Beautiful Darkness

➵The Relief of Suffering

After the deep conversation with Graham my body drifted itself into one of the longest sleeps of my life. Exhaustion and emotional turmoil blended together as they drained out of my body simultaneously. I felt the effects of the fight on my body as I periodically draw in and out of consciousness.

My body finally allows itself to completely wake itself after who knows how long. Eyes adjusting, Graham is fast asleep across from me. No sunlight shines within the room. No windows exist. The outside world is completely unknown as we are subjected to the predators around us. We are being caged and examined like animals in a zoo.

Graham's hair is tangled mess. The sweat embedded in it sticks to his handsome features as he evenly breathes. I wonder if he is dreaming. We are both still dressed in the uncomfortable attire chosen for us during the previous event of slaughtering. Just thinking of it flashes memories of Rosalina and I's fight. A shaky hand that belongs to me reaches up to my own cheek. Blood wipes off and I instantly know it is not my own.

Seeing it creates an unexplainable hole deep inside my chest. I shredded apart her mind so easily. Reflecting back on it, I even managed to kill the surrounding wildlife. How is this possible? I have only seen that once before: the encounter with the Dark One. His names sprouts unwanted thoughts and shudders.

Anessia.

My gift.

The amount of malevolent energy he seeped into me.

The prophecy.

My motions become frantic as I wipe more and more blood from my face. Its amount seems endless. I can't get it off. My breathing become sporadic and heavy as I claw it off of me. I don't want any part of her connected to me physically; she already haunts my mind.

"When will you save me?" Nessy's unwanted voice lingers in the air.

I cover both of my ears with my hands while slightly rocking myself to try and calm myself. A wetness drips from my both of my arms. I examine my hands- they are completely soaked in blood as if I dipped them in a pool of it.

"Get out of my head!" I yell at the empty air. The blood doesn't go away, my yells become louder. Graham's eyes are wide open staring directly at me.

"You killed Anessia just like you did Rosalina." His eyes are empty and filled with an unforgiving blankness as he looks through me.

"I didn't kill-" I begin to say. Something stops me, or rather a presence does. I feel the overwhelming fear and malice emanating off of the figure before I look over to it.

"We will be united soon," The Dark One speaks from beneath his hood. Just looking at him gives me the urge to empty my stomach. He extends a hand from his robe. The skin appears to be dead and in the process of rotting. Just as he touches my temple I pull myself to reality.

My eyes burst open at the realization that it was a dream. I can feel my heartbeat in my ears as I focus on breathing. Graham is fully awake and watching me with concern. Just as he opens his mouth to speak the metal door creaks open.

Roman accompanied with two guards enter the cell Graham and I have become accustomed to. I see the injection in his hand immediately and lurch myself towards the wall. I cannot quench the incomparable fear that heaves in my chest.

"Please, you don't have to do this," I try reasoning. "I'm already chained." I lift one of my wrists for emphasis. Roman's deep footsteps verberate off the walls and into my soul.

"I do have to do this." Roman crouches down so we are eye level. Graham begins to fight against his chains to disable his assault. Roman merely glances at him. A guard unsheathes his sword and presses it to Graham's throat. His movement freezes as he struggles against the glinting blade.