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The brunet stood still, the light of the hot liquid illuminating his face. He was impatiently waiting for the lava to slowly fall, so he could finally see him. His best friend who he grew up with and always fought by his side, his best friend, who used him, betrayed him, never cared for him.
"But why, why would he do that, after everything... why?"
Last time he visited, Dream was quiet. He didn't say anything. He had so many questions, and felt like he needed the anwsers.
The visitor's fists were clenched up, and a few strands of his hair were a bit damp. Whether it was from the blistering heat of the lava right in front of him or from the growing anticipation, he was clearly very anxious and distressed.
It felt like the lava was stubborn, like it was being so slow out of spite. It gave the visitor so much time to think, about everything. It wanted to torture him and make him suffer. His mind was his very worst enemy, and it seemed like the lava knew that. Every passing second felt like a decade. The silence in the room was almost deafening. The visitor could hear his heartbeat rapidly increasing. He was putting off this visit for weeks, even though deep down he knew that it had to happen at some point.
"Please stop doing that."
He flinched. The voice of the Warden caught him a little bit off guard.
"Doing... Doing what?" He anwsered shakely, turning his stare from the lava to the Warden. He looked tired and gray. It wasn't the friendly Sam he once knew. This was just the shell of a man Sam once was.
"Stop thumping your leg on the floor."
He was shaking his leg this whole time without even realising it.
"Oh- I'm sorry, I'll stop..." He mumbled nervously turning his look back at the lava.
Is it possible? Is he really that nervous? It's just- it's just Dream. He used to talk to him every single day, for hours. He used to talk to him about everything, about anything.
"Will he hate me? Does he hate me?"
It was becoming harder to breathe, harder to think. He didn't know it would be such a big of a deal. It's just Dream, his best friend.
"Is he my best friend? Was he ever my best friend? Did he ever even care?"
"Is there a problem? Are you sure you're okay?"
Despite the Warden's cold, serious, monotone voice, the question sounded very genuine, very warm. It sounded like he cared. The visitor didn't hear Sam sound like that in a while.
"I'm fine, I'm just, nervous I guess? I just haven't spoken to... him, in quite a while." The visitor said and brushed it off with a chuckle.
"I see."
"I'm not even sure why I'm here," the visitor paused taking a deep breath and then continuing, "I don't even know if he'll talk."
"If you don't want to see the prisoner that's fine, we can just go back."
"No, I want to see him. I wanna know, how he's... doing in there I guess?"
"Alright then."
Silence. The visitor hated it. Whenever there's silence is when his mind takes over, and that was like torture.
"Bad visited him didn't he?" The visitor spoke up breaking the silence.
"He did."
"He talked to him. Dream told him he wants me and George to visit him. He told Bad that he, misses us," he took a deep breath but then continued "It was quite a while ago now to be fair, but still...He wanted us to visit. He really did."
The Warden didn't anwser, he stayed quiet.
"But when I did visit... he didn't say a word. He was just quiet."
Silence again. It seemed like the Warden wasn't in the mood for talking. It was as if Sapnap was talking to himself the whole time. It didn't matter though, anything is better than his thoughts.
"Bad told me... Bad told me he changed. You see him everyday, bring him food and such... Did... Did he really? Did he change? Is he better now?"
"I don't think so. But you can see for yourself when you go there."
When he goes there. When he sees Dream. Oh lord, he wasn't ready. It's like he just realised what he was doing. He was gonna see Dream. Suddenly a million thoughts crossed his mind, it felt like a giant heavy rock just fell on him. The situation just got heavier. The lava was still falling, and there was silence. He has to escape his thoughts, he will talk about anything, just to escape his thoughts.
"Are you sure I can't just swim?" The visitor asked quickly, his voice breaking a few times. He looked and sounded exactly how people sound when they are caught red-handed, and they try to cover it up with a quick lie.
"What?"
"I- The lava. Why can't I just like- swim through it? It can't hurt me I was born in it."
"Oh," the Warden stopped for a second, he didn't expect that "No, you can't do that."
"Why?" The visitor asked, almost begging, he didn't want to stay still and think any longer. The lava is a part of him yet right now it seemed like it was his worst enemy.
"You, you just can't. It's the rules. You have to go over with a bridge."
"Yeah but it's me! Please Sam, you don't underst-"
"No."
