Warmth poured from her lips into his. Light wept out from the cracks of their entwined mouths. There was nothing in the world except the two of them, no time except for this moment.
Images started to flow through his mind. There was an endless stream of faces. Scenes from a million lives played out in an instant. His mind rebelled, then was overwhelmed, and finally just screamed as the information kept coming.
The warmth was intensifying. He could feel it inside him. Then the pain started. It felt like flames were burning him from the inside out. He tried to scream but the pressure of her lips was too great to allow any sound.
"Billy. Don't fight it. Let me in." Her words flowed into him with everything else. After all the pain and the shock of the still constant images he wanted to give up. Still, the stubborn voice inside of him refused.
Visible flames burst out of his body. Pieces of blackened flesh crumbled away. The pain was overwhelming, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn't escape.
His body completely burned away, and all that was left was the flame, but still it didn't stop. Surely he should be dead, but it didn't stop. And worst of all, he could feel his resistance weakening.
The girl's light seemed to be dimming as his grew brighter and brighter. Her outline turned vague and transparent. Still he heard her voice inside his head.
"Give in. Give in, give in, give in."
He felt like he couldn't hold out any more. His willpower was worn down to shreds. And still the images and the heat poured into him. It would be over soon.
There was a feeling, like a gentle prodding. At first he barely registered it. The probing intensified, pulling at the bond that held him and the girl together.
He felt the connection sever, and the sudden feeling of release was like a slap. The girl howled in rage, reaching out to draw him in once more.
All he could think over and over was escape, somehow, anywhere, escape. Anywhere but this dark hell with its eternal burning.
His eyes filled with light. Suddenly he could see a million possibilities. It threatened to overwhelm him. Desperate, he threw himself toward one at random.
The universe inverted. His mind threatened to dissolve, but he held it together with all his strength. He willed himself to think sane thoughts. School, mom's television, Rose...
He opened his eyes. Tentatively touched a hand to his face. He had a face. It
Images started to flow through his mind. There was an endless stream of faces. Scenes from a million lives played out in an instant. His mind rebelled, then was overwhelmed, and finally just screamed as the information kept coming.
The warmth was intensifying. He could feel it inside him. Then the pain started. It felt like flames were burning him from the inside out. He tried to scream but the pressure of her lips was too great to allow any sound.
"Billy. Don't fight it. Let me in." Her words flowed into him with everything else. After all the pain and the shock of the still constant images he wanted to give up. Still, the stubborn voice inside of him refused.
Visible flames burst out of his body. Pieces of blackened flesh crumbled away. The pain was overwhelming, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn't escape.
His body completely burned away, and all that was left was the flame, but still it didn't stop. Surely he should be dead, but it didn't stop. And worst of all, he could feel his resistance weakening.
The girl's light seemed to be dimming as his grew brighter and brighter. Her outline turned vague and transparent. Still he heard her voice inside his head.
"Give in. Give in, give in, give in."
He felt like he couldn't hold out any more. His willpower was worn down to shreds. And still the images and the heat poured into him. It would be over soon.
There was a feeling, like a gentle prodding. At first he barely registered it. The probing intensified, pulling at the bond that held him and the girl together.
He felt the connection sever, and the sudden feeling of release was like a slap. The girl howled in rage, reaching out to draw him in once more.
All he could think over and over was escape, somehow, anywhere, escape. Anywhere but this dark hell with its eternal burning.
His eyes filled with light. Suddenly he could see a million possibilities. It threatened to overwhelm him. Desperate, he threw himself toward one at random.
The universe inverted. His mind threatened to dissolve, but he held it together with all his strength. He willed himself to think sane thoughts. School, mom's television, Rose...
He opened his eyes. Tentatively touched a hand to his face. He had a face. It
