𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 4

Hallucination Horrors

My steps sound like gunshots from how quiet the corridors of the lab are, my senses are on high alert, especially after the newfound discovery of the 'Madness', some kind of drug that can induce fearful and depressing hallucinations of one's worst fears. My mind wanders to my partner Leon, who's currently scouring the other side of the building for our evil scientist, I hope he hasn't encountered Dr Robert Stevenson, but even more so I hope Leon hasn't fallen victim to the Madness. The whole mystery feels unreal, like something from an action movie, but the effects have been realistic enough to kill over a hundred infected patients at a local hospital within the city. Anger fuels my determination to take down Dr Stevenson, though a part of me doesn't want to succumb to the drug. 

I aim my gun as I quickly swing into one of the rooms- some kind of prison cell. This is probably where the human lab rats were kept. Bloodstains coat the cobbled stone walls, along with the dark green moss devouring the corners. I spot a set of chain handcuffs on the wall, no doubt useful for keeping the reluctant residents prisoner. Goosebumps coat my skin as I shiver at the idea of being chained and drugged, the Madness sinking into my bones and swallowing my sanity from the inside out. My heart pounds too fast, I back away, feet stumbling to get out of the claustrophobic room, but when I turn I see the metal door is closed. I'm stuck. I blink, vision darkening in the corners, panic consumes me, I've always hated the idea of being trapped. Even more so in some underground cave/lab where I'll never be found. No. Leon will find me, he's smart and knew where I was headed. On cue, as if the thought summoned him, Leon appears in front of the door outside. 

"Y/N, what's going on?" He asks a little worriedly. I open and close my mouth, I'm beginning to shake, palms sweating until my gun begins to slip from my grasp. Leon's blue eyes watch me, his face looks pinched, as if he's feeling bad too. Did the Madness get him? 

"I don't know. I turned and the door was closed. Leon, I need you to get me out of here quick-" I break off, breath coming too short. He nods, reaching a hand through the small barred window as if to comfort me, but then I hear a slice of something fleshy. I freeze, watching as pain crosses Leon's features, then he coughs, blood spilling out of his lips and splattering on the stones in front of me. The metal door swings open as Leon stumbles through, a hand pressed to his stomach where a knife wound heavily bleeds. A small whimper escapes me as he falls to his knees, I try to catch him, but he's too heavy and ends up collapsing harshly on the stones, his blood mixing with the dark stains. Warm and wet tears fall down my face as he looks up at me, brows furrowing as his bloody hand reaches up and cups my cheek, smearing his blood over me. 

"You were supposed to have my back. I thought I could rely on you." He mumbles, breath uneven and ragged. My eyes widen in shock as I tremble, I try to staunch his bleeding but the red keeps coming, never ending until it begins to pool and dampen my clothes. "I'll never forgive you for this, I hate you for not being able to save me when I needed you." He scoffs, "And you thought you loved me? Does love look like this?" 

"Leon-" I sob, feeling so much pain I might've well been the one with the fatal wound. Behind me I hear crying, it fills up the room, a symphony of screams, sobs and insults. All vocalising my worst fears, the darkest parts of me I could never confess. Leon's body stops moving, shuddering as he gives out his final breath. I shake him as the voices keep going and going, it's too much. "Shut up." I grit out, clenching my teeth as I begin to rock, "LEAVE ME ALONE!" I scream...

All of a sudden there's a hand on my shoulder. I turn around, room blurring for only a second until my vision comes back to normal, I see Leon kneeling behind me, lips parted in worry. I blink, confused how he's still alive. How the door is open like before, and there's no voices. It was all a hallucination. "Madness." I whisper, voice cracking from my screaming and sobs. Leon swallows, nodding as he opens his arms. I waste no time leaping into them, letting him hold me together as the final tears escape me, mostly of relief that the drug has had its run through my system, but some are from the lingering aftermath of the sadness and fear. "I'm so sorry, please forgive me." I repeat as Leon shushes me, he probably puts together what I imagined before comforting me. 

"It's okay now, nobody's hurt or going to hurt you. It was all a nightmare, but I'm here now, and I'll fight off whatever I need to for you." He murmurs, rubbing my back. I nod, melting into his touch despite the gnawing feeling of still being in a state. His touch feels real though, and when he pulls back to cup my face and wipe my tears I know this is real. "You're not alone, okay? I'll always be by your side, whenever you need me. I just wish I was faster getting to you whilst dealing with Dr Stevenson." 

"Is he dead?" I ask, shocked that so much time passed whilst I was drugged. Leon nods, standing and pulling me up on my shaky legs. His arm wraps around my waist as I lean against him, needing the support. 

"He tried to give me a dose of the Madness, but I saw it coming. When he started bragging about getting to you first I knew I didn't have time to bring him in," Leon mumbles as we leave the godforsaken cell, "I knew I needed to make sure you were okay." 

"Leon," I nervously whisper, "what does love look like to you?" I ask, mind replaying his fake words from earlier. His eyebrows raise at my question as he begins to lead me down the dark stone corridors and up the stairs. He hums as if thinking on it, then he glances at me with an expression I can't place. 

"I think it looks like giving out your last bit of strength to someone who needs it more." He replies, then his lips curve as the daylight hits the last few steps. We made it. I can't help but to smile back at him, glad that the mission is over and we're alive together, even if I've had to face my worst fears. What's one more to add to it? I turn to Leon, taking his hand as I lick my lips. 

"I'd always give you my last bit of strength." I whisper, hoping he knows the underlying meaning. His eyes widen a fraction, then he links our fingers together. 

"You are my last bit of strength Y/N." He murmurs back to me.