"A Flame that Fades"

Chapter 24: Fragments of Us

Freya's POV

I didn't remember what happened or how I got here. My body felt heavy, like I had been carrying a weight I didn't even know existed. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and looked around the room. It felt familiar, but there was an unfamiliar stillness, an unsettling quiet that made my chest tighten.

"What happened?" I whispered to the silence, my voice hoarse and trembling.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a voice broke through the haze. "Thank God, Freya! You're alive. I was so scared." Esme's words rushed out, thick with relief, as she walked closer to the bed. She knelt beside me, wrapping her arms gently around my shoulders. Her touch was warm, her embrace careful, as if she was afraid I'd break.

"W-what happened?" I stammered, clinging to her like she was the only tether I had to reality. Her familiar scent—lavender and something earthy—filled my senses, grounding me in the present. But my mind kept drifting, searching for memories that refused to surface.

Esme pulled back slightly, her hands still resting on my arms as she studied me with those sharp, green eyes of hers. "You don't remember?" she asked, her tone cautious.

I shook my head, biting my lip. "No. Everything's...blurry. I feel like I was in a storm, but now I'm here, and I don't know how." My voice cracked, and the weight in my chest grew heavier. "Was it bad?"

She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line before she spoke. "It wasn't great," she admitted softly. "But you're safe now. Azgar brought you back. He didn't stop for anything. He practically dragged you through a blizzard to get you here." Her gaze softened as she added, "He was relentless, Freya. He wouldn't let you go."

Azgar. The name sent a shiver through me. I could picture his face, strong and unyielding, but there was something else. A flicker of warmth, a memory that refused to form clearly. My fingers curled into the blanket beneath me as I tried to piece it together.

"I...I don't remember," I said again, frustration bubbling up in my throat. "But why would he—"

"Because he cares," Esme interrupted gently. "More than he lets on. You should rest, Freya. You've been through enough."

I tried to sit up, but the pain in my chest stopped me. It was sharp and unforgiving, forcing a gasp from my lips as I clutched the blanket in reflex. The effort sent a dull ache radiating through my body, and I collapsed back against the pillows, panting.

"Easy, Freya," Esme said, her voice firm yet soothing as she reached for me. "You can't push yourself right now. Your body's been through too much."

Her hands hovered over me, as if unsure whether to help me or let me find my own limits.

I closed my eyes and exhaled shakily, trying to will away the burning sensation in my chest. "Why does it hurt so much?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Esme sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "You took a deep wound to the chest. It's healing, but it's going to hurt for a while. Moving too quickly won't help. Trust me—you need to rest."

"Where's Azgar? I want to see him," I demanded, my voice trembling as tears welled in my eyes. I hadn't seen him for months, and the thought of seeing him now was overwhelming. The weight of the pain in my chest was nothing compared to the ache I felt inside.

Esme paused mid-step, her hand resting on the doorknob. She turned back to me, her expression unreadable. "He's here," she said softly. "He's been watching over you since the moment he brought you back."