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[Beware: Mature Warning & PG-17 Rating! Slight Triggers! Read at your own Risk!]
Those Responsible
Reflection
Spoiler Show[Warning: Gore and romance in case you don't like lovey dovey crap and sorry if this is too cheesy]
Hollow
"No Jake, it's getting late. Halloween's over! Let's just go home!"
I stand under the streetlight in my cat costume with my hands in my armpits. Weatherman did say it was supposed to be a cold Halloween, he was actually right for once. Jake stands next to me in his pirate costume which somehow makes him look sexy.
"C'mon Liz! I want to show you something. Your parents won't know, trust me!"
Jake grips one arm out of my armpit and pulls me forward. Man, I love Jake but it's cold and it's 12pm and I want to sleep! But I don't want to upset him.
I force my legs to move and follow him. Jake shows excitement and satisfaction that I agreed. I didn't even collect candy anyways, I'm 18. I just wanted an excuse to my parents so I could spend time with my boyfriend.
Jake leads me to a forest referred to as, "Blood Woods". Our town calls it that for the mass murders that took place there in the early 1800s or something. Just another spooky campfire story is what I've always thought of it. A myth for babies.
"Aww, you trying to scare me? Oooo! I'm soooo scared!" I mock in my squeaky voice.
"No, I just found us a comfortable place to be." he responds.
"In a place called 'Blood Woods'?" I make air quotes with my fingers.
Jake stops which startles me and we look to see a run-down old wooden shack.
Broken windows and mold on the walls makes me want to turn back.
"Here we are." Jake softly speaks, fog coming from his mouth.
"This? Woooow Jake! You have great taste for living. Did you bring your pet rat with you?" I joke.
Jake opens the door and waves to me to go ahead.
"Ladies first."
We sit in a little bench next to a window, darkness filled the room till I flicked out my lighter from my purse.
"Could have at least brought some blankets with ya." I shiver.
Jake stares into my eyes, his face soft. He takes his pirate vest off and wraps it around my arms. I blush to see him without a shirt on.
"Won't you get cold?" I ask.
"I won't"
"Why's that?"
There was a long, awkward pause.
"Because your warm heart will keep me from freezing."
That moment, our lips clashed to each other. As I felt the warmth of his body, my mind began to drift off. It was like I wasn't there, yet I was. So was Jake. And so was it.
I begin to smell a copper-like scent.
Like.....blood.
Moments later I hear a strangled cry and flew my eyes open to realize it was Jake. A blade slices his back and I hear a bone-cruching crack!
The sound of it makes me wince as I see blood gushing out of Jack's mouth. He gurgles out "Liz..." and cripples to the ground. I see his body lifted from the ground and carried away like the speed of light. Hot tears run down my face. I hyperventilate and reach into my purse for my lighter. Then I search my purse for my phone. I turn it on as the bright screen flashes in the dark room. It was brighter than my lighter. I call my parents, but it didn't even go through.
"No signal. Perfect. Just f*cking perfect."
I grab my purse and cautiously step outside. It looked like I was alone, but was I? I run through the woods not knowing the path I came from. I stop to see a small but massive figure on the ground ahead of me. I stepped closer and hold my phone out to see a deer on it's side, it's bones sticking out of the bloody fur with chunks of meat spreaded everywhere like seasoning.
"What did this to you?!" I quivered. I freeze, my blood runs cold. That strong scent of copper was back.
"What indeed?"
I spun around to face a tall, pale man in a dark suit covered in blood. A mile-long smile across his face, blood on his teeth. His eye-lids were shut. I gasped, stepping back.
"What? Afraid of what you see? I'm not."
He opens his eye-lids. I saw nothing but deep holes in them, blood slowly dripping out of them. I faint.
~~
I awake, gripping on my blanket. My mother knocks on my bedroom door. I glance at the clock to see it's 9am.
My mother opens the door and smiles with joy.
"You're finally awake!" she cries, rushing over to hug me.
"Police found you at Blood Forest. You were in a coma for 2 weeks! I thought you wouldn't make it!"
She kissed me on the forehead, hugging my head.
"They also found Jake. He was in horrible condition but he'll pull through from what the doctor said. He'll be there for one more week for recovery." she continued.
I felt relieved, glad the nightmare was over.
[At the hospital]
Jake slowly opens his eyes as there's a knock on the door. His nurse comes into the room.
"Mr. William, you have a visitor!" she announces.
The nurse smiles and walks out of the room.
Minutes later a tall, pale man in a black suit walks into the room with dark sunglasses on. The realization hit Jake like a boulder as he tried to scream but couldn't. That smile was too familiar. The man chuckles.
"Miss me?"
