Simon, Ezekial, April, and Violet awoke with a start, the sense of relief from reaching the center of the maze quickly replaced by a chilling realization. They were not truly awake. The soft light of the glowing vines had been replaced by an eerie twilight, and the surroundings felt insubstantial, like the fading remnants of a dream.
"What's happening?" April whispered, her voice trembling with confusion and fear.
"This isn't real," Ezekial said, his mind racing. "We're still asleep. This is a dream."
Before them, the figure of Dominique, now known as Dream, materialized. He was clad in black knight's armor, the metal gleaming with an unnatural sheen. In his hand, he held a massive sword, its blade dark and ominous. Behind him, the necromancer's tower loomed, its twisted spires piercing the dreamlike sky.
"Dominique?" Simon asked, his voice a mixture of hope and dread.
Dream lifted the visor of his helmet, revealing his face. One side was still recognizable as their friend, but the other was a twisted mess of vines, the plant matter grotesquely fused with his flesh. His eyes glowed with a haunting light, and his expression was twisted with sorrow and anger. "I am Dream now," he said, his voice echoing with a strange resonance. "The necromancer has made sure of that."
The group recoiled in shock, struggling to comprehend the transformation of their friend. "Dominique, what have they done to you?" Violet asked, her eyes filling with tears.
Dream's expression softened momentarily, a flicker of the old Dominique shining through. "I am bound to the necromancer's will. I cannot fight it. But you... you need to leave this place. It's too dangerous."
April stepped forward, her resolve hardening. "We can help you, Dominique. We can break the necromancer's control."
Dream shook his head, raising his sword. "You don't understand. The necromancer's power is absolute. I cannot defy him. I am his weapon, and you are his targets."
The ground trembled as the necromancer's tower loomed closer, its dark presence casting a long shadow over them. The air grew colder, and an unsettling sense of dread crept over them.
"We're not leaving without you," Simon said, flames flickering to life in his hands. "We're your friends, and we won't abandon you."
Dream's eyes flashed with a mixture of pain and anger. "If you won't leave, then I have no choice. The necromancer commands me to destroy you."
With a powerful swing, Dream brought his sword down, the blade crackling with dark energy. Simon raised his hands, conjuring a barrier of flames to deflect the attack. The impact sent shockwaves through the dreamscape, distorting their surroundings.
"We have to fight him," Ezekial said, summoning a gust of wind to push Dream back. "But we can't hurt him. We need to break the necromancer's hold."
April animated the fallen branches and debris around them, creating a barrier to protect the group. "We need to find a way to reach Dominique inside this... nightmare."
Violet clung to Prism, who hissed and spread its wings protectively. "Dominique, please! Fight it! We know you're still in there."
Dream hesitated, the conflict within him evident. For a moment, the dreamscape flickered, and they saw a glimpse of the real Dominique, trapped and struggling against the necromancer's control.
"I... I can't," Dream said, his voice cracking. "He's too strong."
"We can do this together," Simon urged, stepping forward despite the danger. "We've always been stronger together."
Dream's eyes flickered, and the sword in his hand wavered. The necromancer's tower loomed closer, its dark spires reaching out like claws. The presence of the necromancer was palpable, his malevolent will pressing down on them.
"Dominique," Ezekial said, his voice firm. "Remember who you are. Remember us. We can break this curse."
The dreamscape began to distort further, the boundaries between reality and nightmare blurring. Dream's armor cracked, and his face contorted with pain and defiance.
"Help me," he whispered, the plea barely audible over the howling wind.
Together, the group focused their willpower, reaching out to Dominique with their hearts and minds. Simon's flames burned brighter, Ezekial's wind grew stronger, April's animated objects formed a protective circle, and Violet's bond with Prism radiated a calming energy.
The necromancer's tower seemed to falter, its dark presence wavering as their combined strength pushed back against the oppressive force. Dream's sword dropped, and he clutched his head, a torrent of blood streaming from his nose as he fought against the control.
But it was too late. The necromancer's grip was unyielding. With a final, pained cry, Dream lashed out, his body convulsing as the necromancer's power reasserted itself. The dreamscape shattered, and they felt themselves being pulled back to consciousness.
They awoke at the base of the Necromancers Tower in the center of the maze, their bodies and minds exhausted but alert. Before them stood the necromancer, his dark figure looming ominously. Beside him, Dream was hunched over, his head in his hands, blood running from his nose.
"You have done well to make it this far," the necromancer said, his voice cold and mocking. "But your efforts are in vain. Dream is mine, and there is no escape for you."
Dream looked up, his eyes filled with despair. "I'm sorry," he whispered, the words barely audible.
Simon, Ezekial, April, and Violet stood together, their resolve hardening. They had faced unimaginable horrors and survived. They would not back down now.
"We won't give up on you, Dominique," Simon said, flames igniting in his hands. "We will find a way to break this."
The necromancer laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the maze. "You are welcome to try, but know this: I am eternal, and your friend is beyond saving."
With those words, the battle began, the group standing united against the overwhelming darkness. They would fight with everything they had, for Dominique, for each other, and for the hope of finding their way home.