So, this is pretty much exactly what the title says. Sometimes I'll have story dreams, and this is one of them.

The room was filled with them. Beds lined the stone walls, the white sheets stained with blood and sweat. Tables sat on each end of the rectangular room, covered in vials and medical supplies. Men and women were lying with various injuries, facing the ceiling, not reacting as me and Sarin entered the room. 

I looked around in shock. So many people.

My vision focused on the far wall and I stifled a gasp.

A man was hanging by his hands, chained to the stone with iron manacles. His skin was pale, eyes closed, and he hung with an unnatural looking weight.

"Is he...?" I couldn't even finish the sentence.

"Dead," Sarin confirmed.

I heard rustling behind me, and whirled around to find a man standing in the shadow of the hallway. His black cloaked was thin and jagged, the hood pulled low over his face. He stopped, a hand reaching up to pull the cloth away.

I clapped a hand to my mouth.

His face was a skull, the skin and muscles fusing to the bone around the sides. The teeth grinned at me, gleaming white against his dark complexion.

"What is that thing," I breathed, unable to tamp down the horror rising in my chest.

"The Banished," Sarin answered. "Don't worry, they don't bite--anymore at least. They used to be criminals, proven guilty for whatever crime they committed. And instead of death, they chose this."

"All criminals get this kind of torture?" I asked, backing away and watching it pass. It was no longer a him--just an it.

"Only the worst," Sarin replied. He seemed way too calm about this. "Murderers, mostly. It's kind of ironic, really, the kind of punishment they get."

"You mean there's more than the skull?" I couldn't take my eyes off of it, the black cloak swishing to and fro on the dusty floor. A hand reached out towards the dead man, painfully human against its bare face.

"Yeah." Sarin gave me a sideways smile. "Might wanna cover your ears."

He'd barely finished before an deafening shriek filled the cavern.

It was an unearthly howl, the very definition of agony. It sounded like thousands of nails grinding on the world's loudest chalkboard. I cried out and clutched my ears, the sound echoing around the room and bouncing in my head. The Banished had its head thrown back, its body tensed and writhing. The fingertips making contact with the dead man stayed perfectly still, as if glued to his skin. 

And then it stopped. Just stopped. The last of the scream faded into memory, and I slowly stood up from my stooped position.

The Banished was still again, its hand lowered and hood back over its face. He turned to us, and words hissed into my mind.

Burned from the inside.

And with a swish of its cloak, it vanished down the hall.

Sarin stood calmly beside me, his arms crossed and weight slightly off-center. He glanced over a me, and gave me an unreadable smile. "Have fun?"

"What was that?" I whispered in disbelief.

"They can sense how people died," Sarin told me, gazing at the dead man with a polite interest on his face. "They're forced to relive it and everything."

"And you can't hear it?"

He shook his head. "Not anymore. I've paid my dues."

I gave him a confused look. "What do you mean? What dues?"

Another smile, this one sad. "I've watched someone die."

My mouth opened, but I had no intention of saying anything. Before I got the chance to close it, there was a loud boom. The room shook, violently. I was thrown to the floor, dust raining from the ceiling and tiny pebbles breaking from the walls. There were cries as the patients were tossed off their beds.

I sat up, finding Sarin in the chaos. He was on the ground also, looking panicked. It was one of the only times I'd ever seen him afraid. When I met his amber eyes, they were wide with fear.

"Amorette," he breathed, and jumped to his feet, offering me a hand. "Come on!"

My stomach sank as I was hauled up, my feet leaving the ground before crashing back down. Sarin bolted down the hallway and I followed close behind, refusing to let the dread drag me down.

Our friends were down there. Sarin's girlfriend, my best friend, my mother and father...

And it had just been bombed.

Part 2:

I ducked another swing, the heat from the lava slowly burning my skin. Sweat coated my face, and the blade gleamed wickedly in the orange light.

"My talents are being insulted," the soldier snarled. "Being forced to fight a young girl--I should be on the front lines. But no," he added, reeling in his lizard steed. "They left me to guard."

"Sorry for your loss," I said, panting. "Please, tell me more."

He sneered. "I'll tell you one thing--after I kill you, I'll find your family, your friends, everyone fighting in this stupid war. I'll end it, and my emperor will see exactly how loyal his advisor is--"

Before he could finish his monologue, I charged. But not at him--straight at the legs of his beast.

It worked. With a screech, it collapsed, tumbling backwards off the edge of the cliff. The advisor screamed, and I watched as he plunged straight into the lava.

I stood there for a second, breathing hard. I stared at the stone walls of the cliff, died orange by the fire below. Forcing down the rising guilt and triumph, I turned back towards the castle.

I'd barely taken a step before I heard a laugh.

I whirled around, my gaze focusing on a figure climbing out of the lava. The lizard's head appeared first, baring its teeth, its claws digging into the cliffside. That was followed by a triumphant soldier, grinning up at me from his place in the saddle. The light turned his white teeth to fire. 

They get stronger in fire, I thought, and my heart sank.

Without another word, I turned and ran.

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So, I obviously elaborated....somewhat. I added names....and most of the dialogue. But the rest is pretty much exactly the same.