#17:52

The wailing you heard was faint and garbled as if you were submerged in the depths of the ocean. The absence of the sensation of smell, of sight, and of touch had you depending on your hearing, though it was not flawless. You couldn’t make sense of any noises that flooded your ears. 

The prolonged cries. The shrill outbursts. The hasty mumbling.

They surged in as quickly as they did out, completely indecipherable. The mere thought of this should have you riddled with anxiety but you couldn’t even manage that. You were completely devoid of feeling and emotion; so painfully numb, that you were near lifeless. 

The passing of time was an illusion. You weren’t sure when your toes twitched, or when your thighs groaned with fatigue, or when your lungs heaved, finally recognizing the blooms of pain across your abdomen. The abrupt transition from insensitivity to feeling every movement of your body had you sputtering with dry coughs. 

“Y/N…” After a long time, you could clearly hear the woman who had been wailing endlessly. Her arms picked up your limp body to brush away your hair that stuck to your face due to sweat as she shrieked, “Y/N!”  

Only a pathetic whine left your lips as your eyes found those of inky darkness. The woman in front of you sighed before breaking into sobs, however, none of that registered as you observed her appearance. She was deathly pale, her skin a drab shade of grey with purple veins concentrated beneath those terrifying eyes while her hair was the colour of ash. She appeared far older than how she behaved. Regardless, her features were soft but prominent, there was no doubt that she was beautiful. 

You thought she was beautiful. 

She must’ve recognized the searching look on your face because instantly she leaned over you to get something. Closing her eyes, she muttered words you didn’t recognize while clasping her hands to her chest. When she opened her eyes, the murky darkness was replaced by blinding purple light which caused you to look away. When you turned back, the woman was no longer pale. Her skin was warm beige with cheeks and lips tinted pink. Her eyes were not glowing or empty, they were normal with chestnut pupils. However, her hair remained the same as before, which she noticed. 

“Guess I can’t completely change, huh?” She asked with a forced chuckle, as she studied a strand of her hair.

Now that she looked somewhat human, you saw the redness that clouded her eyes and the long lashes that were coated with tears. The large dark circles under her eyes, with those purple veins, slightly shimmering beneath the skin. You didn’t miss the creases on her forehead which betrayed the brave smile she was giving. The ruined gown she was wearing was in tatters, covered in dust and grime. You noticed her reddened palms with crimson clusters under her fingernails. 

There was an ache deep in your chest, something much more painful than your physical ailments. It only grew when you searched for answers, your eyes roamed at the speed of light. Panic, at last, washed over and suffocated you as you noticed the dark cavern you were in, only illuminated by a half-burnt candle. The floor around you littered with ornaments, trinkets, and papers with letters you’d never seen. Lastly, over the woman’s shoulder, you could just about make out the outline of a body sprawled in a way a sleeping person wouldn’t be.

At the sound of your yelp, the woman gripped your chin and forced you to look at her. She quickly encased you into her embrace as you began to shake with terror. You wanted to kick and punch the air, thrash and scream until you were far away from her, but in your weakened state, all you could muster were broken sobs. She cooed and consoled you, though her voice was braking as well. Gently, she brushed your hair as she pulled back, lips planting a kiss on your forehead. 

“Sana.” Your voice was a hoarse whisper. She tried shushing you but you were adamant about asking this next question, “What did you do, Sana?” 

Sana froze, a strange calculating look flashed across her face before she responded, “I did what I had to, Y/N.” 

Then her lips were on yours, they were soft and welcoming but all you felt was bittersweet.