Flee from Freedom | Mattheo Riddle

37: Echoes

"ILL KILL YOU YOU FUCKING-" 

"Enough." Lucius snaps, cutting my words off. "Draco come." He beckons him forward, nodding as Draco pulls up alongside him.

I see Mattheo struggling to stay quiet, Wormtail's wand jabbed under his jaw, digging into his neck. I can feel 2 wands pointed at me from behind, although i can't see them. 

Lucius nods again, and Draco begins to pull up his sleeve. I instantly recognise what's going on. 

"No. NO-" My shouts are cut off as the death eaters behind me begin to dig their wands into me. One in the back of my neck, one in my shoulder, muttering a "silencio".

I open my mouth to scream but nothing comes out.  

"ENOUGH." Bellatrix screams, emerging from the shadows. "DONT RUIN HIS MOMENT, AS YOU DID YOURS. BE RESPECTFUL."

It's not even like i can argue back. 

Draco finishes rolling up his sleeve, doing his best to ignore me and Mattheo as we struggle, kneeling on the floor. 

Behind Bellatrix, another figure steps out from the shadows. "Draco, your time has come." Voldemorts voice is smooth, snake like with an underlying hiss. His bare feet make small noises against the stone floor, and his robe drags along behind up, catching dust and other dirt. Outstretched, he holds him arms in the air, as if he was going to hug someone. 

I expect Mattheo to go mental beside me, tugging at the ropes, silent screams escape his mouth. But nothing. He almost loses his determination upon seeing his father. 

Voldemort almost ignores us, and heads straight to Draco. Brandishing his wand from his cloak, Voldemort hums lightly, picking up Dracos left arm. "An honour it is, to call you, my family." Pressing the wand into Draco's arm, the spell begins. 

I watch Dracos face screw up in pain, his knees almost buckling underneath him. Twitching and shaking, he almost falls to the floor . His breaths catch in his throat and i see him nearly on the verge of tears. 

Then it's over. 

The skull and the snake, branded into his arm. Forever. 

"Crucio." The words slip from Voldemorts mouth. 

Mattheo screws up beside me, falling flat to the floor in pain. He's gritting his teeth, writhing around in agony. 

I open my mouth, no sound comes out. Even though i'm silenced, i'm screaming his name over and over, I almost well up. I'm calling him and he can't hear me. 

He must be like that for almost a minute. Voldemort cackles and grins as he walks closer and closer to his son. 

Maybe our childhoods weren't that different after all. 

Eventually he stops, and Mattheo's body goes limp. His chest rises and falls rapidly but still, no sound comes out. 

Leaning over Mattheo, Voldemort hisses. "You are no son of mine." 

I wait and i wait for a final blow, but it never comes. Instead, he turns, and he walks from the dungeon, without another word. Draco and Lucius follow. 

2 pairs of hands latch onto my shoulders, pulling me up and away from Mattheo. I'm thrust into my cell, almost hitting the wall. I feel the ropes disintegrate off me as the curses are lifted, but the door slams before i can even react. Standing up as soon as i can, i rush to the bars and watch as Mattheo is thrown into his cell too. The same ropes fall off him and melt into the floor. Then the door slams. Then we are alone.

"Mattheo." I say, my voice almost cracking.  "Mattheo. Just. Let me know you are okay."

"I'm okay." A voice sounds through the dimly lit room. "I'm okay."