05-19-2014, 02:30 PM
He barked something in response that had the cadence of military dogma, though the words fizzled out long before they reached her ears. The edges of her vision darkened like the blackened edges of burnt paper; the light seared, then winked out, yanked by the force of lost control. Everything dimmed, then blurred; she blinked to clear her gaze but the improvement was minimal, and resultant disorientation rolled nausea in her stomach. For a moment she squeezed her eyes shut to dull the feeling. It didn't do much.
Relief that he was able to stand was short-lived. The rise back to her own feet was a nebulous thing, like the boundaries of her body had erased their edges, allowing her spirit to float just a little beyond. It anchored her oddly, making mockery of her balance, and she was grimly aware of the hailing bullets and spit of dirt as her body and mind fell out of sync. Her head felt loose, distant; though it throbbed. A lesser will might have seen her sink back to her knees, the unnatural fatigue was suddenly so crushing, but she forced herself on. Ekene supported her, though she was unsure if he was trying to help or if he clung through fear. His eyes were wide black saucers as they were ushered to cover.
Around her the legionnaires all blurred into one, aside from the one who limped on his comrade. The pop of bullets rattled around in her skull, and she braced herself against a wall. Whatever she'd done to the injured man had washed out what remained of her strength, and she'd only begun to realise how vulnerable it left her now that it was too late to pool a reserve. The weakness resolved her defiant soul to iron, but it rested on crumbling foundations. The Light was gone, and in its absence she was forced to relinquish her safety to her mother's money and four strangers. Not that she doubted the capability of either. Her mind burned with the need to know exactly where they intended to take her, though. Ready to rally a defence.
"Will they hurt me,"
Ekene whispered, "for what I did?"
"I won't let them."
The promise came immediately, with no thought or price. The "them" bled indistinct in her mind; a faceless enemy, though her mind flashed images of the crushed bones in his hand. Her vision hemmed in; she concentrated on staying conscious.
Relief that he was able to stand was short-lived. The rise back to her own feet was a nebulous thing, like the boundaries of her body had erased their edges, allowing her spirit to float just a little beyond. It anchored her oddly, making mockery of her balance, and she was grimly aware of the hailing bullets and spit of dirt as her body and mind fell out of sync. Her head felt loose, distant; though it throbbed. A lesser will might have seen her sink back to her knees, the unnatural fatigue was suddenly so crushing, but she forced herself on. Ekene supported her, though she was unsure if he was trying to help or if he clung through fear. His eyes were wide black saucers as they were ushered to cover.
Around her the legionnaires all blurred into one, aside from the one who limped on his comrade. The pop of bullets rattled around in her skull, and she braced herself against a wall. Whatever she'd done to the injured man had washed out what remained of her strength, and she'd only begun to realise how vulnerable it left her now that it was too late to pool a reserve. The weakness resolved her defiant soul to iron, but it rested on crumbling foundations. The Light was gone, and in its absence she was forced to relinquish her safety to her mother's money and four strangers. Not that she doubted the capability of either. Her mind burned with the need to know exactly where they intended to take her, though. Ready to rally a defence.
"Will they hurt me,"
Ekene whispered, "for what I did?"
"I won't let them."
The promise came immediately, with no thought or price. The "them" bled indistinct in her mind; a faceless enemy, though her mind flashed images of the crushed bones in his hand. Her vision hemmed in; she concentrated on staying conscious.