Grief

Shock Pt 5

“Scream, you ungrateful bastard !”

He felt something digging deep into his chest, dragging along the surface and making a gush of red stickiness flow down to just above his navel. He bit back a cry, only to be rewarded with a knife scraping down his back, again and again.

He whimpered.

“Shut up Salamander-shit”

 A boot crashed down on his back, crushing him to the floor, before he was kicked to the wall. The boot repeatedly struck his abdomen, fresh bruises appearing over old. A dribble of blood coated the closure of his lips and mixed with saliva dripping down from his mouth.

…

He shot up breathing heavily as his gaze darted around the room, squinting at the brightness. Light colored walls and a soft mattress behind his sore back made him blink, curiosity making his head tilt to the side.

‘Where am I?’                                                            

“Natsu, your up!” someone  cheered beside him, making him flinch at the sudden noise.

He turned his head, faint remembrance sparking at the sight of the blue exceed.

 “Natsu, I was so worried! You were taken hostage and hurt and I thought you were gonna die! But then we cleaned you up and brought you to the hospital and you slept for two days straight!” Happy cried, clutching onto Natsu’s shirt. Natsu flinched violently, making the exceed fall back onto the bed.

“Don’t touch me” He stated hoarsely, moving backwards. Confusion and fear rolled off the man in waves, lip trembling from the thoughts revolving in his mind.

‘Who is this? Where am I? Why am I here? What’s going on? How did I get here?’

He fisted his hair as he tried to make sense of everything. He curled up, confusion making him anxious. Happy watched his partner struggle, worriedly placing a paw on his knee. They stayed like this until Natsu processed everything, relaxing as he realized he wasn’t with those sickos who kept him captive.

“H-Happy”

The exceed looked at him, tears staining his furry cheeks. Natsu was staring at him biting his bottom lip. He trembled, placing a paw on his knee.

Natsu shuddered the minute the door opened, and his eyes widened at the site of Lucy. She walked in causally, before she realized he was awake.  He was pulled into a tight embrace, Lucy sobbing into his shoulder. He stiffened, pushing her away before giving up, realizing who she was.

“Lucy”

The hug tightened, and he wrapped his arms around her, happiness making his eyes water. He sobbed, his forehead resting on her shoulder. He shook violently, clutching at her for dear life.

“L-Lucy-y, Luc-cy, Lucy”

“Shh, it’s okay Natsu. It’s alright”

She rubbed his back, whispering comforting things in his ear. He trembled, crying as he let go of her frame. Her violet blouse and blue jeans where so soft, just like her hair. He hadn’t been held like that in years, he couldn’t remember such kind touches. He barely remembered Fairy Tail. It was brief things he remembered, little things that he held to while in that hell hole. And now he was out.

“Home,  want to go home. Want to go home.  Want to go home…” he repeated, desperation in his stuttered, hoarse voice. He hadn’t spoke in years.

 “We’re home, we’re in the guild infirmary. See?” She pointed out shelves and beds, and the doorway where now their friends Erza, Gray and Mira stood, ready to greet him. “Don’t worry, okay?”

Natsu trembled, confusion making him say soundless words. Lucy rubbed his back, while Happy stroked his paw along Natsu’s leg. He finally nodded, eyes staring at the wall.

“Okay, I’m gonna go get Master. You stay right here, okay?”

Natsu nodded, watching Lucy as she turned and left the room. It was then that he was scooped up into a firm hug, his once chubby face buried in  silky soft scarlet locks. The woman was not in her normal attire, seeing as she had changed over the six years he was gone. She wore a soft white blouse that cuffed at her elbows, and a plain grey skirt that reached her knees. Natsu slowly wrapped his arms around his sister figure, awkwardly returning the embrace. He had stiffened up, but was relaxing as he melted into the tight hug.

“Erza”

She stroked his dirty shoulder length hair, before releasing him. She stepped back, satisfied with just the simple hug they shared. Gray gave him a squeeze, before Mira sat down on the bed.

“Mira”

“Welcome back, Natsu. Is it okay if I ask you a question?”

Natsu nodded, uneasiness making him wary.

“Would it be okay if Gray or Erza over here help you take a bath?”

“Y-yeah”

“Alright, I’ll get a bath drawn and you can go clean yourself up while I make you something to eat. How does that sound?”

Natsu’s eyes widened at the possibility of food. His mouth watered at just the thought of it. Oh, how long has it been since he last ate?

Natsu coughed harshly as the door closed behind his captor. His body held angry red marks and deep purple bruises from the beating he had just received, shivering as the torches flames barely warmed him up. He shakily lifted himself off the floor into sitting position, breathing heavily as a broken rib jabbed his lung. His body ached all over, and for once he could say he was glad. They let him off easy today. He slouched over and leaned against the wall, closing his bruised eyelids in an effort to go to sleep. As tired as he was, however, his stomach growled indicating his hunger. He placed a boney hand over his abdomen, nausea making hunch over.

When was the last time he ate?

He couldn’t remember, but he knew it had to be at least weeks ago. He felt over his rib cage, his fingers tracing the skin stretched bones. Minutes passed before he herd the door slam open and he froze, terror striking him. He was grabbed forcefully by the hair, dragged to the other side of the room. His head was shoved into the floor, smashed repeatedly before he was forced to sit up on his knees.

“Eat, worthless bastard”

Stale rotten bread was shoved into his hands as he was chained to the wall. He quickly hunched over protectively and bit into his bread, ravishing it hungrily. But halfway through his meal it was grabbed from his hands. His lip trembled, tears pricking his eyes. He wasn’t quick enough to finish.

His half eaten bread was replaced however with a wooden bowl of dirty water. Natsu held it up to his lips and greedily gulped it down, not caring if the water was dirty or not. He probably wasn’t going to have any water for a while if they’re feeding and hydrating him.

The empty bowl was snatched from him and he was unchained from the wall and dragged back to where he had been.

“We’ll be back in an hour to have some fun with yah, Salamander-shit”

“Natsu?” Mira asked worriedly, snapping him out of his memories. He trembled while looking around the room, teary eyes glazed in confusion and terror. Erza watched his every move, concerned with his reactions. Gray had gone to draw the bath so he had not been witness to the odd behavior at the mention of food. Mira had tried to grasp his hand, but failed as he retracted giving her a terrified glance.

“I’m sorry”