War of Elysium

Chapter Two: To the fields of Elysium

      Sunlight bled through a crack in the tent's door. With it, a breeze of ice that clawed and tore at her skin. Adeladia awoke at last. Pain and aching radiated through her entire being. Each breath was laboured and shallow as to not disturb the deep rest of her fragile bones. 

Her eyes peeled open and she tried to look out through the thin layer of crust that had settled over them. She didn't even consider wiping it away as she knew the pain such a movement would cause. She heard the monitor lowly buzzing beside her. The breeze whistled past the pristine tent door. She heard something else. A scratching? Quick and smooth. It was a pen against paper. Somebody was in the room with her. 

"Wh-" She tried to begin. The pain overtook her quickly, though, and silence fell again. The pen stopped and footsteps began. Light and elegant. Whoever it was seemed to glide over to her. "Are you awake?" The voice whispered. Ade peeled her eyes back open but still couldn't see through the crust. "Hang on, darling." The voice said as a warm towel  wiped over Ade's eyes. Her vision was quickly returned and before her stood an angel. Blond hair tied back into a tight braid. falling red strands seemed to highlight her face. Emerald green eyes and a smile like fields of sunlight. It was Iris. The soldier who had helped save her. "That's better. How do you feel?" She asked. Her voice was warm, safe. Within it Ade could almost forget her agony; almost. "It- hurts." She managed to slip through her barely parted lips. 

"I know, darling, it will. Hopefully this helps somewhat." She said as she inserted a syringe into her IV drip. It hit her immediately. A warmth of euphoria filled her veins. It blocked out the worst of the pains but did little for the general aches and pinches. "Do you remember me?" Iris asked. 

"Yes, ma'am." Ade answered. Her voice had gained strength but she still couldn't move more than to face Iris. "Clearly not well enough to stop calling me ma'am." Iris teased. Ade felt a hand on her cheek but she couldn't look low enough to see it. Iris looked to a clipboard before continuing the conversation. "Okay, I need to do some small tests. It's just to make sure everything is working right." Iris took out a small torch and flashed it into Ade's eyes. She asked her to follow her finger and she took her temperature. "Can you tell me your name and age?" She finished as she sat on the foot of Ade's bed.

"Ade- Adeladia Tempish... I'm sixteen." Ade answered.

"I still can't believe you're only sixteen... Listen. They are going to ask some things of you. They are going to need your help. It is up to you if you want to or not, but don't let them take advantage of you. I will be as near as you want and always here to help you." She sounded close to tears. Why? What could 'they' want of her? Why would she need a stranger to support her? Surely if she needed support she would just ask her... Dad?

"Otets!" Ade realised. She took a breath but could already see Iris' face drop. "Where is he?" She begged. Iris held her down as Ade tried to climb out of bed through all the pain. 

"Ade, lie back." Iris ordered. Her tone was warm but final.

"Where is he, Iris?" She demanded. 

The perfect visage cracked. Her confident eyes dropped to her feet. There was shame in the sunshine and she could not hide it.

"I did everything I could, Ade." Iris started. Ade didn't hear the rest. Pouring rains seemed to rage in her ears. Her city, her home, her friends, her family... her father. She had lost it all in the space of a few hours. Iris could say what she wanted. She could apologise and beg forgiveness. She could explain she was simply too late to save him. It wouldn't matter. It wasn't her fault. Somebody had dropped those bombs. Somebody had thrown that grenade. Somebody had destroyed her whole world and she hated them. She wanted them to know this pain. This burning. In that moment, Ade could have watched the world burn, and it would have made her smile.