Requiem Run

Chapter 10

Darkness.

It took me a second longer than I was willing to admit to realize that I wasn't dead. As soon as it clicked, I sat up and gasped in a fresh mouthful of air, almost colliding with Tarja, who had been standing over me.

"Easy, easy Riley," said the elf as she gently took my shoulders and pushed me back onto the bed, "You're safe, alive, and everything's fine."

"I am?" I asked, still in a daze, "Are you sure?"

Tarja smiled at me as she took my hand, held it close, and said, "I am absolutely sure you are alive and safe right now. You made it to a safety point, which means you and Katie get twenty-four hours to recoup before going back in."

Her words were getting through to me as I relaxed and allowed myself to un-tense a little. My eyes drifted around the room, and it was then that I realized a certain orc was in the room as well, standing in the corner by the door.

"Rhys?"

The orc woman smiled as soon as we made eye contact and she rushed to my side.

"It's good to see you again Riley," Rhys said, "I never thought I would see you again when you went into the Run."

"You two know each other?" I asked.

"I was about to say the same thing," said Tarja, "Riley, when did you meet Rhys?"

"In the library, during my day with Zapp," I said, "I caught Rhys and hid her when Zapp came back."

"Rhys, I thought we established you wouldn't leave our room when the Requiem Run is in session?" said Tarja, looking at Rhys the way my mom used to look at me when I would sneak out of bed as a child.

"I forgot my book, I thought I had time," said Rhys, "But hey, Riley, are you feeling alright? Mama said you were pretty banged up."

Then it all came back to me.

"Wait, where's Katie and Emma?!" I said, "Are they okay?!"

"Katie's fine," said Tarja, "Missing an arm, but she's fine. Emma..."

Tarja trailed off and looked away. I knew exactly what she was talking about.

"Emma's dead, isn't she?" I asked. Tarja nodded slightly, but said nothing. Rhys looked uncomfortable. Something on my face was itching, so I went to scratch it.

"Don't touch your face!" Tarja said, quickly rushing to stop me, "I just put all your makeup on and I'd rather you not ruin it before the ball!"

"Ball? What ball? What makeup?" I said, taking my hand away from my face before I jumped out of bed. As soon as my feet hit the floor, something occurred to me; I could stand on both feet no problem, even though I had wrecked my ankle in that fall. When I moved my arm and look at it, the hole where the tree branch had impaled it was gone.

"What happened? I thought Xelsa had me dead to rights?" I asked.

"Xelsa did almost kill you," said Tarja, "You and Katie were lucky to make it to a control point before he could deliver a final blow."

"Control point?" I asked.

"Any maidens that get out of the initial buffer woods get a breather night, where the Emperor hosts the Control Point Ball. The Requiem Run will resume tomorrow." said Tarja.

"Oh... great." I said. By this point, I realized that I had been changed; the rags of the dress I had been wearing before were gone, in place of a silver floor-length spaghetti strap dress and stockings. I could feel a garter belt holding the stockings up, and different underwear underneath the dress.