Where even until the moment the 2 skeleton-lovers-in-the-process find Geno's dad, things don't seem as certain as they're shown to be.

No one's POV:
-

Finally. The monster afterlife.

Geno was greeted by the eternal black of the land. He inhaled and exhaled calmly. Then he flinched surprised. He could feel himself freezing off badly before him and Reaper arrived in here. Now? He felt warm!

He turned to look surprised at the Captain standing next to him, who was staring ahead serious and focused. He almost spoke, but remembered the rules Reaper had told him and waited for the necromancer to look at him.

"It worked! Indeed I don't feel cold anymore!" His mouth spelled the words without sound and Reaper suddenly thought about how badly he wanted to taste that little mouth and hear all the sweet sounds it would produce as he would-.

Sh*t, the monster afterlife was already getting to him and revealing inside his head his most wild and rampant thoughts, which he didn't realise himself either, until this very moment, just how unhinged they were. Well, they had better stay as such and not come out.

It was a common struggle for the likes of him, he wouldn't let this land get the best of him. He kept his composure and nodded at Geno. As he was standing next to him, his right hand moved and waited for Geno's left hand to hold. The half-siren looked at the other startled and took half a step away from him.

But looking at Reaper's chill and calm expression, silently and patiently insisting, he approached again. His hand reached for the necromancer's, inches away stopping. He looked one more time at Reaper, who nodded.

Seriously? Why was he so nervous? Instead of apparently feeling scared, Geno was finding himself... alright, he couldn't name what he was feeling, yet it wasn't fear! Scoffing frustrated, the small skeleton looked away, lowered more the hood of the cloak he was wearing and held Reaper's hand, who proceeded to secure his hold on it gently.

Then the deadly skeleton tugged slowly, signing Geno to move, who looked sharply at him. He started slowly walking ahead, so the smaller could prevent to stick by his side and find his pace. Hand-to-hand the 2 smol skeles walked the land of the dead monsters quietly.

Still fighting to control the unidentified emotions he was feeling, Geno would secretly stare at Reaper, observing how he was looking around as if he was actually seeing something. Maybe for being a necromancer? He had asked him silently, if he was seeing actually something.

The response was a nod. What exactly though? Geno would perhaps learn when they would return to the living. The only word Reaper would say out loud was Stephan's name. In addition to that, as if he was fishing, he would summon and toss ahead a cyan chain that would get lost to the distance.

Probably trying to fish out Geno's dad. But all the times he tried that, the chain would never catch any essence. With every failed attempt Geno would become more and more concerned, confused and frustrated. He wanted to ask so many things at once.

What was happening?

Didn't Reaper say he had managed to find him the first time?

Why couldn't he find him now?

Why did he seem so confused?

"Something is... off."

The half-siren flinched. Reaper had actually spoken out loud. He stared at him as he gathered back the chain.

"What?"

"You can talk out loud." The necromancer allowed.

"What's... happening?" Geno asked, still lowly.

"He doesn't respond."

"The heck you mean he doesn't respond?!" The smaller shout-whispered.

"He's not getting dragged by the chain. I remember what he looks like, yet, I can't find his essence anywhere. It's strange..." Reaper paused.

"Great! What now?!" Geno asked. The other thought quietly before he turned to look at the smaller.

"We're only left with the choice of you luring him out. Call him by name and hope that he responds to that." Geno looked at him with perked up eyesocket before looking forward. A few seconds later he inhaled quietly.

"Stephan?"

The 2 waited in an awkward silence, with Geno faintly looking at Reaper, who was staring around carefully and focused, searching for something.

"Truly strange..." He whispered.

"What's strange?" Geno asked.

"Aside bein' unable to locate your father unlike the previous time, apparently, I can't sense any Wraiths."

"Ain't that supposed to be a good thing?"

