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Sometimes I wish I could run away, but I am still here. Why? I want to stay with him. Him. Only him. Killer, he's the only one making me feel even if, just slightly, alive. Shame, what a shame because he never understood it and never will understand it. A sad, sad truth but I started to slowly accept, I had to accept it.
Killer is an obsessed man, ever since I first got here, she was unhealthy obsessing over Nightmare. He is blind because of his he is blind because of his obsession. Horror is my stone in all this mess, I can talk to him, he's wise, he tells me to try and let him go. To forget the feeling. Horror never will understand me, he will understand even if he's one of my ‘closest’ friend.
The only light force in my dark, now cold world is him, Killer… I apologize to you and the other, truthfully, but the fear of the emptiness in my invisible uncared wound stops me. Maybe, maybe I like feeling even if it's just straight up pain most days, could I, perhaps feel more in this repeat of alluding myself? No. I am tired of being in so much pain. Now, I only need to find the right moment and force myself to go, to run away. To leave here my pains, my anxieties, my sadness and my everything. “Dust! Come onn!!~ Let's go, Boss gave us a new mission!” Killer was calling for me, maybe just another mission, just another day more.
___
Surely you saw at least one particular individual, and Dust could be described as one. In all past travels, Nightmare encountered just a few people like him. Walking through the corridors of his castle, curiosity got him while passing by Killer’s and Horror’s rooms and then stopping once in front of the ruined wooden door of Dust’s room and entering in. Like he could have imagined the room was messy and broken from the sudden bursts he usually had. It didn't impress him in the slightest but something else got Nightmare’s attention, something that worried him and a lot for different reasons.
On Dust’s desk there is a piece of paper, more appropriately a letter of apologies, to all of them. Asking to be forgiven for running away.
Sorry,
I never was someone of big words but I think I owe you my apologies.
You would try to understand why I ran away from the castle but this is where you need to understand my point of view, my mentality.
I was struggling with a lot, I will not negate it. My case was already lost from the beginning.
I needed to eliminate the source of my distress so the only right thing was to run. It's something I always did.
For Killer, my apologies, you are my biggest and dearest pain just like my brother and maybe this was the reason that made me more want to disappear. You're the monster I love you the most yet It doesn't seem to make you look my way, in any way.
For Horror, my apologies, you're my solid ground and probably something I one time would have called a best friend. You are very dear to me.
For Boss, my apologies, you are deep down a caring person and I can see it when I look into your eye, the residue of the spark everyone is born with and I am grateful you found me.
I don't know if I will anger someone with this letter yet even if it was the case, I would apologize.
Because I am truly so sorry.
-DUST
“Huh,” Nightmare huffed while holding the piece of paper “Is he planning all this..?” He thought, his hand moving under his chin as to understand how to proceed from his current position with the new information on his subordinate. The best course of action would be to monitor his aura along with Horror’s and Killer’s to make sure he would return to the castle, then he would have a talk with him about the situation. Now, he only needs to wait for the trio to return.
The dark wooden door creaks open. The first one to enter is Killer, followed by Dust and closed by Horror which makes sure to close and lock the huge front door. “How was the mission?” Nightmare asked from the bergère he was sitting on, lazily scanning the lines of the book he was supposed to read. “A success, Boss!!” Killer proudly announced with a tone too high for Nightmare’s likings, but he nods acknowledging it. “Great, then you are dismissed. Go take a break… Except you, Dust. Follow me to my office,” His tentacles slightly twitching as he got up from the chair. He could feel Killer and Horror were concerned for the shortest skeleton, but they remained silent, not knowing what Nightmare had in mind. The two walked toward the poorly lit office in silence, being in both natures to usually stay quiet.
“Dust,” He said while holding the door to the other “Take a seat,”. Once the short skeleton got somewhat comfortable on the chair opposite the desk, Nightmare closed the rustic-looking door without making much noise. In silence, they sat opposite to each other until a folded piece of paper was passed, “Care to explain?” He asked as Dust folded his letter. “You read this.” The tone was flat, it wasn’t a question, it was a statement. The light shakiness in his voice being forced out of him but an unmistakable glint of fear passed through his otherwise expressionless eyes.
“I—” Nightmare didn't even let him get started, “Dust, look,” he said while grabbing one of his fancy old style pens, “I have no clear idea of what the situation is or how the situation affects you but I can feel your emotions, and saying you are doing fine would be a blunt lie… I was merely bothered by your mental well-being…”
“You look completely exhausted, Dust.”He stated dryly while staring Dust intensely, a lingering terror slowly dripping down the spine of who is the unlucky person to face the wrath of the one eyed skeleton, but this threatening was oddly comforting in the current situation, it was familiar, “I have a suspicion of what is troubling after reading the letter, so, I will ask. Do you want me to change your room?”
