Arthur looked himself in the mirror, thought how far he had come, which was an unusual thought for him. He seen Danny in the corner of the mirror looking for knife a to fight with. He could see blood coming out of his mouth and didn’t want to think what happened to him; he felt so sorry for the boy. The thought of what Danny had to go through scared him to his core and it made him think how much trauma humanity has gone through, in this nightmare.

Once Danny picked up a knife, Arthur walked towards him, ready to be the boy’s guardian. He asked the pondering Danny, “Danny, this is going to be tough, I’m not going to lie to you. We must be quick, brave and coordinated to survive.” Danny looked persistent, made a brave stance and nodded his head. “I know you can do this; you are a strong boy. Once we’re outside, just follow me. I know a place that we will be safe, and you can rest and heal your wounds. And how are your injuries?” He did not reply; however, his head gave a nod. Arthur wasn’t satisfied but he did not know how to get answers out of Danny. “How did you survive, Danny?”

Danny face changed like flipping a penny, giving Arthur a confused look, which disturbed him, however, just as Arthur was about to explain himself, Danny interrupted him. “I understand what you’re saying. It was hard… I feel like I have already died. But I have no clue to be honest.” He stared at the ceiling, pondered about his torment that had destroyed his innocent soul, gigantic hopes and the happiness in his life that he had treasured. The memories of his mother. The exciting future that had huge potential and how fun his life was, which was all fading. He doubted living in this nightmare; however, Arthur gave him confidence and was thankful for him. Danny looked at him, thinking why he would help him. Why he went through all this trouble?

Arthur started to leave the kitchen, attempted to reach the living room, although Danny grabbed his arm and when he turned to face him, Danny questioned him. “Why… why are you doing this?”

He confusingly answered, “I’m surviving, what do you mean?”

“Why are you helping me? You were gone for ages and didn’t need to come back. I wasn’t expecting to see you again.” Danny was expecting a rash answer; however, there was none, just a look of confusion and guilt. He wondered why the question fazed him so much and felt bad for asking it. Danny thought he was ungrateful.

Arthur stood stunned. He was reminded for why he wanted redemption so bad, making him think it wasn’t possible, no matter what he done. The thought of letting the kid down was enough to send a shiver down his spine. Even so, he realised that he hadn’t answered him. Arthur suddenly spouted words out, “I… it… I was round the corner. The path was blocked so I turned back. It wasn’t far; don’t worry though, I was always coming back to help your mother.” He knew the kid hadn’t been fooled. He replied with a nod that confused him. Arthur wondered why he didn’t confront him, he thought, perhaps the kid believed his incompetent lie.

He thought about how life had brought him into hell without even dying. The nightmare consumed him, consumed every thought, every instinct, every plan and every action; he grew sick of it. A nightmare you cannot wake up from. The world had become a never-ending nightmare.

The non-stop thinking drained his vigour and the rest that was never coming was weighing it down further; every action felt useless. Yet, Arthur always felt his courage, felt strength that never disappeared, even in crisis and most of all; he felt the responsibility to save Danny and it would carry him through the never-ending nightmare and to safety. He just hoped Danny had the drive to carry himself to a new life.

Danny suddenly spoke, “I… I need to see my mum. If I don’t, I cannot move on. It will damper everything.” He seen Arthur’s face and desperately asked him, “Please… I need this. You have to let me do this.”

Arthur had courage to say no; he knew it would save them. Danny gave him daggers, walked away from him and shouted to the ceiling. The anger changed Danny into a demon. He smashed the cabinet in the kitchen, sending his foot straight through it and as he pulled it out, he rashly walked towards Arthur with a look of resentment.

As Danny got closer, the anger was summoned as words. “Who the fuck are you to tell me that I cannot see my mum?!” Arthur looked to the ground realising the boy would not give up. “I will see my mum and I will see her, even if it is the last thing I do. Do you hear me?! I will see my mum!” Danny pushed him as he walked past him. Arthur instinctively grabbed Danny’s arm, which sent him to kneel on the floor in pain. Arthur then realised that was Danny’s boiled arm and he rushed to aid him.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to grab that arm, please forgive me.”

Danny pushed him away, screaming and insulting him. His wraith of words kicked Arthur to the curb. He pulled no punches, accusing him of hideous crimes and despicable acts. Arthur’s vigour was finally withering. The guilt was consuming him, sending him into the abyss and giving up on everything.

Danny began to stand tall and continued to dig into Arthur. He pressed the saddened Arthur with unforgiving words. However, Danny suddenly stopped shouting at him but continued to stare into his eyes. He could see Arthur was on the ropes, the sadness in his eyes and a body that seemed to have given up. But he had no sympathy for Arthur, so he began to walk away from him.

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Arthur was ready to let the boy go but he didn’t want to come this far without giving up. He stood up, feeling the vigour he once had and began to stop him. Danny resisted at first, trying to stop Arthur from pulling on his shirt and screaming in his face; however, Arthur kept his nerve and stayed strong, thinking tough love is what Danny needed.

