There it was again—the sensation of falling. It was a familiar feeling for Wren, to be surrounded by nothing but air as gravity pulled her into the void. Somehow, it felt comforting, but she was confused. How had she ended up here?
Everything had happened so quickly, Wren could barely comprehend what had transpired. The last thing she remembered was something involving Jesse, but she couldn't recall what. And now, here she was, burning alive—or at least, it felt that way. The air around her grew heavier, carrying a weight she recognized all too well. It was thick with magic—the kind that demanded something from her. Something she wasn't sure she had left to give.
Starfire.
The memory hovered just beyond her reach, slipping through her mind like sand. But the power was unmistakable—the kind that drained her with each use, demanding sacrifice. She tried to push the growing burning sensation from her mind, but it wouldn't relent. The heat crawled across her skin, reminding her she was something to be used, not her own person.
She could hear voices beyond the darkness, distant and hazy. But she could make out the emotion behind them: anger. Anger directed at someone—but at who? Was it aimed at her? Maybe. She couldn't remember what she'd done, but the thought lingered.
A sharp pain shot through her head, almost as if punishing her for thinking. She wanted to scream, to beg for the pain to stop, but her voice caught in her throat. The pain only grew stronger, her head throbbing. She was desperate for sleep, for an escape from this unbearable feeling. But the pain wouldn't let her rest, keeping her alert as it split her mind in two.
"I hope you're happy."
The voice echoed from a distance, bitter and sharp. She couldn't tell who it was or who they were speaking to, but it felt unnatural. Was it meant for her? Was she supposed to be happy? What had she done to deserve this? Maybe she did deserve it. If she was meant to be happy, maybe she should just deal with it. That's what she'd done her whole life, after all—why should this be any different? All she wanted was to help others, to be there for them. That was what she was made for, right? If she had used the starfire stone like she thought, whoever she'd used it on should be fine now. She should be happy.
But the hurt still cut deep. She had tried her best, but it was never good enough. It was never enough.
The bitterness of the voice lingered, somehow heavier than the weight of the magic pulling her down. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd let someone down. Even as she struggled to make the pain stop, she felt like she'd failed.
Suddenly, she felt herself accelerating, a sharp, unrelenting sound piercing her ears. A high-pitched wail clawed at her mind, dragging her deeper into her torment. She tried to move her hands to cover her ears, but the burning pain locked her in place. All she could do was fall deeper into the void, her senses overwhelmed with nothing but agony. And yet, all she could think was: maybe this is what I deserve.
The wailing stopped, but before she could register any relief, flashes of bright light assaulted her. Each one stabbed behind her eyes, as if the world were splitting apart. If it wasn't one thing, it was another, and there was nothing she could do. But none of it mattered—she only hoped the person she had tried to help was okay.
She felt herself slipping away, dissolving into nothingness. She was more than ready for it if it meant the pain would end. And yet, something kept her holding on. The sound of someone's voice—familiar, but just out of reach. The sensation of someone gripping her hand. For a brief moment, she thought she could see a face, but it was gone before she could grasp it.
The lights flickered again, but just as quickly, it was swallowed by darkness. The pain surged once more, tearing through her like wildfire, and all she could do was surrender to it.