"But-"
"No buts. With the stunt that Tommy pulled you should be grateful that I'm letting you get even close to the prison, let alone the main cell!" The Warden yelled with clear annoyance in his voice.
The visitor didn't say a word. Sam had never yelled at him before. He was shocked. But that wasn't his main concern right now. The thoughs were coming. He will see Dream. He remembered the good old times, he remembered how much Dream... cared. He cared, he loved, he was there for Sapnap and George and they were there for him. All the memories just came back and hit him at once... Was it all a lie? Was it a lie all along? Was everything a lie? What else did Dream lie about, what else could Dream lie about? Dream destroyed everything, everything he built, physically and mentally. He didn't only destroy it for himself, but for Sapnap and George as well. He hurt them. Sapnap loved the Community house. Him, George and Dream built that, together. And Dream just blew it up, and blamed it on someone else. For what, for fun?
"I care about your discs, that's the only thing I care about on this server actually"
"You weren't even involved in this Sapnap"
"Sapnap, stop. Why are you trying to like, divide us?"
"I blew up the Community House"
"There's only one man who had that fish. He wouldn't give it to you though."
"Me? ME, divide us? "
"Step away from them."
"Beckerson?"
All the memories were just coming back at once and crushing him and then-
"Make sure you're standing on the bridge."
Sapnap flinched. The Warden's voice brought him back to reality. The lava already fell, and he didn't even notice, he was zoned out, his thoughts and memories took over.
"Are you ready?"
For a second the visitor didn't anwser. He saw Dream. He was there, right in front of him.
"Let's just get this over with." He said taking a deep breath and stepping on the bridge.
The visitor wasn't even looking at the Warden. He was too focused on looking at a tall figure in the distance. He couldn't clearly see him, since it was too far away. The ground under him was moving. He was getting closer and closer. The closer he got the view became clearer and clearer. Now he could tell that Dream was facing the wall, and sitting on the floor. And then he got even closer. He could see Dream's hands on the wall. It looked like he was... drawing something? Sapnap was curious about what the drawing is, so he waited until the bridge got even closer, and when it did, he didn't see anything. There was no drawing, and Dream wasn't holding anything. What was he doing? Suddenly, the bridge stopped moving. Sapnap slowly stepped off the bridge, which immediately started going back, and the lava filled the room again. Sapnap was still looking at Dream who didn't even turn around yet. Did he even hear someone coming? He must've, the bridge made a lot of noise. Isn't Dream excited to have visitors?
"Hello..." Sapnap mumbled shakely. Even though he said it very quietly, his voice still echoed in the tiny prison cell.
Dream's hands suddently stopped moving, and he stood still. He recognised that voice.
"Sapnap?" He asked very suprised. He moved his hands to his lap, and slowly turned his head. "You came?"
Dream couldn't even see Sapnap's face very well. He wasn't facing the lava therefore his face was in the shadows. On the other hand, Sapnap could now clearly see Dream's face. He didn't look how he remembered. Last time he saw him, he visited him in the prison for the first time. During that visit Dream didn't say anything, he kept his head down. Almost as if he was ashamed. Now Dream was looking up, up at Sapnap. You could clearly see Dream's face because of the light the lava was illuminating. Dream looked awful. His eyes looked empty and tired, and there were huge bags under them. There was dirt all over his face. His lips were dry. His skin pale, his hair and nails just a bit longer than how Sapnap remembered. He was way skinnier than before. He looked like all life was sucked out of him, he was a dead man.
That isn't Dream right? That isn't the person Sapnap grew up with. Or is it? So much changed.
"I missed you," Dream muttered.
His voice was raspy and raw. But at the same time, it was very, soft? Just like it was in the good old days, when Dream was still himself, or at least who Sapnap thought Dream was.
This time he looked so hopeless, so pathetic. It angered Sapnap. Who is this person he didn't recognize? Is this really his best friend? Is this who his best friend has become? A disgusting, sick excuse for a human being?
"I'm glad you visited." The prisoner mumbled staring at Sapnap.
Will he just pretend like nothing happened? Will he just ignore everything Sapnap and George went through because of him? Sapnap could feel his blood boiling with rage. His fists were clenched up and his muscels felt cramped. It was becoming hard to breathe.
Dream slowly stood up, overtowering Sapnap by a few inches.
