True Deceit

Chapter 40: Roman

TW: Intrusive thoughts, mentions of abuse and self harm

"Hey look, it's my moustache dirtier."

"Shut up, and help us think of a plan so we can escape!" Roman spat angrily, glancing up at Remus who lowered the invention with a tight frown on his lips. The four had been trapped within the void for hours now, and he could hear the stress in his brother's words. "Not that it matters, because even if we do escape, we still don't have a plan to get rid of Vengeance anyway!"

Remus opened his mouth to respond, but Vigil interrupted sharply. "I've got it, i know how we can get out of here, but you're not going to like it."
He took a deep breath before explaining. "My amulet has the power to transport whoever touches it to a scenario, one that is completely real but only in their own mind. Remus's power of intrusive thoughts allows us all to visualise what he sees. All creative thoughts trace back to the mind palace, so if we can somehow manipulate the two we can teleport to the mind palace."

The void was silent for a moment until Roman spoke up. "Hey, Hot Topic, I'm not sure anyone follows you."

Virgil blushed furiously. "I, oh, um, it's a little complicated. Basically all Remus needs to do is make an intrusive thought. At the same time, someone needs to touch the amulet, to trigger the ability to interact with the thought. Then we all need to sink down into the mind palace, essentially teleport and break free from the thought, and then rise up."

"I'm a little confused, but if you think that will work," Patton shrugged, though his voice wavered slightly. "But won't that mean someone has to experience their worst fear when they touch the amulet?"

"Yes," Virgil decided unsurly. "Someone is going to have to volunteer."

They all held their breaths until at last Roman swallowed. "Okay, i'll do it."

Vigil felt nauseous. "Th-thanks, Princey," he unconsciously shuffled towards him, abruptly wishing for himself to be tightly drawn into his embrace. "Remus, we need an intrusive thought."

"Sure," he spoke calmly, though he was secretly excited. Finally, he could release all the built up pressure in his system. "Three, two, one!"

With a click of Remus's fingers the crew were trapped in a haunting vision of concrete paths, blood stained wheels and motionless dead animals littering the road. Roman squeezed shut his eyes, gripping the amulet in his fingers. With a gasp, all four were pulled into Roman's nightmare.

Deceit came towards Roman, pacing along the Dark Side corridor, a malicious smile on his lips. "Did you forget Remus? You pride yourself on being brave, and yet you were too cowardly and foolish to save your own brother for all those years I fathered him." Roman was frozen, staring at the figure with panicked eyes.

"Roman, this is all fake, sink down!" Virgil yelled out from behind him.

"Just look at what I did to Logan, to Patton, to Thomas. And the worst part? You will never know what i've done to Vigil, because he will never trust you enough to tell you about all the abuse i've inflicted upon him."

"Roman, snap out of it!" He called out a second time. Patton and Remus both managed to sink down, leaving just Virgil and Roman in the dark hall of fear.

Deceit chuckled, leaning leaning forward and cupping Roman's face in his hands. "When you first saw that anxious young man, he was bleeding. We both know it was my fault, and yet he refuses to enlighten you. Virgil will never let you understand, he will never accept your help. No matter how much you love him he will always fear you too much to speak up!"

"Roman!"

"He will cut himself-"

"-Roman!-"

"-He will never show you his face without makeup,-"

"Sink down, none of that is true!"

"-He will never kiss you!"

Roman gritted his teeth, panting heavily, shuddering forcefully. Then he sunk down into the mind palace. Virgil followed suit.

For a moment everything was still. Virgil lay motionless atop Roman's bedroom floor, breathing steadily with his eyes shut in an effort to slow the lurching sickness in his stomach.

"Virgil?" Patton whispered, running his fingers through his dark strange son's mane. Virgil smiled softly. They were okay, they'd escaped. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he breathed. "I just need a minute."