Maka was alone again.

She'd woken up, slowly at first, taking in her surroundings. Her body was oddly light, well rested. She'd been sleeping a long time.

She hadn't thought to cry, not then. It didn't seem worth it. At the end of the day there was a part of her which had never really believed in any of it. Being here again felt more real than anything else that had happen to her in the past few weeks.

Escaping, fighting the witch, Soul…. None of it was real. She gasped, grasping her chest. The thread had been cut.

She was going to throw up.

"Not just yet my dear, you know who'll have to clean that up" The Bitch stood outside her cell, leaning on the bars. For once Maka didn't feel like commenting.

The witch laughed slowly, "Ironic isn't it, meeting him is what finally breaks you. Well don't worry, you'll be back together soon enough"

Maka's head shot up, her mouth was dry. She had no idea what her face looked like but apparently it was quite amusing as The Bitch broke out into laughter once more. "I'd heard you used to be quite smart, perhaps I have bad sources. Well not to worry, you don't really have to understand anything, yet." The Bitch moved slowly, stepping through the bars, her condescending smile never disappearing from Maka's field of vision.

Yup, she was definitely going to throw up.

Her guard dog leaned forward, her canines glinting. A wolf, not a dog. She's the witch of wolves. The Bitch laughed, "No I assure you I am a dog, but that doesn't mean I don't bite." The smile grew bigger before cutting off abruptly. She cocked her head to one side as though listening to some far off voice. She sighed in impatience, " I understand I understand. Tsk, I wish we had more time together little one, but I guess that'll have to wait. The others aren't as patient as I am."

The Bitch grabbed her round her throat, her claws digging painfully into the skin. "Listen closely little one, I've got a message for you." Her claws tightened slowly as she spoke, Maka could feel small rivulets of blood flowing down her neck staining her shirt. Her mind was overload but the pain helped to sharpen it.

It was all she could do not to make a noise. The Bitch had never been allowed near her, all her torture had been delivered under the cold and calculating gaze of witches seeking knowledge. She would've enjoy her pain too much. So she wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing it. Maka bit down on her tongue till she tasted blood.

"Shibusen is facing a war, and you're the cause of it. Your friends, your teachers, your weapon will all stand on one side and you'll stand on the other. You hold their destruction in those ignorant little hands of yours. We are your only salvation, and theirs. Make your choice and make it soon. The end is coming."

The Bitch smiled, one last leering glance before she ripped Maka's throat out.

Maka woke up with a scream, shooting up in bed in an action that caused every muscle in her body to cry out in pain. Half her wounds reopened dripping blood onto the sheets, but none of it came from her throat.

Soul burst into the room, his hair dishevelled, a wild look in his eyes that she could see were bloodshot to match his pupils as he rushed to her side. "Maka" the word came out in a croak as a range of emotions flashed across his face, fear, relief, fear again, then finally worry as he grabbed her hand.

"I don, what? I…. dream?" Her throat burned from just those few words, but the pain didn't compare to the roar of her mind. She felt her throat again with a shaky hand. "dream?"

He was clearly worried about her incoherent ramblings, and the blood dripping from her numerous wounds, but the shock in her eyes was predominant in his mind and he grabbed her gently, pulling into his arms. She leaned his head against his shoulder, staining his shirt red.

"dream" She murmured once more. She could almost believe it, though the witches touch still burned her throat, though her words still rung in her mind. She almost let herself believe.

She could taste blood in her mouth.

That time she did throw up.