Those Responsible
Reflection
Spoiler Show
The reechoing of hasty footsteps broke the silence of the dark night, only to be stopped by a suppressed scream when the girl slipped and fell down. She felt her knees being scraped up by the cold concrete, but forced herself to stand up and keep running.
It hurt.
Her knees, her lungs, her head and her heart, everything seemed to burst with pain as her own earsplitting heartbeat made it impossible for her to think straight.
It hurts.
The soft swish behind her kept getting louder and louder, even drowning her loud unsteady breath.
It's getting closer. It's getting closer. It's almost here.
The next time she fell, it wasn't because she had tripped. This time, something – a hand, softer, smoother, crueler, nastier, cold, hot – had grabbed her leg and didn't let go.
She screamed, reached for her pocket knife. Whatever it was tried to lean over her.
Stop. Stop...Stop.
She closed her eyes, turned around, jabbed out without thinking. Once, twice, thrice. Maybe a fourth or even tenth time, she didn't know. Warm blood coursed down her arm.
When she opened her eyes, the creature's dead, bloody eyes stared at her. She stabbed both of them once more before backing away and getting up.
She shook her head, tried to calm her shaking hands, felt tears running down her cheeks. Whatever had just happened was worse than any nightmare she could have imagined.
She turned around and just when she was about to start running again, a soft whisper reached her ear.
“I can still see you.â€
Spoiler Show
I Need a Savior
(Demon Hunters –Spes et Desperatio)
What are we supposed to do now?
This is Lucas Freaking Thorne we’re talking about! With him still under Lucifer’s control, we’re all gonna Fall again. It’s not a matter of if, but when. What the hell can we do?
This is all my fault. I’m sorry, everyone…
“Is it not just a bit late for you to be out by yourself, little Angel?â€
Sky’s eyes flew open as her breathing stilled. Even so, she took a final, deep breath, stilling her thoughts, taking the moment to compose herself before she turned to face him. Even though she’d known what to expect, the blonde nephilim’s equilibrium was still thrown off as she faced her friend.
Her foe.
Lucas still looked like himself, yet not. Hair black as night, eyes a deep, clear violet, and he still towered over her, his stance still loose and at ease. He was still broad shouldered, the dark clothes he wore accentuating his features and build; they did what should have been the impossible, and made an already handsome young man even more attractive. Once again, Sky could see why Leah, Lucas’ opposite, had fallen so hard for him.
But it was a cold, imperial attractiveness now that Lucifer had taken control. A sharp smirk twisted at the corners of his mouth, creating a harsh contrast to the gentle smile that, though rare, was warm, genuine, and so much more at home on his face. Even in the way he stood, Sky could see that Lucas’ quiet confidence had been replaced with Lucifer’s calculated arrogance, an icy, poisonous hue in his eyes that shouldn’t ever be there. His wings flared softly at his back, their large, darkly feathered expanse meant to be intimidating. It was Lucas, but not Lucas.
Lucifer.
His mouth quirked up a little higher, his eyes roaming over her own form for a brief moment before he spoke again. “So quiet tonight, young one. Are you afraid? Is that why you have yet to say a word?â€
“No,†she said softly. Meeting his eyes head on, Sky raised her voice as she continued, “I’m not afraid. The others are free of the control of your demons, Lucifer. It’s time to let Lucas go; he’s not your plaything.â€
Condescension crept across his face long before she’d ever finished speaking. Laughter showed in his eyes, yet his voice was surprisingly level as he said, “Come now, daughter of Michael. Are you truly so naïve that you believe mere words will stop me? You know, as well as I, that the others you believe have been freed from their sires are under a momentary reprieve, at best, even with their opposing virtues brought out by your nephilim allies. That freedom that you and your friends fought so hard to achieve for our cambion Gates will be short lived, that I can assure you of, little Angel. Even so, I applaud the bravery that you show tonight, though even you have to admit that it would appear that your pride has gotten the better of you. Why else would you attempt to hunt me on your own, child?â€
Because Dante still hasn’t healed enough from the amputation and replacement of his arm. Because Delilah and Eric are exhausted. Because Jace can’t look at food without being sick to his stomach. Because Angie and Christa are barely keeping control, even with Dev and Michael’s help. Because everyone is working at the bare edges of sleep, trying to hold your generals back. Because Leah can’t stop crying, since you broke her and Lucas both.
“Because, I won’t let you hurt those I love any longer. It’s not pride that drives me to do what I do. It’s the desire to protect those dear to me.†Sky let her own wings slowly unfurl, sweeping them out in a soft arc as she braced herself for what she knew was coming.
Lucifer laughed, a soft, velvety sound that was pitched just the barest bit lower than Lucas’ own. Of all the Big Seven, Lucifer’s own tones were the closest to his son’s; it made the difference more subtle than the rest, but so much more unsettling for how close, yet how wrong that difference was. Mammon and Eric’s voices had been obviously different, and though spooky in its own right, that difference in modulation had been less disconcerting than Lucifer in Lucas’ body.
