Ignite the Rebellion

The Rebel's Burden

Iris's fingers trembled as she paced around the lightless corridors of the rebel stronghold, her mind consumed by a whirlwind of emotions. The power she had unleashed during the previous mission, the sheer force that had laid Elijah Blackwood's forces to waste, had left her shaken to the core.

She had seen the devastation her abilities could wreak, the raw energy that coursed through her veins, and the thought of harnessing that power for the greater good was both vitalizing and alarming. Iris still doesn't know the full extent of her powers, fear is such an overwhelming emotion for her that's all she has felt since the day she ran from the guards, and joined the rebels.

Guilt gnawed at her, a constant companion that refused to be silenced. The lives she had taken, the destruction she had caused – it weighed heavily on her conscience, a burden that threatened to crush her resolve. Iris had joined the rebellion to fight for freedom, to liberate her people from the oppressive grip of the government, but at what cost? Where is the line?

She replayed the events of the mission in her mind, the images of chaos and devastation searing themselves into her memory. Iris had been forced to push the limits of her powers, driven by the need to protect her newfound allies and strike a blow against the regime. But the consequences of her actions were now clear, and she found herself questioning whether she had the strength to bear the responsibility that had been thrusted upon her.

Iris clenched her fists, her nails digging moons into the palms of her hands as she fought to regain her composure. The rebels were counting on her, their freedom resting on her shoulders, and she could not afford to falter, even though she feels as if she's failing at everything. But the weight of their expectations, the knowledge that her actions could determine the fate of Arcadia, it was a burden that threatened to crush her any second.

She knew that she could no longer afford to shy away from her destiny, that the path ahead would only grow more perilous. But the thought of failing, of letting down the people who had placed their trust in her, filled her with a sense of dread that refused to be quelled.

Iris took a deep, shuddering breath, her gaze fixed on the shadows that surrounded her. She had come too far to turn back now, and the future of Arcadia depended on her ability to confront the demons that had haunted her. With a renewed sense of determination, she steeled her resolve, knowing that the time had come to face the consequences of her actions, no matter the cost. Liam's footsteps echoed through the corridor as he approached Iris, his brow furrowed with concern. He had seen the turmoil that consumed her, the weight of her actions etched into every line of her face.

"Hey" he said, his voice low moving to sit down next to her a hint of concern in his voice "Sweetheart, you did what you had to do to survive the mission... There's no shame in that."

Iris slowly lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Liam, I... The sounds of their bones cracking, and the guards screams being cut off on impact have been replaying in my mind since it happened, I have a ton of shame... I can't run from it." she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam settled beside her, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder in a gesture of reassurance. "Your powers, Iris – they're not a curse, but a gift, and those thoughts will never go away but it's how you move on from it will show your level of strength as a person, war has loss it's not supposed to be an easy thing." Iris looks down at her shoes while messing with her fingers saying "It feels more like a curse than a gift... I don't think I can be the one with all the weight on my shoulders, this war has just begun... and there's already death." Liam grabs Iris's hand making her look at him he says with a genuine tone "It's not all on your shoulders Iris, we're here for you... I'm here for you." Liam lifts her hand kissing the top of it.