Chapter Seven: Forever Walts; Part Two

That eerie stillness that rushed through the walls and pounded into Emily's mind was almost deafening to the poor girl. It ranged in every stone, every dead piece of earth under them and to anything that dwelled near. This was his playground, the young woman figured. An ethereal wonderland of pain and horror.

As they moved along Pinhead allowed her to glance about these new surroundings. A labyrinth of rock and bone she figured. He said nothing in this moment, perhaps testing her to what she saw in the reaction that spewed forth from pale green eyes. It was hard to let her palm keep still atop his, perfectly balanced…she was reminded of a simple table top…it was certainly cold enough.

But just as the young student's mind had wandered from the fear that surrounded her it pronounced itself in a clear and precise way. There had been a gap between the walls of a turn, just wide enough for someone to look clearly through. And that was just what someone was doing most horrifyingly. It was a boy, his face dangling off the left cheek while damaged eye sockets sunk back into his skull.

"Ah, it would seem we've already made it to a part of my features…" Pinhead announced. His hand made way from Emily's, only to keep her from moving back as she let out a terrified yelp. "His name was once Jonathan…a young scholar not unlike yourself. Such desperate passions he fell for, however…temptation can lead to such inhumane things…and inevitably, to us.."

"H- his face…it's falling off…" Emily muttered. "What did he do to deserve such a fate?"

"A hidden desire to see what happens to people when they are burned by chemicals…a certain victim of his had hold of the puzzle box you yourself did acquire. He opened it…we came." Pinhead explained most simply. It was apparent he did not find much interest in this subject, those eyes of his swaying over the boy. Not even Emily could say if the young man had deserved his fate or not…but she felt a pang of sympathy for one who would go through that for eternity…

"-He is fresh however, his soul has hardly been broken into the pleasures of our world.." the nailed man interrupted Emily's thoughts. As if his hand held an invisible blade he maneuvered it towards the girl's back and she set off. The area where they had been at moments ago must have been an open release from the victims ahead for now the faint screams just around corners only previewed the many lewd scenes to come.

Emily's head was forever jolting from the left to the right, catching glimpses through stone windows of tortuous events. People had been strung up on hooks, only to be pulled back and forth. Strange and twisted creatures lapped at the pooled liquids upon the floor. More than once did Emily let her eyes wander to Pinhead's leather-strewn body to keep from gazing over a decapitated head or writhing limb.

"These stenches…they're unbearable…" the brunette murmured, again did she hold her mouth closed to keep from retching. The farther they moved the slower Pinhead's stride became. It was obvious that she was soon to gaze upon many more scenes as he pleased. Looking in once more upon a window Emily's movement halted, her eyes widening.

"A child…?" as the young woman's stare did make due with a certain room Emily could not help, but find herself astonished with what fell before her gaze. In the corner a helpless infant lay crying, it's eyes staring forward and hands reaching out to the center of the area. There, a man had been barricaded between two steaming pipes, his flesh slowly melting away.

"No! Ruby stay there!! Daddy's coming!" the sir called out. "I promise…Daddy…he's coming…"

Such painful and hoarse tones strung through his body that Emily could not help, but feel her soul being torn in two. Tears had stained his torn body, soot meshing into sweat and skin. An open hand reached out for his beloved Ruby…his little girl…while the other charred black pushing against the pipes that bound him.

"He won't…be able to reach her…" Emily stated numbly. "He won't be able to reach that…that little girl. She'll stay there, crying and he won't be able to go to her."

"It is his punishment. His own, personal hell which he cannot stray from." Her guide responded. That answer she did not like, it made her skin crawl and in an instant Emily swung around in a glare.

"What the hell did that little girl do?! What did she do to deserve watching her father like that for eternity?! Even if he belongs here, she doesn't!! How could you do that?!" Pain crept into Emily and tore through her mind. She wanted ever so much to run to them both and help them, tell them it would be alright and set the two free…but…just looking at Pinhead as he gazed down upon her…she would never have that chance.

