It was a different kind of twisted, no matter how anyone looked at it.

To watch someone destroy themselves to the point of no return. The despair, the sorrow, the pain, the suffering, everything and more, all at once adding up into an unsatisfactory and horrific display of disfunction. For those involved, and those observing.

The boy thought of none of these things as he did it. To him, this was nothing more than a fantasy he finally had the chance to grasp. A final, blissful moment, that the relief he had wanted for so long, could possibly, finally, be in reach.

He didn't care if he was destroyed because of it, he didn't care if he managed to survive through what he had done, he wanted to finally feel the one thing he's always hoped for. The only thing he's ever hoped for.

The sliver, the absolute tiniest, bit of relief.

And he felt it. He was so in awe of it when he drove through his skin and flesh that not even the pain could break him away from the feeling. The surprise, the gratification, the awe that swept through him was all he could have asked for. But as it faded. He fell from the cloud.

Hard.

His body was screaming as he felt the damage he wrought upon himself. Beyond any repair it could do for it, crumpling from what he had done. It screamed at him in a way he could ignore. He was good at ignoring. It was all he's ever done.

It was only a bit more for others to witness.

What he did then rang out in a chill. One his friend could feel in her bones.

Even with the boys around her were trying to get her to stay, even Will who she felt didn't even like her very much, she rose up from her chair in a panic. Almost every hair on end as her heart went into overdrive. She couldn't be left alone with these people. No. Not like this. Not with her friend so close.

A scream. Blood-curdling and filled with a pain she's never imagined before rang out in a quiet, shattering echo. She nearly ran, legs charged to sprint as her heart nearly broke out of her chest in fear, but Grayson stood up, grabbing her wrist as she panicked. Fighting against him as Will tried to grab her swinging hand, but her heart beat too fast, the adrenaline in her fear making her blood rush so loud she could only hear that scream. She had to go. She HAD to go-

She swung her arm, full force into the side of Will's face. Nearly toppling him over as Grayson's grip loosened in shock, letting her twist out of his hold as she sprinted into the hall, panting as the rest of the dinner guests simply watched in twisted amusement. Those who expected what she'd find, smug, those who assumed the worst... Fell silent with eyes on their plates.

She pushed at the heavy doors, slipping into the low-lit halls and chasing after the echo, trying to find the source of the sound. To find him.

"Izz-" Grayson burst through the door, spotting her as he started her way, but she ran down the corner, feet pushing to get away from him as her dark eyes darted around at the paintings, candles, ominous shadows as they went about their flickering and watching as she streamed past, breath heavy as her view narrowed. She couldn't think. Nothing more than that one reeling voice in her head begging her. Find him, please, before it's too late-

She couldn't tell why she had to do it, or what she would be too late even for. But she had to find him. To stop whatever it is. That scream- Maddox- This place-

A door opened in front of her as she halted. Lump forming in her throat as Callem strolled out. A smile on his face, so wide and cheerful. Unstressed and filled with a disturbing amount of glee as he beckoned someone behind him to follow. It was too hard to process the fact that he was this drenched in blood with a smile like that. But she saw it as her

Their eyes met as he regarded her boredly. "Oh. Who let you come he-" He didn't even get to finish his sentence as she slapped him, hard enough for his head to rock to the side as her eyes welled with tears. She didn't even know for what, but something happened. She could feel it. And it felt horrible.

"What did you do?" Her voice shook. "What the fuck did you do, Callem? You fuckin' evil stupid, bastard-" She pushed at his chest as he held his face, a look of mild amusement and confusion curling his smile more as he tilted his head. Silent as she pushed him again. So he could do anything. Anything but look at her with that stupid smile as she hit his chest with no force. Weakly beating against him as her emotions seemed to fully jumble her mind.

"I just helped him. Nothing he didn't want from me." He said lightly, both of them turning as the door he just came through creaked. A gasp falling from her lips as she pushed both hands over her mouth, trying to keep herself from screaming as Maddox walked forward.

He was calm. A lot calmer than she's ever seen him act as he looked at her. Dark eyes staring into each other as she tried to think of what had happened. Why did he looked like he was just murdered in a corny 80s slasher, what had just happened to him, what was so bone chilling about how he was looking at her now-?

Like he was more relaxed than he'd ever been before.

Something inside of her wanted to scream out. They missed it. It happened. Something was broken that could never be fixed. He smiled softly. The sweetness in his blood freckled face making her legs buckle. Trying to take a step forward as she nearly toppled over falling into his chest as he pulled to keep her up. Tears she didn't understand streaming down her face.

"Mads what- why- what did you do?" Her hands gripped tightly at his torn shirt. Fingers gently grazing the newly formed scar on his chest as her eyes looked at it with complete confusion. His arms embracing her tightly as she was pressed against his chest. Heat radiating off of him onto her as his blood seeped into her clothes. The metallic scent filling her nose as her heart raced. Both of them sinking to the floor together as he hugged her through her obvious panic. "Madsy I-I don't even know where we are, these people, you-"

It was all to much for her as her voice cracked, one person could only handle so much in a given day. She had no graceful introduction to this, not even a crash course instead of what he told her when she first got here. But that can't be what this was. It can't be. How-

"Shhhh...." He hushed her quietly. The lump in her throat only making it easier to comply.

"It's a lot. I know that. But I'm better now, Izzy." He sounded so sure. So calm and... Happy. It was even more unbelievable than the demons and monsters and God this all seemed to be about.

"We're in Hell. Safe now. My father's kingdom, Izz. Our, kingdom." He gently pressed his lips to her forehead. A light, soft, kiss to try and ease her like she's done to him so many times before.

"We can bring this place to Earth, to the people who did this to you, and me. We don't have to bend to them anymore. I'll make them kiss the ground you walk on, so don't worry. Don't worry."

His soft voice sent her shaking in his arms, holding onto him for dear life as she looked up at him. Eyes wide in surprise, and fear.

"M-Maddox-"

"I'm the Antichrist, Isa. I don't know what I have to do, but I want you here for it. All of it, so please don't worry... just stay by my side." He wiped at her tears. Smiling at her face as Callem placed a hand on his shoulder. Isadora gently placing her head on his chest.

"You'll always like me? Right?"

She nodded against him. Tears streaming from her eyes as they embraced each other in shattering silence.

•••

/This isn't very good, but I thought I might as well post it since I managed to finish it./

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