space | fairy tail

62 | torn and chipped

The medical ward of the Council Headquarters, which previously had been awfully silent in the last few days, was bustling. After all, the sole patient of the ward was being released today.

Galatea, dressed in a dress Evergreen brought her, was standing exceptionally close to Porylusica. Her team had gone home early, so that they could clean up and prepare the infirmary for when she came back. The only people of actual note in the ward were Galatea, Porylusica, Doranbolt, and Nari.

"All right, we have everything. It's time to get back to Magnolia." Doranbolt said. He took a step closer to Galatea, holding an arm out. "Are you ready?"

Are you ready?

That hand, harmless in nature, looked too much like the hand of death. Galatea, moving faster than she had since the fight, backed away from Doranbolt. Her eyes were wide and frantic and her entire body was shaking.

"Tea?"

All she could feel were his hands running across her body. His gross, gross hands. His unwanted hands on her. She felt like she was drowning in his presence, and she couldn't escape his scent. He smelt of iron and dirt, similar enough that she knew he was related to Bickslow. But he scent held no comfort like her friends did. His scent was fear. His scent was the endless black void of her mind, unescapable and relentless. He was prison, trapping her in an endless void. Even in death, his chains still wrapped around her body like a venomous snake and dug its fangs straight down to her bones.

"Tea!"

The blood, all the blood. All of the blood he made her bleed. The locked feeling of screaming at her body to do something but his control on her kept her from staying safe and alive. She saw herself, standing on the bodies of her friends, their blood staining her skin. A white dress flowing, stained with Laxus's blood as she grasped the decapitated heads of Freed and Evergreen; the lengthy body of Bickslow lying at her feet. She saw herself standing on a pile of human and dragon bones, in the centre of the Domas Flau, as spectators watched on. She saw fear in their eyes as they looked at her, and the rage that boiled. Four people clapping, each at different corners of the stadium. Acnologia, in his dragon might, clapping his paws. Minerva, with her cruel smirk and stained gloves. Horatius, with his jewel red eyes and stupid jacket. Jiemma, with his face contorted in a sadistic grin. All of this, the death and destruction, were her fault.

All my fault.

"Galatea!"

Nari gently held Galatea's face, wiping the tears streaking down her friends face with the pads of her thumb.

"Nari?" Galatea asked.

"I'm right here. What's wrong, you just started shaking and crying?"

"I-" Galatea trailed off.

Nari looked back at Porylusica, who shared a similar look of understanding as the teleportation mage.

"Listen, I'll get you back to the others. Freed can you make some tea and you can get some sleep. Maybe cuddle with your boyfriend or something."

"Okay." Galatea said, nodding her head slightly.

"Good. Remember, you can call us."

"Yeah."

Doranbolt and Porylusica watched as Nari teleported out of the room with Galatea, leaving the council member and the doctor relatively alone in the ward. Doranbolt, still mildly confused by what just transpired, entirely missed the deep frown that was setting on Porylusica's face.

"Are you going to take me back or what?" She snapped.

"Right! On it." He nervously yelped, completely caught off guard.