Ego

1.

"I long to just disappear."

■■■■■ awoke in a long, dark hallway. So familiar. They'd been here many nights, running and being hunted down. What horrors awaited them tonight?

Tonight was no monster, no horrific creature. There was nothing. Nothing but a shadow, smiling brightly.

"Oh, ×××. Why?" It questioned, not losing the smile for even a second.

■■■■■ stared at it, hands bound in front of them. Handcuffs. A common occurrence in The Room, but not The Hallway. As were confrontations. The Hallway only held physical torture, so what was this?

"Why did you do it?" The shadow continued. "Why did you leave me?"

Instinctively, ■■■■■ knew who this was.
Someone they'd rather forget.

"You know you need me. You're too useless and pathetic, you know?" It took a step towards them.

"It's cute, really. Like a little cat that can't do anything on its own. Why did you bite the hand that fed you, ×××?"

■■■■■ stayed silent. Perhaps it would go away.

It kept walking towards them.

"You deserved all the pain you got. You always talk about equivalent exchange..." it placed a hand on ■■■■■'s shoulder.

"I'll be taking a little more from you tonight."

Shoving them down to the ground, the shadow began the physical punishment that was per the usual.

.........

Waking up in a sweat, they looked around. The feeling of hands faded away. They were not in The Hallway, they were in bed. Giving a sigh, a single voice quietly laughed.

"Have a bad dream?"