The journal burned hot as it sucked her inside. Alex's stomach dropped uncomfortably. So this was what true dread felt like...?
She fell and fell until she appeared in her worst nightmare. Closing her eyes did nothing to assuage the fear. This place was too evil. Besides, it was always there when she closed her eyes in real life.
Alex trudged down the hall, flinching when that all too familiar voice screamed in agony, "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaauugghhhhiiiiiittt!"
She stood still for a moment before forcing herself down the hall. He had made her do difficult things in the past, but this was one of the worst.
She found Justin on the bed, trying to sew his guts back in with a piece of leather. His conscience was tearing it out as punishment.
"Please, please just let me keep this, please, it's all I have!"
"No, you deserve to be punished for what you've done!"
Alex watched for a moment before making herself known, "Take a break, I've got this."
Justin stared up in shock, then used magic to put his conscience back in his head, "You're really here...!"
She nodded. He sighed, "I'm dying."
She nodded again.
He gave her a descerning look, one he used to give her when they were kids. What was her angle coming here?
She sat down, tenderly pushing his guts back into place, "I need your help..."
He let out a choked laugh, "Like I can help you..."
Alex stared into those empty eyes. After all these years, it was just the two of them, back in this room.
"I would not be here if you could not help me."
He groaned, "Help me get my... whatever this stuff is, back in order."
Alex tentatively approached. Her right hand stretched out very, very carefully. The last time she had touched his stomach, she had plunged a magical blade into him. The last time he had touched her, he had brutally raped her.
Needless to say, it was a difficult reunion.
"How's the ouside?"
Alex gave a non-committal shrug, "If I let you out, you have to help me find my daughter."
"You have to heal me first."
"How do I know you won't just run off and start plotting your revenge?"
He smiled deviously, "Oh... I already have my revenge planned..."
He gentle hands, which had previously massaged his flesh into place, grabbed his guts and pulled out, "WHERE IS SHE?!"
He screamed and screamed, "I don't know! I swear I don't know!"
She panted out her anger, "What do I have to do to you to get you to understand?!"
He looked at her with intensity, "You know what you have to do... Now get to it..."
Alex panted fearfully. He was back in charge. And she knew exactly where that put her.
But she had no other choice.