Decay - The Matter Maelstrom

Twelve || Nightmare

"Lauren..." Charles' voice comes as a whisper in my ears, why is it so faint?

"Charles..." I whisper back as I slowly open my eyes, only to realize what I'm doing.

My hands are wrapped around Charles' throat squeezing tight.

"What..." I try to pull my hand back but it doesn't move, I look into Charles' wide eyes and then I hear it.

The buzzing, the commands that echo in my mind.

Sebastian.

Panic flows in me, the bracelets around my wrists are activated but they can do nothing since I'm not using my powers.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry, this isn't me." I whisper as tears gather in my eyes, "I can't stop it...I'm sorry."

Charles places his hands over mine, trying to move them away but I'm squeezing his throat with more force than I thought I had.

"I know...It's okay..." He whispers with a small smile, bringing one hand to his temple.

This isn't me, I think desperately. I would never hurt him.

But even as I think it, my fingers tighten around his neck. Charles' face turns red, then purple, and I can see the fear in his eyes as he realizes what's happening. He tries to reach into my mind, but I can feel the block — an unnatural barrier keeping him out. I know he's trying to break through, trying to stop this, but whoever is doing this to me is powerful, too powerful.

Tears blur my vision as I fight against the invisible force controlling me. Please, let me go. Stop this. Please...

Charles' strength is fading. I can see it in the way his struggles weaken, his grip on my wrist loosening. The desperation in his eyes morphs into something worse — acceptance. And that's when I know I have to do something, anything, to break free.

Summoning every ounce of willpower, I focus on the connection between my mind and the control Sebastian currently has on me. I push against it, mentally clawing at the hold it has on me. My head throbs, pain lancing through my skull, but I keep fighting, driven by sheer terror and love for the man I'm being forced to harm.

I focus harder, imagining the force as a dark shadow around me, suffocating me. I picture it shattering, splintering into a million pieces. I channel all my anger, my fear, my love into that image, pushing against the darkness with everything I have.

Like Charles taught me to do.

Then the buzzing stops, just as the door of my room opens and Alex, Raven and Hank walk in, worried and confused.

My hand jerks away from Charles' throat, and I stumble backward, gasping for breath. I stand from the bed, walking away from Charles as I tremble uncontrollably, tears streaming down my face. My hand is mine again, but the damage is done.

Charles coughs violently, clutching his throat, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, "Lauren..." He tries to walk to me but as he gets off the bed he falls down: the medicine has worn off.

"What happened?"Alex asks as he runs to me while Raven and Hank rush to help Charles sit back on the bed.

"Echo got back in my mind..." I sob as I take a step back, away from Alex, "I almost killed Charles...I almost...I..."

I just want to get away from them, I don't want to hurt them.

"Lauren it's okay..." Charles' voice is rough and my heart clenches when I see the red marks around his neck.

"No! No it isn't!" I sob as I hold my arms close to my chest, "Lock me somewhere, away from everyone, please."

"That won't be necessary." Alex places his hands on my arms to try to comfort me.