Althea's POV:

The torture went on for days on end, mornings blurring into afternoons and nights only for the cycle to start again. 'Ian' took his sweet time, first destroying me mentally by making me believe he was real, and then breaking me apart physically. Sometimes the pain was slow and burning, blades being dragged across my skin. Other times it came in quick flashes, with a knife buried in my chest. Yet I was unable to die, so it all just kept on going and going, and I was sure that any more of this would surely lead to me passing away, possible or not.

"My sweet, sweet Althea. Are you going to deliver the message to Petal now?" Ian stood above me, a sharp knife in his hand. His eyes had long since stopped resembling Ian's, instead taking on a darker hue and gleaming sheen that could surely not belong to the boy I loved.

"No." I ground out, as he pressed the tip of the blade on my collarbone. It was only sunrise, which meant we still had a long day ahead of us, making it incomprehensible for him to already start the pain. Usually there was a build-up. One that left me shaking in fear and anticipation, but one I appreciated nonetheless.

"Are you sure?" He started tracing shapes on my skin, digging harder and harder the longer I didn't reply for. I stubbornly kept my lips shut, not wanting him to have the pleasure of seeing me in pain. Then, suddenly, it all stopped, Ian staring at me with eyes that morphed to a bright green. In his place stood a man around 40 years old, with carefully combed blond hair and a pristine suit. He gasped, taking a hand to his mouth. "Oh, that gives me an idea."

"Who are you?!" I interrupted, not wanting him to involve me in any of his other horrible, horrible plans. I felt bile crawling up my throat, as my neck and chest continued to throb from the pain he'd inflicted.

"All in due time, my dear. But I must say, this plan is simply exquisite." Angered by his refusal to give me a straight answer, I thrashed in the bounds that held me, opening my mouth to scream. Yet I was stopped by the knife again. This time it was pressed against my mouth, drawing a drop of blood from my lips. "Ah, ah, we wouldn't want to have to cut off your tongue again, now would we?" That day had been the one with the worst agony, so I vehemently shook my head, making his eyes brighten. "Alright, so this is what we're going to do. I am going to let you go of this nightmare you've been in for a month. And then you're going to go to my sweet Petal, and deliver my message." This was the same plan as before, so I furrowed my eyebrows, anticipation for what would come next making my blood cold. "And if you don't, I will drag you back here myself and keep you in your head. Forever."

The last thing I saw before everything went black were his hands, cradling my bloodied face, and his uncannily green eyes, staring into my soul.

"That's a promise, my dear."

I thrashed in the bed I was in, screaming for all I was worth. Sheets tangled around my legs whilst I kept my eyes tightly shut, scared of what I'd find if I opened them. Maybe he was lying, maybe he hadn't taken me back. Maybe if I opened my eyes I'd see Ian with his not-quite-right eyes and that awful human being with his pristine appearance and wretched soul. I choked back on my sobs as I continued to twist and turn, clutching for anything that came too close to my fragile being. Footsteps thundered outside, and remotely I heard the door slamming open. It seemed like it was somewhere else though, like I still wasn't real because nothing around me was.

"Ally! Ally calm down! I'm here, it's ok, I'm here." Arms came around me, making my eyes open wide. Through my tears, I saw Ian blurrily, making me scream harder. My throat pulsated in pain, the ghost feeling of his knife cutting into my flesh being all I remembered.

"Get away from me!" With a startled breath, he did, looking as hurt as I was.

"Ally… It's me, Ian." He was staring at me earnestly, his face twisted into a grimace because of my words. What if the man hadn't been lying? What if this truly was my Ian, and not that monster from before?

"No you're not!" There would be no point in doing this again though, he'd already broken me mentally, and I knew all about his stupid tricks. Could he be telling the truth? That would mean I'd have to deliver on what he'd asked me to do, or else I'd be trapped in that hell forever. I didn't know what I'd hate more – still being in my head or having to betray my friend. I would rather give myself up. But would I? Petal was selfless and kind, things like that came second nature to her, but it didn't to me. I couldn't just sacrifice myself to a torturous experience because it meant that she might be in danger. And with all the Benedicts around us, they'd be able to protect her. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that telling her was the best I could do, they all just sounded like silly excuses. I couldn't even ask Ian for advice, because if I was still in my head he could manipulate me into doing his bidding.

