Chapter 7: The Darkness within

My eyes fluttered open, the world around me a blur of shadows and pain. My head pounded, and every movement sent waves of agony through my body. I lay there, groggy and disoriented, my hair a tangled mess, my hands shackled behind my back. As the fog in my mind began to clear, I became aware of my surroundings.

The room was dark and filthy, the air thick with dust and the stench of decay. Debris littered the floor, and the only source of light came from a flickering torch in the far corner. There was one door, heavy and bolted, offering no hope of escape. Across from me, Grommash was chained to the wall, still unconscious. His waist was bandaged crudely where the arrow had struck him, the bandage already soaked through with blood.

I struggled to sit up, my body weak and trembling. I looked down at myself and noticed my pants were barely clinging to my knees, leaving me bare from the waist down. A wave of disgust and humiliation washed over me, and I bit back tears, my mind reeling with what might have happened.

Desperately, I tried to free my hands from the shackles, but they were too tight. My fingers were numb, and my wrists ached from the cold metal digging into my skin. I turned my gaze to Grommash, hoping he might wake up and help me, but he remained motionless, his breathing shallow.

"Grommash," I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Grommash, please wake up."

But my words failed to rouse him. Before I could try again, the door creaked open, and Luthor stepped into the room. His presence filled me with an instant, burning rage. I struggled to my knees, my fists clenched behind my back.

"Luthor," I hissed, my voice shaking with fury. "What did you do to me?"

Luthor's lips curled into a cruel grin. "You got what you deserved, traitor. The Gani family has put a hefty price on your return, barely alive but still breathing. As for me, I had a little fun."

My heart pounded in my chest, my vision blurring with tears of anger and shame. "You bastard," I spat, my voice trembling. "You'll pay for this."

Luthor ignored me, turning his attention to Grommash. "And as for your orc friend here, he'll be sold into slavery tomorrow morning, right after I hand you over to your family." He walked over to Grommash and kicked him hard in the waist, right on his wound. Grommash groaned in pain, his eyes snapping open.

"It's your turn for some fun," Luthor said, pulling out a small dagger. He began to make slow, deliberate cuts down Grommash's chest, each one eliciting a wince of pain.

"Stop it!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "Leave him alone!"

Luthor glanced at me with a sneer. "Shut up, or you'll get more of the same."

But I couldn't stay silent. I struggled to my feet and stumbled towards Luthor, desperate to stop him. He kicked me back down to the ground with a harsh laugh, and I landed hard, the impact knocking the breath out of me.

As I lay there, watching Grommash suffer, something inside me snapped. The sight of his blood, the sound of his pain—it was too much. My vision blurred with red, and I felt a burning sensation, a familiar but unwelcome sign of my dark side rising.

"No," I whispered, trying to focus on Grommash, to ground myself in my humanity. But the anger, the need for revenge, it was too strong. I felt my consciousness slipping away, replaced by the dark, violent force within me.

My body convulsed, my muscles tensing and contorting as my dark side took hold. My eyes glowed with a malevolent light. I could feel raw power coursing through my veins, the uncontrollable urge to destroy.

Luthor watched in shock and fear as my dark side took over. I rose to my feet, my shackles snapping as if they were made of paper. The room seemed to darken further, the shadows growing deeper and more menacing.

"Morren?" Grommash gasped, his eyes wide with terror and pain.

But I was no longer in control. The dark side had taken over, and it craved blood. I turned my gaze to Luthor, my lips curling into a snarl. He backed away, his confidence replaced by fear.

"What... what are you?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

I didn't answer. With a primal scream, I lunged at him, my movements a blur of speed and fury. Luthor tried to defend himself, but he was no match for my newfound strength. I knocked the dagger from his hand and grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease.

"You'll pay for everything," I growled, my voice distorted and filled with rage. "For what you did to me, and for what you did to Grommash."

Luthor's eyes bulged with fear and pain as he struggled to breathe. My grip tightened, and I felt a sick satisfaction in his suffering. I bared my teeth in a feral grin, my rage intensifying.

"No," I hissed, my voice a low, menacing growl. "You don't deserve an easy death."

With a swift motion, I slammed Luthor against the wall, my fingers digging into his throat. He gasped, clawing at my hand, but I didn't relent. I could see the fear in his eyes, the realization that he was at my mercy.

I released his throat only to bring my fist crashing into his face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed, and Luthor screamed in pain. My vision was tinged with red, my body trembling with the intensity of my rage.

"How does it feel?" I spat, my voice cold and cruel. "How does it feel to be powerless?"

Luthor's cries for mercy fell on deaf ears. I slammed him to the ground, my foot pressing into his chest, pinning him down. He gasped for air, his eyes wide with terror.

"Please," he begged, his voice a desperate whimper. "Please, stop."

But there was no mercy left in me. I reached down, my hands wrapping around his throat once more. I squeezed, feeling the life drain from him, my anger driving me to the brink of madness.

His struggles grew weaker, his eyes rolling back in his head. With one final, vicious twist, I snapped his neck, the sound echoing through the dark room.

I stood over his lifeless body, my breathing heavy, my heart pounding. The dark side within me roared in triumph, but a small part of me—the part that was still Morren—felt a pang of horror at what I had done.

I turned to Grommash, my eyes wide with a mixture of fear and sorrow. "Grommash," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry."

Grommash looked at me with a mix of awe and fear. "Morren, what happened to you?"

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "I don't know. But I promise, I'll get us out of here. We'll get our revenge, together."

Grommash nodded weakly, his eyes filled with trust and determination. "Together," he agreed.

