Shadow Of The Nightshade

Day 3: °•Letting go°•

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Shadow

Being suspended above burning coals was not the worst punishment I've endured these past three days.

Every drop of blood or sweat that fell off me caused the burning rocks beneath my bare feet to sizzle, increasing the heat.

My wrists were scalded by the hot chain shackles that kept me above the coals, attaching my hands to the ceiling. Precise cuts ran down the entire length of my arms, slowly bleeding me dry. My feet were definitely bruised, cut and blistered.

But strangely, the feeling filled me with nostalgia.

The sensation of pain had almost faded away a while ago, but the heat was starting getting to me. Maybe it wasn't the heat, but the thought of being roasted alive.

But again, that wasn't right either. I knew they wouldn't kill me off so soon, not yet, not as easy as this.

No. I was worried.

The thoughts were maddening, destructive.

But I couldn't stop.

I was worried about Robin.

It sounded so stupid to think that at this moment, but it was true.

It was all I could think about.

Not how to escape, nor how to plead for my life.

It was him.

He was in a better position than I was, I knew that.

He had the Justice League protecting him, he'd be fine. I tried to convince myself of that fact.

It didn't work because I knew it wasn't true.

If news ever got out that I betrayed the Light to save him. . .

When the news spread, he'd be a wanted person, all of my enemies, all the people who hate me, who want me dead, would be after him.

I wished I could say sorry to him, thinking constantly about his fate made me feel. . . horrible.

It felt so painful.

I didn't know what was wrong with me.

I couldn't change the past, or a wrong decision.

I knew that, I always knew that.

So why didn't it stop the thoughts?

Tired. I was so was tired.

I never did anything right.

I never do anything right.

Saving him seemed like the right choice at the time, but in the long run, maybe not.

Vanessa would make sure he was safe and remained that way.

If not, she better hope I never come back.

I felt a drop of sweat fall down my cheek, watching almost in slow motion as it dropped past the wire gauze above the red hot carbon and fizzed it as evaporated.

The fire burnt brighter.

I just wanted him to be safe. I thought, my breath slowing down as the room heated up and my toes burned.

Even from me.

I heard the door to the dungeon open but I didn't have the strength to look up.