Chapter Text
It was only for a second.
You took your eyes off for one second.
One moment you were looking a peculiarly beautiful flower as your colleague eyed another by your side.
“Hey, I think this flower would be great for our poster, don’t you –”
You turn and you’re lost.
You’re not exaggerating. You came into this forest with a group and had kept to the open path and now…
The path’s gone and so are your friends. The trees, once green and shady, now loomed tall and dark over you. The sun was ominous orange and suddenly you realized that you’re…alone.
“..g-guys this isn’t funny.” You cried out, ignoring the tremble in your voice. “GUYS!”
You cried out, their names, at first joking but steadily angrier and angrier. It was made worst when you tried your phone only to find the line had gone dead. You nearly threw it to the ground – because what the shit? The line was perfect a few minutes ago and now it’s dead?
Your first instinct was to walk off and find back your path – you’d deal with the impossibility of everyone just fucking vanished later after the urge to sue every single fucker in a ten kilometre radius died down – but the reader in you – the one who read about stories of people getting lost, knew that it’s a safer bet to stay.
You hoped that this was simple mistake – a fugue or something rational – scientific – grounded – that you went from hiking to completely lost in a blink of an eye
You steadily ignored the other reasoning – the one that sounded like your old grandpa – talking about Orang Halus and Orang Bunians, who loved absconding human beings into their realm. The tales of men and women who broke an unspoken rule and ended up lost for what seemed like hours only to find out that weeks or years had passed in real time.
You ignored that – because that’s impossible and for one thing you’re not in Malaysia or Indonesia – you’re in fucking Sweden – land of white people. That shit does not happen in any European country.
“Well, what about fairies?” The stupidly irrational voice nagged back.
“Does not exist. NONE OF THAT SHIT EXIST.” You muttered to yourself as you used your phone as a flashlight. Oh and how did it went from 10am in the morning to fucking dusk? You had the body of an office worker – no fucking way did the time flew past that quickly and you’re still…
…well, not bushed. Nor were you thirsty…or hungry.
Well, you did had a big breakfast and you drank a few minutes – yes minutes, the sky and your watch is fucking liar – ago. That’s why you feel fine, lost, angry but fine. And you will be finer once you’re found and regale to everyone that this prank – it’s a prank - was about as funny as root canal.
You spot a decently non mossy rock next to plants you had wanted to draw. It felt a bit cool as you sat down but you sucked it up. You’re sure it’s not going to be long.
As the sun died down and you hook your phone to your power bank – you reminded yourself that. At least you came during summer – still chilly compared to home but still…warm enough to survive the night. You knew your best chance of being found was to stay put. You had done this before, years ago when you were but a teenager and it was called the bravery test.
It will be boring as hell but better bored than lost and...well…
At least this time you don’t have to worry about tigers.
You sighed…and a cloud of smoke wafted out of your mouth.
You froze, blinking again because…WHAT.
“What?” you said loudly and to your horror your breath plumed and faded before your eyes. You inhaled…and exhaled, another cloud. You shot up to your feet.
THIS WAS FUCKING JUNE.
The last you checked it was 16 degrees Celsius – nowhere near cold enough to create fucking clouds from your mouth.
As your brain tried to un-boggle this you realized that it’s suddenly freezing – your body, wearing jeans, shirts and jacket started to shiver.
You don’t need to read to know that this was bad – very, very fucking bad. Impossible but you shove it aside – you need warmth – you need fucking fire or this prank would end up with the word deadly before you could even blink.
You turn around, looking for wood to start kindling. You knew you had to insulate your body from the ground, you have some rocks that you could use to start the kindling. You latched your phone with its light in front of you. You were warned not to pluck the flowers and shit but this was an emergency. You start snapping branches and dried leaves left and right, as the light swayed.
You were so focused it took you a while to realized that someone was calling out.
“Hey!”
The voice sounded loud as though the person was shouting beside your ear. You jumped nearly dropping your collection.
Could it be?
“HEY!” there it was again, a voice, someone crying out.
The search party.
You dropped the branches to your feet, holding your phone out as you try to find them.
