Oblivion.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Rehema huddles in a corner, her face buried in her arms, crying. She has been crying for three days now, as far as anyone here measures time.

Two spectres torment a golden-coated dog, stepping in and out of possession, making it worry its own flesh. Three times they step back and let it bolt almost to its mistress before stepping in again and takes it back. Twice already today she has tried to interpose herself between the spectres and their prey. Now her pet is suffering for it.

"All you need to do is say yes," Isamo Ito points out again, very reasonably. "We'll give you safe passage out. We'll even let you keep your moral code. And we won't bring your friends here."

"No." She shapes the word soundlessly through bruised lips.

"Or we could show you some more of the Abyss."

She closes her eyes and a shudder runs through her body, but she says nothing.

"Or perhaps see how your friend Steve is doing on the fifth level."

She hunches up even tighter, the tears flowing ceaselessly down her cheeks. The images effortlessly penetrate her closed lids. She feels sick.

She's tried five times to kill herself, in the hope that she can save the friends who still can be saved by destroying the anchor of her soul that lets the demons drag them here. Five times she has been effortlessly prevented.

There is no hope that this will end. No hope at all.

"Are you sure you don't want to stop your dog's suffering?"

The spectres stalk towards Spot again, and she shakes and sobs, dry-throated, for the only thing she can do for him is the one thing she won't.

"Ah well."

The lights go out. She doesn't need to breathe but she is still suffocating, and she can't even feel herself scream.

In the heart of darkness, one tiny spark of light refuses to be consumed. All she has to do is say yes.

"Fuck off," she whispers. And watches her friends pay the price.