Arthur began to get annoyed, all he wanted was the boy to be safe, even so, he understood why the boy wanted to see his mum, but it would mean death he thought. Although the boy was willing to die on his own terms.

Arthur started to shout, “Just stop… she will kill us.” Danny did not care whatsoever. The squirming would not stop, and it eventually knocked them both to ground. “See, you need to stop this immature behaviour; I thought you were stronger and smarter than this.” In an instant, Danny began to strike him, his screams echoed around the room. Arthur had no clue how to deal with Danny’s anger and flailing arms; it all became too much, but he didn’t want to hurt Danny and force him out the house.

“I am seeing my mother! You will not STOP me!! I’d rather DIE… than not see her one last time.” His words came with passion and spit, which flew straight into Arthur’s face. “Don’t make me kill you!”

Suddenly, Arthur’s anger came out like someone was poking a bear and he expressed it by chucking Danny to ground. Danny grew silent, while Arthur pointed his finger at him and began to shout, “Don’t you ever, ever threaten me, especially when they are empty, little boy. I am not to be messed with. I may seem good, but I certainly am not. I have done terrible things that you would not believe any human doing. So, you will come with me now!” Arthur took a step back, realising the harm he had just caused. His voice instantly turned softer, “Please, I just want to save you and bring you to safety. Just let me.”

“I need to see my mum.”

Danny’s voice was like a broken rock and Arthur wondered if he could even survive without seeing his mother one last time. He was so conflicted; the temptation to drag him out the house grew every second. However, he knew that would just mean death.

He stared at Danny, debating if he should just risk it. The sadness of Danny’s face was weighing on his backbone, and he knew it would collapse soon. He could see a thousand tears in his eyes. His eyes painted the horrors. His backbone was slowly withering; however, the risk was too high to let Danny see his mother he thought.

Danny sat on the floor, feeling sadness, anger and abandonment. All he wanted to do was see his mother. He resented Arthur like he was the one who tortured him, thinking, why couldn’t he just die already?

But Danny hated that thought. He felt guilty for hating the man that is trying to save him, but Danny could not let it go and needed to see hope before he left.

He started to get up and Arthur quickly helped him the rest of the way but Danny rejected his hand. He knew he had failed him with his impatient, incompetent attitude. He wished that his mouth was sewn shut. Danny, once again, pushed Arthur and walked past him.

Arthur knew that time was short and grabbed Danny’s shoulder, turning him around and pointed towards his boiled arm. “I am trying to help you. What happens if she wakes up? You have seen your arm, right? Because I have – it’s fucking awful – and when she wakes up; what happens to your other arm?” Arthur could see he was getting to Danny. He continued but raised his voice, “In fact, look at your hand, a broken finger! How can… why would you want to see her? She is evil. Your finger is mangled and bloody – why, Danny? Why?”

Danny was still, silent and in the dark. He knew Arthur was right, but he needed her and would do anything to see her. All of a sudden, Danny stood from the ground and replied in an aggressive manner, “You don’t understand. She is my mother; I will always love her.”

Arthur interrupted, “Even if she is now a monster?”

“Even if she’s a monster.”

Arthur was stunned by how determined he was and knew Danny wouldn’t leave without seeing his mother. Arthur felt hopeless.

Danny spoke to him with a softer tone, “Please? I need this. The more you say no, the more chance of us dying, right?” Arthur’s face changed in an instant and he hid it by looking at the floor. “Arthur, I feel like I’m not me anymore. My tormented soul needs to see her one last time… if my soul is going to recover. She is the only thing that used to keep me going but that likely will change with time. Though I still must see her. The pain that she caused me has tainted our love. Broken it, yes, broken it into pieces but I need to pick up one of them pieces. Even if I do hate her.” Danny placed his hand on his heart. “You have to let me do this.”

Arthur couldn’t imagine being tortured by the ones that raised him. He felt his words and wanted to let him have his way, even if it meant death for both of them.

Danny was worrying about the long pause, seeing Arthur in deep thought and it made him think. He thought about whether he was right, should I just leave with him? He confused himself, yet he knew the regret he would feel, so feared the regret. The need to see her hopeful face was too strong to ignore, he thought, and nothing would stop him. But doubt had entered his mind and he thought that she would just remind him of his unjustified purgatory. He had felt enough of that, he thought. Although the drive to see her was all too strong and he refocused his attention on Arthur who was still pondering.

He felt bad for his actions. Using Danny for redemption was not the right way to go about it, especially when he doesn’t want it. Arthur continued to feel the weight of his situation. He knew how much he wanted Danny to live but the feel of Danny being happy satisfied him more. The confliction blurred his mind.

Arthur stared at Danny’s eyes, which had horrors inside and the confliction began to drain like water. Yet he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t serve Danny on a plate.

Danny grew tired of thinking and blurted words out, “I am going to see my mum.”

Arthur looked at the boy, gave him a look of despair and gently spoke, “I will not stop you.”

“Don’t worry, son. I am here.”