Berceuse for The Suffering (Complete)

21. {The Boy 3}

(Trigger warning. The chapter contains thought-provoking scenes and language that may be disturbing. If you are a survivor of S/A, please skip the chapter.)

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Two decades ago.

In the deep, dark expanse of the unknown, Billy crawled on with no sense of direction. It was as if he were traversing a labyrinthine maze, blindly and without purpose. His every move was a struggle, his every breath a desperate gasp for air. The weight of the world seemed to bear down upon him, crushing him under its immense pressure. As he crawled on, his body suddenly jolted to a stop. His fingers brushed against a rough surface, and he realized that he had collided with a wall. He sat himself up, taking a moment to steady his breath. But as he did, a sharp pain shot through his body, reminding him of the unspeakable violation he had endured only hours earlier.

It was then that the claustrophobia set in. The darkness seemed to close in around him, suffocating him with its inky blackness. The walls felt like they were closing in on him, growing tighter and tighter until there was no space left to move. Billy was trapped, a prisoner in his own body, unable to escape the confines of his own mind.

But just when he felt like he couldn't take it anymore, a glimmer of light appeared at the top of the staircase. The door had opened, revealing a strip of light that illuminated the narrow path before him. And then, without warning, a figure was hurled down the stairs, hurtling towards a small stool blur of motion. He could only watch in horror as the figure crashed into it, and an ear-splitting cry rang throughout the basement.

Despite the painful moaning of the new person with them, Billy did not attempt to move from his spot. However, he was forced to stand up when the child who was initially with him crawled to his side and hugged him. He tried to push the child away and that's when the light came on.

He thought he had gone numb. He thought he had died, but when he saw who the new person with them was, his heart skipped a beat and the darkness in him raged like tendrils of flame licking every inch of his skin. "Lyli" he muttered when the child stood from where she fell. He watched with raging emotions as Lyli looked up, gazed at him, and smiled. She then ran toward him and joining the child who first wrapped his small arms around him, Lylibeth Adams hugged him too. Instantly, he felt hot. He felt like he wanted to..." That's when he pried her hand away from him and pushed her back. She stumbled and fell on the floor. She looked up at him and said, "Please help."

She looked dirty. She was covered in dirt and her bare feet had wounds on them. But still, she was shining. She was bright. She was blinding.

Billy chastised himself and turned away. He heard Lyli beg again, "Please help." But he refused to look at her, fearing the darkness in him.

He couldn't tell how long it was since Lyli arrived, but soon the door to the basement once more creaked open and the man who violated him stepped down the staircase. He had with him two plates of food. The man grabbed Lyli's arm and that made Billy worry. But the man did nothing to Lyli but hand her a plate of food. Next, the man gave the other child with them the remaining plate. He on the other hand was grabbed by the arm, yanked up, and hurled on the man's shoulder.

Billy kicked and trashed but the man carrying him was so strong he couldn't break free. Soon, he was being carried up the staircase. "Let's have fun again, shall we," the man said as he reached the top of the staircase.

The light that greeted Billy's eyes upon entering the living room where his first assault had taken place pierced his eyes like knives, forcing him to shut them. Then he was once more hurled on the sofa. However, the man did not attack him. He left him there and approached his companion who was eating a fried chicken.