Chapter Text
The dark outline of the blue horizon stretched wide over the forest. Thin trees with branches tangled unnaturally filled the area. The short grass barely responded to the breeze that caressed its edges before it dispersed as if it had never even been there.
A town, bleeding its emptiness over the gray walls of the place that normal people don’t walk in. If one can call them people. To the average human eye they looked broken, slow in pace and empathy.
The houses creaked. Or was it a creak?
It was hard to tell.
But the town wasn’t the unnerving part. No, no.
The aforementioned forest, which wasn’t far away from it, was. Trees that collided with each other and were barely moving, no matter how nasty the weather was. They were wood in the wrong way, bark way too flat, like it was barely even there. Barely real.
The wind shifted again. It changed direction, going deeper into the heart of the dark forest. Moving around trees with ease. Then, it breezed past a well.
This well was the heartbeat of this place. The stone took breaths as if it were a living being. Chirps of the near bird nest were hollow, so the average person would mistake it as their own voice coming back to them. Slight light fell on plastic grass. A sincerely dull light, bleeding from gray to black, to an abomination of multiple colors. They lingered in the grass as if it was their home.
The shadows.
The things that were called shadows crawled crookedly across stiff earth, movements lazy. Their muscles could only drag them so far.
Unknown creatures crowded around the well, eyes flickering in all directions. Well, one big humanoid eye that didn’t properly connect with the body. Shadows' upper bodies snapped in quick motions as they simply waited.
The environment itself seemed impatient, rocks pulsing in and out of sight. Flowers head’s rotated, specks of grinning colors. Minutes stretched into hours. Maybe days? Perhaps.
One shadow’s head turned sharply.
A black labrador sat close enough to the well, pelt not even ruffling at the sudden gust of wind. Dog’s fur shone an unnatural light at the shadow men, which didn’t bother taking a step towards the canine. Red eyes gleamed brightly, hungrier than usual. Shadow men knew that look in the dog's eyes, those red dots of suffering. The tongue flicked in and out and the breathing was difficult to listen to. Labrador’s eerie gaze raked over the creeping shadows, mouth shaped into something similar to a grin.
He didn’t say anything. Didn’t need to.
All he did was tilt his head towards the dark.
The air got torn and a different landscape could be seen in reality's wound. Buildings against the clear night sky stretched wider, cars passed and few people emerged their heads from the vehicle’s windows. The wild, unbothered laughter rang out from the city when those same people scrambled out of the car, approaching a restaurant. A couple skated in the ice rink, even if signs of snow weren’t on the horizon yet. The girl lost her footing and tripped, earning a yelp from her partner. He bends down, gaze concerned.
The girl simply smiled, letting out a chuckle.
The wound gaped, bleeding that pure sight for everyone to see. The dog’s head tilted way too harshly for him to still be able to move it afterwards. The light in his red eyes flashed a darker shade of scarlet.
“Interesting.”
Slowly, the black horizon grew, welcoming their presence. The world’s size spreaded evenly, engulfing bleak corners of the dog's home.
Or was the other world engulfed by the hound’s home?
Greg let himself slump down on his bed. The moon’s light basked his covers in the dark room and the boy gazed at the ceiling. Today’s villains have been difficult. Which shouldn’t be surprising when considering that this needed to be a day where they all work together. The villains all decided to cause chaos in different parts of the city, which, Greg had to admit, was giving them trouble. And was worrying.
They were able to somehow stop them, although it took longer than normally. Way longer.
Greg’s muscles still felt sore from the fight they had with Romeo specifically. His new invention seemed more unhinged tonight. A robot dog which breathes explosive bubbles?
Good thing he didn’t put fire breath on it yet!
The boy sighed. Despite the undeniable exhaustion, sleep didn’t come. Were these night sessions really getting to the point where they are not even sleepy anymore?
The pj straightened in his bed. He stared out of the window at the night gleaming with stars, the moon still high and clear, hovering above the buildings. Greg watched for a moment, at last feeling his eyelids grow heavy.
Air outside glitched.
Greg’s eyes shot open, heart jumping at the sight. Did he really just see that? He looked and waited for any indication it would happen again. When it didn’t, Greg’s head flopped onto his pillow. His mind must be playing tricks on him.
Yawning, he closed his eyes.