Page 27 of A Simple Truth

Each time, I woke up underwater. Each time, water drowned the air in my lungs. My limbs began to turn blue as the cold worked its way towards my heart, slowing it down to an almost nonexistent beat.

Fucking again.I clenched my teeth and forced my eyes to shut, my mind blocking me, begging me, as waves of thoughts and memories chocked me.

I pushed past it all, running down the stairs, further into the mist of darkness.

The silver streaks of water again appeared in front of my eyes, but this time, I didn’t bother getting up as I felt the air diminish in my lungs.

I was going to die.

It would either be now or never, I told myself, and with a breath, I closed my eyes once more, coming back to the hall of haunted memories.

My mind sounded the alarm. I could feel my entire being swallowed by the greatest terror as my life hung on the brink of death. My lungs became empty, my heart now pausing a beat, the storm of thoughts disappearing completely, but I pushed more and more and more.

Eighty-nine.

I had maybe seconds left of my life, and I would spend it in complete darkness, descending these cursed stairs. But I would rather die than be overruled by whatever these powers were within me.

I ran faster and faster, no longer bothering to count, tumbling down until my body slammed against a hard door.

A door.

Thefucking door.

I frantically searched for the handle in the pitch black until my hands felt the round, rusty knob. I pulled with whatever strength I had remaining. A bright blast of white blinded me, but I didn’t let go. I fought as my body was torn apart, agony lacing every single cell within me.

But I held on.

I held on as Justice Fire blazed through me, my skin becoming liquid, dripping like the wax of a burning candle. I grinded my teeth into nothingness, but I managed a step into what seemed to be a fiery ocean. The bright red and copper flames swallowed me whole. Overtaking me. Suffocating me. Burning me.

I was right. This was a terrible plan.

I couldn’t endure this. This was hell.

I couldn’t do it, but it was too late now.

Defeated tears slipped past my eyes, evaporating the moment they touched my charcoaling bones.

This was where I would die. Here. Amidst these never-ending infernos, just like in my nightmares.

I dropped to my knees, no longer able to stand. The raging flames, as if alive, were laughing, mocking me.

You thought you could conquer me? You thought you could conquer the Powers of Hell?

You are not the one to wield me.

I closed my eyes, the fire piercing me straight through my heart. I could no longer see as the flames burst from my eyes and my mouth.

I could no longer speak. I could no longer even remember my name.

But I repeated the only thing I would die remembering.

I was a survivor.

I would not falter. I would not yield, even in my last breath.

I will not be caged.

I will not be enslaved.

---