Enclosed

Chapter Thirty-Four: Agony

When Scorp was little he suffered from night terrors. He'd wake up most nights screaming, searching the room for wizards in hood robes seeking revenge. 

His cries would send his parents's hurtling into his room. His Father would sit at the end of the bed telling him happy stories. While his Mother would hold him, rubbing soothing circles through his hair until he'd fall back into a dreamless sleep. 

He always thought those night terrors were the worst thing his mind could conjure up. 

Then he watched Rose walk into that forum and realized nothing could compare to the dangerous territories his mind ventured to what Pious would do to her. 

This was his worst nightmare. 

After he was first taken he'd been knocked unconscious by his kidnapper and awoke to find himself locked in a circular room with no windows or doors. He had magic chains clamped over his wrists that prevented him from opening his arms. The room was just big enough for him to lay down in. A trey with crusted bread and a cup of water rested near the wall.

Trapped in the cell it was easy to lose track of time. He tried to calculate days passing by the appearance of food, but it seemed to show up at random times a day. The wall would shimmer for a second before a new trey would appear and the old one would be accioed out. 

He'd launched himself at the shimmering space, hoping to be quick enough to get through the portal. He was deflected each time, bouncing off the wall with such force he dislocated his shoulder on the first attempt, broke his nose on the sixth, and had a large goose egg on his forehead after the fourteenth. He gave up trying after that. 

He'd had one visitor since being kidnapped. The visit wasn't a friendly one. By the time the Reformed member left Scorp was broken and bleeding on the floor, using Occlumency to push out the pain. At best estimate that was two days ago.

He'd have gone crazy by now if it wasn't for one simple fact. 

Rose was safe.

Knowing that Rose got away and she was safe was all he needed. He'd imagine her back at the safe house, sitting at her desk and working herself into a frenzy. She'd be wearing that stupid jumper he wanted to bloody burn, her hair tied up in a messy bun, as she gnawed on the end of the quill, searching for him. 

He knew that she'd come for him. Was as sure of it as he was for his feelings for her.

He just didn't think she'd be careless enough to come alone. 

Seeing her appear so suddenly was like a blessing. She looked like an avenging angel with her red hair wild and shiny. For a moment he felt only relief to know that he was about to be rescued. That relief was short lived when she admitted to coming alone. 

He would have given up anything to switch places with her. 

Scorp pounded desperately against the stone wall, his body shaking from effort. Rose's screams reverberated off the stone, ringing in his ear.

"ROSE!" Scorp howled in frustration and pounded his hands against the stone of his prison cell, as streaks of dark red were left in prints on the wall. 

He had to get out of here. He had to save her. 

Rose screamed again. The sound filled with so much agony that it sent Scorp to his knees. He broke out in sobs, desperately wracking his brain for anything. Anything to get to Rose. 

Suddenly the wall began to shimmer. Scorp jumped up, grabbing the emptied bread trey, and prepared to swing it. He forced himself to take in a gulp of air, soothing his wild breathing.