"If I'm honest I thought you would never come agai-"
Sapnap's fist flew to Dream's face. From the force of the punch the prisoner started taking a few steps back, until he met with the cold obsidian wall. He tried to hold onto it and regain balance but then he felt another strong punch. Sapnap pinned him up against the wall and punched him again, and again, and again, and again, until he ran out of breath and couldn't even move his hand anymore. His fist was still above Dream's face, while the other one was tightly holding Dream's shoulder. Dream's whole face was bruised and there was blood coming out of his nose. Dream wasn't making eye contact. He was looking somewhere else, in the distance, his eyes focused on nothing in particular, just staring blankly, at nothing. So hopeless, pathetic, beat up. He didn't even try to defend himself. Sapnap wanted to punch him again and release all his anger but he just, couldn't. It was as if something was stopping him. There was no emotion on Dream's face. He was just numb. Sapnap was staring at him, his eyes slowly filling with tears.
"Look at me!" Sapnap begged.
Dream's eyes landed on Sapnap for a brief moment, before looking away again.
There was no point in punching him, yelling at him, nothing was happening. Sapnap put his fist down, and looked at the floor for a few seconds, before looking up again. He let go of Dream's shoulder, after what Dream fell on the cold floor. He looked up at Sapnap covering his face with his arms.
"Is he scared of me?" Sapnap thought to himself for a moment before noticing something. As Dream's arms were lifted up, his sleeves rolled down uncovering his forearms. There were scars. Lots of scars. Some looked fresh and some looked old. It was then when Sapnap noticed everything. The bruises, cuts, scars all over Dream's already weak, thin body. There were more on his face, his neck, he even saw more on his chest due to the not fully buttoned up shirt. Was Dream hurting himself? No, he couldn't, he doesn't have anything in this cell.
Sapnap was mad, again. But this time not at Dream, but at himself. What is he doing? He was lashing out and taking out all of his anger by beating up an already dead man. His vision was getting blurry as his eyes were filling up with tears that he was suppressing for so god damn long. He realised he wasn't just mad - he was sad, disappointed, pissed off that he ever trusted Dream, pissed off that he has let Dream hurt him and George, and then pissed that he couldn't even keep his old best friend safe. Dream was already being tortured but Sapnap didn't even notice it, instead he just took out all his anger by beating him up. It was as if he only cared for himself, he felt selfish. He knew that Dream should be kept in the cell for the sake of everyone else, but no wonder Dream wanted to get out, no wonder he wanted to escape.
"What did they do to you here...?" Sapnap mumbled quietly, his voice breaking a few times while asking the question. It almost felt like he was whispering something to himself, like he didn't want anyone to hear.
"Dream?" His voice was weak, he sounded so vulnerable, "Please- please anwser me," he muttered, getting down on his knees. It was getting harder to speak, he was chocking on his own tears.
"I know you didn't wanna speak last time I was here and I'm not gonna ask you why, but please, just speak to me now Dream, please..." Sapnap was begging while holding Dream's arm.
"These visits hurt me man... So far I've came here twice and the first time I left feeling like I didn't achieve anything, so don't let it end like that this time, please." Dream was just blankly staring at Sapnap, not saying a word.
"Listen - I don't know if I'll ever come here again, so if you have something to say, say it now, cause you probably won't get another chance to. Please." he mumbled while slowly taking Dream's hand and holding it. It was full of little cuts, scars.
"Who did this? At least tell me that, please... Just say something man! Stop the silence, please!" he pleaded hopelessly, until he finally put his head down and looked at the floor. He was just about to say something else when he heard a faint, weak whisper,
"Q. Sam and Q." Dream's voice wasn't soft anymore, it wasn't even a voice, it was a faint whisper.
"Q? Wait what, Q?" Sapnap lifted his head in surprise, locking eyes with Dream "Quackity visited?" he asked quietly, to which Dream just weakly nodded. "And- And he did this?" the visitor continued asking but he got no response this time. "Wha- Why?".
Silence. Dream wasn't moving anymore, he was just awkwardly sitting still, holding hands with his once upon a time best friend. Dream's hands were cold, and despite all the lava the whole cell was as well.
"I'm- I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry Dream." Neither of them were moving, and neither of them could move, they were both so still, like statues.
"I'm sorry for everything, but I can't get you out. I can't get you out and you know that. You have to stay here, it's whats best for everyone," the visitor felt pain in his chest. It hurt him to say that but he knew it's how it has to be.