"... Maybe it could be..." Reaper turned to look at Geno with his cold unreadable expression. "... But it ain't like I don't sense them nearby. I can't sense them..." He looked again up and around. "... at all. As if they're more than just hiding their best. Like they're... gone. Completely."

"So we have nothin' to worry about, right?"

"... Maybe for now." Reaper proceeded to simply say, but in reality this situation had started causing him deep down nervousness.

Mainly for reasons about imbalance. Wraiths might were not a welcoming sight. But ever since the necromancers who were born in the living and not in the afterlife started ending up here, their nature wasn't pure anymore.

Since their nature stopped being completely deadly, the afterlife wasn't claiming back the same kind of darkness and power they had send to the living. That was why the land would eventually absorb the Wraiths, as a payment for being impure.

Yes, for reasons like those. But like that, they were what would roots be for a tree. They became the reason the afterlife was kept together from scattering and merging with the living. Literally, the afterlife needed them to stay stable and for the essences to keep existing.

"Hey... why do you seem..." Geno had observed Reaper's concerned expression, who however decided that this wasn't something that needed to bother Geno at the moment, as he thought.

"... Lately the afterlife has been feelin'... awfully quiet. I observed from my last visits. Way more than usual. It doesn't feel right... Or maybe the Wraiths are way too far away... If your father doesn't come any time soon, we're leaving." He declared calmly as he looked at Geno, who looked behind him in agony and concern. Suddenly he flinched, turned around completely and pointed forward.

"There!"

Reaper turned around too. There he was.

"Geno! My boy!" Stephan was heard talking happily. But then he looked at Reaper and he clenched his teeth in fear. "Did he use you as bait?!" He asked.

"What?! No! Don't worry dad! He helped to find you! Come here!" Geno called trying to hide his excitement. He walked towards the essence, almost jumped forward to be closer to Stephan. But Reaper was approaching too, causing the poor tall skeleton to float back too.

"Geno, my boy, I'm sorry, I don't know if I can stay around while he..." And with his head he pointed at Reaper's direction. Geno looked at Reaper too, who hadn't stopped gazing intensively at Stephan.

"Uuuh. Could you... step back?" Geno asked awkwardly. Reaper didn't look at him. Just kept staring at Stephan.

"Please, I don't-... I can't... I've already run for my existence twice in such short amount of time, don't make me..." The dad said, still scared and uncomfortable.

"Dad, it's okay." Geno tried to calm Stephan down. Then he looked at Reaper. "Hey, c' mon, don't give him that stare, can't you see he's uncomfortable?!" He asked Reaper, kind of scolding him. Whatever had gotten into the necromancer... he just wouldn't stop staring at Stephan. But he took 2 steps back. Geno looked at him worried and confused, but then he huffed. He turned to look at his dad and smiled at him. "After that Wraith attacked you, I thought-... I'm glad you're alright dad."

"I'm glad to see you alive son." Stephan replied smiling wider. Geno took a step forward and Stephan approached too. The moment that happened the small skeleton felt a brief strike of cold on his back, but didn't turn around, knowing it was Reaper being tense for whatever reason. "But you're still so... small..."

"Heh. Didn't manage to gain any height." Geno said rubbing the back of his head.

"So... fragile. Whatever happened to you my boy?" Stephan kept going as him and Geno were slowly getting closer and closer to each other.

"I've been through a lot dad. But I survived. I'm okay."

"Yes, indeed. You're strong. Otherwise, you wouldn't have made it until today. It's good." Now dad and son were only 2 steps away.

"Say, dad. There's somethin' I need your help with. I asked to come here so you could help with a little issue. Now that, well, nobody is hunting you down."

"Yes, of course..." Stephan approached even closer until he was right in front of Geno, looking down to him. "... Anything you want my bo-."