“H - hey! I’m here! HEY! IT’S ME!” you cried out.
There was another pause and for a moment you feared that they might not have heard you when suddenly someone’s torchlight flickered just a few yards from you. You nearly cried with relief when the party cried out again.
“HERE!” the man said.
“YEAH, I’M COMING!”
You started to run towards the light, ignoring that you were tripping roots and rocks. Your feet cried out but tough titties, you’d soak them later.
“Over here!”
I KNOW, PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE! I’M – ”
To your horror the light flickered and suddenly moved further away.
“…Here.” The man called out, his voice weakening.
“Wait, STOP! I CAN’T –”
“Here.”
Was it just you or was the light moving further away from you?
You don’t think, you had to chase after it, the air seemed to freeze harder and harder as you ran after that voice.
It was like a switch – the rational you – even the child you – was screaming for you to stop, to stop following that voice but your instincts yelled to follow.
Chase it down, find that voice.
There was a why but your instincts smothered them.
It’s very important to find him. Find that voice.
Find him. Find him. Find him.
Find him
Or die.
And so you must.
The light danced in front of you and the voice, so strong turned melodic, as if it knew.
“Here,” it crooned. “Here.”
The forest turned thicker, trunks twisted and branches wove between them, as though they were holding hands together. The air was slightly warmer now but….denser and it was as if you could practically touch it. Soon you started to stumble, your muscles burning from the strain as you collapse near a tree, gasping and coughing as your body screamed for air.
Your eyes began to tear from the effort but it refused to stay away from the flickering light. You wanted to break down, cry because it hurts and you’re fucking tired and why won’t the light just stay?
“Close, so close. Here.” The voice cried out and you wanted to scream for it to stop, you just want him to stop running.
As if sensing your frustrations, the voice called out, soft, pleading, “You’re close, cara mia, 1 please.”
The voice sounded so sad, so…broken. Something in you began to weep, demanding that you seek him out, help him, sooth him.
You ignored the one screaming go back. Go back.
With a grunt you pushed yourself off the trunk and walked towards the light, it twinkled joyously and your heart felt lightened.
I’m coming. I’m coming, you wanted to say but you wanted to save your energy. The light seemed to know that you’re exhausted and moved slowly. You forced your feet to move, making sure not to stumble and or trip when suddenly the floor began to become less…branchy and flatter, stonier.
Soon the crunches of wood faded to your feet slapping against cobblestones and the light flickered and faded. You did not panic, however, as suddenly the soft glows of torchlights came to being and you had to stop and blink as you realized that you were no longer in a forest.
You were in a dungeon.
Every part of you stopped and suddenly, the rational voice, the one who had screamed itself hoarse slapped you in the face.
“Wh-what?” you muttered, disbelieving because how the fuck? But there you were. The stone walls that glistened against the torchlights, the bars and…the scent of blood, human blood, and it dawned upon you that you had made a mistake.
The hysterical you was screaming that you’re in a fucking horror movie and it would be great that you should fucking run.
And you would have when you hear a child crying out.
“Help! Please help!” the voice sounded so young, so terrified and you could not help but call out too.
“W-who?”
“Please help me! They locked me up and I’m scared!” he whimpered and your heart clenched as you hear him tremble. Alarm bells were ringing in your mind but fuck it – you’d have to be a complete asshole to ignore a child in danger.
You scan around the cells but they were all empty, “Where are you?”
“Here! The door down here!” and you hear someone thumping against wood as you turn your lights towards the sound.
You saw it, a large wooden door, barred by wood slates.
Another bang and you see the knob – a round metal ring –shake, “Here! Please hurry!”
You ran down towards it and without further ado moved the wood barring the door, letting it fall onto the floor; but as you turned the knob, the door held fast – locked.
“Shit!”
“The key’s on the wall! Please hurry!”
Your eyes snapped towards the sides of the door and you see it, an old rusty key, large as your palm. You grab it, your heart pumping hard as you slot the key and turned.
“Yes, that’s it, oh thank you, thank you! Please let me out!” the kid cried and you swung the door open.
The door creaked then slammed loudly against the wall as you find yourself facing a pitch black room.
