The inkiness broken up by the passing visages and blinking colored lights was growing tiresome to look at. The lone tree Hollis had 'planted' had grown considerably. No longer a sapling nor an adolescent, it was full grown and towered over him. Far from its original purpose, the tree only increased the dreariness and loneliness Hollis felt.

     This one lone tree.

     It didn't feel right.

     It seemed that a great amount of time had passed since he had last spoken to Ambrose. How much to be exact, he could only guess, and this assumption would be based on the frequency with which Ambrose came to visit, thus, it would likely be an inaccurate guess.

     Most likely, two nights.

     With his back to the tree and his head resting to his pulled-up knees, he occasionally peered over to the passing imagery. He had kept his eyes out for more of Mayura's dreams, hoping to reach her, to learn more. As luck would have it, he hadn't come across another one since the last.

     Since the attack.

     With his thoughts going gloomy, he shook his head, watching the reflections from the lights across the black ground. He wondered for a moment, thought for a moment. Resting his hand to the floor, he closed his eyes.

     I want to brighten things up a little...

     He sat briefly, making no further moves. Then, in an instant, the world grew bright. Grass suddenly flourished, rising up from the white pixels and spread in a wave throughout the entirety of the former abyss. From the distance, the sky of emptiness filled with light, changing from black to blue, and a sun spontaneously flashed in the middle of it all.

     Hollis watched this happen in awe, not having expected it to turn out in such a way. It suddenly felt warmer, more comfortable. And with that tree at his side, he felt less lonely. But still, he couldn't afford to become too comfortable. He still needed to wake up. He needed to return to the real world.

     He sat in the new warmth of the sun, basking in the comfort it was bringing him. Closing his eyes, he let himself take a moment to relax from all of the trouble that was rising around him. Up until this point, he couldn't help but peek over his shoulder every now and then, wondering if the Somnium Killer was ready to attack. He felt the fear rise for a moment before he tried his best to extinguish it by thinking of home. Thinking of Mayura.

     He had a sister waiting, he had a mother and father waiting. That was what mattered most.

     From behind, he heard the familiar click of a door.

     Looking back, he saw none other than Ambrose, arms crossed and a look of astonishment clear upon his face. Hollis gulped, coming to a stand. As he approached, Ambrose smiled.

     "Ah, I did some...'decorating'."

     "I see. I'm impressed." His eyes traversed the world around him with great intrigue. "Anyway, I have some news for you." Reaching under the jacket wrapped around his waist, he eventually pulled out something that sent a shock through Hollis's body.

     The knife?

     It was just as he remembered it. Traces of his blood still lingered on the blade. It's hefty look and rigid edge still left a feeling of fear in the young man.

     "W-where..."

     Ambrose smiled softly. "Wanna take a guess where I got this?"

     Hollis held his tongue. He assumed he knew what the answer would be, but he didn't want to say it.

     What if he was wrong?

     What if he was right? 

     Hollis wanted to give some sort of answer, but upon seeing the hesitation in his companion's reaction, Ambrose's smile softened further. "I'll tell you."

     Ambrose took a step closer; Hollis took a step back.

     He blinked.

     He wasn't sure why he did that. He eyed up the knife in Ambrose's hand.

     "Terra had this. She confessed it all to me."

     "Terra? Wh-why? How?"

     "I hadn't told you for your own safety, but I called a meet-up with the others earlier. I gave some basic information on the situation and was able to force a confession from Terra." His eyes averted Hollis's. "It's a shame, really."

     Hollis kept his lips sealed. As a result, Ambrose simply watched him. Neither of them spoke and the silence lingered between them.

     "...I'm not sure... That doesn't sound right. Why didn't you tell me?"

     "It was for your own safety. I had to get the information out of the real killer, and if the killer had lashed out at the time, you could have been hurt." He took another step forward and Hollis found himself backed into the tree. Ambrose tilted his head, a look of curiosity replacing his calm smile. "What's the matter?" Ambrose chuckled softly, as if he had just recollected something amusing. "Do you think I'm the killer? Is that what this is about?" He tossed the knife slightly, catching it as it returned. Hollis winced at this action, his gaze remaining set on the weapon.

     "That's not...it."

