AoN: Countdown to Madness

Game Over

Josh POV

Damn it. Why now of all times?!

    Jack is right here, groveling at my feet! It felt so satisfying to bite him, his blood was like nectar. That voice, though, they wouldn't do it. Would they really go that far...

My heart pounds as I turn around, and I see her.

"Sophie..."

    She stood there, at the edge of the darkness with tears in her eyes. I could see Nightmare behind her, red eyes trying hard not to look at me. Strangely, Mari is there too, just watching with that same look of his. The silence tore at me inside, but I ripped it to shreds.

"I told you not to bring her into this.", I growled out, "I didn't want her involved!"

"Then what would you be doing if we didn't bring her?", Mari asked, "Would Jack be more injured than he is now?"

"He deserves it.", I scowled, "He should be dead after what he did to me!"

"Just stop it, Josh!", Sophie yelled out, making my breath hitch.

Don't back down.

"Sophie, please. You don't understand—"

"I do!", she cut me off, "I know he burned that house down, but you shouldn't kill him because of it! That would make you just like him, you'd just be repe—"

"I'M DOING IT FOR YOU!", I snapped. Everything went silent after that.

"W-What?"

"I'm doing it for you...", I shifted to human, "I can't be there for you like this. I'm a literal monster and I can't be there for you when you need me most!"

"Josh...", Nightmare said quietly.

"I won't be there for you if you get hurt! I won't be able to comfort you when you get bullied! I want to stop you from being like me, but I can't because of HIM!"

I snapped my head back and glared at him, watching him lean against the wall holding his arm.

"I'm not weak anymore...", I said quietly, "I have to see this through to the end."

    A pair of small arms wrapped around me, and I didn't need to see who it was. I can't stop now, I have to do it and yet I feel so conflicted! I shook slightly, trying hard to keep my head straight. It hurts, why the hell does it hurt...

"Josh, this isn't you...", Sophie whispered, "I know you don't want this."

"Then what am I supposed to do for you?", I said quietly, "I can't be around you like this."

"Then what about this place?", Mari suggested, "You can link her mind and visit her while she's asleep."

My heart skipped a beat, "You mean...I can still be with her?"

"Of course you can.", Nightmare said, "Even if you're stuck the way you are, you can still be there for her."

    I looked down at Sophie, seeing her smile. Then I looked at Jack, his gaze was hardened at me. His arm was shaking, probably because of the pain. I felt anger flare up, but I pushed it down and sighed.

"Okay...but there's still one thing I need to do.", I said, walking towards Jack and leaning down to his level.

"If you're gonna apologize, you can forget it.", he said arrogantly, "Don't expect some stupid forgiveness line."

"Then you should be happy I'm not. I meant what I did and I'm not taking it back.", I said firmly before taking a breath, "This whole time, I wanted justice. I wanted to end this whole thing between us. I thought killing you would do it, but it damn-well nearly tore me apart from the inside."