above appeared. It was an opening to salvation, just out of reach. It was small, so they would have to go through one at a time-
Looking at Hat Kid, he realized there was no time. She was ready to drown, and if he didn't boost her up, she was gone. He reached again for the young girl-
-the girl that took his one request away from him...selfishly…
He froze for a split second in hesitation, but even that was too long.
They were both crushed.
The Conductor woke up.