The black figure mundanely yawned. With a snap, it makes itself a cup of tea. Observing the show, it sighs, ‘When are you going to stop this meaningless act?’ As expected, the question vanished in the thick air like a shadow. Let out another sigh, it doesn’t need the answer to know what will happen next. ‘Seriously, are you-’ a strong hand broke its neck before the sentence could finish from behind. Pouring on more pressure, the neck now breaks in half. The resonating sound of the broken bone shuddered. The extrusion of a fountain of thick blood stained the cold face with black splashes. The sinewy hands were smeared with grimy black liquid, throwing away the lifeless corpse like a toy.

‘This time it takes 1.30 minutes.’ The black figure looks closely at the clock in its hand. “Congratulations, you have made a new record,” it claps ironically. ‘But I’m getting tired of having a broken neck all the time. Be creative!’

Immediately fulfilling its wishes, Theodore spared no mercy. This time, his hand dug deep into its chest. Deeper, the warmth of what feels like flesh and blood fills the hand. Followed by a fetid smell wandering around his nose, eager to summon nausea in his throat. An impure smell to blasphemy. Ignoring the black blood turbidity on his clothes, his skin. Deeper, tormented to its marrow. In its madness waves of laughter, the fingertips touch a slimy surface. Pulling it out aggressively, a heart lies in his hand. The beating heart is still warm, each drop of turbidity slipped through the thin fingers, and fell to the hard ground. Not even hesitating, Theodore squeezed the heart in his hand cruelly. Every one of its muscle fibers overflows through the fingers, creating a horrifying, sticky sound of crushing flesh. With each squeeze, he can hear the howls full of resentment breathing from the heart. This isn’t enough. He squeezes until what used to be the heart is now like slime. Throwing its heart away, his soul filled with disgust.

A deviant laugh broke out loud. The corpse with a hole in its chest burst out laughing. Its voice carries the sound of broken glasses. Indeed, Theodore’s” black liquid overflowed from its mouth. ‘That’s right! Show me! Show me the cruel monster inside!’ Its laughter fills the void. ‘Cut me! Stab me! Choke me! You can do anything but leave me.’ Leaving behind the corpse, Theodore walked forward. The navy eyes were stained with hatred and disgust. The cracking sound of broken bones follows each of his steps. Saving the last string of consciousness, he didn’t dare to look down at what was on the ground. No, he doesn’t have to. For there were piles, lying everywhere, creating a tainted river flowing from each corpse. For they were defeated in their countless battles. Yet sweet words begging him to stay still resounded repeatedly like broken tape in those shattered mouths. Their squirmy hands harshly try to slow his steps.

Keep walking indefinitely, and all of a sudden, a bright door reveals itself at the end of the path. Running with all his might, he yearns to escape this place, to return to their loving hands. Run and run, he could no longer hear those rumbling sounds. Just a little longer, the door is getting closer. Till his lungs feel like they could explode at any moment, he finally reaches the destination. Its soft light somehow calms his frightened mind. Full of hope, he touches the doorknob.

Only to taste the flavor of despair.

The moment those fingers touched the door, with a blink, the most hideous scene revealed itself mockingly. Standing still, the door was covered with crawling beetles of a color he could never imagine. There is no trace of hope under this blasphemous performance. Eventually, the door vanished into ashes, shutting out all the light of hope. Black hands caress his body from behind, whispering sweet little temptations. ‘Stay, and you will never know pain.’ Tender caresses fell from his cheeks, down to his waist, in Theodore’s disgust. Then, with an inhuman force, countless hands devoured the ethereal figure, dragging him aggressively to a luxurious chair. Rusty chains were immediately in place to tie him down again. From the tainted black liquid, rises another black figure. Just like none of that ever happened. ‘Let’s see,’ the black figure says, taking out a long list. ‘You have killed me 150 times.’ it laughed mockingly. It eyes hungrily devour the scene of a furious Theodore chained to the chair. That’s right, in this world, he is nothing. Nothing but its prisoner.