Dust stayed silent, looking down at his lap where he was twisting his fingers slightly, thinking “Boss… I…” After several minutes he spoke up only to be quickly interrupted by the one eyed skeleton “I will take your silence as a yes. Because I know, you were thinking about it,” The skeleton in the hood didn't know what to respond because Nightmares was correct, then he added “I will also put you on my same floor. Regardless, this is going to benefit you.” Said that, he got a sheet of paper and started writing.
Dust whispered under his breath, ”I never noticed you were so…” Nightmare carefully moves his head up giving a slight down side eye meeting Dust gaze, ”Nothing..” He said still whispering softly
As they sat in silence, the rustling echo of the pen writing in the silent study felt loud but once Nightmare stopped, he stated “I am giving you a week of vacation time, no work and no chores but please do not destroy too much your new temporary room,” “--- And feel free to come visit me any time,” Nightmare added before closing his eye, moving his head slightly downward, “even if you wish only company, you don't have to say anything to me” He gave a lazy sign pointing at the purple-tinted cabriole behind the imposing dark wooden desk. ”Thank you Boss,” It was flat, It wasn't the most sincere thanking, but the confused soft emotion racing into the aura of the hooded skeleton told a whole new story. Dust’s thumbs traced the sheet of paper containing Nightmare’s calligraphy.
“You like reading, no? I noticed you reading a few books… May I suggest one to you?” Asked the one eyed skeleton while standing up from the bergère with the tall backrest, ”Yes.. Yes, of course,” The other said with a small nod while Nightmare walked.
“Great…” He muttered, grinning to himself as he stepped closer to the large bookshelf. Nightmare looked in between the book covers then stopped to grab a few he personally thought Dust would like and benefit to read, gracing the other with small spoilerless summaries.
After several minutes and about an hour of chatting, most of the talking done by Nightmare, the slowly melting skeleton gave a book to the other as he quietly accepted it as it got placed in his hands. The monochromatic cover was a pretty old styled one probably costing a fortune to even have in someone possession. Dust stared at the book on his lap, the hood casting shadows over his face.
Nightmare sat behind the study desk once again and started to review a few papers with future plans and strategies, maps and information he got himself or from one of his most trusted spies which only he knew the identity and whereabouts. He tilted his head up as his gaze shifted to Dust. He was gently moving the book around inspecting the fancy cover, feeling the worn out leather-like cover under his fingertips.
“If you are too tired from the mission you can take a nap on the couch…” Nightmare said in a low and grave tone as he moved his eye back to the scattered papers on the desk then without looking at the other skeleton he added, “Hope it isn't a bother for you to sleep a little in here,” Dust stayed quiet for a little before muttering under his breath, ”Maybe I will” By the sounds of it the skeleton with the hood on was still handling the book in his lap, Nightmare didn't even bother to look up and just told him “You can put the book on the furniture next to you, on the left,”
Silence, a heavy silence none of the two skeletons truly wanted only the near ancient clock ticking again and again until an uncertain end. Nightmare took his phone texting one of his other subordinates, the conversation being one sided from the tentacled skeleton giving order in which a response wasn't even needed.
Boss
Horror, brew a chamomile with you know what and a black tea.
When you are done, bring it to my office.
It's an order.
Once the messages were read by the large skeleton with the smashed skull it was just a matter of waiting for the water to boil and as if calling for it the door was knocked steadily, Nightmare approaching the handle to open it. He scanned the tray in Horror's hands before replying to an invisible question that if not spoken sooner about might have created a thick tension “Good,” Nightmare nods taking the tray of tea from the taller hands and then he dismissed his subordinate with a simple “You can go now,” evading the possible question about ‘How was his friend doing?’ and ‘If Dust was okay?’ He slides the tray with the two large mugs of tea on his almost floor level antique coffee table being protected by a fine layer of glass to protect the wooden core, Nightmare spoke up, his voice higher than before with the other skeleton “Dust, I can feel you are still awake.” A heavy sigh from the gloopy monster, “Care for a hot tea? Horror made them and It's going to help you fall asleep,”
“Sure…”
“Then, enjoy.”
And they did drink the hot tea, the ceramic mugs being too hot to properly enjoy holding for the comfort of the nice warmth of the hot water making the tea filter dilute the flavor in it, if they had nerves, which they didn't have.
Then everything goes black.