Fire.
A venomous itch clawed mercilessly against his parched throat, eliciting profound howls of sorrow in Karakura's wake. Blisters boiled over his alabaster flesh as scalding blood leaked from his steaming eyes, roasting him in the fiery flames of Satan's wrath. Heat engulfed his cringing form and forced his consciousness through the excruciating torment.
...pain...
...anxiety...
...death.
His heart raced, pounding repeatedly into the expanse of cracked ribs. He couldn't breathe. All he was capable of was soaking in his own pool of crimson, bathed in the horrors of Terror's amusement.
He had to escape, needed to evade his captors and search for shelter. Too much was on the line for him to surrender now. He would not allow himself to die. He will live, had to live.
For her.
Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock
They were coming. Footsteps echoed through the corridor outside his furnace, unusually at a pace faster than normal. A blinding light shredded his vision as muffled screams barely reached his damaged eardrums.
It was already too late.
Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock
He was lost. Floating into a pitch black abyss, leisurely slipping into a heavy weighted slumber. He couldn't do it...couldn't survive. Failed to elope with the raven haired girl...unwillingly left her behind.
All was now lost. This was his cruel end, his joyous life of happiness has been reverted to one of fear. Trapping him in an hourglass of regret his last breathing moments.
Ti..ck,...To...ck
It was time to pass on.
"Hello? Can you here my voice?"
...k-karin?...
"Hahaha, you're a weird one, Toshiro."
...impossible...h-how...a-are you...here?...
"Still a dumbass I see. Isn't it obvious?
...
"I'm dead, Toshiro."
...n-no!...y-you can't be!...t-they took me! not you!
"Wrong. They drowned me after you died. I gotta tell you, you are a wimp if you gave up so easily."
KARIN! YOU ARE NOT DEAD!
"But I am. You just don't want to believe it. Do me a favor though."
s-stop
"When you meet my brother, can you tell him my dad stole the magazines under his bed?"
no...j-just stop I-it...
"..."
...K-KARIN!?...W-WHERE ARE YOU!?...
"...they're here..."
what do you mean?
"..."
k-karin?
"...goodbye...toshiro..."
k-Karin!
"...this is the end of me..."
"NOOOOOOO!"
"It seems you're finally awake." Toshiro spun around, nearly shoving his body off the bed as he gazed at his visitor. A teenaged boy, orange hair and dark eyes. Almost like he's on the verge of exploding. "You were in a coma for five years, I'm actually surprised you woke up."
I've been...sleeping?
"I've gotta tell you, the doctor thought you were for sure a goner."
"...d-doctor?..."
"Yeah, you are actually at my dad's clinic." Toshiro paused, skimming over the remainder of his memories. Receiving nothing but a raging headache in return. "I heard you knew my sister, Karin. The police told us you were cellmates."
"I-I don't know what you mean...w-who is...k-karin?"