Operation Infiltration (Kotlc Fanfic)

Chapter 20 • Compliance Checks

A/N: another bit of torture warning kinda, and also this was longer than I expected it. Also I know Oralie dosen't know anything about the Black Swan but idc! Almost 1 year since I started writing this. Crazy...

«◈･ ｡ ˚ ° ⋆✦【 ??? 】✦⋆ ° ˚ ｡ ･◈»

A cruel laughter filled the air, grating and hollow, then a hot, red pain flared over my body.

"Stay still if you want it to hurt less, my pet. Just tell me what I want to know." The low, slimy voice slithered into my ear, and I wished I could rip it out.

A faint voice called to me, vaguely familiar but out of reach. Whoever it was urged me to stay strong, to hold on.

"Fine, then," my torturer sneered, his tone laced with a twisted delight. "If you won't talk, I'll just have to enjoy myself while I wait for you to crack." His cackling grew louder, deranged, as he inflicted more pain. Agony tore through me, tearing a scream from my throat as I struggled against the chains holding me down to the table.

The flames grew, consuming the walls and blocking any escape, their roar mingling with my cries. And then, in a sudden shift, I stood in the silent, smoldering ruins of my life's achievements.

The Black Swan lay in ashes at my feet. Scattered around me were the mangled bodies of those I'd call friends, their eyes lifeless. The people I had fought alongside, argued with, and believed in were all gone. I moved through the wreckage, averting my eyes from their faces, a hollow ache gnawing at me.

A part of me clung to the horrible scene, wishing I could change it, any of it. How could it have ended like this? I sank to my knees, the weight of defeat crushing me as silent tears fell.

"Why are you crying, Mr. Forkle?" The voice echoed again, it haunted me wherever I went. I turned, dreading what I might find, and there she was, Sophie, lying charred against the rubble.

"No... please, no." I scrambled to her, cradling her in my arms, shaking her to wake her up.

To my shock, her eyes did open, brown eyes with gold flecks looking up at me with a calmness that defied the nightmare. "You're safe now... it'll be okay." She said, as if to reassure me, then stood to look around at the devastation, confused. "Where are we? I thought we were at Elwin's house."

"Huh? What? Why would we be there?" I said, concern in my voice. Perhaps Sophie was disoriented, or worse, injured.

"No, wait. I see now. It's a dream." She said, making mallowmelt appear out of thin air. She took a bite but frowned. "I miss Grady and Edaline..."

I stepped closer, wrapping her in a hug. "I'm here now, and I'll always be there for you. No matter what."

Sophie's body suddenly froze. "Wait! If this is a dream, I must have fallen asleep at Elwin's! Oh no, no, no..."

«◈･ ｡ ˚ ° ⋆✦【 Sophie 】✦⋆ ° ˚ ｡ ･◈»

I startled awake, sparks spurting out of my hands. I stopped the fire from spreading to the blankets. That dream... it hadn't felt like my own. It seemed I had fallen asleep in the chair.

I stood up, ready to bolt out the door and teleport back, but Leto groaned, stirring awake. He froze in place as he stared at the faint licks of flame coming from my hands. "Sophie, your hands!"

"It's okay, I promise." I forced a smile. "I, uh... manifested as a pyrokinetic," I mumbled, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. This was not how I wanted him to find out.