(A/N): Hey Guys! Third chapter tonight- well, since I last slept anyway. It's fairly short, sorry...

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Leo, Elaine, Shari, Nicholai, Brooke, Mia, Quiggly, Cipicia, Lisbet and Jonothan.

Leo

I faded back into consciousness some time later, remaining motionless for a second as I was still numb to the world. Then, all at once, I recognised the burning inside me, which only strengthened and becoming more intense as my awareness grew. Soon, I was writhing in pain all over again- the agony rivaling that caused by the cruciatus curse. I couldn't see anything with the way my eyes were squeezed shut of their own accord, and I couldn't feel much of anything either, besides the pain making my body go numb. The only thing I could taste was the coppery tang of my own blood, and the disgusting, cloying taste of the liquid my mother had forced down my throat; The only noise that reached my ears being my own whimpers. I could tell that my fists were clenched, and I knew I was lying on something other than the cold stone slab or the floor considering that whatever was under my back was much softer than those, but beyond that, I couldn't really tell you the specifics.

"Ahh..." I gasped, my throat so dry that it felt like I was ripping new little tears in my flesh every second. "Wa... ter..." I mumbled, in case anyone could hear me- was willing to listen. I needed refreshment, badly.

I didn't recognise that I could hear again, before a voice became apparent to me. "I'm sorry, Leo, you can't have water just yet. I- I'm so sorry." I didn't understand- It wasn't a voice I knew, or thought I knew, in this weakened, half-delusional state, and I saw dots dance before my eyes like ballerinas. I peeled my eyes open as my back arched toward the ceiling, mouth gaping and gasping as I was blinded by both a bright light and the pain in my body. My eyes clenched shut again from the pain- it was no big loss, considering that I hadn't seen anything other than the light, anyway.

Oh god... was I dead? I'd think, if I was dead, that this pain would go away... and I wouldn't be hearing voices. Unless... unless it was the voice of an angel... but why would an angel deny me water? Scratch that, why would I be in heaven? So, not in heaven, then... My thoughts were cut off as my body was wracked by a particularly harsh episode of stinging, acid-like burning from my insides, and I cried out wordlessly.

"Leo!" I heard a second voice exclaim, sounding like they, themselves, were weeping. "Leo... Leo, it's going to be okay!" I paid no heed to the voice- what need did I have for it if it couldn't help me when I was in so much pain?

My whole body was throbbing, itching, burning; like someone had poured saltwater on the tiny scratches that I was sure coated my body. My arms twitched as I tried to reach for my throat- tried to figure out why it hurt so badly- but they couldn't quite reach, my hands fisting into balls as I sobbed and gasped, my entire body spasming with the pain. "Please... please!" I cried, not knowing quite what I was pleading for. Relief? An end to my pain? ...someone to kill me? I wasn't sure anymore, nor did I have to be, as I succumbed to the agony burning through me. I let my jaw unclench, pride completely gone as I screamed my throat raw- though it hurt already, and I could taste blood in my mouth even if both my mouth and throat were completely dry.

"Leo!" I could barely hear this voice over my own pained screams- it was the same voice from before, and I could tell for certain now that whoever or whatever it was had tears streaming down its cheeks just as I did. They seared as well, as they coursed down my skin, gracing my dry lips with their salty presence before they slipped inside my open mouth, landing on my tongue but not granting me any relief.

"Help... help me, please!" I screamed, crying out for help though I knew no one would, or possibly even could.

"Leo..." I heard a third voice whisper, as if their mouth was right next to my ear, but when I turned my head towards them I could feel no breath ghosting over my face- no one seemed to be there, but if they weren't, then... why could I hear them so clearly over my own screams?

"Help... me. Help me!" I managed to choke out past the burning mess in my throat, tears cascading freely now as my body flailed and thrashed with the excruciating pain I felt. My skin was hot and crawling, though the blood that coursed through my veins felt starkly cold in comparison, now, full of acidic pain. "Please! Please, please, please..." I begged shamelessly, the ache in my bones beginning to register as my toes curled, my face screwed up into a pained grimace. "Please..." I whispered one more time before I blacked out again, my own blood leaking down the back of my throat from how damaged it was by all of the crying and screaming I'd been doing.

(A/N): What did you think?

This chapter has had edits made to it on 19/2/24 - formatting stuff, plus some reconfiguring to make sentences actually make sense. For future reference, first voice is Leo's rescuer, second voice is Nicholai, third voice is Shari- though I really debated having it be the other way around for Nicholai and Shari, so go with whatever order you like the best.