Chapter Text
As Dream was led back to his cell, he collapsed, weakened by the strong dementor's effects. His heart raced, and he struggled to catch his breath. It had been a long time since he experienced such a severe panic attack. His eyes were constantly flickering, his ability to speak vanished, and even simple movements became challenging.
Feeling overwhelmed, Dream desperately tried to calm himself down. He closed his eyes and leaned against the unforgiving wall, seeking solace in memories of George. He envisioned them cuddling and engaged in a heartwarming conversation during a movie. It brought some relief, reminding him of a time when things were simpler and filled with warmth.
Though the mental exercise somewhat restored his vision, he remained in a state of panic. He was determined to push the distressing experience of the past hour away, but he feared Gibson's actions would continually haunt him, making it an enduring source of distress.
Dream just wanted George back,
Was it really worth it?
If Dream had known what Gibson had planned, he would've been even more determined to protect George. The realization was hard to ignore, and he admitted to himself that he would go to any lengths to safeguard his loved one.
Feeling overwhelmed, Dream stood up, pulling at his hair as he lay on his bed, staring at the cold concrete ceiling, and daydreaming of a better life outside the confines of the prison, where he and George could be together.
His thoughts were interrupted by Dave, who opened his cell. Dream quickly composed himself, refusing to show any weakness during his panic attack. Dave informed him that George had agreed to the deal, and they needed to leave before Gibson changed his mind. Reluctantly, Dream followed Dave through the seemingly endless halls.
Upon stepping outside, Dream took a deep breath of fresh air before boarding the bus. To his surprise, Karl was already sitting there. Dream sat across from him, wanting to comfort his friend and assure him that everything would be okay, but no words came out. Feeling defeated, he leaned back in his seat and gazed out of the bus window, watching the traffic pass by.
With his head low, voice broken, and heart shattered, Dream descended the bus stairs. Everyone in the main hall stopped what they were doing, surprised to see both Dream and Karl together.
Dream glanced at Karl, who brightened at the sight of Sapnap and George standing side by side. However, Karl's joy was short-lived, as Sapnap managed only a weak smile before turning away. The disappointment in Karl's eyes was evident, tears beginning to blur his vision. Dream briefly locked eyes with George before quickly averting his gaze.
A guard broke the silence, directing them to their new cabin. Dream nodded and gave Karl a sorrowful look before following the guard. Karl walked with his head down, tears falling from his eyes.
Upon reaching the new cabin, Dream felt a wave of sadness wash over him. The place looked just like his old one, but now it held no cherished memories.
The guard locked the door, leaving them alone. Dream immediately noticed a video camera in the corner of the room, signaling that their privacy was compromised. He could see that Karl was struggling, crying, and seeking comfort on his bed, while the guards listened closely.
Dream sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair before sitting on the bed. Although the conditions were better than those at Dexile, the reality of their situation weighed heavily on his heart.
Turning to Karl, who was hiding under the covers, Dream realized that Karl probably wasn't aware of the deal with George. He wanted to explain everything, including Sapnap's intentions, but the words just wouldn't come out.
Feeling overwhelmed, Dream knew that the best way to keep George safe was to be away from him, despite the pain it caused. He couldn't bear to put George at risk any longer.
~George's P.O.V~
George's heart shattered as Dream turned away, and he couldn't help but sit down, feeling the weight of their decision. Skeppy noticed their defeated and broken-hearted expressions and approached the table.
"Was that Dream? Who was that other guy? He was crying?" Skeppy inquired. Sapnap, unable to hold back his tears, laid his head on the table without responding. George, trying to regain composure, sniffled and wiped away his tears as he walked away. "That was Dream, and the other guy was Karl," he managed to say.
Skeppy appeared puzzled, struggling to comprehend the difficulty of staying away from someone you loved. George wondered if Dream felt the same way he did, with thoughts of longing and sadness consuming his mind.
As the staff announced it was time to return to their cabins, George dreaded revisiting the memories he wished to forget. When he entered his cabin, he found cameras in the corners, which made him realize he couldn't stay in Dream's bed any longer. They would surely be watching.
