Mind-Realms

Written by: Danni Lynn Commissioned by: Zeroth19 Word Count: 10,000 words February 22nd, 2023 Content/ Trigger Warnings: Violent imagery, suicidal thoughts, murder, scary situations Rated: R Cold snow pelts and streaks against glass-block windows, pattering and knocking until the nuisance echoes in the empty air. Red wakes up with his back on the floor, staring up at a white-washed ceiling. The ceiling is patchy and peeling in some sections. The walls around him are tiled but stained with grime. An acrid smell—like spoiled food on a 90-degree day and sharp copper—burns his nose and throat. Coughing, Red sits up and a splitting headache crackles through his mind. Grasping the sides of his head, his hands stick to his skin, slipping and stinking. Red freezes. Where is he? What is he doing here? The air is ice-cold, and he is only dressed in his underwear and a T-shirt he sleeps in. His boots are on his feet, but they are untied. His hands are red. Red with a thick paste, almost