A Pair of Shadows

The sounds of pain and anguish radiate from the basement. The stench of blood and vomit permiate across the cold hard basement floor.

*CLINK*

*CLINK*

The rattle of chains wake up John a familiar sound he has gotten used to in his years of torture.

"Are you awake Olivia?" John asked his voice dangerously hoarse.

"Yes John" responded a girl no older than 16 with long black hair with purple eyes and delicate ethereal beauty masked by the bruising and scars that are littered across her barely covered slightly malnourished body.

John was a boy with short brown hair and sharp features. His body made Olivia's look like a scrape on a knee. John was covered in long deep lashes and scars, broken bones and bruises. On both children the clear signs of abuse and torture are concentrated in places that are often covered by clothes. No visible signs of damage are on face and lower arms.

"He will be down soon for his entertainment and I want you to be quiet and pretend to be asleep okay?" John whispered sternly preparing himself for pain.

"We will never be free will we John?" Olivia replied sadly barely containing her tears. "maybe we could be free together in death" she says in a whisper.

John is silent and about to respond when he hears heavy footsteps approaching the basement door

"Pretend now" John forces "I'll be fine" he says with an unconvinced smile. "I will read some manga and webtoons to you later now please stay quiet no matter what happens please" he finishes when the door opens.

The deafening footfalls down the stairs causes John's heart to beat faster preparing him for what will happen next. A heavy set middle aged man with a rotund belly and sadistic smile comes into view.

"we're going to have so much fun today my sweetheart" the man says in a sickly sweet voice as he proceeds to punch, kick and carve to his hearts desire on the young boy.

"is that all you got you piece of shit!" John hisses.

"You're going to regret that you worthless toy" The man responds as he plunges his rusted and dulled knife into the boys stomach. "I will be back soon" he stands and walks away back up the stairs and slams the door.

Olivia opens her eyes and sees John she screams and struggles with her chains and with a divine miracle manages to break free and rushes to John trying to help him crying. When a bloodied hand caresses her cheek. She grabs and stares into John's sapphire blue eyes.

"Don't worry about me I'll be fine" he says coughing up blood that's trickling down his chin "okay maybe I won't be fine but you know that I love you so much right?" he says his voice getting weaker.

"I know I love you too" she leans in and kisses him on his cold bloody lips with a fiery passion bringing warmth into the boys last moments as his eyes turn dull and his breath weakens he mutters "maybe we'll be together in the next life" as he exhales his last breath slipping into the darkness.

"we'll be together forever" she cries as she grabs the knife embedded in her love. "in life and death" she says slowly as she brings the knife to her wrist and in a swift motion with no hesitation she opens wrist and watches the blood pour she pulls the lifeless corpse of John into another kiss as her life fades away.

"Such sweet dangerous love. This love has been through much hardship and stayed a roaring flame of passion. A passion I won't let be extinguished" a calm radient voice says.