Freed (Magics AU - Part 2)

Chapter 3 - Shintaro

I know I don't usually do this, but: 

Warning! This chapter contains graphic scenes of violence, blood, and torture. Read at your own risk.

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Shintaro could hardly make out what was the twisted reality and what was a freakish nightmare anymore. 

When he was awake, he was in too much pain to make sense of what was happening around him. He was only aware of one thing - that when he wasn't being being attacked from all sides, he was lying limply in chains on the floor of an desolate room. When The Dark Lord and his lackeys weren't taunting him with triggering words and harsh blows, he was all alone in a pained daze. 

When he was asleep, horrid images plagued his mind from dusk until dawn. He again witnessed the wretched scenes that he'd locked into the back of his mind several years ago, and he couldn't wake himself up to escape from them. It was like a black hole in his mind, opening to reveal his fears and memories as it sucked in all logical reasoning. The panic he endured during his sleep was what seemed to keep him under until the Darks woke him. 

And when he woke up, it was like nothing had changed. The Dark Lord's red eyes and fanged smile plagued his mind while he was asleep, and it was the same when he woke up. If The Shadow King wasn't there when Shintaro opened his eyes, he would enter the room shortly enough. Most days, it was just torturous attacking - while there were some days that The Dark Lord would demand that Shintaro bow to him.

Of course, Shintaro refused no matter the circumstances. Although this was the reason that he'd lost track of the days because he'd been unconscious for several of them, Shintaro would never bend his knee to The Dark Lord again - no matter how much pain was inflicted upon him. There was no way that Shintaro would ever submit to The Shadow King again, and he would endure the worst of pain to make that known. 

It looked like today would be one of those days. 

Shintaro didn't wake to the usual kick to the ribs. Instead, he opened his eyes in a startle as he was dragged onto his feet. The sudden shift of position caused the edges of his vision to turn black, and he slammed his eyes closed, sagging against the hands holding his arms. Gritting his teeth against a groan that was rising in his throat, Shintaro forced his eyes open as he shakily planted his feet under him as best he could. 

The painful, Dark Magic chains clamped on his wrists rattled as the two Darks holding each of his arms shifted to hold him more comfortably, and the sound was loud and piercing in Shintaro's ears. He grimaced at the stab of pain that shot through his head, but he kept his eyes trained on the door. The Dark Lord would enter any moment. 

Sure enough, the half closed door pushed open completely and The Shadow King walked carelessly in with a Dark guard following him. His blood red eyes locked immediately on Shintaro, and a wide grin spread across his face. 

A shiver worked its way down Shintaro's spine, but he held The Dark Lord's gaze with a defiant frown. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but it was obvious that The Dark Lord didn't intend on simply toying with Shintaro today. 

"Still as chipper as ever, I see," The Dark Lord chimed cheerfully, striding across the room until he came to a stop just a few feet away from Shintaro. He kept his chin raised, but because Shintaro was sagging in the grip of the Darks, his eyes were trained downward. 

Normally Shintaro would have made a derogatory remark right back, but it always ended in a harsh strike to the face, one that would leave Shintaro reeling in pain. Not only that - Shintaro didn't have the strength or willpower to fight back today. He had recently taken a serious beating, one that had left him unconscious for what he assumed was three days.