My name is Anaideia Timor.
And I don't know who I am.
People are afraid of me. You can see in in their eyes. The problem is... I don't remember anything before a couple days ago. I have no idea why people seem wary. Or why the people just like me...
The forest is all too quiet, save for the pounding drum of my heart., each beat louder than the last. I can hear ten sets of footsteps behind me. They probably all think I look ridiculous, don't they? I mean, I'm holding onto a black string that's invisible and leading them through a seemingly endless wilderness. Everytime I close my eyes, I see through Corinna's. They're near a waterfall. Cain is complaining about the storm, saying he doesn't like getting wet. Cori is telling him to shut the fuck up. Oh, now they're yelling at each other. I open my eyes and take a deep breath. The sun was starting to sink below the horizon. Or, at least I think it is. I can't see through the clouds. But it's getting dark. "We need to find somewhere to stay." I hear Hade mumble. I nod silently, searching for a cave nearby. I find one, and I point. I don't feel like talking. In all honesty I feel exhausted. Walking is the only thing keeping me awake. "I'll stay with the string," I grunt, "Go rest." "Don't have to tell me twice- Ow!" Damien yelps, glaring at his somewhat annoyed, somewhat concerned brother. "Anai you can't sit out here in the rain." With a flick of the wrist, I'm shielded from the rain by a newly formed rocky outcrop. "Go." With that, everyone but Hade leaves. The remaining Star sits down next to me, holding a small flame in their palm. "You ok?" I grunt in reply. I just wanna sleep. But I can't. I'll lose track of Corinna. And if I do that, we're fucked. So I force myself to stay awake, occasionally checking in on Corinna using the soul string. God I wish I could zoom out and see where she was. Hade falls asleep, their head plopping down on my shoulder. The night goes on... the storm gets worse. Time is running out. I reach for the string again, curious as to where she and Cain are now. I can see myself through Corinna's eyes. I can see my own pale face, my own thin body crouched under the rock. I'm no longer the hunter... now I'm the hunted. In a panic, I yank on the string and snap out of my trance. I can hear Corinna scream, which wakes up Hade. "What...?" "C'mon, we gotta go now! Get the others!" Hade doesn't ask any questions, they simply get up and yell for the rest of the Star Beings. I keep tugging on Corinna's string, almost enjoying her pained screams. I can't help it, really. It's her fault I'm like this anyways.
Next thing I know, I'm running again. I can feel branches scraping against my calves, I can hear the sound of my own heart in my ears. Cori is far behind us now. At one point, she stopped screaming entirely. Cain had yelled her name, and that's what had clued me in that she had collapsed. Well... that and the sound of a body hitting the dry leaves. I've bought us some more time, but how much I do not know. I'll just have to keep pulling on Corinna's heartstrings and hope that's enough to slow her down. Now, the ten of us were prey and the realization that we were without supplies has finally hit. If we don't find Corinna before she finds us, we're all doomed. Our only hope is to hide and wait for a moment where we can take her by surprise. But, no matter what, I have a feeling someone isn't leaving this place. I don't know who it will be, and I don't know whether I should be concerned or excited. But I can feel the blood coursing through my veins. I feel alive. I would laugh if I didn't think that the Star Beings would send me back home because I was acting like a maniac. Rain hits my skin. I can hear, and feel, and see, and even taste everything around me. Maybe it's the adrenaline. Maybe it's the lack of sleep. Maybe it's the fact that I'm sprinting through a dark forest knowing the most dangerous woman on Worlomands is somewhere behind me. But I am on a fucking high that I almost hope I never come down from. I am here, in the moment, without concern for my past or my future. And it feels good. It feels animalistic. It feels like a feral sort of happy, the kind that floods your senses and overwhelms you. The kind of joy that you get after tearing something to shreds, knowing you'll regret it later and not giving a flying fuck. And it feels fucking amazing.
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Little piece of Anai art that's part of a series for these next three chapters :)
