Dreams Die First

My back
smashes
against the cold
wall.
I laugh.
Smile at his
foolishness.

You're losing it.
Get a hold
of yourself.
"What's this
'it' you're
speaking of?"
You're sanity.
My smile
grows wider.
"I have never
been extraordinarily
good at keeping
sane.
Never.
Why learn
now?"

He throws
a punch
to my face.
My hand
slips between them
before
the impact.
Ink?!
"Please don't
struggle,
Xavier.
It will all
be over soon."

Ink!
Penetrating cries,
on repeat
in my head.
"Stop!"
I scream too.
A poor attempt
to muffle
the voices.
Those broken
noises.

Breaking out
of a grip,
the grip of someone
I don't remember,
I fall to an ocean
of never ending
depth.

The beat of
a heart
slices into
my mind.
It ripples the water
I'm being
drowned by.
Hello,
Ink.
Unable to make
sounds
into
words,
I sit in darkness
making meaningless
noise.

Today, I'll ask you
again.
Are you ready
for that
Ink?
"Mmm!
Mmm!"
Something warm
pulses
around my lips.
Cold cloth
turned my ocean
into the darkness
I remain in.

My feet are
numb.
Tile
against
my bare feet,
chipped corners
stuck in the
sole.
My hands
are tied.
Chains and
bloody rope.

Hands
I remember
only slightly.
I thought
last year
would be
the last time
I'd have to
do this.
A guilty
conscience
is roaming
his head,
like smoke
damaging
your lungs.

Guess
you were wrong.
That tongue,
that revolting
tongue.
His lips move
with a compassion
to hate.

Destroy.
Axton?
Now!

The madness
inside me
boils in my blood.
My veins
collapse.
My connected hands
throw a punch.
My foot discharges
a kick.
Both
are successful.
They impact flesh,
hit bone.

My sight
has been restored.
Bodies that seem
vague in
my memory
lay on
the crimson tile.
My hand rope
slithers to
the floor.

Bloody knuckles,
feet run red.

Man.
Hey, Ink.
Remember me?
Xavier?
By that look
you don't seem to.
His smile
turns wicked.
Ashton and I,
are just
trying to save you.

These names.
Who are they?
Why can't
I remember?!

A painful cry,
I drop
to the floor.
My head
juggling
lost information.

Forget it all.
"I can't!
I want...
to remember."
I will not
allow that.

Waves
of delirious pain
strike my brain.
Quick!
Get him while
he's vulnerable!

"Let me!
Let me
remember!
Why can I
only forget?"

You are a strong
type of person,
but your mind
is weak.
You stayed sane
for so long
because you became
attached to a world
you don't belong in.
The only way
you will survive
is if I
am in control.

I must create
a world
fit for us.
I must make you
let go.
For that
to happen
you must
forget.
Forget,
Ink.
Forget the words.
Forget the names.
Forget the touch.
Forget the feelings.
Forget the hate.
Forget the perfection.
Forget the pain.
Forget the memories.
Forget the fear.