Regulus stood at the edge, watching the water trinkle from the lumos he had cast. It was such a dull light in the dark cave surrounded by nothing but rocks and ending in only deep waters. He looked out towards the water barely even seeing his reflection before the water turned so dark as to not even see past one inch from the surface.
He stared back at his reflection not even recognizing himself anymore before a tug on his robe startled him to look away.
“Master Regulus, Kreacher has the cup ready to drink,” the house elf said.
Regulus looks towards him before silently thanking him and grabbing the cup from him. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen when he drank this, but he knew he had to do it.
Grey eyes stared down into the cup before looking back to Kreacher once more, “Kreacher?”
“Yes Master Regulus?” the house elf asked.
Regulus met Kreacher's eyes, “I want you to make sure I drink every last bit of this. No matter if im begging to stop, do not let me okay? Force it down my throat if needed. But please make sure I finish everything.”
The house elf heard the dangerous tone in his voice and quickly agreed before Regulus went on, “And no matter what happens, you must take the locket to Sirius Black as soon as it shows. Leave me here and do not come back okay?”
Kreacher looked startled, “But master-”
“No. Kreacher you will do as I say okay? Take the locket as soon as it appears and bring it to Sirius only.” Regulus said sharply
The house elf couldn’t disobey an order so he lowered his head and nodded, “Yes Master Regulus.”
Regulus nodded his head then stared down at the drink once more. The drink and cave themselves looked harmless to anyone but him. He knew who placed and hid this Horcrux, and he knew it wasn’t going to be an easy thing to go through. But that was fine as long as James and Sirius were fine. As long as they got the necklace they would work together and with the order to find the rest.
Regulus knew his chances of making it out alive were slim, and he was okay with that. He just hoped his death would be painless. But knowing Voldemort, it would be anything but.
Taking one last look at the cup in his hand he brought it to his lips and tossed it back.
He was gulping the liquid down, noticing how the cup just seems to keep refilling with even more and slows a bit to make sure none escapes his mouth. He continues to drink it and finally it comes to an end and he drops the cup to the floor waiting for something to happen.
At first he feels nothing and looks around the cave only for his vision to become blurry. Regulus becomes dizzy and falls forward onto his knees, barely able to see a blur in front of his face. He knows it's Kreacher, but he can’t hear anything but the sound of rushing water in his ears.
He feels his throat start to close and vaguely hears himself taking huge gasps of air when he sees a bright light from beside him. Regulus turns his head and through the blurriness of his own tears he can still make out the necklace shape.
“Kre kreacher,” he gasps, “Ne necklace and go.”
Regulus feels the heat of a hand leave his back that he didn’t even know was there and then suddenly the light is gone. He knows he is alone now and Kreacher went to Sirius. That's what he told him to do and he just followed orders. So why does it hurt so much?
Regulus feels tears rush down his face even more and suddenly his entire body starts to burn. He screams as he feels the pain spread throughout his body and it seems to get even worse as the seconds go by.
This pain is much worse than his mothers Crucio curse that he’s used to. It feels as if there are thousands of needles under every single inch of his skin rising and pushing through every single layer over and over.
His throat is hoarse from the screaming; he's not even sure if any sound is still coming out. Regulus feels a cold touch on his ankle, but he’s too tired to even try and fight whatever is touching him that he just lets the cold slimy fingers drag him.
The touch and fingers become more and he turns his head catching what's dragging him to his final moments only to see Inferni. He studied them all the time and knows everything about them. Yet he can’t find himself to do anything but laugh.
Regulus laughs at the situation. Of course Voldemort would use those to protect a Horcrux. Regulus gets dragged further and further and feels the water at his feet as he's finally pulled into the water.
They say your life flashes before your eyes right before you die, but his didn’t. Regulus felt his body sink as he was being pulled under by many hands. He didn’t want to remember any of the good times with anyone right before he died because that would only make it that much worse. He pushed all those thoughts from his head as to not let the evil corrupt any of the good and freeing memories he had.
His breath was running out and he let out the final breath as he stared up from where he thinks the surface would be. The water is so dark he can’t even tell what's up or down. The only indication is the shape of a hand dunking into the water from above where all the other hands are dragging him down.
Regulus stares at the hand as what looks like a bracelet catches his eye. He knows that bracelet, as he is the one who made it. He made it for one person only and it was one of a kind.
That's what made him have a tiny bit of hope as he reached up for the hand he adored so much one last time, not even caring that it was probably a hallucination.
And as he reached for the hand one last time, his final thought being that he never did learn how to swim. Then everything went dark.