Erebus was slow to wake on weeks like these, spreading negativity through the performances his troupe put on always took a lot out of him. Yesterday they had arrived in this AU, a copy of underswap if he had checked properly. Rubbing his eye, he crawled out of his hammock, it was the second day of the troupe's three day show. There was a fair amount to be done today, requiring constant attention. 

A knock was heard on the wall leading to his room, before the old door of his room creaked open.

"Morning boss, long night?"  Occisor questioned, leaning in the doorway

"You know full well that it was a long night," he was cut off with a long drawn yawn."You were there with me, it's a pain to spread nightmares to monsters with already such little negativity. 

Occisor looked at his Erebus knowingly before quipping "Yeah yeah, anyway ya gotta hurry up. Nyx is making breakfast and is waiting for you to finish." 

"I'll be there soon then."

With that last tired reply, Occisor left the room. Likely headed to the kitchen with Nyx, his smaller uncorrupted self. Everytime the ritual has to begin, it almost hurts more. 

Standing up and stretching his back, Erebus follows Occisor to the kitchen. Tendrils flicking and waving behind him.

~~~~~~~

"Well good morning Erebus," Nyx chirped.

"Good morning Nyx, you're cheerful as ever. I'm assuming you slept well then?" Erebus droned tiredly in reply. He was absolutely not a morning person.

A warm cup of tea was placed in front of Erebus at the table, along with eggs and french toast. "I suppose you could say that. Green tea, correct?" Nyx said as he turned to give the rest of the troupe their breakfast. He was clearly shaking, but it was never brought up.

Erebus simply hummed in reply, too tired to give a proper response. Slowly he sipped at the tea his passive self gave him. His eye still half shut, taking in the scent of the tea. From across the table light chuckling could be heard between the boys. Smirking, Erebus questioned.

"So would you mind letting me in on what you find so funny?"

"Are you certain that you are the same monster as the theatrical nightmare we saw yesterday? Seriously, it's like night and day how different you are in the morning compared to when you're on stage." It was Cinis who answered, hiding a very apparent grin behind his scarf. 

Taking this as a challenge, Erebus decided to reply in a loud over exaggerated voice. "Oh, would you prefer I speak like this throughout the day? I must say, I would be quite happy to oblige if that is your preference. Just say the word, Cinis my friend." Erebus' tendrils flicked and curled in a similarly flamboyant fashion, nearly knocking over a chair next to him. A large, smug smile plastered widely over his skull.

Cinis could only groan and bury his face in his scarf, only being able to stand his boss' grandiose persona for so long. Rather than pushing the boss further into his childish play, Cinis decided it would be for the better to just eat his breakfast. He already had to deal with one idiot, didn't need his boss doing that too.  It was going to be a long day for the troupe, as the second day of their shows usually are. Fun as they may be, they are never any less tiring.

"We'll be going out at ten, and staying till three today. We will also be aiding the boss tonight, don't forget" Occisor instructed the group. 

With confirmation on today's schedule, breakfast was quickly finished and it was time to get ready. There was about a half hour before it was time to go, the stage equipment being left outside. Each skeleton got up from the table, dropping their dishes with Nyx before heading to their rooms to get dressed. The three troupe members wore black parachute pants with a teal tuxedo vest. Occisor wearing a white ruffled shirt underneath his vest. The minor outfit change, showing him to be the second in command, for when Erebus is not there. Erebus himself wearing a midnight blue tailcoat, with black slacks and medieval style boots.

With thirteen minutes left to prepare, the troupe helps Nyx clean the kitchen then head out the door. Various goodbyes to Nyx could be heard as they left, along with compliments to his cooking. 

~~~~~~~

Iridescent teal and black orbs could be seen floating about the sky, simply a beautiful decoration to those who know their intended purpose. Truthfully, anyone who touches one of these is afflicted by a sharp wave of negativity. A simple and effective method of collecting it that Erebus had learned in his years as a performer. 

The show was about to begin.

In the loudest voice he could, Erebus called out with fanfare "Come one come all, to the second show of the Troupe of Nightmares! It is not one to be missed, you never know when we will be back!" 

Crowds of monsters recognizing the shout from the day before came out to see the show once again. It really wasn't something to be missed, some say it leaves you stuck where you're standing in awe. 

Whilst the crowd rolled in, Erebus left the rest of the show in Occisor's more than capable hands. He had other work to do.

Melding into the shadows, Erebus watched the show until it was time to strike. Cinis summoned his purple tinted blasters, Occisor his knives, and Famis brought out a set of poi balls. His magic may not be viable, but Famis was masterful at fire dancing and of course wielding his axe. 

Knives began rhythmically soaring through the air, as the blasters shot to highlight them. Bright blue flames swinging in circular patterns to match the flow of the blades. Famis being the one to start off today's dance. With seemingly harsh movements, he glided across the stage. Fire swirling around him, his stark red eye a beautiful contrast to the fires bright blue.

Soon the sound of violins could be heard, sharp and sweet. Occisor and Cinis dancing to match the intensity of Famis' own. Now is the time for Erebus to strike. 

A wave of dread is sent through the crowd, chills running down their spines. Something feels wrong, and they are right to feel that way. Soon after that first feeling, something is missing. Or perhaps, someone. Pulled out from under their own feet, under the earth to a place unrecognizable. This certainly won't be the last person either. 

One after the other monsters go missing. At first fifteen minutes between each one, then ten, then five, before it reaches one. Near the end of the show, one monster every minute is pulled out from the ground into a place unseen thus far. The remaining crowd stuck, paralyzed to the place they stand in their own amplified fear. The air feels colder, the music has taken a haunting turn. An impending sense of dread crawls upon the spine of each and every monster who made the poor mistake of watching the show today. They don't know who is next, they don't know what causes it so all that can be done is wait and hope they survive to the end of the show.

The unfortunate souls taken underground are thrown onto yet another terrifying ordeal. It's a maze, but with each turn one takes, the maze turns with them. Time feels slowed to a halt here, it's a trap. Made to slowly siphon any hope within a monster's soul, replacing it with desperation and anguish at their own situation.

Erebus' voice picks up in the maze, "Well hello dear viewers, I hope you enjoyed the performance whilst it lasted. It's only fair now, that you return the favor," his sing-song voice registers as the one belonging to the troupe master in the monster's heads, before taking a dark slow turn. Morphing into someone else's entirely. " Now it's time for you to become my show! I get to watch as you lose hope of escape. Little. By. Little. Just remember, time holds no meaning here. Nor does anything you do, it's completely hopeless! Good luck trying to escape!"

With a parting laugh Erebus' voice stopped echoing through the maze. Despair begins to form its cage around the minds of the maze's new inhabitants. The short amount of time they will be trapped here will feel like weeks or years, depending on who you ask. The blank, overly illuminated conditions of the maze make time feel irrelevant. The terror creeping in on them from Erebus' magic only amplifying the effect.

Until it is time for the troupe to leave this au for good, the monsters inside will be trapped. Unable to escape. A single cyan eyelight, always visible out of the corner of their eyes. The voice of the troupe master echoing through the maze and its inhabitants heads.