“Brave, yet arrogant and foolish,†Lucifer said softly. A flash of light emanated from him, blinding Sky for the barest instant as Lucifer summoned a great sword into his grip. Meeting her eyes, he continued, “Mistakes that will cost you your life tonight, little Angel. Fight well, yet know that your struggle is hopeless. Fight well, daughter of Michael, and die!â€
Sky barely had enough time to summon her glaive before Lucifer charged her, his movements so quick that he seemed to melt into the wind for a moment. He brought his sword down at the same time that she swung the glaive up, using the shaft of her weapon as a defense. Her arms screamed in protest from his heavy swing, but she held her block, turning it to the side as quickly as she could so that she could break contact and jump back, giving herself a moment of distance from him.
Careful, my child. Do not give into pride or arrogance, but recognize that the battle you fight, I have fought before.
Sky recognized the Archangel Michael’s touch in the back of her mind, lending her courage and strength. His words weren’t lost on her, either. Ever since his fall, Lucifer had always been opposed by Michael; that Sky fought against Lucas now, continuing that opposition, was plain to her. The Morning Star and the Sword. Forever opposed, never to reconcile as long as Lucifer remained on his path.
Sky bolted into the air, the freedom of taking flight eclipsed by the adrenaline of battle that coursed through her body. Heavier wingbeats sounded behind her, telling her that Lucifer had followed after her. Even though she’d sparred with Lucas before, she knew she was outclassed, especially in the air. Fallen though he may be, Lucifer had been one of the highest ranked angels before he was cast from Heaven, a power and strength that he retained even though he was now the Prince of Hell.
Do not be afraid, Skylar. Take up my sword, and defend charity in all its forms; defend the honor of your friends!
“Archangel Michael! Guide me!†Sky’s voice rang through the air as she let the courage of her life’s goal surge through her, filling her with fire. Her glaive disappeared from her hand in a burst of light, only for heavenly fire to fill her palms. Turning around, Sky flung her hand out, sending a stream of fire to rain down on Lucifer. He grinned, the Morning Star using his strength to turn the fire into light that streamed harmlessly past him.
The attack had given her time, though. Flames still burned in her hand, flames that quickly turned into a long blade of her own for Sky to use. The Sword of Michael. She flew down, meeting Lucifer head on, this time forcing him to block her attack.
Sky preferred her glaive, but she was a Hunter, capable of using whatever she had on hand for a weapon, and her essence came from the Archangel Michael, he who was known as the Sword. Of all weapons, her skill with the glaive was rivaled only by her skill with the sword.
Sky pressed the attack, blocking and parrying blows from Lucifer as she looked for her own openings to attack. For the moment, both held back on magic, unwilling to use the light for fear that it would strengthen the other.
Lucifer showed a bare breach in his defenses, and Sky took it. Slipping her blade below his guard, she twisted her wrist, knocking his sword out of his hand and catching it with a sharp flick of her other wrist. He drafted another blade quickly instead of fighting her for the one she’d stolen, but she pressed the attack against him, her strikes now coming twice as fast and twice as heavy as she lashed out with both blades.
Faster, she thought, her blades a blur to even her own eyes. He swung at her, a long scrape appearing on her cheek as she barely twisted to the side in time to avoid the worst of the strike. Sky kept her momentum up, finishing the twist as she brought her blades back around to engage his. Instinct took over, instinct and adrenaline and the rush of battle as she let go, opening herself to more power and strength than she normally gave herself access to. Lucas held back in battle, but so did she; both were the best, the top of their tiers, and now that Lucifer held control, Sky couldn’t hold back.
She had to give it her all.
Faster
Sky swung with the blade she held in her left hand, causing Lucifer to block the drive she made toward his chest, but that left her right hand free to bring up her other sword, striking him in the side. Lucifer snarled, kicking out at her as she quickly disengaged. There was a thin line to tread in this fight. She had to get Lucifer to let Lucas go, but any blow against Lucifer hurt Lucas, too. And any blow landed on the body counted as one to Lucifer’s pride, which opened a whole other, dangerous path for the Fallen angel’s retribution.
Sky flew backward, absorbing the kick to her stomach by clenching her muscles at the last possible second. Even so, she was winded, the short warning from the attack leaving her defenses sloppy.
Faster
Barely stopping to breathe, she flew in again, throwing a handful of light into the air as a distraction, a ploy to blind Lucifer for a moment so she could get in close with a more affective technique.
FASTER!
It blinded him enough. Caught off guard that she would even attempt to use light against him, Lucifer staggered back, a soft oath falling from his lips. Sky pressed the advantage, striking out at him with each of her blades in turn, giving the angel barely enough time to block each strike before she came in with the next.
