Suburani: Sabina x Lucilius

Chapter 8: Confessions

The ungodly amount of random google searches I've made to make this story historically accurate.

The early morning sun illuminated her paling skin, making Sabina look even more like a ghost, once we finally made it to the doorway. My body feels like it's on fire, everywhere burning in exhaustion. Just a moment, I just need a moment. I leaned against the doorway. The air was chilly, not yet warmed by Apollo's chariot and its cargo escaping the horizon. I held her closer. The usual soft whispers of the first hour were forgone, replaced by the rampant voices of terror. An increasingly large group of people were huddled under the window of the abandoned apartment. Panic, disgust. Passersby were shielding their eyes of their young ones, while others simply peered over curiously.

I couldn't bring myself to look.

Instead I watched the young man rushing back to the crowd accompanied by a Roman guard, who quickly jumped into action. He first ran to Alexander, his head disappearing behind the bystanders as he presumably sank to the ground to check the condition of the corpse. Talking quieted to whispers when the soldier confirmed his heart wasn't beating. I could see him again as his head popped back up. It wasn't long before his gaze met mine. It must be quite a startling sight. Me, slumped against the doorway of the building where a man just fell out of, covered in bruises and scratches, dripping with blood of three different people. All while carrying a nearly unconscious and bloody Sabina. Yeah I'm definitely right, he's rushing towards us with eyes wider than saucers. In a split second he was right in front of us, already taking sabina from my arms, which immediately collapse to my sides like limp pasta. Gods, have my arms always been this heavy? "You, come with me. After you get treated I expect you to tell me exactly what happened here" without another word the guard swiftly turned around, jogging cautiously but quickly down the street. I push against the frame, Hah.. come on body i just got to– damn it. My legs promptly gave out under me, sending hurdling me into the arms of a freeman who had rushed over, noticing my obviously fatigued condition. He slung my arm over his shoulder, something I was quite used to, being a soldier. Though I was usually the one carrying others. I managed a breathy thanks as he helped me hobble to the nearest healer. Hopefully we go to the same one the guard is bringing sabina too. Though I much prefer this uncertainty over him waiting up for me and wasting crucial seconds.

.

.

.

.

I wince as the one of the healers tightens the bandage around the gash Alexander had given me when he scratched my arm. The adrenaline has long since gone leaving every part of me bathing in pain. I feel everything and Gods, does it hurt. No part of me got off unscathed, not even my face, which reflected in the mirror the nurse gave me was horribly swollen. I'm not gonna check but It's probably way worse now that it's been about an hour. I don't want to imagine how awful I look right now, all red and puffy, wrapped in more bandages than an egyption mummy. At least everything has been cleared away with the soldier. The healer had barely had enough time to stop the bleeding around my chest when he barged in spewing an endless stream of questions. I answered everything truthfully, admitting I had been the one to push Alexander out the window, but that it had been an accident and in self defense. He took my side, thank the gods.

I breathe out a sigh.

When can I see sabina?

.

.

.

.

The healer slowly guides me into the room. I'm nothing but a pile of nerves after she stops just before opening the door to warn me Sabina might be hard to look at. It doesn't help that they won't know if she'll pull through until she wakes up. Just the thought of her dying... I just can't bear it.