Title: Dark Sacrifice

Author's note: Written for a LJ community challenge. These are Misa's thoughts after she has been captured by L under the suspicion of being the second Kira and is tortured. My first Death Note drabble.

The memory of the warmth of his arms had kept her alive until now.

They had restrained her as if she was some rabid supernatural killer...if only they knew how close to the truth they were. Leather straps, criss-crossing her body, bound her upright against the cold metal frame. A metal visor shrouded the world in inky darkness. Muscles, long since frozen from their rigid posture, burned at the slightest tremor.

They had stripped her, wrapped a rough cloth around her body – a feeble illusion of modesty. After all, they let her soil herself rather than free her to tend to the call of nature. Methodically, they ripped away her humanity. Her sight, her freedom of movement, her dignity... but they could not take away one thing. The one last thing which would mean her freedom. Her love for Light.

For three long days, she endured. Her pain split the silence in desperate shrieks, breathed with ragged gasps. She shuddered helplessly as wave after wave of agony drowned her. She could feel the inquisitor's eyes mercilessly note her every reaction. Through the haze of mind-warping and pain-inducing drugs, she felt his suppressed elation as she neared her limit.

But she endured. There was a light in the darkness, a warm golden presence. Rem's love. The Death God had tried to persuade her to escape. But if she escaped, it would lead the police to Light. So, she refused – until the time came when she could endure no longer.

She broke her silence.

“Kill me. Hurry up and kill me,” she ordered Rem, her voice shattered.

Her words summoned the inquisitor.

“Amane-san can you hear me?” a disembodied voice asked, electrical static whipping the air.

“I hear you,” she replied in a hushed, harsh tone. Then to Rem: “Hurry up and kill me.”

“Does that mean you admit to being the second Kira?” her questioner pressed.

“No! I don't know anything about being the second Kira,” she cried out wretchedly. Her strength wavered. She had thought that she could be strong for his sake, his love. But, she knew next time, she would break. She had promised she would never betray him! So, she begged Rem to kill her. The Death God refused, vowing to kill Light.

No, no, no! If Rem would not kill her then -

They pressed a thick cloth wedged between her snapping jaws just in time.

Then Rem left her alone in the cold panting darkness. Later, she returned with a dark proposition.

“Misa, this will mean that you will forget everything about Death Gods,” Rem explained, her words reasonable and calm as if speaking to a small child.

Misa whimpered, shaking her head. Trying to say 'no' but the gag prevented her. She would rather die than live without Light.

But Rem understood her. “It's all right. You will still love Light. That emotion will remain. That is why you should forfeit your Death Note and entrust everything to Light Yagami.”

She heard the unspoken truth. Light would not want her if she could no longer help him in his Crusade. Despair crushed her more than their torture ever would. If she accepted this, she would be alone again. Yet, if she did this, the police would never have the proof they needed against Light.

Numbed, she nodded slightly. The tears that she held back for so long flooded forth from her. She wanted Light to hold her again – just one last time.

Misa felt Rem brush her bangs gently with her clawed hand. In that tender caress, lingered a silent goodbye.