"…I forgot…" Alex weakly uttered to himself, as the small lifeless body lay before him.

"I'm sorry…I…I never meant for this to happen…" He sobbed, before raising himself back on his feet.

He gave one last feeble glance over the pale body of the boy he swore to find and protect…but nothing could be done now. It was already over long before Alex ever left the town. Joshua was dead, he just never wanted to believe it…

He turned his back and with each slow painful stride he walked away to wherever his fate would lead him next. Alex could barely think; his mind was blank and thrown into a depressed state. Suddenly, the defeated soldier collapsed onto his knees again, betrayed the strength to move any further as silent tears formed in the lids of his traumatised eyes.

With all hope given into his despair and losing his resolve…Alex once again permitted his body to pass out. Not from the physical pain he felt from the migraines, but this time from the unbearable throbbing of a redefined heartache instead.

Eyes shedding all of his childhood pain and memories, darkness once again enveloped him as he lost consciousness in the nightmarish Hell he was already trapped in.

Blackness seemed to be lifted as faint light seeped through his pupils when Alex's eyes fluttered and gradually opened. Subconsciously wondering if he were dead, as well as immediately confirming he wasn't after recognising a more sharper pain than before.

Alex slightly grimaced at the pain he felt in his lower back while realizing he was still in that Hell. The light above him was dim, glaring over his body, almost mocking him of his desire to be free to find the light of the only world he knew was sane.

Alex glanced around at the room he was in. Familiar red painted the flaking rotting walls around him, debris littered the edges, and himself…bound down by thick iron chains as they stretched him over a metal counter right in the middle of the room as he glared up at the sinister light.

He quickly panicked however, when he noticed he was also completely stripped of his clothes. He also noticed faint smears of blood colouring the faded rusty metal.

Alex struggled, finding himself stuck in that situation for a third time, but this time was seemingly a lot more threatening…despite not being able to spot any potential weapons in the room unlike previously (as Holloway tried to drill out his eyes). Still, God only knew what fate had in store for him next, and judging by the nightmarish journey he had already been through so far, it was going to decide how his untimely end should occur.

The chains were heavy and harsh around his body; rust scraping across his skin as he tried to break free somehow. Helplessly, he called.

''Elle! Elle! Where are you…? …Are you here?''

Fearing for her, Alex felt she may as well be dead and that he was soon to follow.

To his complete horror, Alex heard the faint grinding sound of metal along metal in the distance. Although subtle the sound, the blood drained from his face as he froze at the knowing of the cause of such a terrifying noise. His breathing heightened, and the pain could no longer be felt as Alex desperately tried to free himself of the chains. The scraping grinding metal grew louder and louder as it gradually approached the room cutting through his eardrums and straight to his beating heart.

Right when Alex was certain that monster was right behind the door, the grinding stopped.

There was a pause. Alex felt time slow to a steady halt, his mind summoning an image of being cut vertically just like his father. Sweat beads trickled down his temple, as he waited unbearably to see that helmed demon once more burst through the door, about to claim Alex's soul with his massive cruel blade.

The suspense caused his fear to overwhelm him that Alex wished it would kill him before the monster could.

Instantly, Alex spotted the door handle turn on the other side of the room. Creaking, the door was slowly pushed open -the suspense agonizing for him- revealing a dark tall and pointed figure; the cause behind the grinding.

Alex stopped breathing for a split moment. Before he could take in the monster's massive and powerful frame, he began frantically struggling to free himself again, the rust dusting his body where it covered.

The triangular helmeted demon froze for a moment, as if watching the vulnerable and exhausted young man writhe in his restrained state.

Stepping forward from the door way, the monster reached for the door, and shut it behind him, continuing its calm advance on Alex. His fear grew and grew as it drew closer, threatening to consume his sanity.