Skylar, don’t!
The warning came too late. Her right hand blade went out, and Lucifer jerked back, barely avoiding the worst of the swing as the sword went past his head. However, it wasn’t a clean dodge; red slid down his face as a low growl guttered in his throat. He turned to face her, and a sick pit of dread yawned open in Sky’s stomach when she saw the damage.
The sword had cut across his left eye, leaving a long, thin track from his cheek to just above his eyebrow weeping red. His eye was clouded over; though healing fast, clear fluid seeped from the damaged eyeball, sliding down the lower eyelid and mingling with the blood sliding down his cheek. She’d almost blinded Lucas. But worst of all, she’d struck a deep blow against Lucifer’s vanity.
And he was pissed.
Snarling, Lucifer unleashed a wave of light too powerful for Sky to even defend against. His fist swung toward her as she floated there, blind and disoriented. The strike connected, driving the air from her lungs as his knuckles burrowed into her chest, a sharp crack sounding in her ears a breath of a heartbeat before she went tumbling through the air from the power of his punch.
Her head cracked against hard earth, stars and darkness blooming across the night sky as she fought the urge to scream. She’d dropped her blades somewhere, a fact she realized as he grabbed her right arm, wrenching her up hard enough that Sky felt muscles protesting. He threw her away from him, holding onto her arm just long enough before he let go that the power of his throw pulled her arm out of her shoulder with a soft pop.
Instinct cried out for the return of her blades, but she couldn’t catch her breath enough to look for them in the few seconds she had away from Lucifer. But Sky still found them; more accurately, they found her. Pressure bit through her palms as she lay in the dirt, pressure she realized were her swords a moment later as her nerves lit on fire, instinct to jerk her hands away from the cold steel in her flesh shredding her hands further until she forced herself to still.
“You little bitch,†Lucifer hissed in her ear. When had he gotten so close again? He loomed over her, blood running across his face as a snarl twisted at his lips. His palms rested against the pommels of the swords, ready to pick up the weapons again as he spat, “This vessel is flawless; more so than even I expected it to be. How dare you lay a blemish on its perfection!â€
“Let him go,†she said softly. Taking as deep a breath as she could manage, she looked up at Lucifer, her voice still pitifully soft as she whispered, “Lucas isn’t yours to control. His body isn’t yours to use as you see fit. It’s his, and it’s his life. Let him go!â€
Despite how soft her voice was, the edge of steel was impossible to ignore or miss. His handsome face contorted in an ugly grimace, Lucifer spat, “Go to hell, little Angel. I must say, I will enjoy seeing you there in a short time so that we might continue this discussion. First though, I must see to it that your friends are properly punished for their defiance. Now, scream for me, Angel; I want to hear your voice before you die!â€
His hands gripped the guards of the swords, giving the weapons a quick twist, forcing them to circle around in her hands. Sky bit down on her cries, clenching her teeth so hard that she felt a rivulet of blood trickle down her chin as her canines cut her lip. Even so, she didn’t cry out.
Huffing a dissatisfied snort, Lucifer removed the swords from her hands, stooping down to pick her up. He gripped her right arm just below the shoulder, ripping her up from the ground, pulling a pained whimper from her. A quirk pulled at the corner of his mouth, and he twisted her arm behind her back. Pain blinded her, and Sky screamed.
Dark chuckles mixed with her screams for a moment, before Lucifer spun on his heel, dragging Sky by her dislocated arm before flinging her away from him.
A familiar, guttural snarl ripped through the air, and Sky was surrounded in warmth as someone caught her in a gentle embrace. Opening her eyes, she saw Devon go streaking past her. He barreled into Lucifer, her brother’s wings folded tightly against his back as he took the Morning Star to the ground. When had…?
“Easy love. You’re not alone now.â€
Sky turned away from the burgeoning fight, her eyes locking on Eric’s. Worry was written around his eyes in tight lines, but he had a gentle smile on his face, one that helped to ease some of the pain just by him being near her. But that just opened room in her attention for concern as she noticed the molten gold that shot through the green of his eyes. Her voice still soft from pain, she asked, “Are you…?â€
“Mammon’s close; I’m not gonna deny it. Being this close to Lucas when he’s still under…†Eric shook his head, then forced a smile. “Well, it’s not exactly healthy for any of us, but it’s all hands on deck. Dante’s orders.â€
Almost as if his name had summoned him, Dante was standing over Sky and Eric, his familiar voice raised as he shouted, “Zeydan, Clearwater, Cooper! Get your asses over there and help Hunter hold Lucifer! Elric, Guile, Pepper, Li, Branford! Devils Traps and Angel Fire; give us a fifty foot perimeter and the strongest spells you’ve got, now!â€
Everyone went to their marks, power flowing through the air in arcs of magic. Water flowed from Chista’s hands as she joined the fray against Lucifer, and Sky saw Sammy slam his hands against the ground, causing a giant spray of dirt to join with Christa’s water, catching Lucifer in a mini mudslide. Jace joined Devon, the cambion and nephilim trading blows back and forth to try to keep Lucifer unbalanced for just a moment.
