"Gyaaaah!" Igneel screamed in anguish, and the tears that have been sliding down my cheeks continued to so, against my will, for an entire minute. Several of Zeref's minions had him strapped against an intimidating machine that functioned for the purpose of electric shock therapy. Slowly turning up the voltage, they seared his flesh with a hot iron, slicing his rough skin with knives until he cried out in agony.

My back, for one, had been burnt in multiple places. The hair matted against my scalp was sticky with blood, for they had yanked my hair to the point that all thoughts of fighting back completely vanished inside my head. Deep, purple bruises around my neck and arms resulted from their rapid movements from when they had choked me. Nevertheless, the worst wound printed on my body was a poorly-bandaged wound on my thigh, which I vaguely wished would bleed out. Exhausted, I turned my head by the slightest angle to peer out at the toolbox, where the items Zeref had used to torture me and Igneel were located in. I was not sure how much time had passed, but it felt as if we had already been in here for years.

The piercing resonance of the heavy door's metallic scratching against the concrete foundation made me cringe in distraught. As the door slowly creaked open, I shut my eyes as my mind drifted into space, and I found myself in an empty void praying for both mercy and death. Although a large portion of my heart screamed that it would be better to die, the small, remaining piece whispered that it would be alright to have hope. I opened my eyes to narrow slits, heaving an involuntary sob when I realized that it was Zeref who passed through the intimidating door. The corners of his lips rose to a noticeable smirk as his ears caught my vulnerable whimpers. I cursed myself internally, for I had gifted him with the one thing I had always wished to avoid.

Satisfaction.

I watched as his minions flicked a switch that eventually calmed the machine. In response, Igneel's head fell to a slump, and I could not even tell if he was breathing at this point. Zeref trailed his eyes down my head and moved from side to side as they peered at each of my eyes with an intense gaze. He studied my expression with pursed lips and an evil glint in his eyes.

"My, what fun this has been," he sighed contentedly and plucked one of the items of the bloody box. He spun it around in both hands, leaving dark trails of blood with every movement.

"This is far from my version of fun," I spat angrily, fear seeping out through my tough façade. Zeref chuckled in response, the horrible sound echoing across the room.

"Isn't it sad? The end is almost here." He murmured playfully, his lips morphing into a pout. My heart leapt in my throat. Though anyone could have guessed that death was leering around the corner. I was frail at this point, holding onto life by wisps of string. It was beginning to feel as if my struggles had been worthless. They won't find me, I thought.

This time I was so well hidden that my allies had missed me but somehow... I had still walked right into the jaws of the predator.

"So much for rule number one..." I mumble to myself. My heart squeezed at the thought of my old rule. By the stars, if I had the chance, I would have immediately accepted an offer to go back. Lisanna and her heeled minions would have been a paradise compared to my situation now.

"It has been quite fun, playing with you. I can see why Natsu chose to mess with you," he paused for a moment, taking a breath before continuing, "You're an interesting one. Certainly nothing extraordinary but you certainly aren't boring either." He smiled, amused at his own words. I sat silently, refusing to speak to him. He creeped closer to me like a panther, making my heart pound faster against my bony ribcage.

He leaned down until my dull brown eyes stared back into his steely black ones. He reached a hand up to my cheek, slowly moving the other to cup my face. Then before I knew it, malice overtook his once playful features as he applied a shocking amount of pressure beneath my jaw.

"I could snap your neck right now," his voice lowered to a growl, "but that would be all too merciful." With those cruel words, he bent down at an unnatural speed and sliced my shoulder blades. As a faint cry escaped from my lips, a heartwarming, hope-strengthening sound came from nearby. It was the sound of people.

"What the fuck is going on..." Zeref murmured and straightened up, leaving the room and closing the door quickly. Natsu? Could it be Natsu? The desperation to see him again was overwhelmingly intense; I longed to peer into his deep-set eyes once more.

"Igneel!" I called out to his father but he was unresponsive. Instead, I heard a familiar popping-- just like the sound of a new, warm bag of popcorn. Then in less than a mere second, I returned back to reality and realized that those popping sounds were actually the sound of gunshots. "Come on, Igneel, please!" I pleaded helplessly to the unconscious man, now in a more panicked manner. I began to fear the worst for him until the door opened again. Michelle strode inside with Zeref in captivity. The crook of her arm was locked around his neck, and by the sight of Zeref's cherry-red complexion, she was gripping him pretty hard. The fingers on her other hand rested on the trigger of a gun as she smiled a weak grin.