"But I will promise you something. I won't let them get away with this. Neither Q or Sam. They'll regret it, but you have to stay here, and you have to promise me that, okay? Don't try anything, I'll take care of it. Do you promise?" Sapnap asked with a shakey voice, still tightly holding Dream's hand.
"I promise." Dream anwsered weakly.
"Okay. Okay, good." Sapnap responded relieved. "Now let's talk. Just me and you, like the good old days. Please. For me Dream."
Silence.
"Dream? Dream? Do you hear me?" Dream wasn't responding anymore. His eyes seemed unfocused, he was looking at Sapnap but it was like he was seeing right through him.
"Dream? Dream?! Say something Dream, please, just talk to me man!" The visitor was worriedly shaking Dream, begging him to speak. Begging him to say something, anything just to break the silence. Dream wasn't reacting, he was oddly still. Sapnap was already panicking, he quickly put his hand under Dream's nose for a few seconds to check if he was still breathing. Nothing. Nothing came out. Dream was just sitting still, he looked at peace. "Is he...? No, surely not..." This was it. Sapnap's breathing quickened, his heart was thumping faster than ever before, and he just couldn't hold it in anymore.
"NO!" The visitor screamed his voice so raw, his throat ripping itself apart. Adrenaline fueling his body, he was shaking and through tears mumbling random words that didn't make sense. "Dream!? Dream say something please!" He yelled and pleaded, tears flowing down his face like a river. He was sobbing and yelling, shaking the body of his once upon a time best friend. "Dream I'm sorry please just look at me, just look at me one more time, Dream!" He couldn't do anything. Dream was gone. He slowly moved his hand over his mouth before hugging Dream tightly for what felt like forever. He felt like his heart just got ripped apart, a million thoughts were running through his mind, when suddenly he heard a familiar voice.
"Is everything okay in there? Sapnap do you need help? Are you okay!?" It was Sam.
Sapnap was never so relieved to hear Sam before. "SAM! SAM COME HERE, SAM PLEASE!" Sapnap yelled helplessly still processing what just happened.
"Sap- Wha- What? What do you mean, what's happening in there?" Sam yelled back clearly confused.
"It's all my fault, I'm sorry! Put the lava down and come here Sam, please!"
"You know I can't do that, if you're in trouble get in the corner, and I'll get you back."
"Sam you don't understand, he's dead!"
"What?! What do you mean he's dead?"
"He's dead, he died! He's not breathing! Help me, please!" Sapnap's voice was so raw and raspy, whether it was from crying or from genuine fear, he sounded so helpless.
And from that point on it was a blur. He could weakly remember Sam's voice guiding him to the corner of the cell and him getting out the prison, but that's about it. He got out what felt like a few hours ago, but really it's only been about 30 minutes. He was just sitting on the ground in front of the prison portal replaying the events in his head over and over again. Sam told him to wait outside and that he will deal with the situation. Sapnap could still visualise the look that Dream gave him. He could still hear Dream's whispers ringing in his head.
"Sapnap? You came?"
"I missed you, I'm glad you visited."
"If I'm honest I thought you would never come again"
"Q. Sam and Q."
"I promise."
They didn't even speak properly, all the questions that Sapnap had have remained unanwsered. And now, now Dream's dead, now he'll never get the anwsers. He couldn't help but blame himself.
"It's my fault... I killed him." He muttered to himself, tightly wrapping his arms around his legs and burying his head in his knees.
Then he heard footsteps. It was Sam. Sapnap gave him an apologetic look.
"He's alive." Sam sighted almost as if he expected it.
"I'm sorry Sam, it's all my faul- Wait what?" Sapnap had never jumped up to his feet quicker. "Wha- But, but he wasn't breathing. He wasn't breathing Sam!"
"He was just holding his breath, he was playing with you. And you believed him, he almost escaped because of you."
"What?"
"Did you really think he was dead?" Sam chuckled, "No. He lied to you. He lied Sapnap. That's all he ever does, he just lies."
Sapnap felt as if someone had just stabbed him in the back, for the 100th time now. The ground under him was shaking and his vision was blurry. Just a few seconds ago he was blaming himself for beating to death his once upon a time best friend, and now he's finding out that he's alive. He's been alive the whole time. He heard Sapnap yell, cry and plead, he felt Sapnap holding his hand, he felt Sapnap hugging him tightly and not letting go, and he still didn't give a single fuck. Sapnap poured his whole heart out and Dream tried to use it to escape. Dream used Sapnap, and that wasn't even the first time. It wasn't the second time, hell it wasn't even the third time. Who knows how many times Dream's done this. And who knows how many times Dream will try to do that again. And despite all that, Sapnap still cared. Sapnap will always care. He will be angry, mad, pissed off, but he will care.
