---Cross' POV----

I looked up at Nightmare and snuggled closer, my face still flushed purple. My eyes traced over his face, taking in and trying to memorise every detail, wanting to never forget it.

I let out a squeak as Nightmare casually opened his eye, looking down at me.

"Still awake~?"

I blushed more, groaning and nodding as I buried my face into Nightmare's chest, trying to hide myself. "I-I need to tell you someth- well...a few things..."

Nightmare shifted, one arm wrapping round my waist while the other tilted my head up so that I was facing me.

"And what would those be sweetheart~?"

I whined. "I'm cold..."

"That's really not what I was expecting Crossy~" Nightmare teased, kissing my forehead.

"Nuuu...I'll tell them to you after I'm not cold anymore..."

Nightmare rolled his eye, sitting up to tuck the thick blanket in around my back before pulling me into his chest. I purred, letting him wrap us in a little nest of blankets.

"Better~?" He cooed, smirking as I nodded, kissing his cheek.

"Mmhm."

He shifted, hugging me tighter. "So, what things did you want to tell me?"

I gulped, pressing against him, preparing to break the biggest promise I'd ever made in my life.

"I-Its about the chest. I-I know where the key is–"

He cut me off, gently placing a finger against my mouth. "Shh...Cross I've already told you that I don't care about that anym–"

This time I stopped him. "Shh...I'll have to tell someone eventually...and you're the only person in this hell of a world that I trust..."

Nightmare blushed slightly, sighing. "Okay then...go ahead..."

I breathed in sharply, feeling the pressure of what I was about to do building up.

"Th-The key...that's hidden in my locket..."

Nightmare blinked. "Your locket?"

I twisted, reaching behind my for the small bedside table where I'd left it.

My hand felt around on empty wood for a minute before my fingers curled around the cold metal surface of the heart shaped locket.

I brought it back over to the two of us, making sure Nightmare could see it.

"The key is inside here..."

He blinked, eyeing the locket. "Really?"

I nodded, fiddling with the little clasp a bit, trying to get it open.

After a minute it popped open, revealing the small golden key inside.

Nightmare's eye widened slightly as he looked at the key, his mind probably rushing with all the thoughts of what he could do with this information.

I watched as he reached a hand out, picking up the key delicately.

"This is the key?"

I nodded, watching him warily. I was risking a lot by telling him this. As far as I could know, this could still be all an act, even after...earlier...

Nightmare saw the look I was giving him and sighed, placing the key back into the locket and clicking it shut before leaning over me and placing it back on the bedside table.

I smiled weakly at him and he nuzzled me in response.

"Anything else you want to tell me?" He whispered softly, a hand moving to rub my back reassuringly.

I nodded, swallowing harshly.

I've already revealed the most important part. The rest should be easy enough to say.

"The chest." I forced out. "It can only be opened inside that cave...something the gods did to make it harder for the treasures secrets to be unlocked.

If you open it and you're not in that cave then darkness will consume you and effectively, eat you. You'll be nothing but dust when it's done with you..."

Nightmare blinked. "Are you serious?"

I nodded shakily. "Yes..."

He sighed, kissing my cheek. "Is that all?"

I shook my head as my 'eyelids' grew heavy from tiredness. "Th-There's still...one...more thing...I need to tell you..."

Nightmare nuzzled me. "You're tired Cross...tell me later..."

"N-No!" I yelped, shaking my head rapidly to try and wake myself up. "J-Just one more thing..."

Nightmare cuddled me close, a hand stroking the top of my skull softly. "Okay then...go ahead Crossy..."

I purred softly before starting to speak again. "Something happens if you open the chest..." I mumbled. "Something we can't have happening..."

"And what's that?" Nightmare asked quietly as he pressed his forehead against mine.

"A-All the legends...all the myths of the ocean...they become real...sirens, undead creatures...even the Kraken..."

Nightmare hissed softly, holding me closer. "Oh we've already met one of those."

I blinked, looking up at him. "H-Huh?"

He looked down at me. "When we first got the chest and found this riddle, we were attacked  by what the legends call 'The Kraken'..."