"That child is not real, Emily. She is truly not here with her father. But an illusion is, to forever remind that man of his sins. To show him his error of ways. What he shall never have a chance to repent for…"

"And is this your art too? Is this something you get a kick out of?!" Emily retorted furiously.

"The is the art of a lesser, someone who has not found much time to play with their palette. But it was amusing to find the inner beauty it unlocked within you, Emily. Such blissful ache it brought to your core…"

Too sickened by his tastes, Emily only gave the child one last glance before moving on. She paid no heed to his word on keeping close, looking around in a simple act to get it over with. But as the young woman moved along a voice in the still air pulsed through her ears and stopped her persistent tracks. Yet another victim she thought, but what would this one hold dear in tortuous events and grief? She listened again for where the voice had come from…and this time found a song in its stead. A chill-filled lullaby that ranged into the furthest depths of one's own heartache.

For a moment Emily looked back to Pinhead, she found him standing only a few paces behind whilst blackened eyes crept into her own. He was watching, awaiting her actions yet again. She couldn't stand for it and moved on. Down a twist in the maze they went, Emily finding that ill-fated song closer and closer still.

Finally, as they reached a fork in this forever numbing tomb the brunette found the source of that voice. There stood a young maiden, she could not have been more than fifteen… Her body was hunched over a stream churning with blood, hands gripping onto a small clay pot. Over and again she pulled that deep red liquid from the little brook, only to rush it over dirty blond hair and let out another part of the tune.

"Ho…red, red Nile river days gone by…lost be thy maiden who kneels down beside…Ho red, red Nile river days gone by…lost be thy maiden who feeds all the lies…"

"…What's wrong with her..?" Emily whispered. She turned again to glance at her guide, but found him a quieted watcher. There was not much she could do, but find out herself. And so Emily moved closer to the girl, green eyes watching for any sudden movement.

"Ho…red, red Nile river days gone by…lost be thy man who takes on a bride…Ho red, red Nile river days gone by…lost be thy man who hangs by his tie…"

The girl continued with her rhapsody, that charming alluring of breath and tongue. Her fingers…now Emily could see that she had held onto the pot so long…they were contorted around the rim.. Placing her own hand forward, Emily set it down and on the girl's shoulder.

"You're song…it's very lovely…" she commented.

There was not a second wasted for that girl to whip around and stare over Emily's paling form. That blonde's eyes…they were so very wide. Strung open by long needles that wound back to her ears. And not only was the blood from the stream…but it stung from her very lips. Her teeth gnashed upon them with every tremble of her form. She tried to swing around to look at her new guest directly, but a body that had not moved position in so long would never allow it. Instead she fell over, revealing many open wounds upon her chest and neck.

"F- Father doesn't like my song…Father doesn't like it at all. That's why I'm always outside. Always outside by the river. Mother taught me this song… Y- yes…Mother always sang to me before she had to be buried. She sang through the dirt. She sang and Father hated it. Father doesn't like my song…Father doesn't like it at all. That's why-"

Emily almost fell back as the girl pushed herself forward against the hard stone. She kept moving inch by inch over to the brunette, her eyes filling with tears. Those gapping lips never stopped moving, even as they rasped for another breath of damp air.

"Father doesn't like it at all! He doesn't! Please don't leave me alone here with him, he keeps screaming at me because of Mother! It's her fault! She won't stop singing through the dirt and-- a- and…Mother used to teach me them before she was buried. That's why I'm always outside…b- by the river…"

There was nothing Emily could do, but go back. Go back as the girl screamed out for her and squirmed freakishly upon the cold floor. She began to throw her hands up and down until finally they came too close to the stoned earth and the pot broke apart. Now she became frantic, taking up the pieces and jabbing them into her hands.

"Please come back! Father will never forgive me now! Please come back and listen to me! Why won't you listen anymore?! Why do you want to go away?!" the girl continued with her wails, pleas and self-mutilation. Hacking away at any part of her skin not already tainted with some open wound.

"Her name was once Ella. She had many talents before she came here. A prominent one was the gift of song…but every lovely rose has such heinous thorns…and so the buds fell upon them and smote themselves. This child was of her own demise. One of my more…self inflicting pieces." Pinhead had come to reclaim his voice and told the young singer's story.

