Whumptober 2021

#14) Crushing Realities- Trollhunters

Prompt #14- Under Pressure. Trollhunters, set directly after S2E1

Jim fell to his knees. Adrenaline and shock gave way to crushing numbness. "I was right there."

The broken pieces of Killahead Bridge lay tauntingly in front of him. "I was right there." He repeated.

Weight slammed him prone onto the ground. Jim let out a wheezy gasp of pain, his ribs throbbing and limb trapped spread eagle. The blow brought Jim back to the painful present. He tried to wiggle free but the Gumgum holding him didn't budge. Daylight remained frustratingly deaf to his internal summons.

The large (former) trolls grabbed his exposed arms. The weight released but the next instant Jim jerked upright to his knees, his arms pulled painfully behind his back. Thick, heavy chains wrapped around his torso. Pinned, and still somewhat in shock, Jim didn't try to fight when the gumgums picked him up by the chain and started dragging/carrying him away from the Bridge.

The chains dug tightly in his already bruised ribs. Jim tried to focus on that and not that his way home had crumbled before his eyes. He was stuck in the Darklands. Stuck in the Darklands. Home- he- he would never get home again. Mom...

Tears threatened to pool in Jim's eyes but he forced them away. No way could he afford any other show of weakness.

Pain shot through his knees. Jim blinked and tried to force his breathing steady. Troll feet appeared in his line of vision, a staff at his side. Slowly Jim followed the feet upward to the troll's face- only to let out a gasp.

"You... you look like- Blinky."

The six-eyed troll snorted contemptuously. "My brother has taught you well," he raised his staff, "but not well enough."

The staff crashed into Jim's head.

Throbbing pain drummed into Jim's skull. He let out an involuntary groan, which only made the pain spike. Nausea churned and, despite the pain, Jim found himself rolling onto all fours. What little contents remained in his stomach reappeared on the floor.

Retching only made the pain worse. When his diaphragm finally stilled Jim crawled away from the mess. He collapsed back on the floor.

Slowly the throbbing dulled, though didn't completely abate. Jim opened his eyes, wincing at the soft orange glow. Wait- orange glow? Forcing his eyes to focus Jim made out crisscrossing rocks that almost looked like... bars? Orange bars and too-close stone walls surrounded him.

'Oh no, no, no, no!' Memories of his last waking minutes taunted him. This time he didn't try to hold back his tears. He'd been right there. Claire! She has partially been in the Darklands. He'd seen her true face, not the chalk form he'd drawn on the walls.

Silent sobs racked his body. Jim ignored the fierce ache it sent through his ribs. Seeing her drove deeper the blade of homesickness and now... making it home had been a dangerous undertaking, but now it felt impossible.

A small, slightly hysterical part of him wondered why he was still alive... unless Gunmar wanted to drag it out. Jim shuddered, then sucked in a gasp of pain. Too many of Blinky and AAARRRGGHH's stories of the tyrant's atrocities ran through his mind. Plus there was the whole fact Jim had killed Bular...

As if summoned by his thoughts, heavy footsteps drew close. Shivers ran down Jim's spine. He painstakingly pulled himself to a sitting position. The world spun for a few seconds before settling. Taking as deep of a breath he could manage, Jim used the wall to stand. His diaphragm spasmed again but this time Jim managed to avoid more dry heaving.