The evening hasn't gone well so far. Null has just walked away to a new group of people after we escorted them back to the beacon. My ears ring with swirling thoughts, deeper and deeper, before it's cut short by a loud scream.
I barely hear "tall boy" shouted before Ford, beside me, scampers off. Everyone around me scatters like rats in a dirty sewer recently disturbed. It takes me a moment to process before dashing out into the woods.
Long minutes stretch into what feels like hours, the thorny bushes I have accidentally ended up in surely not helping that feeling. A long while of silence before a scream for help tears through the air, the feeling of my bones locking up as I ache to go to them, but am too scared.
A while passes, and surely now it must be safe, I can't hear anyone, but maybe they're just trying to make sure the thing doesn't come back? I take my sweet time, only moving carefully from my place of rest when the wind blows strongly, covering my footsteps.
I break free from the woods, quietly moving towards town. Some figures are there so the trouble must be gone. A sigh of relief goes through me as I make my way closer, closer, closer until it's too late.
The blindfolds shock my mouth closed, almost asking if they were okay. Quiet as a mouse, I duck beside the tent, waiting for those things to move past me. If I'm silent, they won't know.
An unsettling feeling crawls up my arms to the base of my skull as one starts walking straight at me and only when it crouches infront of me do I notice the lack of blindfold. Two dark eyes pierce me, their stitched mouth feels like it should be smiling. Panicking, I motion for quiet, praying they will leave me alone if I stay silent
It motions for me to get up, brandishing a sword dangerously. I raise my shaking hands to show I have no weapons as I stand and head the way they 'said'.
A pommel straight to the back is all it takes for me to go down like a sack of flour.
Nothingness, a black falls over my vision as I see it stand over me
I swim in the quiet, floating in black inky space and feel absolutely nothing for once. The simmering pain and constant panic are completely quelled. Not even drugs could touch this feeling of complete emptiness.
A gasp of air reaches me as I feel myself being shaken, the inky tendrils leaving my vision as I slowly feel my body coming back to me. The ache in my knee, the scrapes on my shin, the low dull pounding in my skull that has been here since I fell through. The static returns as I see Ford kneeling over me, concern etched into his eyes. His first few words are lost to the ringing in my ears as I slowly sit up.
It's a blur, recounting what happened.
Why am I still alive? Why am I still whole?
The absence of any off feelings makes the pit of my stomach queasy but I push it down like everything else. Put it away in a tiny box to never be opened.
A sense of brief respite around the fire, my brother beside me. The music makes me smile and breathe a little easier.
If only it could have lasted longer
An unfamiliar form lurks around the edge of the fire and I get halfway through asking if anyone knows what the hell that thing is before I notice Ford roll off his seat and slink off. Quickly finding an excuse to leave I track him down, the shake in his voice betrays his fear.
There aren't many times I have seen him scared like this, the sinking feeling returns as I listen attentively.
The list, that thing is hunting him
The anger, fear and frustration rise to a buzzing in my ears
Walking with the group, about to go on a hunt for an oath breaker. Huntress and Ace have to do this, there are no healers with them so I make the quick choice to join with.
Two figures ahead make me pause, one being dragged, the tubes off that thing's back mar the second form.
All sound leaves my brain, nothing seems real the moment I recognize Ford limp in their grasp. The pendant over my heart feels heavy as I take a stuttered step toward them, away from the group. Someone is yelling to ignore them, that's not the quarry, and I let out a small growl I didn't know I was capable of.
Someone's beside me saying they can get Ford out, I just need to make a small distraction so they can get to him.
Shaking hands pull my gun out of my bag, slowly lining up the shot. A small hum of vibration doesn't seem to leave my shoulders despite my training, the feelings pouring out of me are too much to contain.
I squeeze the trigger and the bang hits my ears.
It takes a step towards me, putting itself between me and Ford.
Another shot rings out as I see Spider reach Ford, both of their forms fading.
I reach to pull back the hammer, back pedalling to try and stay out of range of that thing but it's useless. Blow after blow rains over my body, slicing through flesh and cutting down to bone.
I distantly realize as I fall, the last blow hitting me dead in the chest, that only Huntress has seen what has happened. She hesitates, the hunts-master's words sticking with me, she has an oath.
I barely choke out for her to go, someone will come.
I see her form retreat with the sinking feeling that I have done something deeply wrong in that moment.
The dizziness sets in as it circles me, offering to save me if I give it Harford.
The rushing in my ears can't tune out their mockery. I want to cover my ears but my hands shake too much, starting to shiver and quake.
I repeat over and over that someone will come for me, clutching the pendant around my neck. My community will protect me.
Everything starts to go grey as I have the distant thought, the detached voice growing quieter says that maybe they aren't coming.