Emily stood there dimly, watching as the girl slowly crept back to the stream and dipped her hands into the sullied water. Was all this truly real? This pain that people endured on earth and came for an eternity here? Souls that were bound in a grief-filled contract by desire.

Gripping her palms the brunette turned and made her way down the right hand fork of the maze. She now gazed around in disbelief, her mind too confused to put thought into words. This place, these people…they would be here forever? It was a terrifying fate to behold. And here, within these hateful structures she was only inches away from that very same demise.

Until now, an eerie glow had resonated from the halls and architecture, giving any who passed a chance to view what lay ahead. But…as Emily moved forward that ethereal light had slowly begun to die away, leaving her with little to guide the twisting path. Still, she moved on, pressing bare hands against crumbling stone and sticky walls. Yet there, amidst the darkness and decay a lone creature dwelled.

It's bulging pupils caught sight of the strange young woman who had wandered into its realm and in instinctive rage it began to rumble the vocals of a beast. Emily stopped, eyes widening in fear and surprise. She squinted to find any hope of what was making such a noise, but could only find darkness as a companion.

"Wh- What is that…" she questioned.

There was no reply.

"What is that in front of us?" the brunette tried again. She turned to see what was keeping Pinhead from answering her questions. He wasn't there.

So long as you remain at my side your wellbeing shall be secured..

"Oh…god. No…" Emily quivered in her wake, every inch of her screaming out to turn and run. The rumble was growing louder, heavy clawed steps inching towards her… Finally the girl uprooted herself from her stead and backed away. She did slowly at first, then faster and faster still. Then in one quick jerk of the body she had turned around. At that time the creature let off a terrible hiss and a cry before giving chase.

There was no use screaming out for assistance, a waste of breath to let out a wail in fear. Those clawed steps raked against the stony floor and only brought the undeniable truth to Emily that she was in danger. It seemed as if new passages had formed within the ones she had already gone through, there'd be no way she could make it back to where she was before.

Moment changes in course and a second's turn through a new hall gave the girl a small distance between herself and what followed. It's jaws had begun to snap when it got near enough to breathe in her scent. The rancid smell of it's rotting flesh seemed to overwhelm her already disadvantaged senses.

And just as the creature she'd dare not look upon reared back in a leap onto its prey Emily let herself fall into the room on the left. Body hitting against the icy surface of the labyrinth she rolled away from the door and sat up. Frantically those eyes of hers searched for what she knew would come through that opening and tear her apart. But…

"He shall not come here, Emily. His job of bringing you back to me is complete." that voice again. Anger gutted through her stomach and placed itself deep within the confinements of the young woman's mind. Emily let out a shriek as she grabbed hold of jagged stones from the floor and began to toss them wildly at Pinhead. Only, there was no man of nails to be targeted.

"Did you feel threatened, Emily? Did you not enjoy that moment of adrenaline seeping through your veins?" instead of a single place, that voice marred every corner and shadow surrounding the room. Her heart ran through every shiver and quake Emily made. How she despised this man so…

"I want to go home! I don't want to be here anymore!" she cried out defiantly. That laughter of deep pleasure and amusement filled her ears and a reply she was given soon after.

"Had your fill for this visit, have you? Fair enough…there is but one task you must complete. And then you are free to leave this world behind and return safely home."

"What? Tell me and I'll do it! I don't want to be here anymore!" her voice had grown weak in the screams she'd let out prior, the light in her eyes a dull performance of what she'd once held within them.

"It's quite simple, child…all you must do for me…is leave your mark in a canvas I've brought forth…one hardly touched by this world." that eloquent tongue replied. From the surface of the labyrinth floor came a faint clink of metal. Emily turned her gaze and found a simple carving knife in place.

"W- Wha…?" the brunette stuttered. In her confusion and terror, the intentions of this instrument were brought forth as the floor gave way just nearby. A gapping hole sheltered itself amongst the rubble and rock, chains shooting down to meet something within. There was a scream and soon those very same metal links were pulling back up and into the ceiling, a young man being dragged along with them.

