Moths to my Flame

IMPORTANT: This narration contains an implication of sexual abuse. \***Viewer discretion is advised**\*I've been here for years. I fell into Level 0 when I was just 9 years old. That was 20 years ago. As you can imagine, I've met just about every kind of person and entity there is. I've seen every level there is and I'm living in one of them. One of the worst. They think that it's the most dangerous level of the Schoolrooms, and it is, if you aren't me.

Being only 9 when I came here, I've had to rely on others when I could. I was too weak and too young to be able to defend myself properly. I was about to be killed by the Twins when I was saved by a group of wanderers. They took me into their group, cleaned me up, and offered me food.

I woke up the next day and didn't even make it to my feet before a man walked in and demanded that I get to work. I refused and was promptly beaten for it. Violently beaten. In front of every other wanderer in our group. All they did was watch. They didn't protest or try to stop him. In fact, some of them cheered. It was like that for a while until I learned to keep my head down and my nose out of trouble.

When I was 15, I managed to leave and found another group. They were violent, too. Not with each other, but with other wanderers. They would attack and kill wanderers that were alone or in small groups to steal whatever supplies they had, even the clothes off of their backs. I was with them for a few years and learned a lot of things, especially how they treat women.

They were the unlucky ones. It's no secret that men can get... Desperate. After being trapped down here for years upon years, similar to prisoners trapped in their cells, their needs take over everything else. Even right and wrong.

The women that were caught were always left alive and taken with us so we could use them until we were through with them, then either killed them or left them for an entity. I never participated and I certainly never watched, but I didn't offer them help. Even when I had the chance. Even if they begged me to, and trust me, they begged. I was left to scream and cry as I was beaten, and all everyone did was nothing, so that's what I did. Nothing.

Eventually, I grew tired of them and left to go off on my own. One of them that thought we were close tried to follow me. I told him to go back and leave me alone, but he wouldn't. He kept saying something like what kind of a friend he would be if he left me to die alone. After telling him to leave 3 times, I turned and plunged my knife into his stomach. He cried out in pain and gripped my arms, but I kicked him over and left him to bleed out. It wasn't long before I heard him scream as an entity found him. I don't know which one. I didn't care. I stayed by myself after that. All anyone showed me was cruelty and violence, so that's all I would show them. I intended to, until I met him.

His name was Gerrant. I was careless and wandering around when I ran into another Twin. Due to being attacked as a child, I stupidly froze in fear, but only for a moment. I started running, but I made a wrong move and ended up in a dead end. I was cornered and there was nowhere for me to run. I prepared myself to fight my way out of it when I heard screaming coming from behind the Twins. He drew it away from me and I watched in confusion as it chased after him, wondering why he would be that stupid. I didn't follow them or try to find him. It was a few weeks later and I was trying to find some more supplies when I heard someone struggling. I got closer to watch for when they went down so I could take their supplies, but it was the guy that drew the Twins away from me. It was Gerrant.

Unfortunately, I don't like feeling in debt to anyone, so I threw one of my empty bottles down the hall to get its attention so that he could run. He took his chance and I was leaning against the wall waiting as he rounded the corner. I told him that were even now and tried to walk away, but he wouldn't let me. I didn't want to kill him since I just wasted one of my bottles on him, so I let him come along. I thought some company might be nice. It was, until it wasn't.

We grew close, closer than we should have. I told him private things that no one else knew, things I never told anyone else and planned on taking to the grave. He told me things, too. We shared a lot... Including ourselves. I never felt closer with anyone else I ever met, even when I was still in Reality, and I began to feel love for him. Then, just like everyone else, he stabbed me in the back.

He happened to leave his journal out when he fell asleep, and I read it. He had been planning on robbing me while I slept and taking everything for himself. We had so much here from what we've taken from others and we shared it. I was happy with that, with him. I was heartbroken. I wanted to kill him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I decided to just pack everything up and leave. Shortly after, he woke up and caught me while I was trying to go. He tried to lie, but I told him that I knew everything. We started to fight, and I was forced to kill him. I didn't want to. He was the only person I have ever loved, but he was going to kill me if I didn't. Why didn't he just walk away? That doesn't matter anymore.

Gerrant managed to stab me pretty good before I killed him and I was starting bleeding out quickly. I walked as far as I could, and then I fell. I kept falling as I no-clipped through the floor and landed in a burning landscape. Everything was crackling and falling around me. I stayed where I fell and I... I cried. Not because I was afraid or hurt, but because I felt bad. I knew he betrayed me like everyone else, but I still loved him. I was nothing but a joke and an exploit to him, but he was everything to me and I didn't want his blood on my hands.

The fire was getting closer and closer to me, but I welcomed it. I smiled as my tears rolled down my cheeks and I watched the flames lick closer and closer to my skin. Then, I heard it call out to me. "You aren't afraid, child?", it asked me. I shook my head, still smiling as I stared at the fire threatening to consume me. "You've been discarded by them. Left like garbage to rot, like us." I nodded, and suddenly, I didn't feel the heat from the flames anymore. It was still raging on around me, but I couldn't feel it. The smoke was no longer filling my lungs and suffocating me.

"Rise and hold out your hand, child.", the voice said. I did what I was told, and there's no way to explain how I felt. I felt warm, relaxed, safe, unharmed, and happy. I was happy. "You are mine, child. I will care for you. All I need you to do is feed me. I am hungry. So very hungry.". I felt like a child receiving the love of a neglectful father for the first time, and it felt wonderful and so fulfilling.

This level is beautiful. It isn't a nightmare. It isn't a deadzone. It's just misunderstood. I understand, though. It's easy to understand when your own kind turns their backs on you. I was forced to suffer and they will suffer much, much more. Yes, the tables have finally turned. Now, it's my turn.

It was easy to gain the trust of others. I have a kind face and I'm easy on the eyes. It's mostly women. They're gullible and desperate. All I have to do is show the slightest bit of interest and they follow me like a moth to a flame... Which is exactly what they are. Little moths fluttering to my flame. The very flame that I'll smile into as it devours them and their worthless souls. The flame I call home.

It's easy to get them from the Principal. We have an agreement with each other, but wanderers have been seeming to escape him recently. The most reliable source is, of course, myself. I prefer the dark levels. Levels where wanderers are already afraid and ready to trust a friendly face. A kind smile and the promise of safety is all it takes.

It's funny how ready these "professionals" are to trust their life to a complete stranger over the exchange of a few words. Their loss is my gain. I was kicked and pushed around by everyone I ever met, and now, I never will be again. I'm the one they should really fear. It isn't the entities. It isn't the levels. It isn't even the Schoolrooms. It's me. I am the flame that devours their souls. Now, I am coming for you, GARY. Look for the flame. Feel the heat. It's already too late.
**> Open Author & Licensing Information****> Close Author & Licensing Information****Author: Async**