𝐼𝑁𝑁𝑂𝐶𝐸𝑁𝐶𝐸 𝐿𝑂𝑆𝑇 // 𝐴. 𝐷𝐸 𝑅𝑈𝑁𝐸

𝑋𝑋𝑉

| XXV. Peace Has No Place Here |

—

Marion was trapped in an endless sea of nothing. She could only see her own body, everything else was just... a dark void. She didn't like the dark– she wasn't necessarily afraid of darkness itself, but it was the emptiness that scared her. The feeling of being completely alone, yet watched at the same time made her belly churn with nerves, and limbs ache with the need to run away.

She walked forward, but it felt like she wasn't moving. How could she tell if she was going anywhere if her surroundings never changed? It made her breath pick up, and her hands shake. The ground was moist; it squelched and squished with every footstep, but Marion couldn't see any water nor texture. It was like stepping on a sponge soaked in some sort of viscous liquid...

Marion had a thin, linen shift draped over her body. It had intricate designs on the hem, though she couldn't make out what they were supposed to be... the threads were everchanging under her view. She could just barely see the color of her skin peeking through the loose, nearly-see through fabric; almost like it was wet, but it felt bone dry.

The girl let out a loud groan when an aching pain developed in her chest, her voice echoing throughout the dark nothingness. Her hand clenched the fabric right above her heart, falling to her knees with a wet squelching sound. Now the liquid was on her body; it looked just as dark as the area surrounding her and smelled like iron... it stained the hem of her shift, making the threads shift and change violently.

The pain in her chest never dulled, it only grew worse... It felt like her heart was trying to push a liquid much thicker than blood through her veins. Over the minutes–or hours, however long she was stuck in that damn sea of nothing–the ache traveled, it moved from her heart, to the middle of her chest, all the way down to her lower belly. Black veins sprouted over her heart, spreading down the front of her body and arms, ending at her hips and the tips of her fingers.

The pain grew more intense every second, her body falling completely on the moist floor. It was like a fire was burning inside her, slowly cooking her from the inside out–

Marion let out a gasp as she awoke, sitting up only to double over in pain. Amicia had her hands on her companion's shoulders; she had shaken her awake. Marion placed her own hand on her belly, the intense burning pain slowly fading away. A few tears escaped her eyes– that was nearly as painful as when her leg ached from the bite...

"What was that?" Amicia asked, and Marion sucked in a deep breath.

"I don't know..." She responded, wiping her eyes and clenching her jaw.

"Lucas... Lucas and I have to go back home today– he needs to use mother's laboratory to finish making the cure for Hugo." Amicia informed after a moment of silence, gently squeezing Marion's shoulders.

"Wait– Amicia, do you understand how dangerous that is?" Marion whisper-yelled with wide eyes, was she out of her mind? "You could get hurt– or... or worse..."

"I'll be safe, I swear–" Amicia reassured quietly, moving one of her hands to cup Marion's face.

"Tell me you stayed safe when you come back... if you come back." Marion glared at Amicia, gently grabbing her wrist and pulling her hand away from her face.

Marion stood up, and walked out into the little area with the tree. She sat down at its base, sucking in a deep breath and rubbing her temple. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if something were to happen to Amicia; She knew it was selfish to ask her to stay– Hugo's life was on the line... but that didn't make it any easier to watch her go.