Hellraiser: Corruption

I wrote this a few years ago, while I was still a fairly militant atheist, but after reforming to Catholicism and frankly, losing touch with the HR fandom, I threw it out without publishing it. So now here I am, trying to remember this story in its entirety. As with most of my HR fiction, it's Elliott-centric, but features an extremely dark Elliott Spencer, wallowing in the depths of depravity, with an innocent young woman caught in the crossfire. I've always felt there was so much to explore as regards the man behind the pins and cassock…so here we are. I'm still a Catholic, but I also am a Hellraiser fan, and seeing as how this is a work of fiction, and therefore not going to harm anyone, I've decided to go back and find this story again. I hope you enjoy.

Dedicated to Laura. Across the endless miles of the Labyrinth, I found your unconditional friendship. Thank you.

'You let me violate you.

You let me desecrate you.

You let me penetrate you.

You let me complicate you…'

-Nine Inch Nails, 'Closer'

'All blood runs red.'

-Phrase painted on the side of a plane flown by Eugene Bullard in WW1

Elliott Spencer was once a good man. Polite, upstanding, kind, compassionate, empathetic to the needs of others. It was, in fact, most of these qualities that had cemented his decision to enlist in the army in the first place. Do his duty to Queen and country, and all that business.

It was a decision he would, unfortunately, live to regret.

The Great War had not killed him, though he spent a significant portion of his time wishing that it had, for it had destroyed all the qualities in him that he had once taken so much pride in. He no longer felt any compassion or empathy, and indeed, after the war had ended, he had fled here to India, where so far, he had lost himself in alcohol, opium and meaningless sex. And still, he felt less than nothing.

His army colleague and old friend Corporal John Franks had also relocated to India with his wife Penelope and their teenage daughter Sarah, but the older man seemed to have survived the war relatively unscathed. Perhaps that was because he'd had a family to return to. Elliott himself had had nobody, having been an only child, and both of his parents had died some time ago.

So, he was alone.

But it was probably better that way; better to be alone than inflict his growing darkness on others.

John, however, seemed to have other ideas, inviting him to dinner, and to parties and such, insisting that Elliott would go mad if he persisted in only keeping his own company.

Elliott didn't have the heart to tell his old friend that he very likely had gone mad, and even went to these dinners and parties occasionally, if only to keep him happy, but he found his mind would wander elsewhere on these occasions.

As would his eyes.

To John's beautiful eighteen-year-old daughter Sarah.

The old Elliott would have balked at the very notion of even attempting to make a pass at his friend's daughter, much less someone so young. But he now had no such qualms. And to further complicate matters, he had observed how Sarah would smile when he turned his attention to her, then duck her head and blush.

He knew when someone was attracted to him, and it was clear to him that Sarah was, which only fuelled his desires.

However, Sarah's innocence was also evident to him, and Elliott's own urges were far from innocent. If he were completely truthful with himself, the thought of corrupting her utterly excited him beyond measure. The thought of having her break apart in his hands aroused him so deeply, he knew he would have to do something about it soon, or go even more mad than he already was.

It was simply a matter of opportunity…

Just an introductory chapter really-I may as well tell you the next chapter and ones following it contain smut of a fairly graphic variety. As I've said, this will be a very dark fic, and most definitely not a love story. Reviews are my friends! Ellen.