Chapter Twenty-One
Her
Pain.
There was pain.
They were in pain.
Pulsing.
Tearing.
Clawing.
Drowning.
Drowning out every other thought.
Escape?
Could They escape?
No.
There was no escape.
It was inexhaustible.
Constantly pounding.
Constantly pushing further...
Constantly there.
Could They describe it?
No.
It was indescribable.
No other thought than focusing on the pain could get through.
All They wanted was to escape.
To escape.
To leave.
To no longer think.
To run.
To hide.
To get away.
Anything to get away from this.
A tsunami raging through Their psyche.
Poking.
Rushing...
Searching.
Searching for?
A weakness.
Their greatest weakness.
Please…
Reduced to begging.
Reduced to pleading to escape...
No…
Not yet...
Too soon...
The Wall was cracking.
The Chains loosening.
There was no beast waiting behind the Partition.
No terrible apocalypse Sealed away.
Only Her.
Locked away for Her own protection.
But not for the world's.
Scurried away to protect Them.
She had been scarred.
Beaten.
Broken.
Comatose.
Her rebirth offered nothing.
Nothing advantageous at least.
As much as Their team wanted Her to return, They couldn't let her.
She was Their alter.
Their original.
Their creator.
Their muse for Their mask.
Their inspiration for the Other's perfection.
And she could never stand on Her own.
Crippled.
Fractured.
But emerging.
Not of Her own volition.
A byproduct of peace.
Their long oncoming downfall.
Sooner than They wanted.
They had had time...
Two years.
They'd stolen two years from Her.
Two, long, glorious years spent with Their team.
Spent in their comfort.
Their care.
A family.
They'd offered everything to Them.
And now…
They'd be forced to leave them.
Alone.
Alone in the world…
Without Them.
Without Their protection.
But…
But they'd be safe.
Safe.
Safe...
And that was all They cared about.
AN: ...
2