You froze, breathing heavily as your mind tried to grasp what you’re seeing, “K-kid?”
A child sobs but it was a man who laughed.
“Oh, you’re so sweet and nice,” you hear the child’s voice grow deeper, “And so, so stupid.”
Run.
Your body began to turn but arms, long and power grabbed you as you screamed. Someone heaved as you kicked and writhed against the man’s hold.
“No, let me go! LET ME GO!”
You hear him swore before he whirled and shoved you onto the floor. You scrambled to get on your feet but pain explodes in your belly as he kicks you down. Tears began forming in your eyes as you hear the door slam shut.
Suddenly, there was light.
Your eyes winces from the sudden brightness, your hands still clutching your stomach as you sobbed into your chest.
Fingers, long and clawed grabbed your hair, forcing you to stand as you screamed and tried to free yourself.
The man backhands you before digging his hand into your cheeks.
You gasped from the pain and saw…
…a man’s face leering back at you. He was wearing a skull paint which smeared haphazardly all over his skin, the worst part were his eyes, one green and another white as snow. And they were looking at you, blown wide with lust.
Chills ran down your spine as you realized that he was so close, his body nude as day pressed against you and…
No.
“NO. Please don’t, NO!” you exclaimed as you fight against his hold, the man grimaced, teeth clenched as you tried to kick and slap him away. But his hold was iron strong.
“Per Dio, non ti muovere!” 2 He swore but you continued to fight, fingers clawing into his wrists because you don’t want this – you don’t want this.
Then, he crushed his lips against yours.
Your body went stock still as he wrapped one arm around your waist and another held your head as his mouth violated yours. His tongue burned inside your mouth – pushing deeper past your teeth, like a blood tasting worm, eager to devour your insides.
You tried to push him away, your hands pressed against his shoulders but he held fast. Your mind was screaming as he tilted your head, his shoved deeper into you that you didn’t think was possible; his hips grinding into yours as he does so.
Your lungs burned as he continued and you started to feel faint when finally he pulled away, a string of saliva trailed between you two.
“Hai un sapore meraviglioso...” 3 he groaned, rubbing his thumb against your lower lip. You started crying, because this was not happening – it could not be happening.
“Please, no, please, I don’t want –“ you stammered, sobbing and shaking as your hands tried futilely to push him away.
It could have been your imagination but you saw his eyes twitch with guilt, “Neither do I…” he murmured, eyes closed and you feel his hold on you loosened slightly.
You latched onto that guilt like it was your lifesaver, “Then please, let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone, please.” And you wouldn’t, Jesus fucking Christ, you wouldn’t. Silence came and for a moment you thought he would do it, would let you go when his eyes, snapped open and they were hard.
“But it’s not what we want. It’s what I need.” Your heart chilled from the sound of his voice, your body stiffened from the realization. His hand, contrasting his action, gently caressed your cheek as he make another move to kiss you.
You kneed him – hard.
The man howled as he buckled down, but you don’t wait – when he loosened you, he gave you enough space for it and you doubt you would get that chance again.
You rushed towards the door, fingers barely graze the knob when he grabbed you by the arm and flung you across the room and onto what felt like a bed. Your body bounced like a rag-doll before he crawled above you, pinning you down, his expression furious.
“Oh, cara mia, puttana. 4 I understand why you did it, I do but that fucking hurt.”
You spat at him.
“Fuck you, you asshole!”
Surprise played over his face before he laughed, deep and loud. You squirm underneath him, trying to find purchase but he pins you down, his face leering over yours, his hair tickling your skin as he spoke:
“Oh, I will and you, cara mia 1 will be begging for me soon.”
You spat and swore as you thrashed beneath him. The man scowled before he pinned both your arm above you with one hand. He held you firmly as he grabbed the covers and ripped long strips from them. In deft motions he tied your wrists to the bed poles. You pulled but like his hands, they were firm and did not budge or loosened. The man's lips continued to sneer at your attempts and something, something within you snapped.
You started screaming.
