This chapter started off as a iffy chapter. One I wasn't sure if I would like very much..
But then! I kind of let my mind go and it came out like this! I like it more then I thought I would.
Question: Should I change the summary?

gerfan: Thanks!
Orli's EEPs Chica: All questions will be answered, at the end! Well, the important ones anyways.
Noooo! Not the fluff-Cowers- How cruel!
And thanks you, the character reacts are hard to type. o.o
YiyangYoung: Of course! You were suppose to be confused when he said that! And the thinking is great! That is what I aimed for!
I have read a lot of Edger Allan Poe. Got two pages into that story and kind of got bored. Heh, I will read it some day though..
Oh, and the comparison is flattering.


...Fears Within a Dream

Meg had been living in her thoughts so long she had no idea how much time she had been walking in the dreary hallway. She sighed in annoyance, stopping as her hand ran along a torch-like iron wall sconce. Meg swayed a bit out of boredom, the dust flowing beneath her feet as she stared at a door to her right. Maybe she should try opening one? She had been walking down this forsaken hallway for who knows how long. Though, the thought of being wept into the unknown- alone, made her choose otherwise. She sighed, having no idea where to go from here. Meg was about to remove her hand from the scone when she hesitated, feeling a thick warm liquid running down her hand.

Instead of removing her hand immediately, Meg curiously looked to the scone. What Meg guessed to be blood, was seeping from the walls, mixing with the grime already present and slowly coming to the floor. She grimaced and yanked her hand away, a sound of disgust passing from her lips. She began to step away from it; stopping when she realized it was oozing out of the upper molding of both sides of the hallway. Meg brought her hand in front of her, turning it over and examining the blood when a horrible smell seemed to smack into her. In reaction, Meg clamped her left hand over her mouth and nose, screaming as she flung her hand away, realizing she had just wiped blood over her face.

Meg took off in a run, wiping her face with her sleeve though only succeeding in smearing the blood further. She glanced back and forward between the walls as she ran, watching as with every step, the liquid seemed to be thinning and getting brighter. It became more apparent that this was indeed, blood. When Meg began to hear splashing with her steps, she stopped immediately, taking deep breaths before gagging from the smell. Meg looked down at the blood puddles collecting on the floor, guessing that the blood was not going to stop running anytime soon. She rose her head in panic as she stepped in a small circle, looking from door to door along both sides of her. The blood continued to run profusely down the walls and Meg was sure if she did not pick a door anytime soon, a river of some sort was sweep her away.

Two certain doors had caught Meg's attention, both on the left side of the hall. In a hurry, she began to compare. Meg was determined to contain her panic so she could think logically. One doorknob looked as if it had been cleaned off, the gold metal shown clearly and looked untarnished. The cleanliness, unreasonably, made her feel as if civilization laid behind that door, despite that, Meg drew away from it, grabbing the other doorknob. She gave one last look around the hallway and opened the door.

Quietly at first, whispering began to sound from both ends of the hallway, alarming Meg and she quickly opened the door, looking back as she stepped into the darkness. The sound of footsteps trudging through the blood puddles echoed down from the left of her, Meg gasped a bit, moving into the darkness quickly and shutting the door hard behind her.

Meg was unsure why she had acted the way she did, what if whoever was running toward her was going to help? Or, it very well could have been The Phantom. Meg grumbled, looking back into the darkness, both of her hands still clamped around the doorknob. For good reason as well, seeing she could see nothing in the room at all, nor was there any sound. Meg doubted if she could even see her hand in front of her face, but the fear of falling into this darkness kept her from letting go of the doorknob. She turned her attention back to the outside, straining to hear anything. "Maybe it stopped.." Meg said aloud, really only to break the silence. She took a deep breath and opened the door, stumbling forward as it seemed to disappear right out of her hands. She whirled in a circle, completely surrounded by darkness now. She patted her thighs in an attempted to assure herself she was still solid. "Monsieur Phantom!" Meg called out abruptly, hoping that is was him who was in the hallway, and nothing answered her, not even an echo.

