❤️💜20k :3
We've reached my goal so I gUeSs ThIs Is ThE eNd oF tHe bOoK--

Jk dun worry XD💜❤️

---Cross' POV----

I flinched, opening my eyes to see complete darkness.

Straight away I realised that I was in a dream. If I was actually awake I'd be able to sense Nightmare next to me. But I couldn't.

There was just a black endless void that stretched out for miles, as far as I could see. But, stood in the distance I could faintly see the silhouette of a figure. A figure I knew all to well.

I stepped forwards, narrowing my eyes. It was two figures. As I walked closer, my eyes widened. X had Chara by the neck, choking him as he was held in the air.

Now I'm going to be honest, I hate Chara more than words can describe. But I'm not about to let X murder him, even if this is a dream.

I went to summon a knife, only to freeze as nothing worked.

X suddenly turned, grinning as he looked at me. "Well hello there, sans."

I flinched, growling as I walked closer to him, trying and failing to summon any knives. "My name, is Cross."

X grinned, chuckling. "Oh so you've finally accepted it hm? Who you are?" His grip on Chara tightened slightly and the kid let out a strangled cry, struggling in his grip.

"My name doesn't change shit about who I am." I hissed, coming to a stop a few metres away. "Now what the hell do you want?"

X smirked before dropping Chara suddenly, letting him fall to the floor where he then gulped down air desperately, choking and gagging.

I stayed put, not daring to go any closer as I watched Chara feebly stumble to his feet and collapse next to me, his neck bleeding from where X had dug his fingers in.

"You see Cross." X said, grinning. "I've always loved to play games~"

I narrowed my eyes, looking around for any signs of Nightmare. Normally he'll join me in a dream.

X laughed, making me look back at him. "Your octopus can't save you now. This is my dream. I've dragged you in."

I winced, growing slightly nervous.

"As I was saying, I love to play games. Now my current favourite is Cat and Mouse. And guess what Crossy~?"

I gulped, stepping back.

"Im coming for all of you~ I'm the cat, and you're all the mice~"

"CROSS!"

I jolted suddenly, opening my eyes again to see Nightmare shaking me, his eye full of concern. "Wh-Wha--?"

He suddenly hugged me to his chest, sighing. "You were having a bad dream...you were thrashing and muttering stuff...a-and for some reason I couldn't get into the dream and stop it!"

I panted, blushing at his concern and hugged back, burying my face in his chest. "I-It was X...h-he dragged me into his dream and then talked to me..."

Nightmare stiffened and his grip on me tightened. "What did he say?"

I winced, blinking as he wiped the tears that I didn't even know were there off of my cheek bones. "H-He coming! W-We need to leave!"

Nightmare frowned his eye narrowing suddenly as looked at my neck. What happened to your neck?"

"M-My neck?" I reached my hand up and touched my neck only to hiss in pain suddenly. "Wh-What?"

"Its bruised..." He murmured, tracing his fingers softly over the dark-purple-black bruises on my neck. I've had bruises on my neck before, but those were from...other things...

Suddenly Chara appeared by my side, and for the first time in forever, he looked scared. His neck was also dark with bruises, from where X had strangled him. I guess the marks got carried over to me.

"Cross we have to go." Chara said, looking around warily. "I can sense him..."

I nodded, looking back at Nightmare. "N-Nighty we need to go."

He blinked. "Now?"

"Y-Yes, otherwise he'll kill all of us." I stuttered, pressing closer to him.

He groaned, rolling out of bed and to his feet, standing still for a bit as his tentacles twitched and wriggled, waking up.

I quickly slipped on a few extra layers of clothes, pulling my fluffy jacket on along with my shoes.

Chara was tense beside me the whole time, constantly holding his head in his hands as he muttered worrying nonsense. "Cross we need to go quicker. We have around only five minutes!"

"N-Nightmare we need everyone out within five minutes!"

Nightmare winced, quickly teleporting away to get the kids while I grabbed some stuff we might need.

Through the bedroom walls I could hear the sleepy whines of protest from the kids as Nightmare woke them up.

"Cross he's in the house."

I froze, my whole body going stiff and tense. "Wh-Where?"

"Right behind you~"

I whipped around, almost screaming as X morphed into shape in front of me, the same monstrous grin spread across his face.

"Hello there~ Cross, Chara."

Chara tensed behind me, backing away as far as he could before our bond prevented him from going any further. "CROSS MOVE! D-DON'T JUST STAND THERE!"

I stumbled back, only to nearly have a heart attack as something wrapped around my waist and yanked me back.

Nightmare gripped onto my wrist and dragged me down the corridor, quickly checking I wasn't hurt. "Go get the kids out! Take them to the forest! I'll meet you there!"

I went to protest but he dropped me off of the balcony at the top of the stairs, making me scream before landing on one of our sofas. What a shortcut.