The others had spread out at ten foot intervals, centering their powers for the required spell work. Angie, Harmony, Natasha, Michael, and Delilah had taken up the points of what Sky knew was soon to be a pentagram to channel their power and form the required barriers. Devils Traps and Angel Fire were both required for Lucifer.
Sky was afraid it wouldn’t be enough.
“That was reckless, Hunter. Why the hell did you do it?â€
Sky looked up at Dante, and even though he was clearly livid, concern pulled at his eyes. Red starburst bloomed against their natural green, a sign of how close Moloch was. He was itching to get into the center of the fight, she knew it. Dante was a brawler by nature, and he wouldn’t be content to stay on the sidelines, even with his injuries. Not when his best friend’s soul was on the line.
Sky’s eyes fell, unable to hold his own any longer as she said softly, “They’ve hurt you guys enough, Dante. I… I didn’t…â€
“I get your reasons Sky.†Dante’s voice had softened, some of the growl leaving it. Sky looked up again, and she could see that same softness around his eyes as he continued, “I get it, trust me. We all know that you two are the titans. The Sword and the Morning Star? Who wants to be the ant that gets in the middle of that mess? But you’re not alone, Sky; you don’t have to fight alone. That kind of thinking’s what got us here in the first place; it’s not gonna get us out now.â€
She couldn’t answer him. Not yet. Instead, Sky asked, “Where’s Leah?â€
Tight concern pulled at Dante’s eyes as he said, “I don’t know.†Turning from her, he said gruffly to Eric, “Get her patched up as much as you can, than I need you two on barrier with the others. Move, Elric!â€
Dante loped away, zeroing in on Lucifer as the Morning Star threw Jace and Devon against the newly created barrier. Sky studied Lucifer as Eric started trying to fix her up. There was something about Lucas’ aura that was bothering her. The others had had the colors of their sins intensified by their possession. The red of Moloch’s wrath through Dante’s, the yellow of greed in Mammon’s when he took over Eric. They each had a signature color that aligned with their sin. Lucas’ aura was still a vivid, deep violet, but it also seemed dusty at the same time, like it was darkened at the edges…
A gasp jumped out of Sky as Eric pushed her arm back into place. Fire raced through her veins again, but Sky’s mind stayed on that muddied aura. There was something she was missing here. Something important. But even more than that, there was someone that they were all missing. Even with the twelve of them there, Sky knew it wouldn’t be enough to bring Lucifer down and bring Lucas back to himself.
They needed Leah…
Spoiler Show
[Beware of Triggers: Abuse and psychological torture!]
The tiny blade petals lashed out toward their target, cutting the skin and staining themselves red. His target was on the ground, glaring up at him. It took a few minutes, but his target climbed back to their feet; their eyes cold. He watched the tranquil fury in the slate grey eyes, but behind that he saw pure, raw fear. The emotion wasn’t one he was used to seeing, and it made him sick to his stomach even as he lashed out again, carving the owner of the slate grey eyes up even more. He didn’t like it, not one bit since something told him they were supposed to be friends. He saw that the soul reaper’s side was practically sliced to ribbons, and he was sure that he saw bone in areas.
He heard a command that made him want to scream, but he numbly followed the order. Directing a wave of the pinkish colored blades toward a small, dark-haired ten-year-old, he tried to ignore the look of terror and betrayal that crossed the boy’s face; especially since he was positive the child was only barely managing to remain breathing, let only standing. He tried to ignore the howl of fury that escaped the soul reaper captain as he leapt forward to protect the child from the storm of blades.
The soul reaper captain wrapped the child up in a tight hug, using his own body as a shield as the two were slammed into a wall from the flurry of blades. He heard the thump as the two collided with the wall, followed by a scream of terror that sliced through the air. He just knew it was from the child. He’d heard it countless of times before when he’d first met the child five years ago.
Numbing himself as much as possible, he retreated deeper into his inner world as a cold, heartless laugh cut through his mind. He didn’t want to see the end result of the two bodies that he’d hurt. He didn’t want to see the blood and tear-streaked face of the child, or the blood stained face of his previous partner. He couldn’t manage it. The mere thought was enough to nearly tear him to shreds, if he was to see the actual aftermath he knew he wouldn’t be able to survive.
