trench au – requested by @simply_jenna3000 (sorry it took a while to start this, but i hope you enjoy it, love.)

"Run. Don't look back; just keep running." I tell myself over and over again. My limbs ache, but I push forward with the hope that I can make it before Nico or the watchers can find me. All I have to do is make it through the valley.

Rumors back in DEMA say that once you're through the valley's pass, you're in Bandito territory. It's no guarantee of freedom, but I have no other ideas or options left. So, I keep running despite the pain as the pass gets closer with every step.

My heart pounds in my chest as a fresh wave of adrenaline enters my veins. The water slashes onto my pant legs and over my flimsy shoes as I enter the valley pass. I have to hold myself back from stopping to celebrate just yet. There's still a ways to go.

Except, all hope seems to fade as the sound of hoofs beating the ground echoes behind me.

"No, no. Please, no." I whisper to myself and try to push myself harder. A loose rock shifts under my foot sending me sprawling in the dirt and rock. Everything goes hazy as I try to push myself up or at least crawl forward. I'm faintly aware of the blood falling on chin from my now busted lip.

The bigger problem is Nico, who deemed me worthy to pursue himself. His blood red cloak trails after him as he dismounts his horse to approach me. "Oh, Y/N," he whispers like a parent scolding a disobedient child, but the sound of his voice rings in my ears. "I thought you were better than this. Still, we'll have plenty of time to resolve this little issue."

Fear claws its way up my throat as I move away from him, but the motion comes to an abrupt halt as he lifts his hand. I feel myself become fuzzy inside my own head as Nico starts to regain control. It burns and aches like neon being dumped in my veins until I'm a shadow in my own head.

Except, something happens that loosens his grip.

I look around as my head clears to find petals the color of sunshine falling all around us. A smile tugs at my lips at the sight. People are standing on the cliff's edges tossing the petals down, and it's only now that I know the rumors are true. The Banditos are really out here with their yellow bands and flags.

Tears build in my eyes as an overwhelming feeling fills my chest. It's not dark and sharp-edged like neon or anything I've ever felt in DEMA. This is bright and soft. Even as it fades with the falling petals, there's a lingering warmth left in its wake.

Nico takes a step closer to me, and I can see the boiling anger in his eyes. It's not as easy for him to regain control again, but like always, he does. My body hurts even more as I'm forced to follow him all the way back to the looming grey city.

The watchers are waiting and immediately grab a hold of me when we enter. I try to fight them, but my knees buckle underneath me from the exhaustion of today. It leaves me helpless as they drag me to the neon chamber and strap me down to the chair.

Nico and the other bishops enter shortly after the neon therapy starts. I can't make out what they're saying in the strange hushed way they have of speaking. Right now, my senses are flooded with the burning cold pain of the neon in my veins. It dances above me and paints pictures of everyone I've lost.

"That's it, my child." Nico's voice echoes in my head as the world grows dim, "Don't fight it; just let it take control."

I try to keep fighting, but the neon is offering false comfort—offering rest. It's only a few minutes before my strength gives out, which allows the neon to take full control, and my whole world goes blindingly white.

...

Peter's POV

I watch as the girl down in the valley is taken back by Nico. It's strange to see one of the bishops personally coming after an escapee. Whoever she is, she must be important. Especially for it to be Nico that came out.

"Oh my gosh. No, please, no." Ned whispers from next to me, and it's only just now I realize how still and quiet he's been since we saw her. I barely get to blink before he's running towards the path down to the valley.

"Dude," I call as I stop him before he can make it to far, "what are you doing? You can't go down there unless you wanna go back to Dema."

"But—but that's her, dude. My sister is still alive, and she's down there right now being dragged back by Nico." Ned's voice cracks as he watches her shrinking figure trudge after Nico's horse. "I thought she died, but she's been there. She's been trapped there all this time—alone."

"Ned, listen to me. There's nothing you can do right now. Because if you go down there, you'll be trapped there too." I wish there was something else I could say, but there isn't.

I remember when Ned and I finally made it out. We had been living in bordering sectors and got to know each other as we worked. I remember how crushed he was when his sister was gone one day. It's not uncommon back in Dema. Especially in Nico's sector. So that was the day we both decided to risk it all and try to escape.

We were one of the lucky ones.