Feeling defeated, George looked at the neatly made bed, knowing the room had been cleaned and prepared after the cameras were installed. He sensed that things were about to change, and not for the better.
Disheartened, he crawled into bed, wrapping himself in a single blanket. However, the door opening caught his attention, and he quickly removed the blanket when he saw it was Bad.
"Bad?" George questioned, but Bad motioned for him to be quiet as he walked towards the restroom. George followed and, once inside, closed the door. The restroom was their only refuge from the prying eyes of the cameras, as surveillance was illegal in such a private space.
Desperate for a way out, George asked if Bad had figured out an escape plan. Bad sighed, revealing that the prison was tightening security by installing new cameras and keycard slots all over the place. This news left George feeling disheartened.
"How are we supposed to get out now?" George frowned. "I don't think I can do it. I'm sorry, George. I tried my best," Bad replied apologetically. Filled with anger, George urged Bad to try harder, but Bad shook his head and left the bathroom, leaving George alone with his frustrations.
~Dream's P.O.V~
Karl remained huddled under his blanket, tears streaming down his face throughout the night. Thankfully, sleep eventually claimed him, leaving Dream to wrestle with his thoughts in solitude. Each time Dream attempted to find rest, he was jolted awake by the haunting visage of the woman he desperately wished to erase from his memory. These memories seemed destined to etch themselves indelibly into his tormented psyche.
The entrance doors swung open, drawing Dream's attention, yet Karl remained motionless in his slumber. A flood of memories rushed forth as Gibson appeared in the doorway. Dream struggled internally to maintain his composure, battling against an encroaching panic attack that threatened to overwhelm him. With each step Gibson took into the room, the battle within Dream intensified.
Desperate, Dream retreated toward Karl, his voice wavering as he addressed Gibson. "Gibson, why are you here? It's too soon." While ordinarily Dream would stand his ground, the mounting fear rendered him unable to hold his position against Gibson's advance.
"Clay, what has become of you? I thought you were stronger than this," Gibson taunted, reveling in Dream's sudden vulnerability. "Please, just leave me be. You've already achieved what you wanted," Dream pleaded. "Have I truly?" Gibson advanced, cornering Dream against the wall. Trapped, Dream's eyes darted around, seeking an escape.
Suddenly, out of the shadows, Karl emerged and bravely pushed Gibson away with all his might. "Stay back, Gibson! Take me instead!" Karl's voice quivered with a mixture of fear and determination as he shielded Dream.
Dream stood in stunned silence, witnessing Karl's selfless act, though fully aware of the peril he had unwittingly embraced. Regaining his composure, Dream stepped forward. "You don't need Karl. Take me. It's always been about me." His resolve was not for himself, but for Karl's safety.
Gibson's derisive laughter filled the room. "I have no interest in the weak. I've already had my dealings with George." Dream's fear ignited into a blaze of rage, dispelling the paralyzing terror. With a surge of strength, he slammed Gibson against the wall. "Shut your damned mouth!" Dream's voice seethed with fury. Gibson, taken aback by the sudden turn, shifted his demeanor.
"Easy, Clay. I haven't harmed George. Come now, Clay, before you create more problems," Gibson urged, retreating. Karl's desperate gaze implored Dream not to follow Gibson's lead, but Dream had already made his decision.
"Yes," he declared with a somber expression, trailing Gibson to his quarters. "Damn you!" Dream pushed Gibson away, met with only a chuckle in response. "Calm yourself, Clay. There's someone you'd like to reunite with."
Gibson exited, leaving Dream alone with his thoughts and a desperate urge to strategize an escape. However, his plans were abruptly interrupted when he found himself face-to-face with an unexpected figure. "Jax?" Dream's voice faltered, a mix of confusion and surprise coloring his tone.
"Hello, Clay. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" Jax greeted Dream with an unsettling smile, sending shivers down Dream's spine. This wasn't the person he remembered from their shared history.
"Why are you here? I thought you—" Dream began, only to be cut off by Jax. "I've improved. I've also come to assist you!" Jax's voice carried unwavering confidence, devoid of fear.
Years prior, Dream and Jax had navigated their fears, running from their past, with Dream shielding Jax during their time in exile.