The sound of a piano and the dim glow of a light brought Meg's attention behind her and as she turned she felt herself sitting in a strange kind of wooden throne. The light got brighter, creating an eerie outline of a man in a top hat, his head bowed, hiding his face in shadow. A soft huff of laughter emitted from his mouth as his lips curled into a cruel kind of smile shown only by a line of white teeth. He sat opposite of Meg from a long stone table; two plates set only in front of both of them. The glassed were the only things full, both with red wine. Meg stared at him in confusion and she moved her feet uncomfortably. Startled by a sudden weight, Meg looked down seeing her feet were clamped and chained to the floor. She looked up at the man in fright, yanking her legs up in a wasted attempted to free herself.

"Welcome Mademoiselle..." The man's deep voice echoed through the dark room, the weak light above his head only barely laminating the table. Her eyes narrowed and she straightened up, not allowing herself to struggled in vain, as it would most likely only amuse him.
"Your welcome lacks hospitality." Meg said coolly, trying to appear unphased.
"Please, do excuse the terrible greetings." His voice was tinted with cruel laughter, "We do not get much company you see and almost ever that of a lady's..." His voice tailed off as he grinned, bringing his hand to his mouth.
"Who are you?" Meg asked, trying to keep the anger out of her voice, whilst trying to keep from showing fear in her expression.
"Not a very polite way for a lady to introduce herself, perhaps you are not a lady at all." He said mockingly, blowing smoke from his mouth. "A whore perhaps?" He quieted, waiting for an answer. Though Meg clenched her jaws and kept quiet, and after a moment, he continued. "Not very talkative are we? They're usually sobbing by now. My dear, you interest me." A cold bit of laugher followed. Meg felt his eyes on her and she shifted uncomfortably, trying her hardest not to say anything sharp. She had no idea what this man would, or could, do. "Potential." He paused, "Love, what will you provide for us?" He asked to himself, though announced loudly in a bloodcurdling cheer-like tone that made Meg shudder.

"Wha-" She began unsteadily, though was quieted by the man as he made a motion.
"Do not speak now! I have the perfect representation of you!" He stood with a bit to much enthusiasm, this chair flung back and clattered off into the darkness, startling Meg as it did so. "Intelligent, beautiful, stubborn... thoughtful." He brought his hand to his face and Meg stared at him, praying with all her heart that the crazy man would stay at the other end of the table. "So fine-looking.." He trailed off, staring at Meg intensely, so much so that Meg could not help but scowl.
"What, are you talking about?" She said in a cold tone, speaking each word very clearly. He chuckled, and straightened up, running two fingers across the brim of his hat, tilting it more to completely hide his face.
"Dear, you have the physique of a ballerina.. You dance?" He asked and Meg got the feeling he was trying to hold back laughter.
"Yes.." Meg answered warily, unsure of where he was going with all this.
"Wonderful." He said simply and Meg felt herself being pitched back in the chair.

Meg let out small scream, a huff of breath passing from her lips as the chair hit the floor with her in it. She groaned, trying to move her feet but finding them still chained. Her head had hit the back of the chair as she fell. She could see the light was still on though it nearly did not shine on her at all. Meg had fallen half into the dark and was unaware if the bizarre man was still present. Though, she quickly found out when she saw him towering over her, somehow still hidden by shadows. He raised something in his hands, it glinted as the light shone on it and he smiled wildly, "Let the games- Begin!" He shouted, laughing as he hurled the metal pipe into Meg's kneecaps.

Searing pain ran through Meg's body as she screamed in agony. She had felt each snapping bone as her kneecaps shattered. Had heard the disturbing crack as metal hit bone. Blood ran in trailed down her thighs and began to soak into the bundled skirt of her dress as she continued to scream. An immeasurable amount of pain throbbed through her head as she took as deep, vicious breath. Her legs began to shake uncontrollably, causing her to only scream more. Her turned her head to the side, uncontrollable fits of whimpers and cries emitting from her throat as she sobbed. The pain seemed unbearable and felt as if it would never cease.


No real end note. Although, you all should be happy. For I was going to end it ealier then this. It would have been a -gasp- cliffhanger. But I know how you all hate those.
Still sick. I will not be updating anytime during the weekend. Staying over at a friends. Sorry.
Sooo... sadly, this will be the last update until, I say, Sunday. Perhaps I will tomorrow.. hm..
Reviews reviews! I love them. Even if there are so few. Please tell me if you like- or do not like.