Chapter Text
Tommy stumbled into an alleyway, finally getting a reprieve from the strange streets. He was confused by the look of just... everything. The markets were teeming and the streets were packed with people, yet the streets were quiet. Near silent. Dead almost. Tommy snorted. How ironic, the city of the dead was... well dead. He stuck his head and scanned the street, other ghosts buying things, vampires stalking past and a demon guard watching everything with cold eyes, all in silence. Tommy shivered, hoping that Tubbo would appear and be there to settle his nerves. After the demon had knocked Wilbur, Techno, Phil and Eret unconscious, he had seized the pair and dragged them down too. After dumping them outside a set of high wrought-iron gates, the demon had instructed them to "get lost and forget about it". In the strange city, Tommy had quickly lost Tubbo and could only just see the smoke rising from the chimneys from the houses inside those gates. Tommy crept back into the alleyway when the demon guard cocked his head and stared at him, his eyes burning into his soul. Tommy felt helpless as he slumped down against the red bricks that made up every building here and put his head on his knees. He didn't want to be stuck here forever.
Phil's POV:
Phil stared at the grandfather clock as it chimed those six chimes again, feeling his chest tighten with worry. He had managed to get to the floor while still shackled, his right foot on the bed, while he lay on the floor. It was uncomfortable, but it was one of the things he felt he could control in this situation. He stared at the clock that was at the end of the room, feeling the growing desperation creeping upon him. He shifted forward more, his foot now dangling from the bed, the shackle cutting into his skin. He didn't mind, anything to keep him from thinking too much about the others. Who knew where the others were, he just prayed that they were safe.
Tommy's POV:
Tommy was still crouched in the cold and damp alleyway when the clunking of armour rattled down the stones to him. He glanced up, watching a figure standing at the entrance to the alleyway. "Hey, kid! Stop your sulking, they want you in the Inner Sanctum." The figure drew closer, though Tommy had known from the moment he had heard the clunking, that this was a guard demon. Yet as they drew closer, Tommy noted that their armour had gilded gold edges, their armour was burnished to a nice shine, though scratched, and a large red and orange ombre cloak was pinned at the shoulders. They look fancier, more official, and the helmet they were wearing was larger, with the demon's large horns curling from ready-made holes in the metal.
"Don't just sit there. Get up and follow me." Their voice sounded harsher now and they tugged off their helmet. Eyes that burned with flames bored into him and Tommy scrambled up, feeling a bit stupid when he realised the demon was shorter than him. The demon just jerked his head, his black hair shining in the warm light that came from the lanterns in the main street.
Tommy glanced at the dark sky as they turned onto another street, weaving through the silent crowd. The sky hadn't changed in all the time he had been here, the streets only lit by lamposts and lanterns. The demon in front of him turned right onto a larger street that was far more empty than the others. At the end of the street, a man, no wait, a vampire, was standing next to a nervous-looking Tubbo. Tommy could only tell that the man was a vampire since he was smiling in their direction, his fangs glinting in the lamplight. "Sapnap! Took you long enough!" The demon, well Sapnap Tommy supposed, chuckled. "He was hiding in some alleyway near the Third Ring." Tommy felt his face flush and he spluttered indignantly. "I was not hiding! And what the hell is the Third Ring?" Sapnap just glowered at him over a shoulder as they arrived next to the others at the gate and Tommy fell into silence. Tubbo hurried to his side and the vampire turned to the gate, pulling a large key on a chain out from under his frilly shirt and slipped it into the lock. The lock clicked open and the vampire walked forward as the gates swung open, while Sapnap walked close behind Tommy and Tubbo, nudging them forward.
The gate's clanged shut behind them and Tommy glanced about. The street they were standing was a circle around a large mansion in the centre, again surrounded by wrought iron fences and a gate. On the outer edge of the street, however, there were large Victorian-style townhouses, lit up in the glow of the lamposts dotting the street. Sapnap poked Tommy in the back when he hesitated too long and Tommy flinched, not used to be solid again. He walked forward, catching up to Tubbo and the vampire who was unlocking the gate to the mansion. The vampire flicked the gates open, revealing the rather ominous mansion in its full glory. Tommy gulped, nerves coiling in his gut.
Phil's POV:
Phil jerked from his dozing when he felt his leg drop, suddenly no longer held up by the shackle. He glanced across at the clock, seeing the time hadn't changed from six o'clock, but the hands never moved anyway, so that told him nothing. He stumbled up, his right foot finally feeling blood rush back into after god knows how long. He walked around the bed aiming to try the door when he spotted a tag hanging from the doorknob. He lifted it, reading the cursive quickly. "Go out into the corridor, take a left and go through the double doors." Phil frowned, letting the tag drop. he considered not going out there, but it could be his only chance to find out about the other's wellbeing. He sighed and opened the door stepping out.