"Aid? I don't require help. I thought you understood that," Dream questioned, his eyes moistening. Jax had pledged not to deny his identity, to embrace his true self. Now, he claimed to be "cured."
"I was young then, unsure of what lay ahead. But now I'm here, ready to lend a hand," Jax implored gently. As Jax approached, Dream recoiled. "Let me assist you," Jax urged, his words carrying an unsettling undertone.
Desperate to escape, Dream struggled against the odds, outnumbered three to one...
~George's P.O.V~
George's gaze bore into the newly installed cameras positioned around the main area. The presence of these cameras unsettled everyone, a palpable intrusion on their privacy, compounded by the fact that there were already existing cameras in place.
Skeppy's countenance twisted with evident anger; among them all, he appeared to harbor the most vehement disdain for the invasive devices. Despite his inner resistance, George found himself compelled to approach Skeppy.
"Are you holding up?" George's voice trembled with nervousness. Skeppy's attention shifted from the cameras to George, his gaze flickering only briefly. "My dad used to have cameras everywhere back home. He wouldn't let me bring a friend over without being watched, even if I wasn't interested in them."
"Why would you be here if you were being watched?" George inquired, his gaze avoiding direct contact. Skeppy's eyes remained fixed on the cameras as he responded, "I disabled the cameras and escaped to a friend's house. But no matter how hard I tried, he tracked me down and sent me here."
"I'm sorry, Skeppy." George offered with genuine remorse. Skeppy nodded, his voice heavy. "He was just a friend to me, but that didn't matter to my father."
The impulse to embrace Skeppy and offer reassurance surged within George. Yet, he couldn't deceive or feign comfort. Even a simple hug felt beyond reach.
George managed a faint smile as he rose from his seat. He understood he shouldn't be seeking out Dream, shouldn't even be contemplating his presence. But he couldn't help it. Dream's absence loomed in his thoughts, a persistent void he couldn't ignore.
What more could they want from Dream?
George's sense of hopelessness weighed heavily on him. He couldn't make inquiries without drawing Dave's attention, who watched him with a critical gaze from across the room, waiting for any misstep.
His heart yearned for Dream's presence, for that comforting assurance he used to find in the corner of his eyes, even as they navigated their forced separation.
Restless and unwilling to remain isolated, George approached Karl, who rested his head on the table. "Karl?" George's voice was a gentle murmur. Karl remained still, his words barely audible. "What do you want?" Weariness and sadness were palpable in his tone.
"Have you managed to get any sleep?" George's concern broke the silence. Karl's response was sharp, his fatigue evident. "Does it look like I have?" Their eyes met briefly, revealing Karl's swollen eyes and the telltale signs of sleep deprivation.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Karl, but there's something I need to tell you," George spoke cautiously, wary of Karl's reaction. Karl didn't snap this time. "Sapnap struck a deal—to keep his distance from you so that you could return to Blue Skies."
Karl shook his head, skepticism etched on his face. "He wouldn't do that," Karl grumbled, his disbelief apparent. "He would do anything for you, just as I would," George reassured, a small smile forming.
"Both Dream and I are committed to keeping you safe. I promise," George's words carried a sincere vow.
~Dream's P.O.V~
Dream found himself engulfed by a sense of overwhelm, a cascade of events unfolding beyond his control. This was an unprecedented experience for him, being confined to a bed. The multitude of individuals in the room blurred together in his panicked mind, making it impossible to discern who was responsible for what.
His limited field of vision, hindered by his position, allowed him only to make educated guesses based on the amalgamation of voices. However, even this proved challenging, as the voices melded into a discordant mix, making it difficult to identify each person.
Among the voices, Gibson's stood out, a familiar presence Dream had encountered numerous times over the years. It seemed that Gibson held a significant role within the group.
In an attempt to shield himself from the disorienting chaos, Dream tightly shut his eyes, as if believing that by doing so, he could make the unsettling situation vanish.
Alone at last, Dream succumbed to a breakdown. The weight on him was so crushing that he contemplated death as the only conceivable escape. However, the thought of abandoning George's protection held him back.
