End of Sallow

I've got you figured out

CW: Theo thinks about smootsmoot.

and talks of torture.

"Why are we going out here again?" Theo whispered to Alec, shivering.

"Have they not taught you the heating spell yet?" Alec asked him, ignoring Theo's question. Alec was wearing a somber expression and had been ever since he'd woken Theo up. That was the reason he was shivering. He was terrified of what Alec was bringing him along to. That thought had him shivering harder than the snow that had started to fall late November.

Theo had studied the file that Podex had handed him about Sallow back to front. He could recite the papers word for word, and every paper that Podex had given him since.

So it didn't make sense why Alec seemed upset.

"Where are we going?" He asked again, and Alec sighed.

"Podex will tell ya." Was all he said, and the rest of the hike through the forest was in silence.

Once they got to the troll cave, he was handed a black robe from Podex himself and was told to put it on.

Theo did as he was told and winced when Podex pointed his wand in his face but made no attempt to move. Podex ignored the flinch, casting a spell but Theo didn't see any difference.

He then turned to Alec, shoving a piece of parchment against his chest before turning to face Theo again.

"No one is to be left alive."

What? Theo's eyes widened.

"You will make sure they are all dead. You'll use that ancient magic of yours to do so."

"What the fuck is ancient magic?" Alec growled.

"Nothing you need to know about Gunn, don't question me." Podex snapped, his eyes still narrowed on Theo, and he didn't miss the way Podex's hand tightened around his wand.

Alec shut up immediately, seeing the same thing. Podex grinned cruelly.

"As I was saying. No one is left alive. No prisoners. You need to learn how to make the ancient magic your weapon, unlike any other type you'll learn at that useless school. Understood?"

Theo nodded jerkily.

"Good. Get going, Gunn." Podex snapped before turning and walking towards the entrance to the troll cave.

"Just the two of us?!" Alec asked.

"He doesn't need a crutch. You're not to fight unless absolutely necessary." Podex called over his shoulder. "And I'll be looking at his memories when he gets back. So you'd better not interfere. No prisoners, either."

Theo swallowed hard and he could feel his heart racing as he watched Alec shake his head angrily and pull up his own hood.

Alec was shaking when he grabbed Theo's shoulder and when they apparated, they were placed in the middle of a camp. Theo wouldn't even have time to ground himself or prepare or even practice.

"Kill them!" A goblin roared, picking up some type of bow and arrow mechanism that he hadn't seen before.

Theo was frozen in fear, so when the machine went off, shooting an arrow at him, all he could do was throw up his hands. He felt a pressure against his hands, but no pain. When he opened his eyes, he saw some kind of small forcefield around himself and Alec, who was standing next to him with his wand up.