Hi everyone! I felt motivated so I wrote another chapter. Do not get used to two updates in one day. I should probably save this, but Labor Day special event. Also EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: TRIGGER WARNING FOR TORTURE. Please do not read the second half of this chapter if you don't like really intense or graphic scenes of violence. You will find out what happens in the next chapter. I also realize Chloe was POV in the chapter before this one and in most of this one. Don't worry Leila will get her POV an entire chapter soon.

I didn't hesitate for a second when Chloe started turning. I didn't want to burn to death. Never knew I could run this fast. Sweat was dripping down into my eyes and I was gasping for breath, but I was still running in a full sprint. We turned several corners and finally slowed a bit when the passage split right and left. Why is everything so cliché? Also Red eyes is super-fast from what I recall. He would have caught us if he wanted right? Right? Chloe was leaning over hands on her knees, taking controlled breaths.

"We have to separate Chloe" I choked out still trying to catch my breath.

"what?" she looked at me startled and confused.

"they will catch us or they could have already, but one of us will have more time than the other if we split and maybe get us some information about where we are or something." I explained feeling light headed.

"are you insane? Look for information? I'm trying not to die right now thanks." Chloe raised her eyebrows at me in shock.

"We don't have time for this and I'm scared of what will happened to us when Red eyes comes for us. He could have been here already. I don't want him to hurt me again" I felt my throat closing up as tears threatened. Chloe's expression softened and she looked sad. I turned to the right and took off trusting that Chloe would take off and keep her eyes open.

I couldn't run very long at all. It felt like a thousand miles but was probably only a kilometer. My body wasn't used to this kind of extreme exercise. Of course, I had no idea where I was, but I needed to get somewhere. Anywhere. I was kind of lying when I was talking about looking for information. It would be useful yes, but it's just more common sense for us to separate because Red eyes can only go after one of us at a time. I think? Unless he can split himself. I just told Chloe that so she didn't decide to argue about it and waste time. Also it ought to make that loose cannon more aware of her surroundings so she doesn't run off anymore staircases. Like that time she sprinted out of a friend's house we visited and ran straight off the stairs fracturing her radius. Ditzy child. Good ness, I really needed to start running again. I took in a deep breath and shot off like a rocket again then I slowed down considerably. Then right after that another speed and began rotating slow and fast.

I screamed and stumbled to halt after bolting around a corner into a group of the scary monsters during a speed moment. That was so generically stupid to say here, but what to call them? I tried to backtrack, but tripped and went down hard on to my backside staring in shock at the four of them. They were looking at me shock too. Dammit! If they had all been standing here why weren't they talking so I could hear them? I was breathing loudly. Maybe I drowned it out. That's possible. I screamed as loud as possible when one reached for me and tried to back up, but not fast enough. It grabbed my arm and dragged me upright and I kicked its shin reflexively. I saw it fist come toward me feeling pain erupt as my nose broke and I fell into darkness.

-Chloe-

For the record, separating has always been the scourge of victims in horror movies and books. No matter how sensible it sounds and no matter what the plan is, it never works. I stopped sprinting when we separated. Just taking a fast, but even pace so I don't have to stop often. My heart is still racing and not just from the running. Leila is probably making her mutiple track mind focused on running, but I can't help but think of that shadow fire monster. I don't think he was holding many whips, just one with many pieces. It wasn't a reassuring realization. I never thought I'd wish to run into Tar-Mairon, but at least, even if he hurt me badly, I'd still be alive. I don't trust anyone else. I don't trust him either, but a known danger is better than an unknown one.

I feel like I'm making zero progress. Everything looks the same. I mean I did hear noises once down a turn and I sprinted back until I could turn a different direction. I wonder if I could actually make it out of this place? I could do that and figure out things and then return for Leila. The hope bloomed in my chest and I ran on reinvigorated. Airawende. I jerked to halt hearing my name echo around and when I didn't see anyone or anything I kept running. Something felt really wrong. I mean everything feels kinda wrong here, but my danger sensor is off the rocket right now. Airawende. I let out a little yelp as my name echoed around again and took off sprinting.

