Hellfire

Night three

Connor feels awake. He feels the usual heat of a helldream on his skin, but the air is thinner than usual. He opens his eyes, and instead of seeing the usual red rocky planes, he finds himself staring into darkness. Something makes a clicking noise and suddenly the place is flooded with bright light.

The lights shine down on a stage. Connor can't see past that, it's all darkness, so it appears that the platform is the only thing there. He os wearing a white shirt and pants, along with some white dancing shoes. The lights then dim and a spotlight is set on him. Across on the other side of the stage, another spotlight opens on a figure, also clad in white.

As Connor approaches the figure, the man begins to approach him as well. When the finally meet in the middle, he recognises the other man to be Kevin, his smile as bright as his clothes and his eyes glinting with an air of mystery. Kevin puts an arm around Connor's waist and pulled him closer. The two began to waltz around each other to the soft music playing in the background.

It was a beautiful dream, and as the music finally came to a close, Kevin pulls him in for a kiss. When they pull apart, he looks at Kevin fondly, and places a hand on his cheek. Kevin returns his gaze.

"I love you," Connor feels himself say to Kevin. This time there is no look of shock or horror, and Kevin smiled happily.

"I lo-" he begins, and then stops, looking down in alarm. There is a tiny red stain spreading from his chest and onto the pristine white shirt. After a few moments it stops.

"I-" Kevin tries again before once again being cut off as the stain begins to continue spreading. The red has almost completely covered his front now, and a trickle leaks from the corner of his mouth. He collapses onto his knees in front of Connor, who is silent in shock.

When Kevin desperately grabs his shirt, he is jarred back to the harsh reality of the nightmare. "Oh my god, Kevin!" Connor screams, kneeling down to support the man whose entire shirt is dyed crimson.

"No, no, n-no..." He holds Kevin's face, and then Kevin slumps forward, covering him in blood too. Connor just wraps his arms around the dying man and grips the back of his shirt, burying his head in Kevin's shoulder. "No..." He chokes, followed by a broken cry. "No...."

Connor didn't scream when he woke up, instead biting his lip hard enough to bruise. They were getting worse.
He buried his face in the pillow and waited to see whether sleep or sunrise would claim him first.