Atlanta (Part of My World) (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 9

Cinder started wondering where she was. Whether this land of color was a dream or reality. 

Whether she was dead or alive. 

She barely remembered anything. Just her whole body tensing, and a flash against the inside of her eyelids, and blackness. 

She could remember a scream of pain, a shriek, and a voice that could be distinguished even through her pain. Kai's. And his voice sounded more pained than ever. She wanted to see again. To be able to see and hear, and have Kai right by her side again. 

All she could see now, was darkness, and blots of light in brights hues of pinks and yellows, and blues, seeping into her vision like watercolor. 

But it was strange. She hated the place. Wanted to know what was going on outside of this place. But she couldn't bring herself to waken. This place made pain vanish. The immortal weight on her shoulders was gone. She wasn't the cyborg lunar princess anymore. She was just. . .

A coward. The weight settled back on her shoulders again, and the pain bloomed back. She could hear again, but it was just a whisper, which rose to a roar. 

"AH!" Cinder yelped, at the sight of Thorne staring down at her, grinning. 

"She's awake!" He yelled, the loud sound of his voice making Cinder's hearing shriek. 

"Thorne! Did you touch her control panel again?!" Cinder could hear Iko demanding. 

"I don't think she did..." Cinder murmured in reply groggily. Iko's eyes widened. 

"CINDER! You're actually awake!" She barreled toward her, skidding to a stop and grabbing the steel bedpost. "Are you okay? The Lunars attacked us, and -" Iko rambled on and on. 

"Where's Kai? And Cress?" Cinder asked, suddenly alarmed. 

"Kai and Cress. They were on deck with me. Where are they?" Cinder demanded. 

"Cress is in the infirmary. She was wounded. Badly," Iko explained. Cinder shot up in bed, hitting her head on the top bunk. She scrambled out from under the bed. 

Her bare foot slapped against the ship's floor, and her metal foot thunked against the acrylic panels. 

"Kai," Cinder breathed, and suddenly, he backed away. 

"Stay away from me, Cinder. Stay away."