That Which Lies in the Dark

4

(TW~Death {still the mother}, Panic, Gore, Blood)

Roman couldn't let himself cry. Even though everything burned in him to do so, now wasn't the time. His mother raised them to be prepared for anything... even tragedy. When you live in a world where death can happen at any moment you didn't have the luxury to cry. You had to move on. Rough lesson to teach someone so young, but it was a lesson Roman took to heart as he slashed at the imp that tried to grab him.

"YOU STUPID FREAKS!" Roman cried out as he stabbed another imp that tried to send fire at him. "Get out of my way..." Roman growled, his anger starting to get the better of him. "... NOW!" The earth quaked under his voice making the imp whimper and fly in a frenzy. He could hear his brother panicking in his mind and that only enraged him more. It was like this tick in his head... a timer counting down until his rage exploded in him and everything went black.

Roman fell to his knees, this pressure in his head as he slowly came back to himself. He wasn't holding the sword anymore, finding blood and dirt caking his fingers, and a chilling bite to his face that made it clear there was blood there too. He scrambled to his feet noticing that his leg wasn't quite right, making him groan over the possible injury. He didn't remember what had happened but he knew he was hurt. He looked around, not hearing Remus anymore, only to spot the many imp bodies that were torn in halves littered around him, and the one beast with his mother's sword impaled into its head.

"Darn it..." Roman whined as he tried to wipe the blood off his face, only adding more from what covered his hands. "I blacked out again. Now is NOT the time for that. REMUS!" Roman screamed his very core writhing in pain over everything that was happening. "Please... Please, Remus, answer me."

"Roman?" Roman's eyes shot up at the timid sound that came from behind a broken piece of wall. A small head peeked out from behind it, his usually bright silvery hair, now a toxic green and his eyes a bright empty white. "Roman, are... are you-..."

"Yeah. I'm back. I blacked out. I'm sorry." Remus smiled as he quickly ran out of his hidey-hole to run to his brother, but before he could make it he was grabbed.

"Well, well, well..." The demon growled as he held Remus up in the air. "Look who we have here."

"LET HIM GO!" Roman yelled making the Demon's eyes widen over the pressure that blasted around them.

"No. I don't think I will." The demon cackled as his eyes started glowing a sick brownish-yellow. "In fact, I have a better idea." The demon snapped making a ton of imps start crawling out of the woods and Roman froze up in fear. "I wanna see a little blood."

"NO!" Remus screamed as Roman was suddenly yanked back by a ton of imps. Roman screamed in terror as their claws tore into his skin, burning his flesh, as they clawed and bit. Roman felt the there teeth like razors so sharp he couldn't stop screaming. Sure he physically couldn't feel pain, but his mind tricked him into thinking it hurt. He fought against them as they covered him head to toe, trying to rip him apart it seems. He almost couldn't hear his brother's wails over the imps incessant screeching.

Panic... that's all Roman could feel in that moment... Just unending panic. He felt the drip of his own blood fall like water against his skin. He felt the tugging against his flesh. Heard the tearing as if some sort of paper doll. He saw the monsters on top of him wanting to devour him whole. His mind just... shut down... gave up... he couldn't take it...

"ROMAN!" This blast of magic ripped through the earth making vines and bramble shoot up impaling the imps all at once. Roman blinked slowly looking over to see Remus struggling to fend off the Demon that had grabbed him before. "ROMAN, PLEASE!" Roman held his hand out, begging the moon for guidance... for help, and fire erupted around the demon, sending their shouts of agony up into the air.

Remus collapsed, his breath ragged and panting, as Roman just laid there frozen, letting what injuries could heal before he had to move.

"Do you sense anymore?" was the first words Roman spoke after all that made Remus flinch, before shaking his head. "Help me up."

"Roman-..."

"Help me up." Remus's eyes were dark as he did what he was asked, helping Roman to his feet, who stumbled a bit but managed to keep his balance despite the damage done to him.

"You need to rest, Roman. You're badly hurt." Roman just shook his head as Remus tried to stop him from moving. "Roman, Mother told you not to push yourself. Just because you can't feel pain doesn't mean you should-..."

"MOTHERS DEAD REMUS!" Roman screamed making the earth shake again under the pain in his voice. "Mothers dead. Monsters attacked us. We can't stay here. We have to leave."

"But... But Mother..." Tears spilled from Remus's eyes making Roman tense up and crash. He pulled his brother in letting Remus sob into him as he tried to send calming words through his mind. "R-Ro... W-What are we going to do? I've never left home before. I've... I've only ever known these fields."

"I'll protect you, just as I always have. Now come on." Roman forced himself to be strong just as he was taught to be as he helped Remus walk, despite the obvious stress it put on his own body. "I had a wagon. I think it's back in the forest. We should see if anything on it managed to survive the attack."

"Roman, what about Mother? We can't just leave her-..."

"We can't stay. She made us promise, remember?" Remus's eyes widened as he nodded seeing just how much Roman was holding himself back. "Mother told us if anything happened, we would leave her behind."

"We shouldn't leave her like this."

"We won't." Roman finally whispered as he tugged Remus away from their now lost home. "I'll... I'll come back once I know it's safe." Remus nodded, at least satisfied with that. "I'll send her to the Moon so that she may be at peace."

"Do you really believe in all that?" Remus whispered sadly making Roman falter in his steps.

"I have to." was all Roman said in response before they finally walked into the dark of the trees.