"Look, Ned. We'll talk to the others, see if there's anything we can do." I can only imagine how he must be feeling. I'd give anything to have a member of my family turn up alive. "But, I doubt there's much—if anything—we can do."

"Please, Peter. We have to do something. You don't get what it's like under Nico— especially for her. Listo was nothing compared to him."

"Why—is it part of the reason he came after her personally?"

"Yeah. Her whole life, Nico's tried to make her his pet. It wasn't so bad when we were younger, but then when she got older and started fighting back. Nico would put her through so much neon until some days she was just a shell of herself." Ned's eyes fill with tears and his voice grows thick with emotion. "And I left her there. You have to promise me we'll help get her out too. Promise me, Peter."

"I-I promise." I stutter, knowing that I can't just sit by and do nothing.

Hours later, after a lot of convincing and effort to sneak into Dema. I finally make it to the place Ned told me that Nico usually moves the citizens he wants close. Apparently, this is where she lived before they took her to wherever and let Ned believe she died. It's at the top of Nico's tower, which overlooks the entirety of the bland concrete city and the eerie neon glow.

I climb up the side of the tower until I find an empty room and climb in. As I move into the hallway, a soft sound fills my ears. It takes a second for me to realize it's singing. I don't know why, but something tells me to follow it.

So I do.

All the way through the empty hallway until I find a room with someone inside. A girl is laying on the concrete floor, despite the cot pushed against one wall. I watch her silently for a moment as she spreads her fingers out in the light and sings with her the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. "in time, I will leave the city. For now, I will stay alive."

She goes quiet, and I step forward without making a sound.

"You can tell him he wins." Her voice rings out, louder, but still it's obvious she's pretty weak. "Go ahead. Run and tell Nico that he's finally won. It's what you're here for after all. Right? He sent you to here to see if I'll run again or if he needs to start the neon therapy again?"

"I'm—I'm not with Nico."

"Sure. Because you happened to find yourself in the most secure part of Nico's domain without being caught. All without being with him?" She scoffs and looks at me for the first time. "Just tell him I'm tired of fighting back. I can't anymore. He finally wins."

"No, he doesn't. Because you're still alive, and the girl I saw in the canyon didn't look like she'd give up so easily." I tell her, which makes her brows furrow as she looks at me.

"How did you know about the canyon?"

"Because, I saw you there." I take a slow step forward and sit on the floor across from her. "I'm—I'm not with Nico. I'm a bandito."

She lets out a scoff as she barely manages to push herself up and lean against the cot. "Now that—that's a new one. Nico is getting crafty these days."

"It's the truth. Your brother asked me to come."

"And now he's officially reached a new low." She mumbles with a bitter expression. "If you're gonna make up a story, do your research. My brother died a long time ago. So you might as well leave and tell Nico whatever you want. I don't care anymore."

She turns to look out the window with a distant look in her eye. "Ned made me promise I'd do everything I can to get you out. You may not believe me right now, but I'm going to keep my word. No matter what it takes."

"Hate to break it to you, dude, but again, I don't believe you."

"That's okay. I'll just keep coming back until you do."

"You at least gonna tell me your name? I mean, if you supposedly are a bandito, it would help to not refer to you as 'Nico's pet.'"

"I'm Peter."

"Y/N, but I'm sure you already know that."

"Yeah. It's still nice to meet you though. Ned talked about you a lot—even if he didn't know you were alive until today."

"I can't let myself think that he might be too." It's a drastic shift in her demeanor that I know is the neon fading away and letting her have the hope she can't feel with it. "Because if I start to, it will hurt so much worse if it's not true. It always does when he plays these games with me. I don't think I'll make it if I fall for them again."

"You may not believe me now, but hopefully you will. Because it's true, and I'm still gonna do everything I can to get you out of here and back with your brother again."

"One day, I suppose." She sighs as her eyes drift close. "One day."

I stay for a few minutes and wonder how I'm gonna tell Ned about everything. It hurts to even imagine how much she's gone through. Ned told me so much, I feel like I know her. She seems so much different than I thought she'd be, but I guess, three years of being alone under Nico would seriously change a person.

So even though I made the promise to Ned, I'm making it to her and myself too. I'm going to make sure Y/N gets out of here—for good this time. Whatever it takes.