Night Terrors

23 34~You have to run [ ]! I'll be right behind you, I love you so much.~

A woman urged him through a small trapdoor in the closet as she kissed his forehead. He couldn't understand why she didn't go with him now but he wanted to not fail the woman at least this one time. He could sense the seriousness of her attitude as tears dripped down her eyes. She held her palms against his face for a few extra seconds before placing a plaque-like medallion in his robe sash as well as the cover over the cubby hole.

As he crawled out he could feel the heat of the walls as they burned around him. The smoke slithering just above his head and the shouting of the soldiers in red just behind the wooden panels. Once he made it into the corner of the alley he looked around before running into the forest behind his home. But after a little while he could hear yelling and destruction chasing after him. Taking the time to hide behind a mossy stone he heard the demon-like shadows search for him.~

"-ey....Hey!"

My vision was blurred and my hearing was muffled as a shock jostled me to consciousness.

"Hey dirt-bag!"

Once I blinked a few more times I saw what seemed to be a soldier in black with red accents towering over me with a menacing grimace. I was in a musky holding cell barley lit red from the barred peephole on the door with a wooden bucket half-full of water in the corner.

"Get a move on or I'll put you to sleep forever!" He shot his hand out and snatched me from the floor roughly unhooking my chains from the metal wall. Once he pulled me out the cell I was shoved forward. The chains binding my wrists as well as ankles caused me to stumble almost finding myself back to the floor but I luckily caught myself at the last moment.

The man led me to what appeared to be a medium sized cafeteria area where all the tables were hugging the walls, leaving the center to have the most space. A good sized crowd was waiting for us as I reached the edge of the octagon. All the men and women were sneering at me as they made a fuss laughing about 'the soon-to-be slaughter' that was going to take place.

'''Sazo! I see you haven't chickened out." Another soldier greeted the one transporting me. "And just like we both agreed upon: if your prisoner wins against mine next pay as well as promotion will be all yours."

"And if he loses I'll take your place on the death squad mission to the air temples next summer. I remember Jakai" He replied as he rolled his eyes.

"Let's get this party started!" The one called Jakai shouted as he raised his fist into the air riling the crowd up even further before going to the other end.

As I kept my head low Sazo, my handler, threw his arm over my shoulder as he proceeded to 'warn' me. "You embarrass me here and I swear....you'll wish you died a long time ago."

Next thing I know the chain restraints connected to my feet and wrists were removed leaving only the metal cuffs. How long has it been since I was allowed to take a full length step?

'Too long.' I thought. However my refreshing experience was short lived as my alleged opponent was shoved into the makeshift arena. I couldn't even believe it. The shock hit me to the center of my chest leaving me breathless. The slightly older boy who was staring off into space in my direction. A slight shift in his eyes let me know he was now properly looking at me. So many emotions were flooding me and I barely choked out his name.

".....Fama....." My dear cousin on my mothers side.

"Is...is this real? A-are you real?" His brows knit as he could hardly believe what he saw.

All this time being detained and transported from one location to the next. I had assumed that my entire family household was put down by now.

"You're still..." Tears were welling up in my eyes as we each took a step towards one another until we were brought back to reality when a whip sliced through the air and struck signaling the start of the match. "Begin!" A female soldier snarled at us.

'They can't be serious. Do they really expect us to fight each other till the other passes away? No. I-I just can't-'

*CRASH!* A glass bottle smashed into the side of my face leaving me dazed with this hot searing substance flowing down my brow.

"Don't jus stand there with your thumbs up your ass!" I could barely hear one jeer.

"Show us some action! I wanna see some bloodlust!" I could see the woman begin to whip Fama.

They're forcing us to try and kill each other. If only none of this happened. But it's too late for wishful thinking.

"Hey dirt bed warmer! You don't get to swinging soon I'll send you back to Taija later. And this time I'll leave you there with him!" The one named Jakai shouted.

"Wh-what? Fama, what is he-" My words were cut short when I saw the look of Fama in pure terror. That's when I truly took a look at Fama and his face and arms. Not only was he starved far worse than me, there were fresh burn marks all over as well as bruises under his unkempt hair. Whatever they did to him I could tell he's had a far worse time in here than I ever could. His eyes wide he slowly stared into my eyes and mouthed the words 'I'm sorry...' before using what little strength he had to tackle me to the ground. Landing on my back I could feel knuckles striking my face from either the side or straight down. I tried my best to curl up to protect myself but it was to no avail as he pinned one of my arms under his knee.

Every second or so his fist would strike.

*Pap!*

Again.

*Thump!*

Again.

*Thum!*

Again.

*Pap!*

And again.

*Pap!*

And again.

*Thump!*

And again. Blood had started to fill my throat and nose as my face started to swell. Then I felt something pittering my forehead. It felt wet. Through my least swollen eye I could see Fama with his arm raised, a shard of glass in his hand. Tears and snot were running down his bruised face. He was crying. Was it for me? No....It was for both of us. He was always caring, for as long as I can remember. He won't ever forgive himself for as long as he lives. I still remember once he would always seem down when he recalled accidentally stepping on a turtle ducks foot. I could tell he felt horrible for what he's doing.

'No. For what they're making him do. They broke him. They took him from me. They took everyone from both of us. But some part of him is still in there. He's hesitating, even now.'

I know he wouldn't be able to kill me on his own. But if anyone is deserving to survive, to make it to where he had a chance to escape later. No matter how slim the chances were, it was Fama. He just needed to drive the shard into me and he could see another day.

"...Ish Okhay....F-Fama...." I murmured enough so only he could hear. "Chu can...Liff on....Khak! Khak!" I had a bloody coughing fit. My free hand reached up and wiped his tear stained face.

His body was shaking as his pupils became clear once again. "Do ith Fama." I let my arm drop to my side as I closed my one good eye.

All the soldiers around us were screaming, shouting, demanding he finish me off. If he did he would hopefully be left alone one more day. And then everything went quiet. At first I thought death had come for me and I was on the other side. But the pain from my face and chest was still there.

Then I could feel a warm liquid flow onto my collarbone up my neck. Slowly opening my eye what filled my vision was Fama. His neck cut open with his Blood draining on top of me, the glass shard falling onto the steel floor shattering into even smaller pieces.

"Fama?" Confusion had settled in my head.

Did the soldiers do this? No that doesn't make any sense. There was no one else near us to cut his throat.

'He did it himself.'

"N-no no nononononono." I caught him by his rag of a shirt before he toppled over. Firmly pressing my palm on top his wound I tried my best to stop the profuse bleeding. But it was to no avail. I couldn't stop it as I heard him gargle for breath, drowning in his own blood.

"....Ghugh!.....Forgive....Me." He gripped my forearm.

"I do! I fogib yuu! Shtay wid me Fama! Not yuu Fama." His face grew paler by the second. "Fama! Don' do dhis."

A few seconds of him gasping for air and his arm went limp.

".....Fama? Fama! FAMA!!!!!!!!!FAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"