HammerHeart

Darkness. Silence. Nothingness.

Wandering the invisible landscape alone

Slowly changing, forming

Hodge-podge of colors and shapes

Swirling in the distance, coming closer

Cacophony of sounds flying through the air

The world spins, contorting

Teleports her to a familiar, nightmarish place

Please no... not again, whispered from trembling lips

Pain and panic unleashed violently

Heart pounding so hard, its staccato heard for miles

Trying to run, unseen restraints making it impossible

Too late

Malicious laughter, mocking and cruel

Phantom hands, rough, grabbing and pulling

The sound of screams filling her ears

Vaguely recognized as her own

Pushed down, mouth gagged, brutally restrained

Ghosts of devils reveling in her terrified, pleading eyes

Every night, she is theirs to violate, use, drain, tear apart for their pleasure

***

On another plane of existence, in a dimly lit room, whimpers begin

Restless tossing and turning

Whispered words from trembling lips

Please no

He immediately is awake and alert

Attention turned to his beloved beside him

Darlin'

He gently brushes her damp, dark hair away from a furrowed brow

When the screaming starts and the tears begin flowing

Everything is forgotten but her

Pulling her into his arms, rocking back and forth

I'm here baby. You have nothing to fear. No one will ever hurt you again.

Holding her hand in his, he closes his eyes

Reassurances settling over her body, heart, soul like a warm protective shield

***

Back in the Hellscape of her mind

She is bracing herself for what she knows is coming

Thrashing, muffled screams, eyes squeezed shut

Still trying to fight

More screaming joins in, these are not her own

The blackness from her closed eyelids brightens

Like she is laying in a field on a sunshine filled day

There is a new heaviness in her hand

Tentatively opening one eye, she gasps

A hammer wielded

Her once beaten, dirty body is aglow

Demons crawling over each other to get away from the weapon she now boldly brandishes

Exploding into piles of ash when she hits her mark

Through it all, she hears her name

Panting, making her way through the lessening dark

The voice louder, calmly leading her to a door

No fear, opening it

***

Dark eyes flash open

Recognition of her surroundings, the arms around her, the voice of her savior

A shaky sigh as she breathes him in

Relief apparent on his countenance when she looks into his eyes

My Love, I tried...

Stopped with her lips pressed to his, hand on his heart

You succeeded