I turned back to Luthor's lifeless body, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and revulsion. I grabbed the keys from his belt and unlocked Grommash's shackles, helping him to his feet. Together, we prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, our bond stronger than ever.

As I guided Grommash through the dark building, my dark vision made it easier to navigate the shadows, but the battle for control within me was far from over. Each time my dark side surged, chaos followed.

The first time it happened, we were creeping down a narrow hallway. I could hear the faint sounds of guards patrolling nearby, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls. My heart pounded in my chest, and I took deep breaths to calm myself. Suddenly, a wave of dark energy surged within me, and my vision tinged red. Without thinking, I lunged at an unsuspecting guard who rounded the corner, snapping his neck with a brutal twist. The noise was louder than I intended, and I dragged his body into the shadows, hoping no one heard.

"Morren, control yourself," Grommash whispered, his voice strained with pain and urgency.

I nodded, forcing the dark energy back down, but it was a temporary reprieve.

We continued, slipping through the shadows toward the exit. The second time my dark side took over, we were near a staircase leading to the main floor. I could hear voices above us, guards likely stationed at the entrance. My mind clouded with rage again, and before I could stop myself, I hurled a loose brick at a nearby lantern, shattering it. The crash echoed through the building, and the light went out, casting the hallway in pitch darkness. The guards shouted in alarm, their footsteps pounding as they rushed to investigate.

"Move!" I hissed to Grommash, pulling him along as we darted down a side passage, narrowly avoiding detection.

The final surge happened as we approached the edge of the village toward the stable. We could see the moonlight filtering through the cracks, so close to freedom. My dark side, sensing our imminent escape, flared up violently. I screamed in rage, the sound tearing from my throat uncontrollably. My hands clutched at my head as if to physically contain the darkness within.

"No!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the corridor.

"Morren, quiet!" Grommash urged, his eyes wide with panic.

But it was too late. A guard, alerted by my scream, appeared at the end of the hallway. He raised his weapon, but I was faster, closing the distance in a heartbeat and tearing his throat out with a feral snarl. The blood sprayed across my face, and I felt the dark side exulting in the violence.

Breathing heavily, I struggled to regain control, my hands shaking. Grommash reached out, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder.

"We have to go, now," he said, his voice a lifeline pulling me back from the brink.

I nodded, focusing on his face, on the trust in his eyes. Together, we burst through the door and into the night.

The horse stable was a large wooden structure, dimly lit by lanterns hanging from the beams. Rows of stalls lined the walls, filled with horses. We moved swiftly, staying in the shadows to avoid the stable hands. My dark side flickered, but I held it at bay, knowing that losing control here could spell disaster.

We found Shadow in one of the far stalls, her sleek black coat almost invisible in the dim light. She nickered softly as I approached, and I quickly untied her, leading her out as quietly as possible. Grommash climbed onto her back first, and I swung up behind him, my hands gripping the reins tightly. Her coat was as dark as the night, blending perfectly with the shadows around us, and it struck me how fitting the name "Shadow" was for her. In this moment of turmoil and danger, she was our guide through the darkness, our silent ally in the night.

With a gentle nudge, we guided Shadow out of the stable and into the night. The moonlight bathed the path ahead in a silvery glow, and we rode quickly but cautiously, the shadows our constant companions.

As we followed the familiar path, the battle within me continued. Each time my dark side threatened to take over, I focused on Grommash's steady presence, on the rhythmic pounding of Shadow's hooves against the ground. It was a tenuous hold, but it was enough to keep me grounded.

We soon found the path that veered east and followed it for miles, the dark forest closing in around us. When we finally slowed down, I scanned the area for a suitable campsite. We found a small clearing, surrounded by dense trees and brush, offering some protection from prying eyes.

I helped Grommash down from Shadow, guiding him to a soft patch of grass. "Rest here," I said softly, my voice gentle now. "I'll set up a fire."

Gathering some dry twigs and branches, I quickly started a small campfire. The flames flickered to life, casting a warm glow and providing a much-needed sense of comfort. I settled down next to Grommash, both of us exhausted and still hurting from what had happened.

As the fire crackled, I felt the tension in my body begin to ease. The dark side within me seemed to retreat, leaving me in control once more. The night was calm, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Shadow stood close by, her calm presence a reminder that we were no longer alone.

Grommash looked at me, his eyes filled with concern. "Morren, are you okay?" he asked, his voice rough but gentle.

I couldn't hold back any longer. Ignoring his question, I burst into tears, the sobs wracking my body as I leaned against him. The horror of what I had done, the violation, the rage—it all came crashing down on me. Grommash wrapped his arm around me, his touch comforting and steady.

"It's okay," he murmured, his voice soothing. "Let it out."

I cried for what felt like an eternity, the tears cleansing some of the pain and fear from my heart. Grommash held me close, his presence a rock in the storm of my emotions. Finally, the sobs subsided, leaving me feeling drained but strangely lighter.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I'm so sorry, Grommash."

"Shh," he replied, brushing a tear from my cheek. "You don't have to apologize. We're safe now, thanks to you."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "We'll get through this," I said, more to myself than to him. "We'll survive, and we'll make them pay for everything they've done."

Grommash squeezed my shoulder, his eyes filled with determination. "Together," he said firmly.

We sat there in silence for a while, the fire warming us and the stars above offering a sense of peace. Despite the horrors of the day, I felt a flicker of hope. We had escaped, and as long as we had each other, we could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the night deepened, we lay down next to the fire, its gentle warmth lulling us into a fitful sleep. Shadow stood close by, her calm presence a reminder that we were no longer alone. For now, we were safe, and that was enough.