Upon stumbling into his cabin, Karl, unaware of the torment Dream endured, noticed something amiss. "Dream? You okay?" Karl inquired with concern, lacing his voice with concern. "Yeah, just tired," Dream replied wearily, collapsing into his bed. Exhaustion rendered him incapable of attending to himself, let alone changing his soiled clothes.
Concerned, Karl pressed further, hoping for a more revealing response. "You sure?" he asked again. "I'm fine, Karl," Dream responded in a monotone voice, revealing no emotion. Despite the evident pain in Dream's movements, Karl recognized when to push and when to let matters rest.
In the midst of a nightmare, Dream awoke in distress, prompting Karl to rush to his side. "Dream! Dream, wake up," Karl urged, shaking him awake. Surveying his surroundings, Dream gradually relaxed. "Dream? What's wrong?" Karl inquired with concern. "Just a nightmare, I'm fine now," Dream sighed dismissively.
Pressing the issue, Karl sought answers about Dream's struggles and physical pain. However, Dream curtly warned him to drop the topic, emphasizing the potential consequences.
Feeling trapped and unable to express himself freely, Dream resented the presence of surveillance cameras. Leaving his cabin for the public area provided temporary relief, yet the sight of George in the distance, beyond his reach, weighed heavily on him.
Locked in a silent exchange with George, Dream mouthed an apology, only to be abruptly cut off by Jax, who conveyed a silent warning with crossed arms. Dizzy and disoriented, Dream stumbled away, collapsing against a wall. As others turned their attention to him, George witnessed the distressing scene. Dream, struggling to stay conscious, felt a brief moment of relief as George's comforting voice reached him. With a weak smile, Dream allowed himself to succumb to sleep.
~George's P.O.V~
George cradled Dream in a protective embrace, gently brushing hair from his eyes, creating a tense stillness that gripped everyone nearby with fear of what was unfolding.
Breaking through the hushed atmosphere, Dave forcefully pushed past others, his face contorted in anger as he confronted Dream and George. "What the hell? Do you ever learn?" he accused, challenging them.
In response, George bared his teeth, a fiery determination in his eyes. "Do you?! Huh? You're going to harm him if you don't back off and leave him alone!" George's impassioned scream was accompanied by a forceful spit directed at Dave.
Caught off guard, Dave retreated, visibly shocked. He hadn't anticipated such a fierce defense from George, a departure from the usual dynamics with Dream.
Skeppy and Bad, breaking through the crowd, sought clarification. "Doing what? What's happening?" Skeppy questioned, glancing between the two. Bad appeared concerned yet hesitant.
George, not allowing a moment for interruption, exposed the alleged abuse. "Using him as a tool to suppress his sexual orientation! Just concealing the fact that you're all messed up, predatory individuals!" George's explosive revelation left shock etched across everyone's faces as they grappled with its implications. Jax's departure seemed to validate George's claims.
Responding to the commotion, security arrived, summoned by Dave. The weight of George's words resonated with Bad, prompting him to position himself between security and Dream and George.
Skeppy swiftly joined, standing beside Bad. Karl stepped forward from the onlookers, with Sapnap following suit, forming a protective barrier around Dream and George. Eret, recognizing the gravity of the situation, promptly joined the group, adding another layer of defense.
George let the tears fall,
They did care...
They observed Gibson emerging from the crowd, accompanied by the unforgettable women in Dream's life. "What the hell is going on?" Gibson's gaze shifted towards the group shielding Dream and George. "They're spouting a bunch of nonsense; they're clearly disturbed," he attempted to clarify, but Sapnap vehemently countered, "No way! You are! If George were lying, Dream wouldn't have collapsed on the floor out of nowhere!"
Whispers circulated among the onlookers, engaged in a silent debate over who held the truth. One by one, additional individuals stepped forward, aligning with the group. Soon, Gibson and his associates found themselves outnumbered. Recognizing the unfavorable odds, Gibson took a step back.
George released a breath of relief.
Dream was safe; they were going to be okay.
Sapnap helped George pick up Dream, and Eret snatched a key from a guard, leading the way to the exit...