Sickest Addictions: Sympathy For The Devil

Chapter Eight

Jack's body trembled with a fear far too intense for any living thing with dreams. Cold sweat rolled down his temples like raindrops on a glass of ice water, as his mind played out a horror show of memories he did not wish to remember.

There he stood in the midst of a dark room. Thunder rolled in, shaking the house as if it was merely a dollhouse to be played with. And as the mighty beings in the sky continuously clapped their mighty hands, each loud sound of a bang causing him to spasm, a strike of lightning flashed across that dark night sky to reveal a glimpse of a shadowed figure off in the corner. Jack's breathing became more rugged, heavy and loud as he could not help but stare, wide eyed into the dark.

The rapid beating of his heart might have been the loudest of all, as it boomed in his hears with a thump and roar much louder than the thunder itself. Creaking of the floorboard screeched in his ears and ran shivers down his spine. Streams of tears began to rain down his cheeks and another flash of lightning showed that the figure was now walking closer to him. And with each strike it would continue to get closer and closer until the demon-of-sorts was towering over him like a giant from the darkest of clouds.

 It's large claw raised itself in the air, and with it came a scream of terror.Though it was not from Jack. As he flinched a coward behind his hands, the scream only got louder until it's familiarity registered in his mind. Slowly his hands lowered, his breathing quickened and his head whipped around in search for the girl in the dark. 

"Anna.." He whispered under his breath.

Another shriek rang through his eardrums.

"Annalise!" He cried out, and began to run towards the noise

"Annalise, please!" Jack continued to shout as he was suddenly grabbed by the ankle and dropped to the floor. He could almost feel claw-like nails dig into his flesh, tearing it to shreds as it dragged him deeper into the unknown. His fingers dragged themselves against the wooden floors, so desperately trying to break free. They did this until the nails were pulled from his skin, cracking and ripping beneath such force.

Splinters like daggers stabbed themselves into his hands, arms and torso, but no amount of begging or bloodshed would convince the sadistic beast to let him free. Jack could not help but cry and he was flipped over to face the drooling jaws of the shadow monster above him. It raised it's claw once more, ready to swipe. It's growls howled and echoed through the halls like no other ungodly creature he had ever seen before.

Jack closed his eyes then, whimpering as he accepted his fate. 

  However, it never came. Instead he opened his eyes to something much more terrible than the shadow monster.

He had opened his eyes to a sudden jolt as he was now falling through a trap door that had led down to a pool of crimson. As he rocketed down into the hot lava of blood, he could feel his lungs burning, begging for air. And though soon it would come as he made his way through the bottom of the pool, falling from the ceiling as the red waters rained down on him. He had landed on a pile of rotting meat.

But of course it was much more than that. It was human meat. Body parts of various of sorts. Severed limbs that wriggled with maggots and flies. But through it all was one corpse that was still whole. Jack crawled to it only to wish that he hadn't when he turned the body over, and stared into the familiar pair of crystal blue eyes now lifeless and full of fear.

Not a second later did there come a low sinister growl from behind. Slowly Jack turned to face his demon that glared down at him with blazing green eyes. It raised its kitchen knife and took one last final swipe straight toward Jack's heart.

Jack had woken then, screaming and thrashing about in his bed as he tangled himself in his blankets. His body shook as it landed with a harsh slam to the floor, taking the nightstand lamp with him. The bedroom door flew open then, and a concerned looking Hades came running in.

"Jack! Jack, what's wrong!?" He questioned, sliding down to the man's side.

Jack blinked his tear-filled green eyes, completely lost for words. Still in his daze, he looked around the room with wide fearful eyes, as if expecting to spot the demon in his dream standing in any of the corners. He cleared his throat then, calming his breathing as he shakily threw off his covers and tried to stand.

Hades, still as frightened as Jack was, gently took the man's hands and slowly helped him up.

"I-I-I'm fine. I'm fine," Jack insisted, though the trembling in his hands stated otherwise. Still his eyes darted around the room, frightened and anxious to find something that had escaped from his dream.

Hades shook his head and he reached to caress the man's face in his hand. Jack, of course, flinched, backing up into the nightstand and knocked over more objects. Glass crunched beneath his feet, causing him jump into Hades' arms and let out a whimper of pain. Hades furrowed his brows in deep concern then. He had never seen the green eyed man so skittish and afraid. It was as if he was looking at a whole new person, one so innocent and vulnerable. Someone that needed to be protected.

"Ah shit, you stepped on the lamp pieces," Hades sighed. His arms wrapped tightly around Jack's waist, holding him up as the poor man limp on his toes. This was just sad to Hades now. The young man couldn't help but feel such sympathy for the other. So he shifted his arms to slink one around Jack's shoulders, and the other beneath his knees. Then, lifting the other up into his arms, Hades carried Jack to the bathroom.