Lungs threatened to collapse in stress, chest heaving in and out as feet carried her down that familiar corridor. Darkness surrounded her, caving in on her surroundings so that she was forced on a singular path. Waves of blonde flew behind her, mimicking the motions of the fabric of her jumpsuit which had been ill fitted for her. All around her she could hear laughing. It was sinister and slow at first but the more she ran the louder it got and the more it picked up speed. "Where you off to Moody?" "Aye, it's peg-leg's kin!" "How's that Vigilance working for ya?" Sweet formed on her brow, trickling down her cheek before the wind picked it up. The temptation to turn around was strong but she fought it, fearing that if she did look it would deter her survival. "Guards!" She yelled but no one came. Either they had been paid off or they simply didn't care about the scum that was rotting away in their jail cells. Did she blame them? Astrid would have gladly let them all kill each other. Only problem was, she wasn't supposed to be here. She didn't deserve this. Her being in Azkaban was wrong. Suddenly she felt the hard tug of fabric pulling her back. Elbows hit the ground as she hissed between her teeth. Winded, it took a few seconds for her vision to focus but before it could she could feel callused hands around her neck, their grip tightening each time she blinked. Up went her head, brought up just an inch or two before being forced down again in an attempt to hit the back of her head against concrete. Luckily, muscles reacted and fought against the force causing her attacker to strike at her face in frustration instead. The warmth of her blood nearly drowned her as it fell down the back of her throat. Coughing, she aimed at his face to blind him in crimson. Now distracted, she was able to turn on her side, the blood now flowing out from her nose like it should have. Footsteps echoed behind her and she reacted quickly by getting up and shoving bruised elbows behind her to meet with another's chest. Then another pair of hands reached out, pulling her to one side. The another pulling her to another side. Suddenly everything around her felt small and she reacted the only way she knew how. Fist flew in every direction, legs following the hectic rhythm in order to protect herself. A punch here and roundhouse kick there. At some point she got a hold of a knife and the moment someone got too close... "WHOA WHOA WHOA MOODY! SHIT." Wild eyes looked at her attacker as she pushed the blood further towards their neck. There was a look of panic is his eyes, a nervous sweat building on every part of his face. He was probably no younger than she was and somewhat familiar. Her frame spazzed up and down trying to catch her breath as the scenery around her began to change. Corridors melted into the dirt ground, sprouting old roots and the trunks of tall trees. There was a campfire nearby that she could smell and fireflies. So many fireflies. "It's okay, Astrid it's okay!" Familiar voice calmed her nervous as Mackenzie Acklery stepped between the former Hufflepuff and her "attacker". "You're alright. You're at camp. Outlaws, Forest of Dean. Remeber?" Dark hues locked with hers, searching for the tiniest evidence of the girl he knew well. "Mack?" Suddenly her body relaxed but the sudden change was making her dizzy. "Whoa there chika." The shuffle of feet approaching caused the blonde to squint her eyes. " Raffie, coming behind you. Lemme help," the familiar tone of her best-friends voice was soothing. She turned to face the other girl and relaxed her weight against the other. Mackenzie let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his eyes with index and thumb before trading with the Hispanic girl who quickly marched up to the other who almost met with Astrid's blade. "Hey estupido! Didn't you get the memo. Don't sneak up on her!" "I was... I was just waking her up for next watch," the newbie looked regretful of his actions and began to shuffle back a bit. "I forgot." "And it almost got you killed. Go, I'll take her shift." Brunette looked back at her friends, specifically Mack and rose her brows. "You got this?" He nodded. Bending over to pick up one of the rifles by Astrid's makeshift bed on the ground, Rafaella marched off to take her friend's shift. "I was doing so well," the words left Astrid lips in a sullen and regretful tone. Her heart was still racing and the frustration of the situation didn't seem to help ease her nerves. Since joining the Hit Wizards, her training helped the blonde overcome the traumatic events that haunted her from Azkaban. She had always been a decent fighter but it was more about the psychological control she got from it. It was something that she carried on now, away from the Ministry and in the woods with her fellow Outlaws. Yet every now and again she had an episode. Usually at night when she had less control. Especially when someone sneaked up on her they way the newbie did. "I should apologize." "You don't have to. Besides, he could use the lesson." The male guided her towards the fire. "Sit. Take my canteen." He handed her the leather and she took it graciously. Turning the cap she brought the nozzle to her mouth and took a few gulps. When she was done the back of her hand came up to wipe the end of her mouth then handed it back to him, blinking in bewilderment. "Guess that place [Azkaban] never really leaves you." She wondered how he handled it, knowing that he suffered just as much as she did when they were both wrongly accused around the same time. He always seemed more put together but she knew well that you didn't just step away from that without a scratch. "But let's talk about the real danger in this situation...did you see Raffie's face?" "Man, she was ready to claw his eyes out." A small laugh fell from pale lips, as words continued in their exchange. Words full of support with intentions of easing the air from the previous tensions. And while the pair continued in their chit-chat, somewhere in the back of Astrid Moody's head, she wondered if her damage would haunt her forever. Ruining moments like this when she looked back at her life.