Senbonzakura struggled against the dream haze he was in, forcing himself back to the waking world. He felt that wrongness coiling around him, tightening its grip on him as it stroked his skin. His blue eyes darted around, searching for the source of this haze. His body ached immensely, almost as if he’d been slammed into a wall. A quick glance down and he could see several lacerations along his skin. His side was torn and bloody, some of the skin being torn down to the ribs. There was also a long, jagged, nasty looking cut that ran from his wrist up to his shoulder. He tried to think of where it came from, but the memory kept slipping through his fingers.
Closing his eyes, he searched his mind only to snap his eyes wide open and flung himself against the metal cage he was in. Trembling from his head to his feet, he attempted to banish the images from his mind but he couldn’t quite manage it.
Byakuya was sliced to ribbons, covered in blood from numerous cuts. A hole was punched through the Soul Reaper’s chest, and his body was broken from the impact with the wall. Rukia was also dead, the skin peeling away to expose muscle and bone. One of her eyeballs hung from the socket and the bits of skin that was still on her body was bloody and raw; she’d practically been torn to shreds and left for him to find. Some of her hair was missing and the skin on her face was definitely peeling away, leaving parts of her skull exposed. The hallucination of that sight was enough to subdue Byakuya.
As for Kaien?
Senbonzakura shuddered at the mental image; he didn’t want his mind to drift to the horrifying image of the ten-year-old’s body after As Nodt had gotten done with him. Even though it’d still be horrible, Senbonzakura hoped that the boy was still alive even if it meant severe psychological trauma. At the very least Kaien had a nasty looking cut along his cheek, among many other cuts, that made it where he eerily pale skin and had eyes that were dilated too far. The pupil basically consumed everything that wasn’t originally black. There was also a dark, nasty bruise around Kaien’s throat from where he'd been restrained before Byakuya had taken over the fight from Renji. Senbonzakura was also positive Kaien had a broken wrist based on what he’d heard, but maybe he was wrong about that fact? That didn’t include Kaien being pinned down by something (he wasn’t sure entirely what) and being forced to watch as Byakuya got thrashed and nearly killed.
Or at least that last piece was the lie Senbonzakura was telling himself.
He hoped that somehow Byakuya had survived the battle against the Quincy.
The sensation of snakes and spiders crawling across his skin drew Senbonzakura’s attention from his inner musings. Looking up from the floor, Senbonzakura was fully aware of the ropes binding his wrists and ankles; including the barbed wire that was around his abdomen. It didn’t escape his notice that his restraints had suddenly tightened, signaling the presence of someone he didn’t want to see. Getting back up on his feet, Senbonzakura looked at the Quincy that was responsible for his grief. He tried to hold the Quincy’s gaze only to end up looking away from the bottomless black eyes. He didn’t want to fully memorize the thin, pale frame; it was bound to be burned onto his mind’s eye if he ever got out of this. And if he wasn’t lucky, he’d be forced to do as this Quincy wanted him to for eternity.
Please, just let me die.
"What’s the matter my dear Senbonzakura?"
The voice was a purr, smooth and an attempt at alluring. It was anything but to Senbonzakura, instead it was as if someone dumped ice cold water on him. Freezing the once proud zanpakuto to his very core. Swallowing around the lump in his throat, Senbonzakura glanced at his "master" for a brief second before he looked away again. Flinching a little at the Quincy’s touch on his cheek, Senbonzakura tried to pull away only for his bonds to keep him chained to his location. The freezing cold fingers moved from his cheek to down his neck, the sensation of spiders moving with them. It then slid from his neck down his arm to his fingertips before it moved to his stomach.
Stop touching me! Senbonzakura screamed mentally, closing blue eyes to try and hide his emotions; given the fact he’d been stripped of the samurai mask he preferred to wear for instances like this. Feeling the bile rising in his throat as the unwanted contact continued, Senbonzakura tried to calm his pounding heart even as he swallowed the bile, scorching his throat with the taste of it.
The dull ache of pain bit into his arm, making Senbonzakura open his eyes and look down to see what had caused it. Not that he wasn’t fully used to pain as of now, so he was surprised it even registered. Seeing his warden’s nails digging into his skin, Senbonzakura stared for several heartbeats as As Nodt leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "Come now dear Senbonzakura, what’s the matter? Don’t you want to be with me? I feel so lonely when you don’t talk to me."
Tearing his eyes away from the tiny welts that were starting to appear on his arm, including the blood that was trickling down, Senbonzakura hesitantly met the Quincy’s eyes and answered truthfully, a mild broken quality to his voice, "No, I want to go home. Please can’t you just leave us alone?"
