[Switch.]
My entire face screamed in pain. I couldn't see straight at all.
'What the hell happened?'
Trying to get my bearings, I slowly moved my head around.
'Heavens, that hurts.'
Vision blurred, I searched around the floor for my chain. It was still wrapped partially around my arm and trailing off...
That's when I saw it.
Squinting my eyes and forcing them to focus, my fears were confirmed.
Heavy breathing, shaken body, and drenched in blood. He kneels at the scene of a murder, clearly the perpetrator.
I knew it.
This was exactly what I saw in that trial.
Looking down, I tried to confirm who's blood he had drawn, but all that met my eye was more bloodshed, and a small, black pouch.
That was all that remained of his victim.
Did he want me to see this? Why had he ripped this poor soul to shreds and yet left me here to nap?
It doesn't matter. He's dangerous.
This is on me. I will take responsibility for the death of whoever had been mauled by this demon, and I will not let their sacrifice go in vain.
'Damn it. I sound like my mother. So stuck up.'
Regardless, the Heavens have provided me with a second chance, and I won't waste it.
I tried to stand. My entire body stung with pain. I was in no condition to fight.
'What a monster. This much pain inflicted with one strike.'
'Wait, why am I singing his praises? This guy is a murderer.'
Although truthfully, something felt off about him. Not in an evil way, but something else. All his actions don't line up. Why does he run if he's capable of so much destruction?
'Nothing about this is right. I need to end him right now.'
My body wasn't responding the way I needed it too. I can't take this. I forced my body up, ignoring the piercing pain shooting through every vein.
"Shit. That hurts!"
'Uh oh. That was out loud.'
He turned to me, eyes empty, devoid of life. Streams of tears flowed down his face. He was surprisingly soft toned, and his sun-kissed skin contrasted the dark background.
'He's already got me in his grasp. What the hell am I saying?'
'I need to move now before he realizes he has the advantage.'
Damn it! Why wont my body move properly? This isn't happening again. It can't.
Staggered and off-balance, I dragged my body away from the murderer.
'Fuck! I'm scared! Please body, move!'
My limbs were failing me. Whole body weak, I forced my way through the excruciating pain.
'Please! Move! I can't go through this again!'
"Help. Please."
'What? Who is he talking to?'
My limbs gave out. I dropped on my side, aching in pain. Stomach churning, I keeled over and grabbed my midsection.
"I failed. I failed her. Please help me."
Ears ringing, I could hardly hear what he was saying.
"Failed. -help me."
'Failed? Help? This shitty trick! I have to-'
Vomit shot out of my mouth. Nearly choking, I forced my body up, exposing my back to the enemy.
Cough! Cough!
'Shit! I'm seriously going to die here! Now he knows I'm vulnerable!'
"Stay back! I'll kill you!"
I wasn't very threatening keeled over a puddle of vomit. I have to do more!
"Don't come over here! I swear on the Heavens you'll die!"
A tear escaped my eye.
'Damn it! Damn it! Please!'
I tried to crawl, and my muscles gave out instantly. I splashed into the puddle of vomit and tears.
Was I really about to die in this pitiful state?
"Shit! Please..!"
My ears rung loudly, drowning out all sounds except my pounding heart.
Badump. Badump. Badump.
My vision clouded, blurry and leaking with tears.
Badump. Badump. Badump.
'Fuck! I'm going to die!'
I felt a hand grasp my shoulder.
"No! No please! Please!"
I used all my remaining strength to flip over, and tried to use my chain, but I was met with nothing but grief.
My body was convulsing. I pushed it to its limit. Now I was going to die.
"The Heavens forsake me! Shit!"
"Please... make it quick..."
My voice didn't sound like mine.
My consciousness slipped away, mind and body fading to black.
'Why.'
[Switch.]
'Damn! Did I kill two people in one day? Please...'
I grabbed her face and moved it to the side, praying that she wasn't dead. I pressed my index and middle finger against her carotid, and waited.
Pulse. Pulse.
Blood was flowing. Thank the Heavens.
'I can't just leave her here. I'm the one responsible for this pitiful condition.'
Please. Let me just do one thing right today.
But where can I take her? The only place near here is...
'The dens. I just have to avoid being seen.'
Not to mention, dragging this body all the way down there...
There's no way. I can't carry a body all the way down the ladder. Ignoring the complications, I'm just not strong enough.
'I'm just gonna have to take her to my place. It's stupid, considering the circumstances, but I owe her this much. Whatever.'