     "'Then here." Suddenly, Hollis found the knife tossed into his hands. "Take this if it's worrying you so much." With a chuckle, Ambrose circled around the brunette, reaching the far side of the tree and sitting down. Patting the trunk, he said, "C'mere. Take a seat. I think we should talk." Though he was filled with reluctance, Hollis followed and took a seat. Ambrose smiled.

     "So, what's on your mind, Hollis? You seem hesitant."

     "Yeah, well..." He gripped the knife tightly as he tried to force out the words. "You're not Ambrose. Not at all."

     "Oh? Why do you think that?" Tilting his head, a slight smirk etched itself over his lips. "I have to say, it sounds like you might be a little too paranoid."

     "Alright then. No matter what you say, I don't think you're Ambrose. But tell me, where did we first meet?"

     "Oh?" There was a rise in his tone, like he was excited. "That was in Veri's dream, wasn't it?"

     Damn it, Hollis thought. What are the odds that Ambrose mentioned that to the others?

     "Well, regardless," the taller boy began. "I still want to speak with you. I'm sure you have a thing or two you'd like to say?"

     "So, you're admitting you're the killer?"

     There was a dreadful silence before, finally,

     "That's right." Sliding lower as his head fell back to the trunk, he continued. "How exactly did you figure it out so quickly? I thought I was doing pretty good."

     "I can't really tell you."

     "Oh?"

     "Ambrose has something most people don't. His presence so to speak. I've never come across someone who has one like his."

     "'His presence'? I see. That may be a problem..." With a smirk, watching Hollis from the corner of his eyes, he said, "I seem to have the opposite going for me. Ah—" With a low chuckle he added, "I almost said too much. Look at that. Using this face, I can't help but go on and on. I may end up spoiling this all if I say much more."

     "Alright, I guess that means you're done talking?"

     "That's right. It's your turn." Hearing the upbeat tone in this phony's voice, Hollis felt his heart race. He had no idea what the point of this was. All he could do was remain calm, go along with whatever was thrown at him.

     "Who exactly are you trying to blame for these murders? You're using Ambrose's face, but you were just trying to convince me it was Terra."

     With a chuckle, he replied, "Not at all. I won't say what exactly I'm doing, that would ruin everything. I'm just doing what I have to. Nothing more and certainly nothing less." His grin broadened. "Honestly, I have to add, I never really denied being Ambrose. All I agreed to was being the killer." Leaning around the trunk of the tree, face to face with Hollis, he said, "Would you still be friends with a killer?"

     Hollis turned to avoid that gaze he was so accustomed to. He knew it wasn't Ambrose. But still, a part of him saw that face, heard that voice, and it all told him it had to be that young man.

     "It...it depends, I guess. Why would Ambrose kill? If it was for no reason other than to kill, I'd say hell no."

     "Well, I gotta say I really admire you, Hollis. You're quite the guy."

     As the two looked at each other with a new severity, there came another familiar click.

     Turning to the sound, it was him.

     "Ambrose?"

     "Well, this is interesting." At first, his face proclaimed pure shock, then it immediately diverged into his typical smirk. "You really do look like me. You're pretty good."

     Before Hollis could respond, the imposter slung his arm around the boy, a second knife flipping out and pressed against Hollis's throat. Still holding the knife, he moved to jab the phony's arm but was immediately slammed into the tree, the knife falling from his grasp on impact.

     "Well, this was unexpected. I thought you'd be gone at least another hour."

     "Sorry to disappoint you. What should we call you? Somnium Killer?"

     "Yeah. Gotta say I like that name a lot. Real Jack the Ripper-esque. Feels like I mean something!"

     "Oh? Good to know. I'll have to pick something less memorable for you at the next meet-up and on forum discussions."

     The phony simply scoffed, his arm clutching Hollis tighter. Ambrose lost his look of flamboyancy as his brows furrowed and his gaze went grim. "All I need you to do is let him go. Is it me you're after?"

     "Why would you think that? Because I'm using your face?"

     "That's not what I meant, but fair enough. I need you to let him go anyway."

     Everyone stopped and a heavy tension filled the air. Hollis gulped and felt the blade against his throat as he did. He didn't know what to do. Physically, he was at a severe disadvantage. He'd simply have to hope that Ambrose could get him out of this somehow.