He glanced up and down the corridor, noting the doors along each side. The left end of the corridor was a dead end, so he guessed he had to go in the other direction. Phil stepped out, shutting the door quietly behind him. He hesitated but turned right heading up the corridor to the connecting corridor. He had almost reached the left turn when he heard the sound of a door creaking behind him. He whirled, seeing a door at the far end of the hallway slowly open. Phil's heart was pounding until he spotted Techno's head peek out and spot him. "Techno!" Techno ducked out of his room, shutting the door with a light slam and hurried to Phil. Phil gave him a relieved smile. "Did you get a note too?" Techno nodded with a sigh. "Yes. Did you have a shackle too?" Phil grimaced. "Yes, it made my foot ache." Techno patted his shoulder before sticking his head around the corner. "There are double doors, and..." He glanced down the other end of the hallway. "Another set of double doors." He looked back at Phil. "The note said to open the left set. Do we do it?" Phil shrugged. "It's our best option unless we just go back to the bedrooms." Techno shook his head. "No thanks, there was a grandfather clock that was driving me crazy." Phil chuckled. "Well, let's see was behind those doors, ok mate?" Technoblade nodded and followed him over to the doors.
The room as lit by only a couple of lights, but Phil could clearly see Wilbur and Eret facing a figure sitting on a... throne? He couldn't see it enough from this far away. But he could see the clay mask with the smiley face on the distant figure, and the way it gleamed slightly when they turned their head in Phil and Techno's direction. "Ah. The others have arrived to join us." Phil frowned, stepping into the room, Techno close on his heels. Halfway to the others, who had turned to them at this point, the door swung shut and the lock clicked. Wilbur looked angry but anxious and Eret had schooled their face into one of calm, though Phil guessed they weren't as calm as they looked. Phil stood next to Wilbur, Techno on his left. The figure shifted, hands gripping the throne's arms slightly. "I am Lord Dream of the Underworld. And you are?" Phil folded his arms, still frowning. "Isn't there a thing about not revealing your name?" Dream chuckled, lolling in his chair, exuding the confidence of a cat toying with a mouse. "Smart. Yes, I suppose there is a thing about that. Only with demons and humans usually." Wilbur spoke up, his voice harsh. "Where is To- I mean our companions?" Dream snorted and the sound of the doors swinging open behind them resounded through the room. "Behind you."
Phil glanced over his shoulder, blinking in surprise. Tommy and Tubbo were looking spooked and... solid? Phil just turned fully and studied the figures on either side of them. One was a demon, judging from the horns and blazing eyes. The other... looked pale and... that was it. Well, that was it until he smirked, flashing fangs that glinted in the warm light. Vampire then. The doors clanged shut, and the vampire and demon split off, walking across the room, each standing at Dream's side, the demon on his right and the vampire on his left. Tommy and Tubbo hurried over and Techno, Phil, Eret and Wilbur stood semi in front of them, facing the strange creatures. The demon seemed amused at the show of companionship, while the vampire just watched with an aloof expression.
Dream sat up properly and gestured to the armoured demon on his right. "This is Sir Sapnap, leader of the Guard Demons and my guard." He flicked his hand to the other. "And this is George, leader of the Vampires and my advisor." Techno just huffed. "This isn't particularly relevant, just tell us why we're here." Dream sighed loudly, slowly pulling his mask up, revealing cold features and harsh green eyes. "You are here because you interfered with spirits and aggravated a demon. Does that seem correct to you?" Wilbur straightened. "No, it doesn't." He had schooled his voice into a cool tone, though his voice had wobbled slightly. "If anything," He continued, "the demon aggravated us." Dream cocked his head, the mask now resting in his hands on his lap. "How did he do that may I ask?" Wilbur held his chin high. "He chased my friend here," He gestured to Eret, "And scratched them up for no particular reason, and chased me up a couple of flights of stairs." Dream sat back, studying Wilbur. "Hmmm. I'm more inclined to believe one of my own I'm afraid." Wilbur began to splutter before Phil placed an arm on his shoulder, praying he would stay quiet. Wilbur did, but not after glowering at Dream. "Have you guessed what we are going to do to you lot?" Phil swallowed tightly, suddenly concerned that he might become that vampire's lunch. "We are going to leave you down here, in the outer ring of the city of course, and return these wayward spirits to where they belong," Phil spoke up, his usually cherry voice unusually cold. "And where do they belong?" Dream laughed. "In the main Underworld city of course! With other wraiths and ghosts, living out eternity in peace and serenity!" Tommy gave a humourless laugh from beside Phil. "I've been in that city, it ain't peaceful and serene." He swallowed. "Everyone is silent and scared of those stupid demons." Sapnap bristled from beside Dream and started forward, looking intent on mauling Tommy, but Dream raised a hand. "Stand down. Let the spirit speak." Dream's voice dropped slightly at the end of the sentence, sending chills down Phil's spine. Tommy spoke again, stepping past the others to stand in front of the group, "That city is cold, barely lit and dead silent. Nobody speaks except nasty demons and those pompous pricks you call vampires. Everyone is afraid. I don't know what you think peaceful is, but it's not that." Dream sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Do you know why ghosts like you stay here and don't wander about up there?" He gestured vaguely at the ceiling, "It's because you will fade from existence." His voice dropped into a growl. Tommy took a startled step back but spat a response. "Bullshit. I spent months up there! And look," He waved his hands at his torso. "Still here!" Dream sighed, sitting back and folding his arms across his chest. "You are a little more stubborn than most it seems." Tommy just rolled his eyes. "Call me stubborn or whatever, but I'm calling bullshit." Dream growled through his rather sharp looking teeth and rubbed his temples. "Get them out of here, they have nothing worthy to say it seems." Phil felt his heart drop as Sapnap and George stalked forward, leering. Phil prayed that someone had an idea to get them out of this. And quickly.