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15

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Friday 24th November ~ 3:22am

Jack's POV:

Mark paced down the hallway with me on his heels, and I had to force my legs not to buckle under the pressure as we went. I hadn't walked like that in awhile and I was determined not to show weakness.

That and I was not about to become more of a burden.

Anti had left the lights on but dimmed them, insisting it was all in favour of not arousing any suspicion from Dark. The most help he'd given us was unlocking our cells, dimming the lights, and instructing us to the door at the end of this hallway (using all of the sarcasm in the known universe as he did so).

Anti hadn't done enough to make me trust him, but it was all that we needed.

"Mark, i-is this real?" I panted, speeding up to match his strides. Breaking the silence made me paranoid someone would hear me, but the emptiness in the air was worse for my mental state. "I really don't wanna wake up and have this be some kinda sick joke."

We neared the end of the corridor.

Mark let out a heavy exhale, showing that he too was straining himself. "This has to be real." He assured, the edges of his mouth twitching upward. Then his eyes met mine. "Trust me, I don't believe this bullshit either."

My breathing wouldn't slow down no matter how much I fought, anxiety levels within me peaked. Our last escape attempt had crashed and burned. I was beginning to get deja vu.

Yet Mark's deep brown eyes still reassured me throughout everything. He was by my side again - even if the world around us was hellish and cruel - I wasn't alone anymore. The isolation had taken such a toll on my emotional state that made his presence a sort of relief.

"It'll be okay." Mark insisted. "We just have to-"

"Oh booooys~!"

Loud footfalls pounded the floor behind us.

I broke into a sprint without a second thought.

My heart lodged itself somewhere in the back of my throat, all my fatigue pushed to the back of my mind, and in that moment I knew one thing:

I wouldn't dare turn around.

Not for anything in the world.

"FUCK!"

We'd been here before.

All the strength I could possibly force out of my muscles was burned as I pushed myself to the limit. This time I even ran as fast as Mark.

Maybe he was weaker, maybe I was stronger.

Either way the end of the corridor was fast approaching.

"C'mon now, don't be so difficult~!" Anti sang out.

They were catching up.

The door was mere feet away from us but they were closer.

"Didja honestly think I'd let you go?"

I cried out, Anti's voice resonating throughout my skull like a shrill alarm bell screeching in my ears. It was happening again.

I lost my footing.

"GAH-!"

My head smashed into the concrete floor.

"JACK!"

I whimpered, rolling off my own face and onto my side. The world spun around me.

"Well-"

Dark tossed Mark to the ground beside me.

"I honestly don't know what possessed you, trying something so foolish." Dark scoffed, him and Anti now towering over us.

His voice was so far away.

Mark was right there, but it was like seeing him at the end of a long dark tunnel.

I clung onto consciousness for fear of what would happen if I passed out.

"They're fucking morons, Darki dearest~" Anti taunted, landing a harsh kick to my ribs and provoking a wheeze. My head was reeling but one thought stood out; Anti had betrayed us.

Somehow I wasn't surprised.

"This was like-" Anti hauled me up, slinging my limp body over his shoulder. The pounding in my skull worsened. "-like their way of asking for a punishment, y'know?"

The demon started off down the corridor, and behind us my tired eyes made out the outline of Dark carrying a dazed Mark. I didn't struggle - even if I couldn't think straight, I wasn't stupid. Nothing was going to stop what happened next.

"Well then - I suppose a punishment is what they shall receive." Dark agreed in a low growl.

I gulped.

We had been caught.

Torturous images flooded my mind, and it was becoming difficult not to let the hopelessness sink in.

I had to believe this wasn't the end.

And yet, in the trip back down the hallway, Anti whispered something that made my blood run cold.

"Your chances just ran out, Jackaboy..."

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