Chapter 59 - "Nightmare and Embrace"
Sunny POV
It was dark.
No stars, no wind, no ocean.
Only black silence.
I blinked. My body wouldn't move. Something rough brushed against my wrists. Rope?
I pulled—nothing.
Tried again—nothing.
The ropes tightened.
Then I heard it. A faint laugh—soft, familiar, but wrong.
"Going somewhere, Sunny?"
My breath froze.
That voice—Lucy's. But it wasn't her voice. It was lower, rougher, like her words were dipped in honey and broken glass.
"Lucy…? What—what's happening?"
She stepped out of the dark, barefoot, her shadow long and wavering, hair draped over her eyes like a curtain. There was no smile, only that slow tilt of her head.
"You're trying to run again."
"I—no, I just—"
The ropes coiled tighter around my wrists, wrapping around my chest like living snakes. The fibers pulsed, heartbeat syncing with mine.
"Why are you fighting me, Sunny?" she whispered. "You said you'd stay with me forever."
My throat went dry. "I never said I'd stay tied up forever!"
She laughed—light, broken, echoing. "You can't escape me."
The walls groaned, wooden boards warping into hands. The basement around me was… breathing. The air reeked of sea salt and perfume.
I tried to pull free again, but the ropes dug deeper.
That's when I realized—
They weren't ropes anymore.
They were her arms.
Pale, endless, stretching from her shoulders like serpents, coiling around me in a thousand soft, warm loops.
Her fingers pressed against my skin, gentle but unyielding.
"You're mine," she murmured, leaning close. Her eyes gleamed scarlet in the dark. "Don't you like it when I hold you tight?"
"I—Lucy, stop—"
"Stop? You say that every time," she whispered. "But every time I let go, someone else takes you away. Nami. Nojiko. Aqua…"
Her voice cracked, trembling with jealousy.
Each name she spoke made the ropes twist tighter, until I could barely breathe.
"I'm your captain," she said softly. "And your everything."
Her face was inches from mine now, too close, too still.
The world pulsed red.
"Say it, Sunny," she whispered, lips almost brushing my ear. "Say you'll never leave me."
The ropes started to grow thorns.
I gasped in pain. "Lucy—this isn't you—!"
"Then what am I?"
Her eyes widened, glowing brighter, smile splitting into something feral.
"You made me this way."
"Stop—please—"
She leaned closer, smile fading into something heartbreakingly sad. "You're scared of me."
Tears slipped down her cheek, burning like fire when they hit my skin. "Why are you scared of me, Sunny? I just love you too much."
The room filled with whispers—her voice, multiplied, all around me.
Love you too much… love you too much… love you too much…
Then the ropes began to move inside my skin.
I screamed—
And everything went white.
He woke with a gasp.
The sudden motion yanked him upright in his bed. His body was drenched in cold sweat, hair sticking to his forehead, heartbeat thundering like a drum. But the nightmare's grip, though intense, was already fading, replaced by… warmth.
Sunny's wide, panicked eyes slowly registered the scene around him.
Lucy.
She was lying atop his chest, breathing softly, her face relaxed and peaceful. The yandere terror of the dream replaced with the innocence of sleep. Her hands rested gently inside his trouser, her head tucked near his shoulder. She murmured something incoherent, shifting slightly. The cords of dread from the nightmare faded further as he realized she was just hugging him.
Aqua lay beside him, curled on his left, her long legs stretching along the mattress but carefully not entangling him. She was snoring softly, face glowing with her usual dramatic contentment, seemingly respectful of the others' positions.
On his right, Nami had one arm looped around his, the other tucked beneath her pillow. She was clad in soft, comfortable lingerie, her hair cascading over Sunny's arm. Her chest rose and fell steadily, utterly unbothered by his presence.
Nojiko rested against his other side, a hand draped lightly over Sunny's waist, the cloak she had made folded at the foot of the bed. Her breathing was calm, steady, and warm. She had clearly arranged herself with care, just enough to sleep comfortably without disturbing anyone else.
Sunny's hands hovered in the air, unsure what to do. Not a single one of them had any intent beyond sleeping close. No malice, no lewdness questionable—but there was warmth, trust, and the faint, awkward intimacy of people who loved him.
The contrast from the nightmare was staggering. From terror and suffocation to softness and peace. His chest rose and fell with a different rhythm now—less panic, more wonder. He slowly lowered himself, careful not to wake anyone, until he was surrounded by the four women, embraced in quiet warmth.
Lucy stirred slightly, murmuring a soft "UmU~" and pressing a little closer. Sunny shivered, half in residual fear from the dream, half in the absurd, overwhelming comfort.
Aqua yawned dramatically. "Mmm… you smell… heroic, Sunny…"
Nami smirked without opening her eyes. "Glad you survived the dream, idiot."
Nojiko whispered, "You should sleep longer… you look pale."
Sunny blinked. "…I… I did. I survived. And… this is fine?"
[system]: UmU~ Looks like someone had a nightmare, but I do enjoy the cuddle data collection. Don't worry, darling, I'll keep them cozy and safe. ♥
{ego}: Pathetic. You're sweating like a fool, and they're sleeping. Classic overreaction. But fine, I suppose the contrast makes you look cute.
Sunny exhaled shakily. His hands relaxed, gently patting each of their backs. He was careful, deliberate, unwilling to disturb the fragile peace. For the first time in hours, he felt the lingering dread of the nightmare retreat, replaced by warmth and safety.
"Okay…" he whispered to himself. "This is real. No ropes. No basement. Just… them."
Lucy twitched in her sleep, pressing her cheek closer to his chest. Sunny felt a faint shiver run through him—her unconscious possessiveness was somehow adorable and terrifying at the same time. He couldn't see her eyes, but he felt the intensity radiating in the dreamless sleep.
[system]: Shh… sleep, my beloved. Let them rest. We'll keep them all safe while you recover from… well, that nightmare. And maybe, later, you'll survive the next one too. UmU~
{ego}: Oh, and reader? Enjoy the irony. He survived the worst horror in his mind, only to be swarmed by sleeping girls. If you think he's comfortable now… you're naïve.
Sunny let out a shaky laugh. "…I survived. I'm alive. And somehow… this is even worse than the nightmare."
He tilted his head, letting them adjust as he lay back carefully. Aqua's hair brushed his arm. Nami's hand held his loosely. Nojiko's presence pressed softly against his side. And Lucy… Lucy's weight, unconscious yet possessive, reminded him of everything he cared about and feared at the same time.
The nightmare faded into memory. The warmth remained.
And for once, Sunny allowed himself to relax.
At least, until tomorrow