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A life of misdirection will leave a man lost for an eternity as he wanders through madness.
He felt as his body crashed to the ground, but he couldn’t find it in him to hurt anymore, even as the needles assaulted his nerves. He slowly sat up, watching as the darkened crimson sky dripped lazily in view. As he dragged himself out of the pit, needles dug farther under his flesh.
“Remus, where are you going?” The Red Lady asked.
“I can’t be here.” He scoffed, incredulously as he pushed his way through.
“Such a shame. Letting a handsome thing like yourself slip away.”
Remus didn’t look back at her. Not again. He’d looked back before, and it was why he was here in the first place. His hand gripped the edge, feeling as the razor thin edge cut into his hands. Remus pulled himself out, wiping his bloodied brunet hair out of his eyes as the fibers stuck to his skin.
“Remus, come back~ We had so much fun together last time!” The Red Lady laughed, her voice laced with sickenly sweet venom; but Remus fought to ignore her. As he staggered away, covering his ears in a desperate attempt to block the entity out; he looked around.
‘Smile. You’re on camera.’
Remus shook his head, looking away from the sign as he plunged further into the twisted knots of flesh that covered everything in grotesque amalgamations of what should be life.
The snarling of beasts unseen rattled him even after everything. The sound of their gnashing teeth feeling as though it could tear him to shreds without so much as a thought. Remus ducked behind a wall of sinew, feeling the blood soak into his already tarnished attire. He felt pathetic, as the pained sob wracked his body.
“I just want to go home.” Remus choked out, exhausted; covering his mouth in a vain attempt at silencing himself from the very beings hunting him down like a vile plaything.
“Oh but you are home.” The Red Lady assured as she appeared from beside him. Remus flinched away, almost tripping over himself as he went to run. He swore under his breath as he ran, feeling the burning agony rip through his muscles as he charged away.
He knew it was futile but he had to try. As he ran, the acrid stench of decay choked his airways. This wasn’t his home. It couldn’t be his home. No matter how hard he tried, it never would be.
His chest ached as he tripped down into a bloody river, accidentally inhaling a mouthful of the crimson lifeline. It tasted sickeningly metallic but Remus just coughed it out as he hauled himself free, getting cut on the sharp teeth-like stones lining the river bank. His form dripped, soaked with blood as he collapsed against the ground. Every part of his body hurt like hell and he wanted so badly to give up; but it hadn’t done him any good yet.
He looked off vacantly, staring off into the mayhem he found himself in; though something caught his attention. A strange building that seemed to grow out of a wall like a festering tumor. Remus sighed and sat up with resignation before standing and making the walk over. He ached and fought the urge to keel over with every step.
As he landed himself at the doorstep to the strange structure, he slammed his fist against the door. A tall shadowy man opened the door, “Come in, Remus. It’s been quite a while.”
Remus stumbled inside, though the shadowy figure caught him and helped him over to a nearby chair. “Have you thought about what we talked about?”
“Mr. Reaper, I don't know how long I can keep up with this.” Remus sighed as he leaned back against the seat.
The Reaper sat down across from Remus, placing two cups down before filling them with tea; before picking one up and taking a slow sip from it with a diligent grace. “It has been 23 years after all. Are you ready?”
“No… It can’t have been. I can’t go… not yet.” Remus breathed out, diverting his gaze.
“What’s holding you back?” The Reaper asked.
“I don’t know… what happened.” Remus sighed, briefly glancing down at the teacup prepared for him.
“You do. You just don’t want to face what happened. But does it truly matter?” The Reaper countered softly, “I know it hurts Remus, but you need to let go. You need to forgive yourself.”
“But if I’d just locked the door…” Remus started before getting cut off by the Reaper.
“They would have still broken in. It’s not your fault, and you need to move on, Remus. The others have.”
Remus went silent for quite a long time, picking the needles from his skin.
“Can I ask you something?”
“That depends.” The Reaper took a slow sip of the tea.
Remus slowly leaned forward, picking up the other teacup from the table. “Where did they go… when they let go?”
“That isn’t for me to know. You have to find out for yourself, Remus.” The Reaper looked over at the mortal with an apologetic expression.
“Is it better… or worse?” Remus asked, looking over his bloodied reflection on the tea’s surface.
“I cannot tell you that to any level of certainty, it would be cruel for me to answer.”
Remus sighed tensely, “Then why should I?”
“Can you really tell me this is a better alternative?” The Reaper asked.
Time seemed to draw on endlessly in the silence.
After an indeterminable amount of time, Remus took a slow sip of his tea. He felt at ease now, despite the chaos all around. The agony seemed to slip away as he looked up at the Reaper.
The Reaper smiled, setting his empty teacup down. “It’s time to go, Remus.”