"Of course I am. What happened to you?" My tears had cleared, meaning I could now watch him without distraction to try to gauge if this was the real him. I'd noticed that after a while of keeping me in my head, he got sloppy. So if the nightmare was still occurring, he wouldn't have the energy needed to make Ian a complete replica of my memories. Yet Ian's eyes looked exactly like I remembered them, albeit clouded with sadness.

"So much. So much." At my response and the sob that escaped my lips, he stepped forward again, seemingly unable to help himself. This had to be real, it had to be. Even if it wasn't, I needed a few minutes of peace, a few minutes with my soulfinder to hold me and love me. If afterwards it all went to hell and he started torturing me again, at least I would have a memory to hold close to my heart.

"We've been trying to help you for a month. I- I thought you'd never wake up."

"Me neither." He still appeared too shocked to believe what was happening, whilst at the same time hurt in more ways than one. I was most likely the cause of all the reasons for his pain. The thought felt like a spear through my chest. Repercussions be damned, I was going to enjoy this moment. So with a whimper, I threw myself in his arms. He stumbled back, laughing slightly in disbelief. "Ian, you were there. In my nightmares. In all of them."

"What did I do?" He knew what I meant immediately, looking at me, scared.

"You hurt me." I took in a shaky breath, nestling myself in his arms. "The you inside my head hurt me until every part of me died. And now… Now I need to follow his commands or he'll drag me back. I can't go back, Ian." He was still looking directly into my eyes, and I was pretty sure he was using his dad's gift to burry through all of my recent memories. I felt vulnerable, but I'd spent a whole eternity being a victim, so for once in my life, I let myself be weak. I cried and cried and cried into his chest until my eyes were crusty and my throat sore and I ached with the feeling of finally letting everything go.

"It'll be ok Ally. I won't let him drag you back. I won't. I won't." He said, conviction in his tone and steeliness in his expression. However, once he looked down at me, it all vanished, melting away to show warmth. "I can't believe you're back. I thought yo wouldn't be ok. But you are, and you're safe, you're here. This month has been… really difficult. More for you than me but just, watching you sleep for weeks on end with nothing I could do to help you was the most painful thing I've ever had to do." And then he too let his walls crumble, tears spilling down his cheeks. "I love you, babe."

"I love you too." I mumbled, still toying with the idea that maybe I could've gotten lucky enough to really have this all be real.

"No, you don't understand. I love you, so much." The intensity in his eyes showed me what he meant, although I didn't need to look to know how he was feeling. I'd felt it myself. That feeling of love so strong that it overtook your chest and seemed to make you explode. That feeling that made everything else null and void because you loved that person, and there was nothing better in the world. So I nodded, crying softly still. I'd gone through hell, but now I'd come out and the best prize of all awaited me on the other side. Ian.

We were sat in the living room now, and after everyone had offered me their 'welcome back' or their 'I'm so sorry that happened to you', we were ready for a debriefing. I wasn't exactly looking forward to retelling the seemingly endless torture I'd gone through. Wincing into Ian, I prepared myself for what was to come.

I'd decided, I'd be telling Maisee the message the man had told me, but I'd be doing it in from of the rest of the Benedicts so they'd be able to help her. If I told her alone she'd surely go find him herself, which was what I was trying to avoid.

"Ok, let's get this show on the road then." Zed began, scrubbing his hands together. I feebly nodded, taking a deep breath.

"I was imprisoned in my own mind. I was hurt, constantly, and the only reason I've returned is to do one thing." I needed to do this, if I didn't I'd be sent back. I couldn't go back. I couldn't. And we'd figure this out. Once the Benedicts knew the whole situation they'd track this asshole down and force him to release his hold on my mind and to leave Maisee alone. "To tell Maisee that there's a man who's making us choose between saving you or… or saving me."

Hi :)

So a bit of an angsty chapter, like most have been, but there'll be some good soon, I promise. I mean I need to wrap this story up sometime haha. If not I could probably keep trying to solve this issue for 40 more chapters

We passed the review target! Gosh, I love you guys so much :) I think I've said it before, but this story really wouldn't have gotten to this point without you, cos I would've probably given up on it a while ago. But thanks to all your support I'm here and I'm close to finishing another story, which is just incredible. Can we get to 177 this chapter? Thanks!

Bye bye xx