Suddenly the sound of rattling was heard and before Geno or his dad could do anything, a cyan chain with a cuff at the end grabbed Stephan by the neck. The taller skeleton stepped back and fell. Geno turned around surprised and saw Reaper holding the other end of the chain.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" He yelled. Reaper ignored Geno and swung the chain abruptly, causing Stephan's essence to get tossed to the right. "Why are you hurting my dad?!" The smaller skeleton walked towards the necromancer ready to try and remove the chain off his hands. "Stop it right now!" Seeing Geno moving towards him Reaper snapped his head to look at the half-siren. Next thing Geno knew, he felt his wrists being cuffed by chains that had emerged from the floor. "HEY!"

"... Of course and I'll have to be the bad guy..." Reaper said calmly rolling his eyesockets as he swung once more the chain with which he was having Stephan on a chokehold. "... But Veracity ain't always all bright and happy, is it now?" He asked then. "One question, Sτeρhαn, aren't you ashamed łγιŋg to your son?"

"What are you even talking abou-?" Stephan tried to ask, only to start making choking sounds as the cuff around his neck had tightened.

"I ƧƘ THƏ QUƏ§TIŒŊ§!" Reaper shouted in a terrifying voice.

"Let my dad go!" Geno yelled angrily as he tried to free himself off the chains.

"Tell me, StEpHaN, aren't you ashamed łγιŋg ιŋ hιs fαcə?" The necromancer asked again as he pointed for a second at Geno.

"When did I li-?" Stephan tried to speak again, only for the chain to increase its grip around his neck.

"Look at me better, StEpHaN and τəłł mə. ₩hατ. Æm. I?" Reaper didn't wait for long for the essence to speak up. "... That's right, I'm a necromancer. But one could also refer to me as 'Mister ÐŒŊ'T ¥ŒU ŁIƏ IŊ M¥ ÞRƏ§ƏŊCƏ'!" He swung the chain abruptly, causing Stephan to fly and slam against the floor once more roughly.

"STOP HURTING MY DA-!" Geno tried to yell again as he struggled, only to see another chain popping off the floor right in front of him and shutting his mouth. He started growling and hissing, only struggling harder and more intensively than before.

"No Geno, you must watch this 'till the very end." Reaper said, at this point no emotion coloring his voice. He turned to look at Stephan again. "Since ya ain't being compliant, StEpHaN and ya don't answer the question I did before, I'll have to be the one to answer it myself. Again." He swung the chain and the essence was brought between the 2 smaller skeletons. "I ƙŋœw why you don't feel shame łγιŋg to your son. That is because γœυ αιn'τ reαłłγ hιs fατhər, ærə γœυ ŋœw?"

Stephan didn't say anything and Reaper tugged abruptly the chain, causing his head to be thrown back sharply. At this point Geno was watching and listening with wide open eyesocket. Especially on that last sentence. That was absurd! Where did Reaper get that from?! How did he conclude that?!

"Ge... no..." Stephan was heard calling for Geno lowly and with difficulty streching his arm out and towards the small skeleton. The half-siren struggled again to free himself, anxious and concerned with the madness in front of him.

"Oh, dear sweet Geno. Tch tch tch..." Reaper did as he walked around Stephan and stood next to Geno, who glared up to him. "Since you still seem unable to see what is goin' on, for which I won't blame ya, let's do a little test. Look him in the eyesockets carefully. Go on. Do it. Look at him and tell me if that is really the man you used to call 'ðæð'." He challenged.

"If you are going to keep torturing me... at least... don't do this in front of... my... son..." Stephan struggled to speak. At that point Geno was boiling.

"So you choose to keep up the facade huh?" Reaper asked as he swung gently the chain. Even like that it seemed to cause even more pain on Stephan. "Look at him Geno." He said coldly, still looking at the essence. 

Despite the desire to punch Reaper in the face, the smaller skeleton turned to look forward and at Stephan, who was struggling to at least sit up on his knees. His eyesockets met Geno's for a few seconds before he lowered his head.

"What more am I supposed to see?" Geno thought indignated.

