"As soon as we get the signal." whispered Alice. Much of the guild was established throughout the outskirts of the castles. Alice and Nathaniel were paired up. Both were supposed to make it together and steal the crown. Ash was paired with a newbie, and they both acted as backup. Imcase Alice and Nathaniel didn't make it through. The rest of the guild were stealing petty items. They were nothing more than a distraction. The moonlights dim light helps create shadows. Enough for them to walk through the shadows undetected. A small glint was soon seen by one of the upper windows. "That's it, Nathaniel." She whispered as they merged from a drainage pipe. They slowly made their way to the stables nearby. Passing gently through the horses. Alice held onto Nathaniel as she led him further in. "The gates are nearby." She whispered. She peered as a guard had started to walk off. "It's time for the shift change." Her feet were light almost as if they weren't touching the floor. 

Nathaniel's eyes were simply on the inside of the castle. The shadows spoke to their king, but he couldn't make out anything valuable. He sighed to himself. It all seems so futile. 

"The crown is being held in the throne room. We need to hurry before they go get it." She whispered to him. She peeked near one of the entrances. She thought to herself. "We need to get past these guards." She flexed her arms. Nathaniel watched. She used the cover of the night to slip by the unsuspecting guards. Quickly, one by one, she knocked them out. Swift. Not bad.

She motioned to him to follow. He did just that. Quickly. More guards were spotted by the throne room doors. Now commotion slowly picked up. That there was some disturbance. Alice cursed under her breath. "Already?" she whispered. She looked up at Nathaniel. Almost as if he can provide a solution. "You remember the blueprints? There are some places that could hold passages. We have to find one that leads to the throne room." Nathaniel thought to himself. Blueprints, blueprints, blueprints.

Then it clicked. "The library is the most obvious place." He mumbled. She sighed quietly.

"How do we get there? It's on the other side of the castle -" He quickly covered her mouth and held her close. Footsteps and yelling could be heard. The commotion was starting up again.

"Trust me." he whispered. "Just close your eyes for me, will you?" he said, removing his hand. She opened her mouth to object, but they needed that crown. No sound came out. Slowly, she shut her eyes. He again held her close. As some more yelling was heard and getting closer. In a flash, Nathaniel teleported them away. Alice felt her stomach drop. Like her life had been put on pause. Her heart and breath all stopping simultaneously. Then, starting again. "Okay, go ahead. We're here." He mumbled quietly. She opened her eyes. She gasped. They were in the library.

"H-how-"

"Not now. Let's look for what we came here to get." He said, cutting her question short. He locked the door. She started to shuffle between books, the shelves, anything she could find. Nathaniel slowly did the same. He looked back, seeing her distracted. He carassed the crevice of the book. Dipping his hand into the dark abyss. Searching. Looking for anything. He stood attempting to make it look normal.

He searched.

Nothing.

Looked again.

Nothing.

He could feel the scar on his face reacting. The pain started to sizzle. He clenched his jaw. Pain, annoyance, frustration making its way through. Give me something! Anything!

Then there it was.

Something felt hollow. An opening somewhere nearby. He started to frantically pull the books. Where, where! He muttered to himself. Then there it was. Loose. It was pulled, and it made a subtle click. The ground shook gently. A small opening was made by the bottom cabinets of the bookshelf. Small enough for them to fit. He gave a small whistle. Alice turned. Excitement in her eyes. "Oh my goodness! You found it!" She stated happily. She peered in. Before making her way through. Nathaniel followed. The book case shutting them in the dark. She dragged forward as she could.  Before feeling a slight breeze.

She crawled forward and found an even bigger opening. There it was, a small room. Many doorways open to new opportunities. Torches aligned the room. "Which way should we go?" She said quietly. Nathaniel looked to the side. Eyeing each one. Attempting to listen to the shadows' words. What the castle folk must be thinking. Or any distant energies nearby. He groaned to himself. This is a waste of my time!

Then he felt heaviness. He felt unbalanced. Nauseated even. He recognized it all too well. Dream.

He clenched his jaw. Feeling the pain. "Nathaniel, are you okay? You're sweating." Asked Alice coming by to console him. He was leaning on a pillar. Catching himself. He nodded his head slowly. "We can take a seat i -"

"No." He stated coldly. My goal. The reason I'm here. It's just beyond the darkness. "L-lets go this way." He muttered. He gently pointed to his right. That's where it was coming from. "Down there."

Alice attempted to support him. And looked down that hall. "I-" without a second thought. Nathaniel started to walk slowly. Tired.

"I'm just -" his mind was racing. "Claustrophobic." He lied.