"Sam," Sapnap spoke up in a cold but curious tone. "Where did those scars come from?"
Sam's eyes widened, as he raised an eyebrow in surprise, "What scars?"
"Don't pretend Sam, please. Everyone is already lying to me. First it was Dream, now it's Karl, Q, Bad. And I don't even know what the hell is up with George. You don't have to lie to me as well." He sounded so cold, and so desperate, almost as if he was begging. "You know which scars I'm talking about. The ones all over Dream's body. His face, his neck, chest, arms, hands, and there's probably more." He replied, his voice clearly exhausted from all the crying and yelling.
"What are you talki-"
"Cut the crap Sam. What the hell are you doing to him in that prison? And what does Quackity have to do with all this?" Sapnap cut Sam off. He was tired of all the lies.
"That's none of your business Sapnap. Leave it." Sam said in a threatening tone.
"No, no I won't leave it actually. You're torturing him in that cell and-"
"And what? And what Sapnap? Why do you care? Why do you care about what happens to Dream?" Sam argued back with annoyance and cockiness in his voice. "He used you. He used you Sapnap. Not even an hour has passed since you were in that cell, sobbing and holding him tightly in your arms, and he didn't give a single shit. So tell me, why do you care?"
This caught Sapnap off guard. Sam had a point, why does he care? Dream doesn't care about him, Dream left him. So why can he simply not let go?
"You've changed Sam. And not for the better either. That prison?" He sighed pointing at the giant structure, "It's done something to you man. You're not the Sam I used to know. You're more cocky, and cruel, and - and you're like Dream. You're just like Dream. You've been spending so much time thinking about him, so much time with him, that you've become just like him."
The Warden's blood was boiling. He's not like Dream, he hates Dream. Before he knew it Sam swung his sword at Sapnap, but luckily Sapnap quickly clashed his shield against it.
"You're just proving my point Sam!" Sapnap yelled at him, blocking another hit. "Can't you see yourself? Can't you hear youself? Do you have any idea what you're even doing?"
"I'm doing my job, and that's none of your business Sapnap!" He swung his sword again, this time with more force.
"Last time I checked, physical torture wasn't in your job description Sam!"
This was the last straw and Sam has had enough, driven by rage he swung his sword knocking Sapnap down on the ground, before attacking again. Thankfully Sapnap reacted quickly, so he was able to take his axe and clash it against Sam's sword, knocking it out of Sam's hand. He quickly guided himself up, pointing his axe at Sam.
"Don't you see what I'm talking about?!" Sapnap yelled, his voice raw. He started getting closer to the Warden. "Dream and I were friends. Just because he's a cruel monster like you, doesn't mean I am as well. I will not just stand on the side, doing nothing, knowing that you are fucking torturing someone!" The Warden started taking steps back while Sapnap was letting it all out and he didn't hold back. He was sick of everyone. "You will never, and I mean NEVER understand how hard it is for EVERYONE to treat you like a fucking object! For everyone to use you as a weapon! For everyone to not give a single fuck about you!" He paused taking a reassuring breath before continuing "I feel Sam, I feel, I have feelings, I'M A HUMAN. I AM A FUCKING PERSON! Just because people don't treat me like one, doesn't mean I'm not a person!" Sapnap was yelling with such emotion in his voice, his throat was splitting apart. "I will never be like those people. I will never be like you. I will treat people like people. Because that's what they are, they're humans. No one deserves fucking torture." The Warden's knees trembled, he lost balance and met with the ground. He could feel pressure on his chest. He opened his eyes and saw Sapnap pointing an axe at him, while Sapnap's foot was the thing pressuring his chest.
"I won't- I won't just stand by anymore, doing nothing. So now I'll go, but I'll be back. And when I am, you better be prepared. I'm not fucking around anymore." He said, pulling his axe back, slowly turning around and leaving.
Sam was still sitting on the ground in disbelief, too scared to move. He was looking at a tall figure, walking away in the sunset. A tall figure tired of being used, tired of everyone. A tall figure that was ready to fight, and bring justice, to his once upon a time best friend.