Chapter 13 Sweet Dreams

Words : 704 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

*** {Inside The Projection} "Probably a rat. Now, FUCK! OFF!" Malik gave him the bird and laid back down on the bed. His acting was natural and award-worthy, but unfortunately... The first of them wasn't convinced. "A rat, huh?" His face twisted into a sick grin. "Sounded more like... a cute little fuckable mouse." Something in Malik snapped. "Sinbad." He hissed under his breath, eyes locked on the boy's wide, terrified gaze. "Take her. Now. Go." Sinbad stared, frozen. "NOW!" Malik barked, louder this time, his voice enough to jolt Sinbad into action. The boy scrambled to his feet, scooping up Huda in a panic. She stirred slightly but didn't wake, her small body limp against his back. Malik didn't wait to see what happened next. He lunged for his makeshift cane—a withered stick barely strong enough to support his weight—and gripped it tight. The drunkards laughed as he limped towards them, not seeing an inkling of a threat in him. "Oh, what's this? The little rat's got some fight in him!" "Who're you pokin' with that?" "Better put that stick down before you hurt yourself, boy." Their insults came one after the other, intent on breaking him down. But Malik wasn't affected, not in the least. "DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" His response was a raging scream as he stabbed the stick forward with all his might, aiming for the closest man's balls. "Urghh—FUCK!" The impact was solid, a disgusting pop that made the man howl in pain while crumpling him to the floor. "Sinbad, RUN! Show me that I wasn't wrong in naming you after him!" Malik's shout echoed, ensuring that they'd have at least a chance to survive, but thankfully, it was unneeded. Sinbad didn't hesitate this time around. He had already opened the window in between the bunk beds and climbed up, now standing outside on the protruding limestone. "O-O-Oh..." Malik heard a low-sounding whimper but didn't dare risk a glance. The boy was out; that was enough; his job was over. Whatever happened to them next rested on him more than it did on Malik. That, in one weird way or another, had given him a strange sense of relief. "Crippled rat!" But Malik's emotional moment was short-lived. The second man charged at him like a bull, aiming to smash him into the ground. The thought burned in his mind, a cruel truth he couldn't escape. Sinbad. Huda. They were going to die. His body refused to move, but his mind screamed. 'Get up... get up, get up, get up, GET UP!' 'GET THE FUCK UP!' 'YOU HAVE A PURPOSE NOW! DON'T LOSE IT!' 'DON'T FUCKING LOSE IT!' 'YOU WASTE OF SPACE!' 'YOU HUMAN GARBAGE!' 'WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT!' 'GET THE FUCK UP!' Hot tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood and grime that covered him. 'I hate you... I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! I HATE YOU! I FUCKING HATE YOU! I ALWAYS HAVE!' 'You've never done anything but fail me!' 'Their hopes are pinned on us... ON US!' 'You've decided to save them... they're your responsibility, and you... YOU'VE FAILED THEM!' 'Failed yourself... again.' 'But it's fine... it's fine; you can still save them.' 'SO GET UP!' His fingers twitched. 'Just... please...' 'Do something.' 'Anything.' '...' He didn't move. '...How dare you?' 'HOW DARE YOU LIE HERE AND LET THEM GET CHAINED?!' 'S-She's going to get raped...' 'Please... for her... do it. Get up.' 'GET YOUR WORTHLESS ASS UP OFF THE GROUND!' Despite his endless screams, his body didn't listen. It could not. This wasn't a fantasy story... it was real life. There was no miraculous surge of strength, no heroic second wind. He was a malnourished child that had been beaten black and blue. The fact that he had survived this long was already a miracle... Expecting more of him was pure idiocy. 'No... plea...s...e...' Malik's head lolled to the side and his breathing seized. The world around him grew dimmer, his vision slowly devoured. And then, there was nothing... Nothing but sweet dreams.

Chapter 13 Sweet Dreams

Comments (0)