The temperature started rising and with horror the glance I tossed behind me caught the same familiar glow approaching quickly. I've never run harder in my life. It wasn't enough. A snap sounded in the air and I screamed as something wrapped painfully around my ankle and dragged me down fast. My fingernails scraped the floors as I tried to grab anything to prevent myself from being dragged back there. The floor was too smooth and I was going so fast that I could feel my fingernails and tips scrape painfully. The heat was unbearable. My skin was surely reddening from the proximity. When I came to a stop I was looking up at the shadow fire being in front of me. It was changing though. Kind of looked the shadowed were folding in on themselves taking the fire in a shell. My eyes widened in horror when skin started appearing and in about 20 seconds Red eyes was standing in front of me.

I was perturbed at his lack of his expression plus whatever the hell had just happened and looked down fearfully. One of my hands slid down my leg to my ankle. Whatever had pulled me back had burned my skin pretty badly. I was actually starting to feel it. I wonder why I didn't before when I was being pulled. I bit my lip hard fear still being the dominant feeling and managing to suppress my reaction to pain a great deal. I peeked up quickly to find him still gazing at me. What should I do? What should I do?

"Please don't hurt me" I whispered shakily before mentally cursing myself for forgetting they couldn't understand English. Really cursing myself for such a stupid mistake and waiting for punishment for using English. He didn't do anything, but his stance shifted back a bit and gave me a nod. I tried to stifle the confusion at what his nod for and just looked back at him. He snapped his hand at gestured sharply saying something. Yet again, they think we know what they are saying. Okay, the gesture up made it easier to understand he was telling me to get up, but if he didn't gesture then I'd be lost.

Before I knew it he was in front of me with his hands around my neck. I started flapping my hands around smacking his arms panicking until I realized his hands weren't strangling me. They just moved around my neck and then when I realized he was trying something around my neck I started going wild again. I screamed and smacked his arms in horror. He was putting a chain on my neck. He was done in moments and then slapped me. The pain across my face shocked me into stillness. This was for hitting his arms I would imagine. One of my hands briefly went to my cheek. He didn't slap me nearly as hard Tar-Mairon had, but it seemed like nothing more than a second thought to him. It had zero power behind and that's what really scared me. I was pissed about the chain on my neck. However, fear of Red eyes and really everything in this place suppresses anger and defiance. I made no move and flinched back when he hooked a chain to the one around my neck. I feel the frown etched in my features, but I followed meekly getting tugged along.

I even moved closer to Red eyes as we passed some of the monsters a couple different times in the hallways. I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts. Red eye was shadow fire, but not the one from earlier. Where is Leila? I hope she made it out, but something tells me she didn't have any more luck then I did. We both probably ran in circles. We descended down a stair case and I nearly tripped at a particularly hard tug and yelped. He made no reaction, not even to silently slow down. I winced hearing some scary noises from behind doors though I don't know why mystery noises are scarier than the psycho in front of me.

We stopped in front of one the open doors and he pushed it wider tugging me in after them. The only thing that kept me from running was the chain around my neck he was holding. There was a table in the middle of the room with chains on it and instruments lining the wall. Things I didn't even know the name of. He grabbed my arm and dragged towards the table and I started sobbing uncontrollably. I tried pulling away and sitting, but it made no effect on him whatsoever. I had absolutely no control over myself fear filling up every coherent part of my brain. Pleading in English and crying so badly even though I know he can't understand it. I ended up face down on the table and he tied my arms and legs down. In my terror at being bound I accidentally banged my head into the table and then tried it again hoping I would pass out, but it didn't work. I felt such pain blaze in my head and he immobilized my head as well afterwards.

Panic increased and my heart fluttered wildly in suspense as I heard him move objects around the room. Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh. What will he do to me? I can't take it. I was still crying so hard I was practically choking and sucking in deep panicked breaths. I didn't hear him approach, but I froze as I felt cold leather move down my back. I whimpered bracing myself for it to hit my back. I let out an agonized wail as it hit my feet instead of my back. It hurt so bad. I screamed when he did it again and again. I screamed until my throat was raw and I couldn't anymore. The only thing I was really aware of was the horrendous agony in my feet. I could even hear the blood dripping onto the floor. I don't know how long it went on, but it felt like I'd been here my whole life by the end of it. I would never ever ever run away again if this was the risk. An anguished gasp ripped out of me at the finger that ran down my foot.

"Airawende" he almost sang running the same finger with blood on it over my back. He unbound me, but I was in too much pain to move. His hand gripped the back of my neck and pulled me up by it. I shook harder than a leaf in the wind at the pain in my feet. I hated this grip. I'm in so much pain and he's holding me like a kitten. I felt horribly dominated by our positions, but didn't move so much as an inch. Then, for the first time, he smiled.