Dragging her all the way there, my muscles ached immensely. My legs were trembling and my arms were fighting hard not to give out.
I couldn't give up on her.
I'd never realized how heavy dead weight really was, plus, the fact that she was taller than even me. I never considered 6 foot to be very short, since I've been taller than almost everyone I came across during my lifetime. I'd been here a pretty decent amount of time, too. A little over eighteen years of life. None of which had been easy.
I turned down the dusty side alley, spiderwebs catching onto my shaken legs as I walked. All the way at the end, I put her body down in the ash, nearly collapsing on top.
Struggling to catch my breath, I kneeled next to the unconscious body.
'What have I gotten myself into. I don't even bring company over. You'll be the first in 3 years.'
I tried to laugh, but it wasn't really that funny. I had been alone in this place for 3 years, after leaving everything behind.
I already left her, and now I broke my promise...
'Focus. You've got enough of a problem right in front of you.'
I swept away all the ash, revealing a rusted metal hatch with a handle that was clearly holding on for dear life.
'I've been meaning to fix that...'
I yanked open the hatch, and screams of creaks and dust escaped like the place had been holding it in all this time.
'Sorry, I'm sure you have been through a lot.'
Prepping myself, I lifted her body once again and walked down the old, unswept wooden stairs.
I didn't have a very comfortable place to put her.
'Hopefully she wont notice.'
I laid her down on my thin mattress in the corner and went to go grab something to clean her off.
"I'm exhausted."
'I'm sure she is too. Merciless killer or not, all that constant running and fighting has to tire you out.'
I picked up some rags and filled a bucket of water from the supply room, and brought it over to her body.
"I can't figure you out, you know."
I wet the rag and started with her face. I wiped the crusted blood off of her lips and nose.
"I've never seen you in my life, and yet you'll stop at nothing to see me killed. Why?"
The blood and vomit had crusted together on her face.
It didn't come off easy.
I had to grab her face with my free hand, so it would be still and...
I let go.
Her sun-kissed, porcelain skin starkly contrasted the dark environment of the room. Her sculpted face was nothing short of a model, immediately striking, and unable to avoid.
'Get it together, Solryn. You're just here to make up for what you did.'
"I know, but something about it still seems wrong. She isn't meant to be in a place like this, its obvious."
She wore movement-efficient, tight black shorts, with white cloth and a much shorter black cloth, draped over them, cut short in the front, and a waist-down cape in the back. All fastened in by a dark hazel belt, furnished with a circular gold insignia in the center. The portions of the belt extended through the insignia, hanging off on either side. Tight, onyx leather enveloped her forearms, fortified by white gauntlets. The top and bottom of the gauntlets provide damage support with rounded points. To finish them off, they were traced with a stunning trim of gold. Stylized onyx boots with golden highlights brought it all together.
"Yet your stuck in such a drab place like this abandoned research den. I'm sorry I did this to you."
Her midsection was smothered in vomit and silver.
I placed my free hand on her waist to keep her body still. I wiped gently, trying not to make things worse.
She felt cold to the touch, and yet still a hint of fire burned fiercely beneath her skin.
I kept wiping, revealing more of the strength in her body. You could tell she earned it.
A tear dropped off my face and onto her torso.
'Why? What's wrong with me?'
I wiped my face and continued. Her arms were stained with blood too. I wiped down the arm closest to me, careful to remove her chain first. It was heavy.
"You carry this and throw it around all day? How strong are you really?"
"What a hard life you must have led to need to learn how to use something like this."
I had to lean over her body to wipe the other arm, removing her gauntlet carefully. My shirt lifted off of my skin leaving it partially exposed, and it made contact with hers, grazing back and forth as a cleaned her arm.
I got goosebumps, and my hair stood up all over.
'I'm sorry. I've never had a girl over before.'
More tears dripped down my face, like rain against her soft body.
'It must be the lack of sleep. I'm just tired so my eyes are losing their strength. That's all.'
My vision was getting hazy. Tears kept forcing their way down my face. I couldn't focus.
'Man...'
Now's not the time to break down. I've got a job to do. I looked up at her face....
Her moonlit silver hair seemed to catch a reflection of all the colors all around, making beautiful, sparkling black streaks to compliment it. It was wild, much befitting of her personality, but retained and trim. It was wildly royal.
Most importantly, she was human. A gorgeous one, at that.
The tears were like a waterfall now, erupting out of my eyes.
"Why am I so weak?"