Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 25

(Trigger Warning: Torture, mentions of abuse, mentions of rape, and panic attacks)

"What the...?" Emma gasped as she reached up to feel a familiar collar around her neck, a chain dangling from the front and running behind her. She noticed that her skin is dusty and dirty which only adds to her confusion. She instinctively grabbed the collar, trying to pull it from her neck, but as she did, something yanked the chain connected to it and caused her to fall back, knocking the wind out of her. Emma heard someone gasp from beside her. She turned in the direction of the sound and saw a ghost-like image of Thalia looking at her in worry and surprise. Emma could tell she wasn't really a part of the dream; she was just a spectator watching as the events unfold.

Emma suddenly felt herself being yanked forward. She turned her head to see an imp demon glaring down at her, gripping onto her chain. She quickly grabbed the chain and tried to yank it from his hands, wanting to be free, but found no strength to actually pull it out of the imp's grasp. The imp merely cackled and pulled the chain again, making her fall forward onto her stomach. She grunted in pain before freezing. This was another dream and she could tell that Matthew was going to be the villain once again. Emma began to panic as she scrambled to her hands and knees, looking around at the predicament she was in.

Emma was in a large steel cell; her chain hung out between the bars in the hands of an imp guarding her cell. She had no neighbors nor did she hear anyone else in the space with her besides Thalia. This was definitely a dream and she needed to wake up before Matthew came around. Who knows what he'll do with me? This is a dream, after all, Emma looked around the room, slowing her breath and trying to think logically. What can I do? I need to do something about this chain around my neck, then I can try and break the door down somehow and be free... Well, I could always shoot a crystal at the imp and kill him, which would cause him to release the chain, Emma lifted her hand, trying to summon a crystal but for some reason it wasn't working. The harder she tried the more her head began to hurt and she felt blood drip from her nose.

Emma growled quietly in frustration. Okay, time for plan B, She quickly grabbed the chain and swiveled on the ground to be on her bottom, locking her feet against the door and pulling the chain back. She managed to get some purchase and, luckily, the imp couldn't manage to pull her forward from her struggle.

Suddenly, a large bolt of red lightning traveled down the chain and shocked the collar around her neck, causing her to release a soundless scream. Her body became electrocuted in red light and energy, sending waves of pain through every part of her. As he finally stopped, Emma let out a gasp and fell back onto the ground, shaking from the aftermath. She could barely look over at the imp from the pain she was feeling, seeing him smirk at what he had done. However, as soon as she saw the grin appear on its ugly lips, a foot jammed into the side of the imp's head, causing it to buckle over.

Emma furrowed her brows in confusion, still dazed from the pain. "You fucking pig faun! What did you do?!" Emma heard a familiar voice yell. Her eyes glanced over to see Matthew in his demon form, glaring daggers at the fallen imp with his foot jammed into his cheek. As he looked at her, still angered with a snarl across his expression, she gasped, seeing the familiar cold gold color over his eyes. The evil Matthew has returned.

Gingerly, Matthew took up her chain and pulled her to the door, leaning in and keeping the chain beneath his head so he could bring her head as close to him as he could without her being pulled against the bars on the door. Staring into his eyes, for a moment Emma felt calm and almost hopeful that Matthew wasn't cruel like in the last dream. Then again, she was being kept in a cell, so she crushed any hope she felt and kept a stone cold look on her face.