The laughter that followed his request was like nails on a chalkboard, it made him recoil and wish he could disappear. Watching as the Quincy’s eyes hardened a second later, Senbonzakura tried to brace himself for what was to come but didn’t quite manage it. A moan of pain escaped him as As Nodt stabbed him in the stomach, but it was only after As Nodt pulled his hand out and slapped his face that Senbonzakura felt the pain of both blows. Trembling a little from it, Senbonzakura didn’t fight as the Quincy went after his chest next, putting a matching hole in his as he’d done to Byakuya.
Hitting the ground with his knees, Senbonzakura panted a little from the pain even as his fear started to rise. He knew that this was only the beginning, the Quincy always did this when he got angry; and he knew how it'd end even before the first of As Nodt’s arrows pierced his body. A whimper escaping Senbonzakura, he tried to lash out at the Quincy only for his sword form to be knocked away; leaving him completely defenseless. His heart leapt into his throat, and he was positive the Quincy before him could hear his heart hammering in his chest like a caged bird beating its wings against its own prison.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to anger you." Senbonzakura stammered, his fear almost making it impossible for him to get the words out.
He saw the ice cold glint in the Quincy’s eyes, the devoid of emotion in the black depths and knew for a fact he was in trouble. Feeling some more of the fear inducing arrows slam into him, Senbonzakura watched helplessly as the images of Rukia, Byakuya and Kaien circled back into his head; all of the Kuchikis being tortured and murdered in gruesome ways that he couldn’t stop. It didn't matter that it was just an illusion. He watched as Byakuya again destroyed Sode no Shirayuki in an effort to prove his "loyalty" to Muramasa so they could get closer to defeating Koga. He saw Kaien being extremely sick just the year before and Byakuya’s despair at the potential of losing his son all over again.
Rukia nearly being murdered by the Arrancar.
Kaien being forced to watch as first several sixth division members died before his eyes, helpless to do anything, and then Byakuya being sent into the same emotion powered whirlwind.
His fear as he’d been forced to cut down Byakuya himself. Kaien’s panicked filled screams reaching his ears as Byakuya slammed into the wall in a blanket of thousands of blades, Kaien wrapped up in his arms to try and shield the ten-year-old from the path of the cherry blossom-like blades. Even then though, Kaien had still gotten a couple of cuts from the tiny blades.
Closing his eyes against the bombardment of images, Senbonzakura wanted to grip his head but couldn’t manage it. He tried to will the fear away, but the whirlwind of emotion refused to obey his command. He knew As Nodt was getting a kick out of his panic, he didn’t have to look to know that fact. As Nodt was that much of a sadistic person, heck he’d even gotten a kick out of Kaien’s fear. He opened his eyes as the fear started to subside, his heart pounding in his chest even as he took in shaky breaths to try to calm himself.
"Be a good zanpakuto and do as your told, my dear Senbonzakura. I’ll be back later to recheck your answer, try not to disappoint me again, understand? I’d feel so lonely if you were to leave me." As Nodt’s purred words was the only parting indication he got before the Quincy retreated from the forced inner world.
Senbonzakura felt the tiniest bit of relief that he was alone, but he knew that he wasn’t in the clear yet. His heart was still racing too much for that to be the case. He wasn’t looking forward to the next visit, it was bound to be worse than this one. The new addition of a choker collar was just one indication. He could feel the tiny barbed wire nipping at his throat, already drawing tiny pinpricks of blood. He just wanted this fight to be over, or if that wasn’t possible, Senbonzakura just wanted to die.
Curling up in the fetal position as much as he could, Senbonzakura thought pleadingly, Master Kuchiki, where are you? I can’t take much more of this, please come save me. Please? The first two tears for this round fell to the floor of the mental world.
Shortly followed by the prideful zanpakuto spirit falling into an emotional spiral.
Spoiler Show
No sound, no noise could ever, will ever compare to the shrill scream I heard that in the woods. The moon was bright, shining down on me and laughing. The trees stood high above me, dark, brooding, plotting and planning my demise. All but the stars were against me on this terrible, frightening night. I knew not one soul would forgive me for the sin I had committed and I dared not ask the Lord for forgiveness – for, there comes a time in every man, woman, and child’s life when they realize that there are some sins that are so cruel, so evil, no one can be forgiven of them.
I am doomed, wretched of a man. There is no savior for me.
And all the while I run through the woods that worked hard to make me trip, fall, and lose track of where I am, I wonder if I am really to blame? Was it not I who had to take action? Was it not I who had to protect? True, surly I could have done things differently; perhaps taken advice from the fellow Gandhi, a more peaceful course of action. But no! I did not and now I had to pay the price.
For I did not feel sorry for what I had done and in doing so, I accepted my fate.
Taking a moment to rest, I stopped by a shorter tree that seemed less threatening than the rest. There was when I saw the burning eyes through the foliage. One set of eyes, burning bright with a white fire that would have shook fear into the heart of any man, alive or dead. And they stared right at me, into my eyes, into my soul. This body-less creature, knew exactly what I had done. I knew exactly what had to be done.
