Opkepa Rattop Hedplei

Chapter 13

Soncha Tiya Riskiness

She is in a funny sort of looking place. Not like the room she is so used to being in, or the decorated hallways of the Tower. Somewhere different. Blander. Less decorated with colorless walls and grey floors everywhere. It has long hallways that echo loudly as you walk. Every foot step resounds harshly leaving her a little on edge. With deliberate movement she forges ahead and looks around. Trying to figure out why this place feels so familiar. Turning a corner she sees a picture painted on the wall. Still dripping, like someone was just there. She looks to the left and right and sees nobody though. Slowly Clarke approaches it, a span of blackness encompasses most of it. A single lone figure with a look of absolute shock, horror and pain etched into his face. As she gets closer, the picture moves to life and she jumps in shock. Emotions wash over her like a flood. Sounds beat into her eardrums. Hearing her own piercing screams of anguish. Feeling her mother's embrace holding her back as she collapses in grief. Watching over and over again like a tape rewinding and playing. The look on her dad's face as the doors open and he is sucked out. Then she hears it, a humming and the tape stops. Able to let her retreat away from where she fell on her hands and knees. Backed all the way up to a corner, she catches her breath and listens to the distant melody. Once she feels her heart return to normal speed, she's up and sprinting down the hall. Getting as much distance away from that tormented illustration as possible. Careening almost head first into another freshly painted wall. She tries to dig her heels into the floor to stop but it's too late. Clarke falls head first into the picture and it envelops her entirely. Thrust out of the hallway and into a different world of its own. One full of an assaulted mix of groans and cries. Thick with vile rotting smells of death. And a feeling of her hand pulling that horrible lever over and over again. Just like before, playing and rewinding continuously. At the precise moment she is about to scream out, pleading for it to stop. She is falling again. Blond hair whipping all over her face as she goes. Landing uncomfortably in a heap she attempts to get up but finds she can't. Vision finally coming into focus she shrieks in horror. Finding herself in the middle of a massive pile of corpses. Looks of agony on each face are gut wrenching. In the midst of glassed over eyes and open screaming mouths. She lets go another terrifying wail and desperately tries to climb out. The harder she tries the more she sinks down. Revealing face after face of blistered oozing skin. Whimpering as she vainly tries to free herself. She wants to shut her eyes. She can't take it anymore. But she is frozen in fear and unable to move. A face of a little boy with neatly parted hair comes into focus as she slides down further. His eyes are closed though. Not like the rest surrounding him. Right when they are face to face, his eyes pop open. Setting off snarls all around her. Each bloody hand outstretched towards her. Furiously trying to grab her. Clawing out for their revenge. Pure panic races through her as she fights, tries desperately to flee. Letting out a horrified shriek when she feels the wet sticky hands circle her neck.

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Jolting violently with a scream so full of terror it sends chills down Lexa's spine. Franticly fighting the strong arms trying to hold the little thing close to her chest. Anxiously trying to calm the shaking toddler beating on her chest. Wanting more than anything to be able to lift this pain off the distraught girl. She would gladly put it on herself is she could. Anything to keep the pain away from her Clarke. Sturdy tan arms hold the little thing tighter as she whispers soothingly. "Shhh.... You're okay baby. It was just a dream." Feeling the little body go limp in her arms as muffled sobs ring out. Quickly her shirt absorbs each tear and begins clinging to her chest. "It was just a bad, bad dream, little one. You are safe." Lexa coos stroking the silky strands in her fingers. Little hands push off Heda's chest hard and the brunette looks down immediately. Her heart physically aches seeing such distress flood from the little girl frantically clawing at her onesie. Hands far too shaky to do any good, but still she tries. Each failed attempt urging her more and more. Until bigger hands envelop the smaller ones. Taking over to unbutton the bottom and pull it off the hysterical little body. Understanding what the poor thing needed. Lexa safely cocoons her trembling sobbing girl in Nann's soft blankey. Letting the blonde feel the silky smoothness against her skin as the brunette adjusts the small head over her beating heart. Cuddling the swaddled girl as she stands to make her way to her own chamber. One hand holding the tiny head to her heart, the other under the little swaddled rump as she sways gently down the hall. "Mama Heda's got you sweetheart. I am right here. You are safe with me." She hums feeling the girl nuzzle into her deeper and take a deep breath. Sitting by the warm roaring fireplace in their favorite spot. She slowly starts to rock back and forth as she holds her little one tightly to her. Lilting her lullaby over her softly until she finally feels Clarke relax. Still whimpering, and sniffling but no longer in a blind panic.