     The moment the thought passed through his mind, Ambrose had pulled out a long, thin knife and charged the imposter. There was a sharp 'clang' as the two blades hit each other. There was a momentary pause in their movements before Ambrose pulled his blade from the struggle. Both jumped back and refrained from further attacks.

     This guy seems pretty hesitant, Ambrose thought as he fidgeted with his knife. He's trying to keep Hollis out of harm's way it seems. 

     "Is Hollis really so important to you?"

     "This guy? I don't..." He paused.

     "Or are you still unsure about whether you need him or not?"

     The killer's expression went grim. "I can't afford to ditch him yet. Everything has a place."

     "Then give him back." Ambrose smirked. "If you can't let him die, he'd be better off with me than some no-good like you."

     The killer went silent. There was a slight cackle before he slightly shifted his weight. He removed the knife from Hollis's throat and, with impeccable speed, launched it in Ambrose's direction. He had little time to react, but managed to evade the attack, the blade cutting through his ponytail.

     Making a run for the imposter, he flicked his wrist with the blade, it's steel shining in the sun. The imposter tossed Hollis from his grip and pulled out a third knife which he used to catch the oncoming attack.

     Hollis landed against the tree, watching in awe as the two went at it. There were swift thrusts, immaculate evades, and punches and kicks the brunette had never before seen in anything other than television.

     They're so...adept at this.

     They seemed evenly matched in power, but there was a noticeable difference in their fighting styles. Ambrose used low attacks and brute strength. The killer used wild strikes and relied on swift, light movements to stay out of reach. When they clashed, it was like a strike of thunder.

     Ambrose moved in to deliver a wide strike at the neck, but the killer slipped away at the last second. Lifting his arm in time to the dodge, the imposter sliced up through the youth's face. Hollis gasped, not having a good view of what exactly happened, but catching the sudden shock of the hit locking Ambrose's body.

     The killer pulled out the first of the two blades and thrust up, but Ambrose caught it with the ridges of his own. This back and forth continued, but Ambrose was moving considerably slower and clumsier.

     Can I really just stand here and watch? That's not right! But I don't want to get in his way... 

     That's when the thought hit him. This is all a dream! So... With the fighting continuing in front of him, and Ambrose struggling to parry or evade each strike, Hollis had to think quickly!

     Ambrose took a leap back to create distance, but the imposter ran at him with ferocious tenacity. As soon as the gap was closed, he swept his arm to strike, but Ambrose forced it away. The imposter's second blade came out, and he narrowly parried this one as well. Before the imposter could recover, the youth delivered a hefty punch to his face.

     In an attempt to show off, he tossed his weapon up and delivered three more; one from the right, one from the left, and an uppercut before catching his weapon. He had full intentions to end with a cut to the throat, but the imposter leapt away before the hit could land.

     "Taking too much damage? Are you getting scared?" Ambrose was ready to give chase, but a loud, heart-stopping 'BAM' froze him in place.

     The instant the sound shattered the air, the imposter dropped.

     Ambrose caught his breath in his throat, his features tightening at this unexpected sight. Turning, he saw Hollis standing by the tree, a gun in his hand aimed in the direction of the imposter. With a trained ease, he lowered his weapon.

     "I might not be good with hand to hand or any of that...but I at least know how to use this." A weak smile formed as his head fell to the side, his cheeks flushed with color and a bead of sweat rolling down his chin. 

     Ambrose was stunned. There was so much to this that he couldn't process yet, but taking a moment to calm himself, he smiled back and allowed himself to relax. "Aren't you something?"

     "I mean, it's not that impressive. I grew up hunting and visiting firing ranges."

     "But you shot him. You saved me, really." The taller youth tilted his head in an overly playful manner, his sneer showing. "I find that very impressive."

     Hollis's hand was still shaking, but he did his best to suppress it. Though he attempted to downplay what he did, it did shake him on some level. He was so overcome with worry, though, that he didn't think twice about what he did. He just knew he had to act or else Ambrose would have been in trouble.

     As these thoughts went through Hollis's mind, Ambrose approached the body, his defensive form returning as he looked it over with an intense gaze. It didn't take too much time at all for the body to rise up, the wound fully healed.