Yet, I ran.
I ran as far as my legs could carry me. I ran as far as weighed down man could. The basic instinct that one has to preserve oneself took over. Like a machine, I did as I was told and took myself from harm and danger. A las! I could not escape the burning eyes! There they were before me, stopping me in my tracks. Everywhere I looked the burning eyes were already there and were staring into my soul.
And that’s when I remembered what I had done.
The knife that was in my right hand, her heart in my left. The slicing of her body, the chopping of her hair, touching her soft cheek for the last time. I told her I loved her. Then I stabbed her and drank her blood. She was to be mine forever and at a cost. But when the preacher came in, I knew what I had done. I knew I could not be forgiven.
Her lifeless, glazed over eyes now stared into my soul – I began to weep.
My chest began to feel warm and I started to smell smoke. I looked down on my hands and flames had taken them over. The fire crept from my hands, to my arms, to my chest, and slowly began to dance all over my body. That’s when I saw her and she screamed these words to me,
Liar! Liar! Set him on fire!
Burn him,
Turn him to ash,
Make sure he never comes back!
I begged, I prayed, I rolled around on the ground in suffering. Mercy was what I wanted to say, but no words left my mouth. Only screams of indescribable pain escaped. I tossed, I turned, and threw myself in hopes of putting out the flames. Nothing, and I mean nothing worked! I was a forsaken man, destined to burn for all of entity!
Despite all of this pain, despite my chance of forgiveness ripped away, I still did not feel sorry for a single thing.
Spoiler Show
Why.
Why.
Why.
Its all they say. Goddamn it, stop asking me why. I didn't do this to you, your own life choices put you here, its just my job. The corpse is still warm, and restless. When I sew their mouths closed, the pleading changes to muffled crying or screaming. I don't know which is worse. Mr. Corver is a cryer. I lean to him in an effort to comfort the man,
"I'll give you a nice suit, you'll look very nice for your family." It never works. I push him in the freezer with the rest. They sound like a twisted symphony of torment.
Tonight is Halloween, at least to my friends. Matthew invited me a party but to me it's just another night, I lied and told him I'm working a double shift. I'm not leaving though, I walk into the break room and lay down on the couch, turning the television on. I can't sleep. The bodies are too loud... Why? They usually stop once I leave but not today. Maybe I'm in the holiday spirit, ha ha ha ha.
"3 missed texts from Matt"
"hey dude i just picked up j and ryan, sure ur not coming?"
"dylan, kate already caught a ride here. shes asking why you didnt come"
"get back to me"
I really wish I could answer their questions. Why indeed. Every thing feels so empty lately, I find comfort only in these cold, tortured souls. The voices came to me on my birthday years ago, and I can only ask: Why? Maybe if I try and lay enough of them to rest then they'll be quiet. Just for a moment. But they never do.
I roll up my sleeve and look at these disgusting needle marks, the bruises up my arm are a reminder of the lengths I go to be at peace. I started so long ago... an old colleague gave me a little to try as a 'birthday gift' and I haven't been able to stop. I melt the heroin on the spoon, draw the needle... Thank God. Its quiet. The breakroom TV is the last thing I see before...
Why.
Why.
Why.
How many hours has it been? The voices are back and I'm covered in my own vomit, this suit is diddlying ruined. Oh well, it'll be my Halloween costume should anyone ask. I wash up and go back to work. Mrs. Tanner, stop asking me that. I don't know why. Why, why, why are you so loud. I'll get you the cheapest damn dress I can find. You're a screamer, of diddlying course. Ms Welling, Mr Alvarez, Mrs Kirpatrick, just shut the hell up. I didn't kill you, I didn't tell you to drink yourself to death, its not my fault your house burned down. Shit just happens.
6am. I'm so tired and my shift is over, the cadavers are howling worse and worse. Its time for me to grab my phone and go home like usual before it gets too ba-
"Witnesses are asking how this could have happened and why these young people were taken away with such a promising future." A car crash.
"4 people dead driving home from Halloween party," Some tractor trailer sped a light and destroyed that Taurus.
...
That's Matt's car. Jesus Christ. They're all dead. That diddlying prick murdered them because he couldn't wait for a red light. Why. Heh. Shit. Just. Happens. Ha ha ha ha, ha ha. Oh boy. I can't take this anymore, I think my ears are bleeding now, their crying and screaming and moaning is just piercing. I tear my sleeve off, this tux is beyond repair anyway. I melt down all of my heroin at once and jab it into my arm...
I think... they're finally... leaving me alone... for good...
Why.
Why.
Why.
Why.
Why.
Why.
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let me know if you enjoyed it, trick or treat entry coming soon!
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