I cracked my eyesockets open to dim light. I felt I was being suspended. I went to move to hear rattling and felt something holding onto my neck and limbs in place. I turned my head to see that my mostly corrupted arms were chained above me. I go to look down and realize my neck also was. I try to move my legs and know it's the same. I tried using magic, but the restraints shock me. I stop. I look around. I seem to be in a dirty cell full of dust and mysterious stains. I don't think about what they could be. I don't remember what happened after I was pulled into the shadows, but it looks like I'm being held prisoner. I'm wasn't sure how long I'd blacked out, but hopefully it hasn't been too long. I knew I'm wasn't in my fully corrupted form despite all the negativity, so not too much couldn't have past. I was probably in the heart of Nightmare's territory with how high it was.

  I didn't know what was going to happen to me exactly, but I'd probably be tortured until I agree to join Nightmare as his *shiver* queen. Yaaa, no. I wouldn't agree to that. Having a crush on my Nightmare or a fictional villain is one thing, but on an real and truly evil being that's bent on the destruction of the multiverse is another. There's a difference between fiction and reality.

  *Sigh* Corruption will probably want to see me when they realize I'm awake. So, I'll just have to wait. I just stay there hanging for a few minutes, feeling the comfort of familiar magic in my bracelet and cape. They would come for me eventually. I just need to hold on. I rest my head into my hood more. I'm glad they didn't search me for trackers or take my cape. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have them. The cape has been with me for so long. It's hard to believe it held together so long despite being just regular fabric. Wait. It's just regular fabric! Geno said magic disappears after the death of the being if it isn't infused in an item meant to hold magic. That means Nightmare is still alive! I slump in relief. I might still be able to save my brother. I don't know how yet, but I have to at least try. I thought about Nightmare and the time we spent together. I start to hum a bit, remembering a song I would sing with Nightmare. I start to singing it.

__________________

Speech type:
Nightmare
Catcher

Together

Come Little Children/ The Hanging Tree
Mashup By Peter Hollens and Bailey Pelkman

Come, little children,

I'll take thee away

Into a land of enchantment

Come, little children,

the time's come to play

Here in my garden of shadows.

A voice from outside my cell began to sing.

Follow, sweet children,

I show thee the way. (ooh-ooh)

Through all the pain and the sorrows. (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Weep not, poor children,

for life is this way. (ooh-ooh)

Murdering beauty and passions (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Corruption appears outside my cell.

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Are you? Are you? (Ooh-ooh)

Coming to the tree (ooh-ooh)

They strung up a man (ooh-ooh)

They say who murdered three (ooh-ooh)

Strange things did happened here (ooh-ooh)

No stranger would it be (ooh-ooh)

If we met at midnight (ooh-ooh)

In the hanging tree (ooh-ooh)

Corruption opened my cell door and entered. They closed the door behind them.

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Hush now, dear children,

it must be this way (ooh-ooh)

To weary of live and deceptions (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Strange things did happen here (ooh-ooh)

No stranger it would be (ooh-ooh)

If we met at midnight (into the calm and the)

In the hanging tree (quiet)

Are you? Are you? (Ooh-ooh)

Coming to the tree (ooh-ooh)

Through all the pain and sorrow? (Ooh-ooh-ooh)

Strange things did happen here (ooh-ooh)

No stranger it would be (ooh-ooh)

If we met at midnight (murdering beauty and)

In the hanging tree (passions)

Strange things did happen here (weep not poor children)

No stranger it would be (for life is this way)
If we met at midnight (murdering beauty)

In the hanging tree (and passions)

Are YoU? Are you? (Ooh-ooh)

Coming to the tree (ooh-ooh)

Where dead man call out (ooh-ooh)

For his love to flee (ooh-ooh)

Come little children, the time's come to play

Here in my garden of shadows.

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Come little children, I'll take thee away

into a land of enchantment.

Come little children (strange things did happen here)

The time's come to play (no stranger would it be)

Here in my garden of shadows (if we met at midnight in the hanging tree)

_____________________

  We finished the song. I felt nostalgic and bitter at the moment we shared. It reminded me of my brother so much. I feel the corruption flowing down my eyesockets faster. It probably mixed with my tears. Nightmare gently grabbed my face and wiped it with his thumbs. I glare at him and he smirked. "So perfect, yet so stubborn. Even after we shared a moment. You know you can't fight me. I will have what I want. No one will find you here, so we have all the time in the multiverse to break your will." Corruption told me. I feel my corruption take completely cover me.

  "I don't care want you want. I just want you to free my brother. I know he isn't dead." I said, venom in my voice.

  "So you figured that out? I underestimated your intelligence. To bad that's not going to happen. He's a bit busy sleeping for..... forever. Your stuck with me. I may not be the same person, but I'm still part of him. I'm the manifestation of all his negative emotions. His pain, sadness, rage, fear, loneliness, shame, obsession..... I'm all of it. You have no idea just how much he worshipped you. The sibling who he held on a pedestal. You were everything to him. When he heard from the villagers what you had done for him he felt such shame at his weakness. When he saw you battered and broken, he felt more rage than he thought possible. I made sure they suffered for their actions. But now, I finally have you in my grasp. And, I won't be letting go. Look forward to your time here. I know I will." Nightmare told me as he let go. He turned and left me in my cell. I was once again alone.

  Mom. Dad. Everyone.
Please hurry, I'm scared.