@brcakablc -- continued from HERE.
The first thing he notices is how WARM his body feels. How the d a r k n e s s envelops him. No fear. Only OBLIVION. What is this? Where was he? Was he ---Safe? She’s not here. She’s never here. Never again.
But the mind has it’s ways of bring about FALSE HOPE. Escape? Impossible. There was no escape from what happened. From what would s u r e l y happen again. He’s already back there. Back in her GRASP. Trapped in that room. In that TOWER high above the town. They’ll come soon. The crows that feast upon his F L E S H. Not quite making it through, but enough to pierce and scar delicate skin.
No, no, no. I’ll be good. I promise. His words are silent, but echo so loudly in his mind as he face comes into view, piercing through the void. He’s not safe. He’s never been. And never will be.
Wake up Jonathan. Wake up. You’re dreaming. It’s a nightmare.
But the more he tries to p u l l himself from the DARKNESS, the further he falls, until she’s right there, standing before him. And in his desperation he clutches his hand around the knife, lashing out without a thought of WHERE this weapon came from. He can’t go back. He can’t let her take him away again. Not now that he was ----- F R E E.
Warmth pours over his hand, causing his gaze to drop. Crimson soaks the clothes she’s wearing, but the reaction he gets is not one he expects. Why? Why? You know why. But it’s not her voice.
His eyes widen as finally he manages to look up, pale faced and trembling.
❛ Bruce? ❜ His voice is frail, soft, terrified as he releases his grip on the knife, his chest pounding as the illusion is broken. ❛ No. --- No, no, no. I didn’t-- I-- She was--- ❜ A nightmare. An dream. No-- he knew what this was. But there was no time to analyze the HOWS. He can feel the panic taking over as he reaches out, grasping the boy’s shoulder. ❛ No. No. You’re okay. It’ll be okay. I-- I’m--- Just... keep your eyes on me. ❜
