~5~

George's POV

I wake up in a factory like place, my head throbbing. I groan and attempt to get up, but when I try to move I'm held back by ropes. I start panicking and try to shake them off, but a voice in the corner stops me from thinking. I look up into the darkness and see a tall figure. It walks around me for a bit, making sure to stay in the darkness, then stops in the same place it started. We stare at each other, until I finally decide to break the silence, unsure of what to do.

"Uh...H-hello..?" I start, uncertainty washing over me. It laughs at my attempt of starting conversation, then decided to walk closer. I stare in shock and it, or he, gasps, offended.

"Oh George," he says. "Are you not happy to see me? I'm hurt." I refused to believe what I saw, but he grabbed my chin gently and turned my head to make me face him. There was no doubt about it. The person who was staring me right in the eye was none other than Dream.

"D-Dream? What are you doing..?" I stutter, trying to get words to escape my lips. He looks at me and sighs, disappointed. He walks around a bit more, hoping that I'll think of what's going on, but I honestly have no clue. One moment he hitting me and yelling at me, next he's trying to apologize, and now he's kidnapped me? I know Sapnap means no harm, but this is definitely not a sickness or illness or whatever they want to call this. Maybe Dream hates me? That has to be it. I look back up at him with tears in my eyes. He looks at me and scoffs.

"Now look at you, making him hysterical. I'll let you talk to him for 1 minute. But that's all you get. Clay's been waiting to talk to you~." He looks down at me and smiles, then falls over. I cry for Dream, but notice what he said. Clay? I know that's Dream's real name, but why would he use it to refer to himself? I couldn't bother with figuring it out, all I could care about was Dream passed out on the floor. He slowly wakes up, and I sigh relieved. When he's aware of his surroundings, he rushes over to me and starts untying the ropes around me. As he does this, he rambles on about this voice in his head controlling him, making him do things he never wanted to. Like hurt me.

"George," he starts, "look at me. I need you to run. This sickness controls people and makes them do stupid things. I want you to run away as far as possible. Maybe even take Sap with you. This..thing...doesn't want me to be with you. So please..please..go." He cries midway through his sentence, leading me to tears. I hug him and refuse to let go. He stands there for a minute before hugging me tightly. When we finally break apart, I look at him straight in the eyes. I lean closer into him and our foreheads touch. I smile at him and he smiles back. We both lean closer and our lips touch, the last interaction I have with him before leaving. When we break apart, I wave at him with tears in my eyes. He waves back at me, having the same expression. When I walk to the door, before closing it, I look back at him.

"I love you."

"Clay."