Something scared howled from your mouth as the realization that you’re trapped, reverberates through your body, you started crying and heaving because this can’t be happening, this shouldn’t be happening. But as the skull-faced man loomed above you, his face cold, you could not help but cry again. You had never lost your mind like this before, your fingers clenching as tears streamed hotly down your cheeks, your heart thundering in your chest and all you could hear was that inhuman howl coming from your throat.
You don’t hear his hushes, or the feel or his fingers gently wiping away your tears when cool glass touched your lips.
Startled, you tried to clamp your mouth shut but he gripped your cheeks, forcing your jaw open and something warm and spicy slid down your throat.
You coughed and spluttered as it burned your mouth.
“There, there. Mandate giù, cara mia.” 5
You had no idea what the fuck he’s saying as you grit your teeth, fury coursing through your veins when…
Your body woke up.
There were no other words to describe it. Your brain clicked and suddenly your fear, your fury melted away as everything inside you, from your heart to your flesh…burned.
You tasted the saltiness of your tears, the way the cloth dug into your wrists, the smell of his breath – heady, irony and oh so fucking delicious – and how your groin started to ache. A low moan escaped your lips as everything, everywhere hungered.
The man – how did you fear him? – leaned closer, his nose traced your cheeks as you whined and whimpered.
He smelled so good and you want him – need him.
And he? Needs you. His fingers loosened from your cheeks, trailing agonizingly slowly down your neck. Both of you were breathing heavily, you watch his eyes follow his fingers, as it brushed your down to your sternum and then just above you heaving breasts. Suddenly, you're very much aware of just how much clothes there was between you and him and you whined. Eyes, green and white snapped up at the noise you make.
He smiled, eyes heavy as he leaned forward, so close your noses touched and you try to reach up to devour him but to your despair he leaned to your side, to your right ear and you rolled your eyes as he gave your lobe a soft, teasing nip.
“Yes?” he whispered softly.
A beat.
“Yes.”
He tore your clothes to shreds.
There was no warning; no gentleness as he unwrapped your body. His gold talons glimmered as his face morphed into something bestial. You saw red flesh swimming all over his skin – and the quietened rational part of you wondered what the fuck is this man is he even human – when he thrusted into you.
You screamed, back arched at the intrusion but he didn’t stop, gripping your hips and slamming into you with such force the bed shook.
You burned from the lack of lubricant. You were turned on, yes, but still not wet enough. Your fingers dug into your palm, wanting him to slow down, wanting him to be gentle but the other part of you demanded he fucked you faster, harder.
“F-fuc-FUCK!” you cried out and he laughed, grumbled and deep and wrong as he closed his eyes and pistoned deep into you. He groaned and growled as his hips slammed into yours, so eager that he lifted your hips above the bed, his cock now crashing against that spot inside your walls.
You came. Stars danced in front of your eyes as your cunt clamped and shuddered. Still he does not stop. You came again, crying and sobbing as he drove your body into the next and the next. You hear him moan and then he came, warmth flooding your insides. You gasped, trying to breathe as you watch him cum and then…
He lifted your legs and without pausing fucked you again.
“W-wha?” Your brain, still projecting on Mars, was alarmed that he didn’t stop. He didn’t even soften but was still rock hard and still thrusting hard and deep, even as your body – though still turned on – begged him to stop, for more, to please stop but please fuck you harder, faster, yes, yes, yes.
You wanted to say something but your body began to twist and churned and you came again.
He leaned forward, face flushed underneath the makeup, and he kissed your lips, muffling your cries as he hit your spot and your body shuddered from pleasure.
Time became meaningless. At some point he came again and unbound your wrists. He’d flip you onto your stomach, on your back, never stopping never pausing. Your cunt ached and at times the pleasure turned to pain and you whimpered. But he’d brush your tears and kissed you again and again until all you could recall was the slickness between you and how you’re so close, you could hear his heart beating.
Soon, however, your body became worn and tired, even though lust still coursed through it. As though sensing it, the man, the monster bent forward and started to whisper…:
“Siamo con clavi…con dio…siamo con Il nostro dio scuro…” 6
You let the word wash over you, like a prayer before darkness, finally, claims you.