"Ah ah ah!" Reaper did quickly as he tugged the chain, forcing Stephan to groan in pain and throw his head back. "Dont'cha know that lookin' away is a sign of cowardness and dishonesty? If you have nothing to hide from 'YoUr SoN', you'll look him in the eyesocket and wœŋ'τ break contact." A few seconds later Stephan looked again at Geno, but the moment the smaller focused his look more, he lowered head again. "₩hατ đιđ I sαγ SτƏρHαŊ?!" Reaper asked as he swung again the chain. "€œmə œŋ, ιτ's 'YoUr SoN' wə'rə ταłƙιŋ' αɓœυτ hərə."

"I thought... you needed... help... I thought... you wanted... Geno... wanted... me... to tell you... about the... Loner Sirens..."

And that was then, when Reaper's left pupil glowed cyan even more intensively, his grin becoming wider and more unhinged.

"And how didja know we came to ask you exactly about that?"

Geno had gotten tired and frustrated from this inspection. He was ready to glare once more at Reaper and muffle his objections.

Until his question sunk deeply inside his skull.

"... how didja know..."

In an instant all anger and frustration was replaced by a cold, silent shock. Geno's eyesocket perked up as he started staring alternatively at Stephan and Reaper, who saw his expression and stopped smiling. Finally, the siren felt his wrists and mouth free off the chains. He stood up and stared at his dad(?) intensively, who was smiling. Nervously. While looking to all directions.

And then, from his last visit in the monster afterlilfe, Mr. Wraith's words also came to hit Geno.

"If I were you, I wouldn't greet any essence that looks like family warmly..."

"No matter who you think that is standing there, I'll need you to walk away and close to me."

"For your own good."

He stepped back.

"... Geno?" Stephan(???) asked quietly. And Geno saw it, he realised. What he saw a while ago as a bright gentle smile from the essence, now it seemed to hide anxiety and agony. The eyesockets might were empty, but behind them there was... desperation.

"... Who are you?" Geno asked calmly, trying to control the trembling of his hands.

"You can drop the mask now StEpHaN, or whoever... whatever you are." Reaper said, both eyesockets empty. "And like my 'venerable' father would say, lies don't last forever. State your real name, essence."

Dead silence fell amongst the 3 skeletons. Geno waited in agony to hear Ste-...

To hear it talk.

The essence stood up slowly with lowered head. Geno saw how the smile slowly formed on its face, which then proceeded to turn into a grin, wide and unhinged. It raised head. A spark appeared in its eyesockets, 2 rings of pale and sickening light which were turned to be nailed at Reaper.

"¥œυ'rə ŋøτ əαsγ τø føøł αfτər αłł, ɲəcrœmæɲcər." It commented and chuckled. A few seconds later the chuckle became laughter, which at first sounded like Stephan's, familiar for Geno.

Until a second voice started laughing with the first.

Then a third one.

And from that point and after the laughter became from low to loud and unhinged as more voices were added, male and female, adult and children.

And when that started happening, the essence's body started melting.

The chain with which it was tied by the neck fell on the floor and Reaper gathered it back as he stepped backwards, streching out a protecting arm in front of Geno. The essence went from melting to also growing in size, becoming less and less of any familiar shape.

On it, mouths that were all laughing and eyes that were staring to all directions started appearing. Finally, the huge blob of melted essence, eyes and mouths stood tall and threatening. And when the mouths stopped laughing, all eyes were nailed at the 2 skeletons.

"... Həl·lœ."

"... What is this?" Geno asked lowly as it became more obvious that he was shaking. Reaper didn't respond at first.

"... It would be a bad time bein' honest... but in all my years of living, I've never seen anythin' like this..." He said. Before Geno could say anything or panic further, Reaper streched out his left arm. His scythe was summoned and his left eyesocket glowed cyan. "... If it can bleed or be shredded though, it can be fought."

And then, screeching loudly, the ??? attacked.

2990 words. MWA HA HA HA HAAA!

ahem U-U. proceed now sweet children.

*pat*