Alice fidgetted with her fingers. She moved forward to him. "If you need to stop or need support, please don't hesitate to ask." She said gently. He nodded. I just need a moment to adjust. He thought to himself. As he walked on in the darkness. Ahead, he saw a small light. More torches. He moved sluggishly. Sensing that presences near. Where is he. He moved from side to side. "How do you know where to go? Are we lost?"

"No." He looked at the ceiling footsteps could be heard. "The layout is similar to the blueprints. This way should be the throne room." He stated. He knew he was right. That wasn't a guess. He made a fair point. He was doing what he wanted and what Alice needed simultaneously. "You can hear them walking too." He said monotonous.

Alice walked quietly with him.  They continued. Then, it abruptly ended. A dead end? He thought with frustration. He looked down. Cobble stone. All this way, it was mainly marble. Cobblestone? Here?

He knelt down, tapping quietly and listening for anything. Then he heard it. A distant hollow echo. He pressed down on the rock. It clicked and hissed. The dead end wall shook slightly before releasing some steam and opening in two. "Is this it?" He said to himself. He marched forward. Empty space. Dark. He looked up. More footsteps. He looked at Alice and signaled her to stay quiet. Commotion was heard.

"My crown, where's my crown!" Yelled a man. Alice almost immediately lit up. She gasped.

"They must've noticed." Nathaniel hummed. "Ash got the crown!" She said happily. She squealed. Nathaniel smiled with a light chuckle. "Let's get goin-" The footsteps got louder and heavier.

Nathaniel watched the dust trail off the ceiling. He looked forward. A very faint light was further away. Barely visible. "That way." He muttered. He headed in that direction. Alice followed.

He could feel the weight get heavier and heavier. As soon as they turned that corner. There it was.

A small trinket. Sitting on a pedestal. Nothing but darkness surrounded it. Nathaniel awed at the object. Its shape was similar to a sundial shell. A poised red ruby in the center of it. He quickened his pace. That's the- he smirked. "Finally." He whispered to himself.

"What is that?" Asked Alice. He puffed his chest. Breathing deeply. He felt the aura get heavier. His body shaking. My body- its- fuck. He hesitated to move forward. Unlike Alice. She approached without caution. She went to the little shell. She gently picked it up. It didnt resist. He watched it rest gently in her palms. Thats mine... "Did you want this? This whole time?" He hesitated to answer.

He shook his head. "N-no. It caught my eye. I-I was just heading towards where we needed to. It's mere coincidence." He lied. Alice grabbed it, walking up to him. He shivered. Almost jumped. The pain was immeasurable. Fuck fuck fuck! He felt his form shift. He did his best to keep his composure. He couldn't lose it all now. Alice held it to him. Oblivious to his condition. He stared at it for a minute. He held out out his hand. He touched it.

Almost immediately, the shock of pain fried his hand. Steam smoking out. "Holy fuck!" He shouted. Clenching his teeth. He quickly turned his hand away. It had deformed. Melting. No, no, no! He hissed in pain. I need to recover myself. He hid his hand away from the woman.

"Are you okay?" Asked Alice, dropping the object. She went to him. "Did it sting you?" She asked, concerned.

"I-I'm fine!" He blurted out. He had backed up a bit. Able to reform his hand. He quickly showed it to her. "Look."

Her eyes met his. Glossy as ever. Was she going to cry? "I'm sorry. You just didn't seem okay. I-"

"I am okay." He reassured. He gave a weak smile. "See my h-"

"Who the hell are you two?" A voice boomed.

He looked back. Still breathing heavily. A man. He had snake like scales aligning his face. His sunset color eyes pierced at them. Other than that, he appeared human. He summoned what looked like a Bowie. Nathaniel smiled. Fuel.

"Alice." He started quietly. "Get the small device and run you hear me?" He whispered. "And no matter what, don't. Look. Back. Understood?" She opened her mouth. "Now!" Quickly, she bent down and grabbed the object. She bolted. The snake like man also charged. Nathaniel smiled even bigger. He felt the rush. The adrenaline kicking in. He was going to torture and exploit any information he could. I may be a bit weakened, but I can still make it worthwhile.

Nightmare quickly blackened the man's soul. Dragging him to the ground. Slowly, he brought him back towards him. Nightmare chuckled to himself quietly.  "Who the fuck said you can leave my presence."

Sorry its a bit late guys! I was so swamped with mid terms I had forgotten about it. But I am back 😩 also i noticed that chapter 20 of the original is also the same name. Ain't that funny.

~The OreoCookie

Word Count: 1784