His petrified screech only halted as he glanced upon Emily, perhaps his thoughts turned to a rescue…? She could only stare at his pitiful form…those hooks and chains running through his shoulders and back up to the darkened heavens above.

"Take up the knife, Emily…and place it deeply into that boy's flesh. Paint into him what beauty I've shown you.."

"N…No…he's already in pain…" The young woman's frail voice spoke back. "Why, why would you want to harm him further?"

"I shall not be the one to carve into his flesh…you will, Emily." Pinhead's resolve was unbreakable and in moments Emily was stumbling over to the blade. The young man's eyes grew wide once and immediately that chilling scream soared through the air.

"What the hell are you doing?! No! Get away from me!" he retorted, the boy's courage had been flattened away by his fear for death…if he was indeed still alive.

Emily's fingers closed around the wooden hold of the knife and she stood up again. The girl didn't…she didn't wish to do this…she didn't want to hurt anybody. Why did Pinhead have this as her final task for the first visit? Why couldn't she just go back home?!

"That is right, child…now go to him. Go to him and inflict the beauty of pleasure against his unscathed form. You are the artist now…and you must do what an artist does best."

"This isn't what an artist does! An artist…an artist…" Emily was lost for words, she moved forward in lurches, every step she took was not her own. It was as if someone had slowed down time…the young man's wails stretching into howls. Her eyes searched out any possible means to escape what she had to do…and all she found were strange human-like figures watching her movements.

"P- Please don't make me do this!" she cried, the blade now weaving her path to the boy. He was just feet away now, Emily knew his terror far surpassed her own.

"You must, Emily. It is part of our bargain for your soul. Do as I say now…and you may return home safely." the nailed man soothed. But as much as Emily wanted to fall for such words…she knew she could not.

"N- No…No!!" Immediately the girl began to writhe back and forth, jerking herself around in an effort to keep from moving any closer to the young man. She was fighting against herself…and something else Pinhead seemed to grip hold of within. Those three human figures watched on…analyzing her determination, courage…and faults.

"Do it, Emily. Do this and you may return home." that deep and horrid voice pounded right into her skull and the will she had to do no harm was being wrenched away from her grasp. Still, Emily held strong, shaking her head and jerking about. Suddenly, the blade turned its passion from the young man.

And seized the flesh that was Emily's left shoulder. The girl let out a screech as pain flooded her senses and blood spat against the floor. The knife began to cut down, wrenching towards her collarbone. With what strength she had the young woman pulled it out, only to find that it made due with her abdomen. She had begun to mutilate herself.

"Emily, cut into the boy and this visit will end. You'll be free to go home." Pinhead's voice was louder now, harsher in his efforts to force the poor girl into doing what he so pleased. But Emily would not, the blade loosely twisting over her neck and cutting in.

"I can't…please…" the brunette gasped, losing control of her fingers and simply letting the knife swipe over what it so wished. It was becoming harder to move now, that deep red liquid pooling around her trembling form. Visions of that fateful day in the alley merged over her vision. She was being killed again, killed for walking down a simple road…

From the shadows the man of nails came, his marred face furrowed in rage and command. He crossed the room in little interest for those who had appeared, taking up Emily's blooded hands and slowly dragging her to young man. The blade still writhed in her fingers, Pinhead stilled them in one glance.

"You have been punished for your defiance, Emily. Your resolve to disobey will be quelled." That chilling wisp of air and voice seeped into Emily's entire conscious. She could not fight it, could not run from it, she could not defy it. Pinhead was absolute…it made no difference what she did…had done, or would do. "You belong to me now, child. And whatever hope or dream you have that clashes…is slowly slipping away through your fingers…"

Pulling her hands up to the young man's face, Pinhead's icy grip easily brought Emily to leave a deep gash into his cheek. A slit of blood dripped down from it and met home upon Emily's own palms, instantly the knife slipping from her hold. With a clatter of the metal onto stone the room vanished away, leaving a black tomb of air.

"We will meet again quite soon, Emily…" Pinhead backed away from the girl. "Until then, be welcomed by the wrath of those who you thought…truly cared for you. And know the power I have come to gather over your very soul."