"GO!" Nightmare yelled before being tackled down by X.

I scrambled off of the sofa and to the main double doors at the front of the mansion, skidding to a stop as I saw the kids and Blue.

After confirming that all eight of them were there I unlocked all the security locks and kicked the door open.

They all streamed out quickly, looks of pure terror on their faces. Even Incubux, who's normally emotionless to a certain degree, looked scared.

I summoned a knife by my side and looked back quickly, watching as Nightmare stabbed X through the chest and kicked him down the stairs.

"CROSS NIGHTMARE WILL BE FINE! JUST RUN!" Chara yelled, pulling against the bond we share.

I flinched, but did as he said, turning and running out of the mansion with the kids, keeping them all close as we ran towards the dark and foreboding forest.

I lead the way and Incubux stayed at the back with Eph in his arms, checking that everyone was still with us.

Soon enough we stumbled into the forest, all of us slowing to a stop.

"D-Dad what's happening? Noah asked. "Wh-Where's dad?"

I winced, hugging him. "We're going to be okay Noah, Nightmares just keeping back the bad guy..."

He shivered. "The same one from last time?"

I nodded stiffly, looking at the mansion in the distance. I couldn't see Nightmare or X, but I could hear faint yelling coming from the mansion.

"D-Dad...w-will he be okay...?"

I gulped harshly before turning around, leading the kids deeper into the forest. "Of course...this is your dad we're talking about. He'll be fine..."

I said that with such confidence to the kids, but inside I was panicking, terrified for Nightmares safety. He was still slightly weaker from the last time X attacked. But then again, hopefully X will be weaker as well.

A quick glance from Incubux confirmed he knew exactly what I was thinking. He rested a hand on my shoulder, sighing. "He'll be fine, Cross...don't worry..."

I nodded stiffly, leading the kids down the old pathway. I was still panicking massively, but I forced myself to focus on something that possibly a bit more concerning.

We've reached Creeper vine territory.

"Everyone stay extremely close." I muttered, slowing down as I walked. "Stay quiet, and don't make any sudden movements."

They all went quiet, blinking as they hugged themselves tightly, walking stiffly down the old dirt path.

Over the last fifteen years Nightmare and I have been...training the Creeper vines to a certain degree. They'll no longer attack the two of us, they almost protect us in a way. Once a month we give the mother plant bodies of animals we've hunted down in the forest or stuff like that, and in response the vines no longer try to kill us.

But the thing is...they've never seen the kids before...so they could see them as a threat. I'm praying that if they stay close enough the vines will just stay out or just follow us a bit. I'm praying they won't attack.

I tensed as we came to their main territory. They could be seen curled all around the trunks and branches of the dead trees, limp and seemingly lifeless. But they were awake. Slight shifts in the trees signified that. And every time that sound rang out I tensed massively.

"Kids stop..." I whispered, stopping at the stump of an old tree.

All of them did, holding their breaths as the creeper vines slowly slid off of their branches, circling us slowly.

They're more used to Nightmare than me. He's normally the one that feeds the mother plant. I have too many bad memories of that thing for me to go back there anytime soon.

One vine came right up to me, wrapping around my ankle lightly.

I inhaled sharply, squeezing my eyes shut as it tightened slightly, trying to assess whether I was a threat or not, and if it should shatter my leg or not.

Suddenly I felt a new presence beside me and the vine immediately slid back, letting me go.

I opened my eyes and nearly cried out in relief to see Nightmare stood there, glaring at the vines. I wanted to hug him so badly, but I restrained myself. Sudden moves are not good here. And Nightmare needs to stay focused.

All the vines backed up and Nightmare quickly gripped onto my hand, intertwining out fingers before walking forwards, the kids following close behind.

"Cross he's in the forest."

I flinched, glancing at Chara. The bruises on his neck seemed even darker, and he looked a mess. I guess the thought of going back to X is something that terrifies him as much as it does to me.

Nightmare pressed close to me as we walked, constantly glancing behind him until we were in the safe zone and out of the forest, now looking out at the ash filled land.

As soon as we left the trees I hugged Nightmare tightly, checking him over quickly before burying my face into his chest. "A-Are you okay?"

Nightmare smiled weakly down at me and pet my skull. "I'm fine Crossy...we're all fine..."

Blue looked over at us, worrying. "Wh-Where do we go now?"

Nightmare grimaced, looking out across the land of ash. "Simple...we go back to Craitown..."

---X's POV----

I grinned, watching as they disappeared into the distance.

Oh I just love it when my prey runs~

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Holy shit-- now I know what you're thinking--

HaS aUtHoR jEsS fINaLlY gOt HeR lAzY aSs To WrItE a LoNg ChApTeR?!

And uh, Yee

1,911 words--

Ahfzzhstgz--

-Jess-