Taking a step closer, it raises his chin up. ‘If only you had listened to me from the start. Now, what will we play next?’ A snap and Mother appear before him. With a wicked smile, Mother sat on his lap and caressed his hair. Her fingers traced down the murky eyes to the lips, bitting till pale. Leaning closer, Mother whispered to his ear mischievously. ‘You don’t have to hold back, sweetheart.’ The furious flame burned each of his cells. The tied hands clench until a hint of blood appears on his palms. “Stop!” Theodore demanded. Her hands were still playing on the lines of his face. ‘When are you so rude? Why don’t you just enjoy this chance?’ Moving down, her attention poured on the delicate neck with clandestine. “Stop or I will kill you. Even for a million years!” Theodore stressed the rusty voice in a threatening tone. In an indecent tone, Mother bursts into laughter. ‘Sorry’ Swing in a circle, now Camille stands before him. Her hands caress the firm chest alluringly. ‘Match your liking? She is a professional after all.’ Unbuttoning the shirt, she kisses his collarbone teasingly. The seduced gaze burns in his utter disgust. The tied hands, tremble harshly as they struggle to be freed. With all his fury, Theodore digs his teeth into her arm. “I have warned. Don’t challenge my patience!” ‘Ow! You hurt me!’ Camille stayed silent for a second, then smiled deviously. ‘I bet you will like this one,’ Another swing, and this time, Lily smiled at him. Just like the Lily in his memories, the same Lily who has gone. ‘Theodore, I missed you,’ she embraced him. Taking off her coat, the gentle tone changes to seducing. ‘I have always been grateful for what you did’ She hugged his neck. ‘Please let me repay my gratitude.’ Theodore’s body trembling aggressively. His mind no longer controlled the wrath burning inside him before such blasphemy. Shutting his eyes tightly, he can’t bear to witness any further. A disgusting bitterness stuck in his throat. “Stop this instant!” His arms struggle enough to leave lines of scratches, dripping blood. “Don’t you dare use them! Don’t you dare!” Theodore screamed his lung out.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

‘There is nothing you can do'

Then, at the bottom of Pandora, lies hope. A distant sound, innocent voices calling for his name. A familiar song protects him from the edge of madness. They are waiting for him. They are giving him strength. The faint sound soon echoed vividly in his mind, summoning a powerful wave of power. Growling, Theodore strained himself from the chains. The strong arms try to pull out the rusty chains with all their might. The chains were no easy opponent, yet the cracking sound of broken metal filled the air under his effort. ‘No! How can you? This can’t happen!’ Lily recoiled in terror. He stands firm, ready for vengeance.

Like an arrow, Theodore targets the black figure, now that it has returned to its original form. ‘Wait!’ It was barely able to dodge his powerful attack. Nothing could restrain. Rains of merciless punches fall toward the black figure. No one is able to push him to such limit. Hell is far too weak for the target before him. Lying on the ground in black blood, the black figure, for the first time, loses control. ‘You left me with no choice," it says as it takes its last breath.

The black void suddenly brightened with white light. Blinking, he is standing in a study room. A familiar one. Theo? A voice was calling for him. The soft sun was resting on his hair, on his smiley, emerald eyes. He grinds brightly. Where have you been? I have waited for you for so long. It was him, the one he yearned to see. Falling into the warm embrace, Alderic caresses his back reassuringly. “Is it really you?” A soft kiss fell on his cheek, Of course. What are you saying, Theodore? Get lost in his embrace, surrounded by his scent. “If one day, I have to take my own life to protect everyone.”, "Will you be by my side?” Theodore whispers faintly. Alderic tightens the embrace, a tender voice falling above his head. Whatever your decision, I will never leave you. Theodore touched the corner of Alderic’s eyes with melancholy. Putting a light kiss on his canthus, Alderic vanished into countless Ginko leaves.

Thank you…

‘That’s impossible!’ The black figure stomped, ‘He was the most perfect. How could you realize?’ The scenery begins to shatter into pieces. The show finally comes to an end, welcoming the change. “Finally, I understand everything.” The ground beneath their feet cracked in half as he lifted his finger, revealing a bottomless void beneath. In split second, the black figure immediately being pulled down with enormous force. In its horrifying scream, Theodore raises his hand, and a tsunami answers, stabbing the black figure with its strength. Throwing up all the water, the black figure is now nothing more than a tormenting insect. It screams in disbelief, ‘No! This is impossible! I’m the god of this place!’

“Really?” Theodore kept an emotionless expression. “Then I will show you who is the true god.”

With a snap, countless swords appear in the sky in all shapes and colors, carrying the power of judgment, already targeting the black figure. With a simple motion, all of them tore its body apart. There is no going back before the wrath of the true master of this place. ‘You know you couldn’t kill me, the black figure whispered weakly. “I know,” Theodore looks at it with sympathy, “For you and me, we are one.”

To its surprise, Theodore embraces its broken body. “I forgive you as I am, forgive myself.” “I acknowledge you as I acknowledge a dark part of myself." "I'm letting go of you at this moment, as I’m letting go of my past.” A peaceful field surrounded them. In the ray of warm light, the black figure, finally reveals the real person. Under the mask of a black figure is young Theodore himself, the moment he lost everything. The boy hugged him tightly with teary eyes. He can feel all his loneliness, his self-blame, and his rage from all those years. Just at this moment, become the purest tears. Finally able to calm himself down, young Theodore sulked, ‘You didn’t answer me.’, ‘How do you know my trick?’ Theodore smiled softly. “Though perfect, you missed something.” Pointing at young Theodore’s chest. “Love never lies.”

A warm breeze rose, and Theodore took the hand of young Theodore walking down the path. At the end of the road, the faint image of mother and father awaits. Bathing in the halo of light, they await their lost child.

‘Mother! Father! "I'm home," Theodore says as he falls into their arms. Harmonized with the wind, they will never be separated.