❇ 𝔗𝔦𝔩𝔩 ℑ𝔱 𝔈𝔫𝔡𝔰 ❇

Chapter 15 - Artemis

Artemis POV:

My figure was exhausted and slumped, dehydrated from walking endlessly. I didn't know how many hours had passed and, truthfully, I didn't care either. All I knew was that I had to find the last two shards and all I could feel was pain. Emotionally, mentally and physically all blurred together.

But I had to go on. I had to do this for her, for everyone, for myself. My eyes closed involuntarily, from exhaustion, and before I knew what was happening I felt myself falling down.

I didn't dare open my eyes, keeping them squeezed shut whilst I hit the floor, my hands and knees taking the damage. My eyes opened, becoming accustomed to the darker atmosphere before blinking away shock. Where was I?

It seemed like I had fallen into a chasm and when I looked up, I could slightly make out my former surroundings. How was I going to get out now? Wincing, I managed to stand before swaying and falling down again.

Small thorns had flicked my calloused hands and beads of blood appeared, making them sting. I could also tell my knees were cut from under the thin trousers I was wearing which didn't help. Not to mention, the pounding headache that was still present.

I cursed under my breath and reached for the small bottle of water on my belt. Bringing it to my lips, I tipped the already empty bottle in my mouth, catching the few remaining drops. It wasn't much but it felt like heaven to my parched, scratchy throat prior to the hell it was going through  previously.

I stared up hopelessly at the small opening, a beacon of light shining through the darkness. It was going to be impossible to get out of here. And yet, I didn't try right away.

To be honest, there was no worry if I was going to make it out or not. I mean I had already lost against fate, what was the harm in losing more? I didn't have the strings, I was only being played by them.

It seemed hopeless anyway, going to a house that would never be home or going back to a life that was never mine. The little things that had been snatched away from me, leaving me with nothing and no one either.

But I still had to try because, even if I was a coward, I didn't want to be a quitter. So I stood up, still slightly swaying and tried to climb up the rockier side of the ditch. I put one foot on a small ledge and used that to propel myself up, using my hands to latch onto a sharp ridge.

I continued doing that and managed to get myself out, laying onto the ground. The jagged tarmac opened my already cut hands, small pinpricks of crimson liquid dripping off them and I wiped them quickly on my pants.

Weirdly, I was out of breath which was unusual for me but I had been physically tiring myself out. But I had to do it. I had to convince myself I was trying. That I wasn't letting everyone down.

Because this was better than staring at a wall that was just as empty as the inside of my mind. Contemplating if I should just end it and let everything go. And then reminding myself the painful truth, that if I did that, I was no better than the dirt on the bottom of my shoes. That I wasn't just giving up on me, I was also giving up on thousands of people. People that did have something to live for.

It was numb. Just living, felt numb. Like I wasn't even in my own body anymore, I was just floating between life and death. Not really having a purpose to live but just having a task to complete. An endless game that had no rules and only a prize, no concept but only one winner, no challenge but just something impossible.

It seemed like hours until I finally stood up, the tiredness still wrapped tightly around me like a constricting blanket. Seeming to engulf me whole, with my breaths coming out shallow and forced, barely there with the gas mask already obstructing my chance to breathe. My eyelids were becoming heavier like a constant weight was pushing them down harder and harder.

I kept moving forward with no sense of direction. East, West, North and South didn't do any good for me. What use would they be anyway when everything looked the same?

The same canvas in which the whole city was painted, consisted of only the monochrome shades of black and grey. Colour not even making it onto the palette and even if it did, there was no one left to appreciate it.

Because I was the only lone survivor in the pack.

A faraway beeping sounded, reaching out to me through the eternal fog of my thoughts. It pulled me out of my trance, momentarily shocking me back into the present.

I took out my phone and on there was an alarm set for 12 am which read...

Happy birthday.

I almost laughed at how ironic the first word sounded on my lips. But instead of a small chuckle, it was a sharp sob and before I knew it, my cheeks were wet with fresh tears.

There was a message underneath it and I raked my eyes over it quickly, the pain too much to contain. As the words stopped blurring, the memories started reappearing.

Mallory had written it.

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"What are you doing with my phone?" Artemis laughed, holding out her hand to Mallory who held the object.

"What's it to you?" The latter stuck out her tongue before snatching the phone further away from the other.

"Your such a child, Mal."

"Thank you, thank you, I pride myself on it." Mallory had a very proud look on her face and Artemis fought the urge to laugh.

Instead, the ebony haired girl just shook her head in fondness and tried to peek over the other's shoulder.

"Hey, I never said you could do that, Arty!"

"You never said I couldn't though." She shrugged and grinned cheekily.

"Now who's the child?" But Mallory's words didn't hold any anger and instead she rolled her eyes at the antics of the other.

"If you really must know, it's an early birthday present and you won't open it till then, okay?"

"Okay, mother."

"Shut up, brat."

"I'm older than you, respect me!"

"I'll do that the day you actually have any common sense."

"Tch. Rude much."

"I'm kidding, you know I love you, Arty."

"Love ya too, Mal."

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Reminder

Happy birthday, Arty!

To my greatest friend ever, you'll probably get this before I have a chance to wish you. Only becuase of the fact that I love my beauty sleep but I wanted to say some things.

I don't think I ever tell you enough how much I really appreciate you. Sure, we've been through our ups and downs but you've always been there for me. Even when it didn't seem like it, I knew deep down that you never really hated me. Because you weren't that type of person, Artemis.

Whenever you liked someone, you always tried to do the most for them even if that meant hurting yourself. Which is why I just wanted to say thank you for all the sacrifices you made for me in our friendship.

I'll never forget all that you've done for me and that's a promise. I just hope in the future, I'll be able to do something for you as well.

But anyways enough with the sad stuff. Happy birthday again best friend, your a year older now!

Time really flies, doesn't it? By the way, don't question why this is in your reminders. Maybe because, you never check them so I'm 100% sure you'll actually read this on your birthday. But I guess we'll never know. Love you, Arty!

Your best friend, Mal

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My phone was clutched tightly in my hands whilst the tears fell, bringing me into an abyss of sorrow.

Happy birthday to me.