Words To Live Or Die By

by Contrary To Popular Belief 3

It's been seven years since I was brought here, by a force that's far beyond my control. Seven years since I last saw my family. Seven years that I've been suck in the past, before my parents even met. Seven years since I made the promise that killed me. My name is Emma Stonewell. And I died, seven minutes ago. I do not own anything you recognize.

"All out of tricks, are you?" She snarls at me as I lay on the cold stone floor. I turn my head to the side, althoughI know I won't be able to see her, either way. I've been blinded. I can't see anything she doesn't want me to see. I don't answer her.

"It's foolish not to answer me," She taunts. I can hear her taking steps around my body, and barely feel the pain of her stepping on my hand, crushing bones. Pain like that is nothing compared to what she's already done to me. My body is weak from the torture she's put me through.

"I killed him." She goes on. "I killed the boy you loved. I wonder how that feels?" She laughs, knowing every word pierces a deeper wound in me.

"You lost the right to talk about hi-oh!" I whimper as images flash through my of the people I couldn't save. "Stop! Please! What on earth did I do to you?"

"Isn't that obvious?!" The ground tremors under my body, as though the earth itself is shaking in fear of her and her fury. "You tore me apart every day for seven years, you little-" I feel dust sprinkle on my face, shaken loose from the ceiling as the earthquake becomes so violent my teeth rattle.

I can tell by the silence that she's trying to get herself together, that this isn't the way she wants to kill me. She wants to savor the moment first. To draw it out as much as she can. When she speaks again, she's deathly calm. "You truly don't understand?" She whispers, carefully staying under control.

"No." I say simply. At this point, there's no one to bargain for. No one to live for. All I have to do is wait for her to kill me. Then I can see them all again.

I can hear a sharp intake of breath, a gasp of pain. "There will be enough time..." She gasps, her voice tight. I can read all of the signs, I know them too well. "I can still give you all the pain you caused me. But now... You have to die. So sorry we couldn't have more time," she jokes, knowing I couldn't withstand any more of her games.

I can feel her magic begin to work inside my throat, bursting my blood vessels, as hot, thick liquid rises in my throat, burning it, choking me. This is the worst possible way she could think of to kill me. I'm drowning, choking, suffocating...

"Goodbye, Emma Stonewell."