"I made it on time," she sighed before immediately pulling the trigger, making me jolt in shock. Stricken in horror and relief, a choked sob escaped from my throat as I watched as Zeref collapsed forward. In an instant, the single man I had shown a deep hatred for was taken care of; the one who had faced the penalty of death was not me, but him. At the sound of his body slumping against the floor, Michelle dropped the hand gun and let it clatter across the floor. She hurried to my side, nimble fingers working through the complex tangle of chains wrapped around my injured body.

Moving my muscles was excruciating; my own cries of agony made my heart break, for I had never been so deteriorated in my life. Michelle spared Igneel a slight glance before returning her worried pair of eyes to mine. With the nod of my head, she approached him apprehensively, placing two fingers against his throat. Her brows furrowed, and she placed her ear against his chest, searching for a heartbeat. When her eyes met mine again, they were somber.

"No," I shook my head in denial. "He isn't."

"I'm so sorry, Lucy..." She only responded. Tears dripped down the corners of my eyes not in empathy, but in guilt. Pressing my cupped hands against my mouth, I thought, What is Natsu going to do? His father and brother both... dead. I squeezed my eyes shut in the pathetic effort to cease the weeping. I should have protected at least one of them.

"Get out of here," Michelle said in a low voice. "Go find a phone. Natsu and your father are out searching for you."

My eyelids fluttered open, and I rasped, "What about you?" My voice was tangled in confusion and pain.

Her back faced me, and she stood still in uncomfortable silence. I heard her gulp before continuing, "I won't be going home, Lucy." Her voice was gentle but full of resolve. My eyes went to the body laying on the floor and nodded in understanding as tears started to blur my vision once more.

"Thank you, Michelle. For everything," I whispered. She nodded at me and acknowledged me with a gentle smile.

"Anything for you. Now go, you haven't much time left before you'll collapse from exhaustion," she smiled. I stood in place dumbly with tears dripping down my face as my eyes studied her face for the last time. She was smiling, but it seemed all to sad. The dulling glint in her eyes screamed at me, almost as if it was urging me to argue against her words. But beneath that frail exterior, I also noticed the determination present in her eyes. She would do this for my sake, for my friend's sake.

I smiled back at her gently before whispering, "Yeah." Taking small steps towards the door, I rested my hand against the handle and choked before managing my last words. "Goodbye."

I ran out of the room before I could finish my words. I did not even bother to look back at her one last time, for I knew that I would have cried in an immature manner if I did. I was the older sister, and I needed to act strong. I blindly made my way through corridors with my legs flying below me.

I ran.

And ran.

Even as one last gunshot sounded from behind me.

------

Before I knew it, I was outside, and the sun's warmth shone brightly against my snow-white skin. I was standing outside of an old apartment building in the deteriorated part of the town. The old train tracks that ran through the streets and alleys seemed completely abandoned, and for a moment, I had thought that I had been kept hostage in a haunted city. The sun's rays were blinding, but even while squinting, I was able to locate two figures from afar. I froze in terror, wondering if Zeref had called more minions, but the terror diminished into relief as I recognized the figures to be Natsu and my father.

"Luce!" Natsu shouted and sprinted towards my direction when he recognized me. When he reached me, he hugged me, but quickly let go when I squeaked from pain. Sudden rage flared in his eyes as he looked over me.

"I'll kill that bastard," he muttered.

"Michelle...already did." He stopped and looked at me in bewilderment.

"Michelle?" He repeated. I nodded carefully.

"Is my dad in there?" He asked, looking into the darkened doorway.

"He is," I told him, my voice running up in octaves. Natsu's bewildered expression twisted into one of pain.

"H-He didn't make it, did he?" Natsu's voice was low. I shook my head and grabbed a fistful of the soft cloth of his shirt.

"They're all dead," I sobbed. In response, Natsu pulled me closer to him. I looked over to see my solemn father on the phone. He must be phoning the police. Without warning, I was lifted into Natsu's arms and sat down silently onto his lap as he settled down against a wall. We sat in an uncomfortable silence until the police and ambulance came, where I was placed on a gurney and immediately taken to the ER.

And as the day of loss came to an end, a new battle had begun.

A battle against my weak self.

•••

Shout out to my editor sakurasoba
I don't know how I've survived without her until now!
You guys definitely should show her some love.
And it's about time our lovers reunited, eh?
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!!

Much love ❤️

~kels [fluff queen]