Bill's POV

I felt like jumping up and screaming in happiness! She had kissed me on her own free will! Sure, it may have been out of pity, but it was a start! I clenched my fists and smiled to myself. This was just what I needed. I needed to pay her back, this feeling of ultimate happiness deserved a reward!

I could take her on a walk on the outside world. Yes, I'd have to keep close watch to make sure she didn't make a break for it, but still! She'd get out of the castle. I didn't bother putting on new clothes, I just ran out in my pajamas and made it to her room faster than I had in a long time. I knocked on the wall quickly. "Arrow! Come out!"

The handle appeared on the wall and Arrow opened up the door. She blushed when she saw me and ducked her head. "What is it?"

"I'm going to take you on a walk through town! You've been cooped up here for a while and I think you deserve it!" I couldn't stop smiling.

Arrow's eyes lit up. "You're letting me out of the castle?!"

"Yeeup! We'll go on a walk and then come back, it'll be fun!" I rocked back and forth on my feet expectantly. This is your chance, Bill. You can win her over eventually. Arrow stepped out of her room, leaving Ghost behind, and followed me down the hall. My thoughts were spinning wildly in my head, mostly the thoughts said, she kissed me! She kissed me! I would admit, I was a teensy-weensy bit obsessed. But otherwise, I was normal.

Or as normal as a Dream Demon can get.

I wanted to take her hand, but I knew better not to.

"Why is he acting all nervous...? Is he- no. Nope. Stop thinking that." Arrow was telling herself.

I smiled as I listened to her thoughts. I never realized how prying it was to listen to someone's thoughts, but it gave me good intel. I walked down the hall and lead her to the throne room and walked to the front double doors. I grabbed the large handles and pulled the doors inward. A wave of warm acrid air rushed in, blowing out hair back.

Arrow gasped as she got the view of the chaos in full tilt. The entire town was set a flame and the clouds stormed up ahead, making the world darker. A lot of the vegetation was fried and dead, leaving it looking like a waste land. Probably because it was. Arrow was breathing hard, her breath stirring the dark ash flakes in the air.

"Are-are you ok?" I stammered nervously.

Arrow didn't swallow, she just stood there gaping at it. "I-I...no...actually." She lowered her eye lids. "I didn't expect it to be this bad."

"Don't worry, your out of harms way." I assured her.

Arrow looked extremely pale. "O-ok..." She finally swallowed.

I gathered my nerve and took her hand slowly and she didn't stiffen up, she was focused on the destruction. "Let's go!" I said happily, trying to get her to snap out of it. Arrow nodded and we stepped onto the steps. They were almost invisible, blending in the surrounding with its translucent form. We walked down from the floating palace and reached the ground. "I'm happy to just take a walk with you." I said carefully after a moment.

"Uh, me too."

She hesitated. My hands began to shake nervously. She's lying.

Arrow felt me trembling and turned to me. "Is something wrong?"

I took three very deep breaths. "Sure." I answered with less confidence than I expected. Arrow frowned before shrugging and continuing our walk.

I was trying everything I could to make her like me..., but everything wasn't working out.

Eleanor's POV

I could still feel Bill shaking while I held his hand. I had to admit, I was happy to get out of the castle, but the destruction of the world unnerved me, but not as much as Bill's loving stares did.

I constantly felt his gaze piercing into me as he admired me. It made my heart race and my breathing grow rapid. "S-so Bill...why did you want to take me our for a walk?"

A small smile spread across his face as he thought. There were times when I wished I could read his mind. "Because I...I want you to feel happy..." He stammered.

"Whyyyy?" I persisted and chuckled at his nervousness.

"'Cause it's better than you being unhappy?" It came out more of a question than an answer.

I laughed and tried my best to not look at the horrific scenery around me. "Haha, sure." Bill looked over at me, his eye lit up with delight.

I looked away from Bill and my heart stopped again. Seeing everything in this state sent chills through my body. I couldn't trace a single memory of this place being normal...

Bill obviously sensed my feelings of unsettlement. Or, he was just reading my mind again. "It's not as bad as it seem, yah know?" He started up another conversation.

"No, Bill, it is that bad. This world - this...dimension - is dying..." I informed him, feeling sick from everything that had been happening.

Bill frowned. "Well, maybe to you, but this is paradise for me." A dark light filled his eye.

I flinched and looked away, staring into the distance.  He's really serious about this.. I thought shocked.

"Of course I'm serious."

Right. Reading thoughts. Gotta start remembering that... "Ok...I know..." I looked to the side avoiding his gaze when I saw a gray figure standing in the brush watching us. My eyes widened as I saw the hard to make out figure crouching and hiding behind there.

"Do you mind if I go off here by myself. I promise I won't run off." I begged him.

Bill seemed reluctant, but he knew one way or another he'd have to trust me. "Uh...fine."

I smiled and ran towards the person hiding in the cover. I dove behind there. "I see you!" I whispered screamed and I shot up in surprise when I saw who it was. "W-what? Blendin Blandin?"

Blendin stood there shakily as he clutched his hands tightly.

"Were you stalking me?" I asked surprised.

"N-no! I was supposed to...to-" he cut himself short. "Look, Eleanor, y-you've gotta stop this apocalypse!"

I glared at him. "Why? I can't... I've tried."

Blendin swallowed nervously. "B-but this wasn't supposed to happen!" He covered his mouth.

"What do you mean?" My curiosity began to bubble up.

"Well, when that Stanford guy - uh-um...you don't know him - he tried to fix it. But this, this was supposed to happen, but not l-like this." Blendin shook his head. "The point is is that you got to fix this!"

"No! I can't! I gave it my best shot, but it's over!" I said angrily.

"But you are being tortured, too! R-right?" Blendin asked.

I sighed. "No, actually. I'm married to Bill."

Blendin looked utterly shocked and panicked. "I'll find a way!" He thought and then an idea popped up in his head. "I know! I'll-"

"Arrow? What are you doing?" Bill's voice drifted towards me.

I turned back to Blendin. "What's the thing that-" I broke off and realized he was gone, "can help...me...?" My question hung, unanswered, in the thick air.

"Arrow?" Bill called again.

"I-I just needed a moment to myself... I'm sorry." I walked back to him and Bill was waiting, smiling impatiently. "Just this whole...world domination thing, I needed a moment to process it."

Bill nodded. "I understand."

I looked back to where Blendin Blandin was. He was going to find a way to fix this, but of course Bill had to interrupt, of course. Blendin was already jumpy as he was.

"Shall we continue our walk?" He asked in the silence.

"Oh, what? Y-yes."

Bill took my hand and I stiffened up this time. Don't get me wrong, I was horribly guilty that I was safe and sound while the world burnt to the ground, but I would feel even worse when I got to sit by and watch its final moments standing....