Project: RWBY

Ch 17) You're Out Of Place

Artillery rains from above, shaking the world as I know it, and the tank spiders are too far away for any of us to do anything about it except pray to the gods that have long since left this destitute world to rot.

As the earth rattles waves of intense heat boil the blood beneath my skin and the screams of my comrades fill my ears, only stopping whenever an explosive shell shuts them up and ensures they never scream again.

I rack my brain for a plan, a way out for whoever is left, but for the first time in my life, nothing comes to mind. Nothing but the searing pain that comes from the shrapnel that's embedded into my flesh.

It was hopeless, none of us would survive this onslaught, so I shut my eyes and tried to block everything out.

My attempt isn't the least bit successful as the thunderous artillery breaks through my eardrums. I wouldn't even get to die in peace, but I knew that when I basically signed my life away to be here.

I feel someone shaking me, their voice muffled by everything around us. I open my eyes and find it's my comrade.

Her gorgeous ruby eyes are filled with tears and her wide smile with her luscious lips takes away all of my attention. She's saying something, but the ringing in my eardrums prevents me from hearing her words.

She points over the horizon where the spider tanks are raining death upon us. They were receiving the same treatment we were for the last twenty minutes, heavy artillery crashing down on their shells and tearing them to shreds.

Unable to hear what my comrade was saying I focused on trying to read her lips.

"They came back for us." Is what I think she said before she stepped out of the crater we were hiding in, too happy and disoriented with relief to be thinking clearly.

I reach out for her with my right arm, screaming something I can't hear.

Right as a bright white light blooms behind her.

In those few moments, I watched her luscious crimson hair flutter in the wind and her body fly up, her eyes still relieved and her smile still wide, as the explosion engulfed her body.

She couldn't register what was happening in that singular second, so I watched her die with that beautiful smile on her face.

As I'm launched backward by the explosion, I watch as my arm is torn off and the face of the woman I loved surges forth from the bright light, still smiling and filled to the brim with radiant hope.

Her mouth opens and her soothing voice caresses my ears. "Ne/-/, it's time to wake up."

I jolt awake in a cold sweat, breathing heavily as though I just ran a marathon. I frantically survey my surroundings for any threats, my hands already reaching for my rifle as my heart slams itself against my ribcage.

"Woah woah, Neir! Calm down, are you alright?"

My eyes land on the girl whose forehead creases with worry.

"Ruby?"

My head snaps to Ruby whose forehead creases with worry. It takes a moment, but I finally remember where I am. A classroom, not a war zone. Surrounded by students, not dying men and women. I clench my hands, silently counting to three before releasing the tension.

My head pounds as I force a laugh out of my mouth and clear my throat.

"Sorry, I dreamt that Heiress became the ruler of the world."

Three of my four teammates share an understanding look while Weiss rolls her eyes on the side.

"Yikes, that is definitely a nightmare I wouldn't want to get stuck in." Yang chuckles.