A tragic story about Billy Handsome. Inspired by the Avenged Sevenfold song 'Nightmare' :) Written by Fanfic.Net writer CoDFicCentral.

Billy lay slumped against the Juggernog machine. He'd been there for five minutes and didn't know why he wasn't dead yet. He couldn't move, and was staring at the floor.

He'd been training when Brutus came in, slamming him into the Juggernog machine before he could blow his head off. The swarm was long gone, but Brutus had lingered, and Billy was sure the guard had been smirking at him under the damaged visor of his riot helmet. He'd said, "You're fate is sealed."

As Billy lay there, still on the brink of death but somehow gripping to the borderline, he tried to remember what had happened in the last 3 hours. Sal had been the first to go, getting cornered in the Warden's office firing his Speakeasy at the same Brutus that just downed Billy.

Finn was the second, running through the docks with no ammo for his Voice of Justice, and had thrown his Hell's Redeemer before he was killed, which had saved Billy's life.

The only one left was Weasel. Of course he was still alive. Like Sal had said, they'd probably been drugged by Arlington, playing into his little game. For all Billy knew, he was passed out on the docks. The only problem was that the pain he was feeling was all too real.

He suddenly heard a guitar rift ring in his ears. He used the last of his strength to move his hanging head up so he could see the sky. Then a voice came through, much like the last two songs they'd triggered.

Nightmare!

Now your Nightmare comes to life.

Great, Billy thought. Another way to mock his life and regrets.

Dragged you down below

Down to the Devil's Show

To be his guest forever

Peace of mind is less than never!

That's what this was, wasn't it? The Devil's Show? Sounded like some sick play, one Billy was living. If Arlington got to him somehow, he'd still just fight forever. And peace of mind? That left him when he killed his first target. He still tossed and turned at night, being haunted by his victims.

Hate to twist your mind

But God ain't on your side

An old acquaintance severed

Burn the world your last endeavor!

Twisted mind? Check. Punished by God? Check. Billy's acquaintance with him was severed when he lost his innocence. When he found out what was going on with his parents. Billy's world burned that day. So that was a check.

Flesh is burning

You can smell it in the air

'Cause men like you have such an easy soul to steal

Billy sniffed. Yeah. That was burning flesh alright. He wasn't even sure if he had a soul anymore. In fact, he thought he was in Hell.

So stand in line

while they ink numbers in your head

You're now a slave until the end of time here

Nothing stops the madness

Turning

Haunting

Yearning

Pull the trigger!

Turning, haunting, yearning? Billy did that every night. Nightmares, night terrors. All the about the same thing. He'd waken up other prisoners with his yelling once. The madness never ended for him, either. He was a slave to his own regret.

Pulling the trigger was always the hardest part of the job if a gun was involved. Yet he showed no emotion or feelings while he did it. Every time. Nothing.

You should have known

The price of evil

And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah

Ooh, it's your fuckin' nightmare

While your nightmare comes to life

More mocking. He knew the price, and he was paying for it. But what he'd been paid out there for doing what he did, seemed like it was worth it. Not anymore.

Can't wake up in sweat

'Cause it ain't over yet

Still dancing with your demons

Victim of your own creation!

Beyond the will to fight

Where all that's wrong is right

Where hate don't need a reason

Loathing self-assassination!

He'd been dancing with demons since he was a kid. He didn't need more reminders. He hated himself.

You've been lied to

Just to rape you of your sight

And now they have the nerve to tell you how to feel

So sedated as they medicate your brain

And as you slowly go insane

They tell you,

"Given with the best intentions

Help you with your complications"

That's exactly what they'd done when they finally arrested him. Restrained him like an animal, binding any limb he could use to kill them with. They'd strapped him onto a table, injecting him with several needles, mainly sedatives, telling him to calm down, telling him lies that he would never believe. That just made him crazier.

You should have known

The price of evil

And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah

No one to call

Everybody to fear

Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah

Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare

Something new this time, huh? More mocking. Nobody to get help from. His fate was tragic: being stuck here. He was in Hell. He heard the singer laugh menacingly, causing him to wince. That's exactly how he'd laughed when he iced and burned his targets.

Fight! (Fight!)

Not to fail! (Fail!)

Not to fall! (Fall!)

Or you'll end up like the others

Die! (Die!)

Die again! (Die!)

Drenched in sin!

With no respect for another

Like the others? Dead? He wished he could just stop his suffering. Whoever was singing was just dangling false hope now. He can't fight when he can't move. Then again, he was still alive, right? Maybe he'd been fighting this whole time.

Down! (Down!)

Feel the fire! (Fire!)

Feel the hate! (Hate!)

Your pain is what we desire

Lost! (Lost!)

Hit the wall! (Wall!)

Watch you crawl! (Crawl!)

Such a replaceable liar

He burned. Oh, did he burn. His consciousness was singing this. It mocked him, punished him, tortured him. Ironic.

And I know you hear their voices

(Calling from above)

Huh? Mocking for a second chance?

And I know they may seem real

(These signals of love)

But our life's made up of choices

(Some without appeal)

His life was made up of choices and he'd made all the wrong ones. He realized that as they flashed before his eyes. He wish he could go back and undo all of this, this hatred and pain. He almost began to weep.

They took for granted your soul

And it's ours now to steal

As your nightmare comes to life

Billy's head drooped again, and his eyelids grew heavy. His will was almost out. This was almost over.

You should have known

The price of evil

And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah

No one to call

Everybody to fear

Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah

Ooh, it's your fucking nightmare

Billy closed his eyes.

And they stayed closed.

Billy! No! Ik you hurt Al, but I feel your pain:'(