V & V - Rageous Rageon Rise

What Comes After The Storm

Cade POV:

I feel Roman grab my shirt as I trip. He and Justin support me and help me to stand. I stare at my girlfriend, unsure of how to help her.

I meet Roman's eyes, wishing I could see the emotion his old eyes had.

Roman: *w e  h a v e  t o  g e t  t h r o u g h  t o  h e r.*

I look back at Dixie, then grab Roman's hand. 

Cade: *w e  n e e d  t o  f a c e  h e r  h e a d  o n.*

Roman nods, then faces Justin. I don't know what he tells him, but Justin's eyes widen... then he nods. He meets my eyes and nods before turning back and walking to the Manager lying on the floor. 

He picks up the body and drags it to the staircase leading up to the rest of the hotel. As Justin and the Manager leave, I look back at Roman.

Roman: *c o m e  o n. l e t ' s  a p p r o a c h  t h e  s t o r m  w e  c r e a t e d.*

I nod and strain against the fierce winds as I approach Dixie. With each step we take simultaneously, we're pushed back a few inches, making it incredibly hard to reach her.

Cade: *i  c a n ' t  s e n s e  h e r  l i n k.*

I attempt to feel for her wall to break through so I can communicate with her... but I can't find it in the darkness like I can with Roman.

Cade: *d i x i e... p l e a s e. l i s t e n  t o  m e.*

I try not to panic and take deep breaths in time with Roman.

Cade: *w e  c a n  f i g h t  t h i s. y o u  c a n  f i g h t  t h i s. i  k n o w  y o u  a r e  s c a r e d , s u g a r. i a m  t o o.*

I wipe my tears away as I force another step forward.

Cade: *f i g h t  b a c k  a g a i n s t  w h a t ' s  s c a r i n g  y o u. w e  a r e  h e r e  f o r  y o u  o n  t h e  o t h e r  s i d e. i  a m  h e r e  f o r  y o u.*

I plead with her, knowing the longer she's away from reality, the worse she'll feel if she can be brought back.

Roman: *i  a m  g o i n g  t o  p u s h  y o u.*

He shoves me forward, and I pull him with me. We're mere inches away from Dixie and her hand. I strain my fingers for her, desperate to grab her.

Fuck... just a little more. My heels dig painfully into the ground as I claw against the winds for her. 

Cade: *d i x i e. y o u  a r e  s o  s t r o n g. R I V A L  c a n ' t  b e  w h a t  i s  w i t h o u t  y o u. y o u  a r e  m y  o t h e r  h a l f. i  c a n ' t  l i v e  w i t h o u t  y o u.*

I take one last surge of energy and jump for Dixie's hand. The wind is so strong that my feet are nearly lifted into the air.

I grab her hand, Roman grabbing her other. The second I touch her hand, a violent jolt of energy surges through me. It burns through my arms and fingers, shooting down to my toes and making me gasp.

I am flooded with her panic, anxiety, and depression. I feel very intense negative emotions that boil and ache overflow through me. I think every upset thought she's had since the Rage Dome and experience them all at once.

It's horrifically overwhelming. 

On top of it, I feel all of Roman's version of everything. I feel his guilt for turning Kid Ritz into a Siren. I feel his devastation over dying and never being normal or even fully living ever again. I feel his hatred over his appearance, the disgusting self-loathing thoughts he thinks regularly.