Equinox

six

My startled reaction to waking up pulled Theo from his slumber as well. His features are tight and he rolled over to have his weight on me. Firm hands brushed my hair away as I struggled to gain my bearings. My stomach flipped inside out, and my throat dried up in knots. It felt as though my chest would fly out of my body, leaving me to die.

Images of Draco torturing goblins and elves flash through my mind. I pull at the necklace on my neck, everything feels too tight on my skin.

"Get off of me," I grit out pushing at his shoulders. He lifts off me and I roll out from under him and slam my arse on the hardwood floor. Theo shortly thereafter follows. But I refuse to look at him, there's a brick in my skull that's occupying my attention.

It's a wonder I hadn't ripped my clothes off, everything is so tight.

I can't rid of the sight of the knives and ropes—Merlin even potions designed to melt flesh. I don't know him. I never knew him. Besides the slideshow burning the forefront of my brain, my jaw shakes with my toppling emotions.

Draco, I never knew him. How could he be capable of such heinous acts?

As everything cascades through my head, the will of the prospect strains my lungs. "I can't breathe," I say with a hoarse and struggling voice.

My vision goes dark, but I can still hear and feel Theo. His hand is pounding against my back and even though I can hear his voice, I can't make out the words he's saying.

Each contact his fist makes against my back forces a cough out of my throat. It doesn't even hurt, all it does is kickstart my lungs like the connection is forcing my lungs to fill. Saliva fills every corner of my mouth as my throat burns with acid. All of a sudden, a metallic taste coats my tastebuds and I become convinced I'm dying. Blisters open in my mouth making the taste intensify, it catapults me back to last spring.

Why do you call out to them?

I slam my eyelids shut, as much as they'd allow.

It's been months, you think they're still looking for you? Pathetic.

It's not real, I repeat to myself.

The floor grows cold and a sob rips through me. Gods no, I can't go back there. Not again. Theo's pounding hand changes, it doesn't feel like him anymore. It's a knife sliding against my flesh. A scream vibrates against my pain.

"Good morning, little girl," a torturous voice taunts.

My head is in my hands as I hide in the corner of the cell, attempting to make myself as small as possible. But they aren't here for me.

"Get it over with," she says, and I can hear her chin high and her jaw taut. Her voice is always strong and her demeanor is as stiff as a board.

"Tsk tsk," he clicks in disapproval, "you're no fun this morning."

Something shatters against the far wall, "Piece of shit," she shouts. "You saw me as a child. You watched me grow. Now I'm some sadistic experiment for your psychotic desires."

The sound of her wince mixes with a slap, it echoes in the cellar making it last triple the amount of time. I slam my hands against my ears pretending this doesn't exist. Her struggling cries break through the barrier of my hands. The corners of my eyes burn with tears, and my palms shake.

I want nothing more than to make it stop.

Another slap seers through the cold air. I can't take this anymore.

"Torture someone else you sadistic bastard," I shout before standing to face the crime.

She's on the floor, blood falling from multiple points of her face. Rage overcomes me and I can't recall the following minutes. What I do know, my nails now have fresh blood caked under them, my ears are ringing, and my shin is broken.