My eyes widened, thinking back to when I'd first woken up on this ship and those three skeletons had came down.

I remember noting how tatty and ripped their clothes were. How it looked like they'd just escaped a vicious fight...

"H-How'd you escape?"

Nightmare winced, stroking my cheek softly. "Sacrifices Cross...lots of them..."

"O-Oh..." I went silent, hugging myself.

He pulled me closer, mumbling something under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Mmm...nothing...don't worry...just sleep..."

I sighed, burying my face in his chest, shivering as I felt his tentacles curl around me.

"Sleep Crossy..." He muttered.

I yawned sleepily and nodded, closing my eyes and snuggling up close to him, relishing his warmth.

The last thing I thought about as I fell asleep was whether saying all that was a good idea at all...

---Geno's POV----

I growled as I walked down deck, clutching my arm as blood seeped from the stinging stab wound, staining my already ruined jacket with yet more blood.

That fricking land-walker hit me right in the arm. It didn't skim it, or just chip the bone. No. It practically broke it.

And does this ship have a healer? No. The only healer here is Nightmare's little medic. There's no way he'd heal any of us. He seems far too shy and timid.

I huffed, glancing over at Nightmare's ship. Maybe there was some healing stuff I could steal on their ship. I know there's nothing useful on our ship. Any bandages or medical stuff was so old or out of date that it would probably make  any injury you have even worse than before.

I sighed, glancing round for any signs or Reaper. He would get increasingly pissed if he caught me going onto the enemy ship. He'd probably beat me again.

I ran over to the boarding plank, scrambling over before dropping down onto the deck, landing in a crouch to stay hidden.

After staying like that for a minute, I got to my feet, walking across the deck.

"Where do they keep the medical shit in here?" I muttered to myself as I walked across the deck, my eye scanning across it.

Suddenly I froze.

The Captain's cabin light was on. Someone was in there.

For some stupid reason, I started to creep over, making sure to make my footsteps as quiet as possible.

Once there, I peaked through the window, trying to see what was going on.

I blinked, narrowing my eye.

The Captain was in there. Nightmare. But he was curled up in bed. And he was cuddling up to someone.

I tilted my head to the side curiously, trying to see who he was with.

My eyes widened as I took in their small frame and slightly visible red scar beneath their cheek. It was him. The one from the prophecy. The one Reapers after.

I frowned, blinking as I heard the two of them muttering softly to each other.

What on earth could they be saying?

I pressed against the wall, trying to hear what they could be talking about.

Through the wood, any sentences or words were muffled. I could barely make out half of it.

"....treasure....key....my locket..."

My eye widened, and I pressed further against the wall. They were talking about the treasure and the key for it!

I smirked, listening closer. Maybe for once Reaper would be proud of me for once.

Heh, that'd be something new.

An hour later and they'd both fallen asleep, curled up under the blankets together, in each other's arms.

I waited a good long hour after that before I stood up and pushed the door open, which was unlocked from when the Captain had chucked a spider out from after they'd talked.

Oh that talk. I'd taken in everything. Every little detail I'd heard. And I plan on making good use of it.

I stepped in the cabin, eyeing the figures under the blankets warily. Leaning forwards, I quickly snatched the locket from the bed side dresser, wrapping the chord tightly around my fingers before stepping slowly towards the small chest left lying in the corner of the room.

It really was a beauty. It's carved patterns and jewelled surface was almost enticing.

I quickly picked it up, smirking.

"Oh Nightmare~" I whispered, turning to look at the two sleeping figures. "You and your little boyfriend have made quite the mistake. Haven't you~?"

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GENO NOMSLSLLSKSKS BAD BOY

IJEKELSKMSLSLSMSKSLKSKSMSMDLSOOSPSKSKSKLOVEOXODOSLAJBABAJSOZOSKSKKSOSKDSOOSLSKXOSOSOSOCROSSMAREKSKSOSMSKSLLSKSLSLSKLSKZKSOSLSLSLSLSKLSLSKXKSOSOEKNFNDKSOCUCUJSKSKSCROSKWNWKSKSNKSMARKEKSKSKKSMUCHCHSNSISM

Find the hidden message :3

-Jess-