Nightmare Sans

[YOU–HORROR]

Nightmare Sans stood in the center of the room, his single cyan eye gleaming with cold authority. The shadows around him writhed like living things, responding to his mood. Before him stood the Bad Guys — Error, Dust, Killer, and Horror — all of them tense, waiting.

His gaze locked onto Horror.

— You.

The word was quiet. That made it worse.

Horror shifted uncomfortably, his cracked skull tilting. Nightmare stepped closer, each footstep echoing in the heavy silence.

— Do you have any idea what you've done? — Nightmare's voice was low, dangerously calm. — I gave you one simple task. ONE. Guard the anomaly. Do not engage. Do not provoke. Do not attract attention.

He stopped directly in front of Horror, towering over him despite their similar height.

— And what did you do? — Nightmare's tentacles flicked behind him, a sign of rising frustration. — You not only engaged. You provoked. You left evidence. You made our presence known to those meddling idiots from the other AUs.

His eye narrowed.

— Tell me, Horror. Was it worth it? That little "snack" you couldn't resist? The satisfaction of crushing that worthless timeline?

Horror stayed silent. He knew better than to speak.

— I'm waiting. — Nightmare's voice dropped to a whisper, more terrifying than any shout. — Answer me.

Still nothing.

Nightmare's tentacles shot forward, slamming into the wall on either side of Horror's head, caging him in. The sound echoed like thunder.

— You will speak when I ask you a question. That is the FIRST rule. The second — YOU. DO. NOT. DISOBEY. ME.

He pulled back, turning to pace before the group.

— I am your BOSS. Not your friend. Not your equal. I keep you alive because you are USEFUL. But let me make one thing absolutely clear — Nightmare spun around, his eye blazing — I can find new servants. I can replace every single one of you.

His gaze swept over Error, Dust, and Killer.

— Get out of here, I'll talk to horror... one on one.