Open Wound by Shane Blackheart

Continued from Everything Is Wonderful Now ... After the angel that threatened his life, Sean faced his frightening alter, Vexis, who haunted his dreams. With the help of Byleth, Zagan, and Darokin, he thinks his troubles are finally behind him. Little does he know that PTSD is a beast lying dormant in waiting to emerge. It ends up influencing everything, including the way he perceives reality. Vexis was the reason Sean remained in a trauma loop for so long, but something changes within them as they decide to finally work with him; they want to help him heal from trauma after years of prolonging it. Being a sadist who is unable to feel love, it results in a twisted and sexual masochistic relationship that Sean becomes addicted to. As Vexis takes Sean through various liminal space voids and dark memories — theirs included — they reveal that they are something much more frightening and ancient than an angel or a demon. Can Vexis really be trusted? Or are they opening Sean's wounds to let something sinister slip inside...

Adult • Diversity Representation/Mental Health • Horror • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+/Own Voices • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+ • Diversity Representation/Mental Health/Own Voices

Content Warning: This story contains heavy and difficult subjects, such as domestic abuse (including a non-descriptive mention of past sexual assault) and general abuse, dubious consent, transphobia, self-harm, suicide, violence, derealization/depersonalization, and trauma symbolism. There is also explicit sexual content involving sadomasochism and bondage.