Living Hell

Epilogue

The sound of Slick's rough voice grated my ears. It sounded like he was concerned- for once.

As my hearing sharpened I could hear others, someone sobbing...but for what? Why?

The air in the room was swamped with tension- yes, I could tell I was in a room even in my groggy, almost unconscious state.

As the sounds grew louder, I found myself wincing in pain. Not just any ol' pain either.

Extreme pain.

My entire body was bruised from the top of my head to the pads of my feet, my wings ached and I could feel my head just throb in a harsh, pulsating rhythm of Hell created by my black heart.

At first my mind felt empty- like Sagiv wasn't in my soul, like I was dead- but the more I awakened, the more his presence grew. In fact, I'd almost say he was right on top of me just as I was about to open my eyes.

Yet, something held me back and I wasn't sure why. I wasn't sure if it was the godfuckingawful pain or if it was something more- as if I was afraid to see where I'd wake up or see what had happened.

I couldn't remember a thing, the last thing my memory apparently had stored was my little group of troopers stalking down Lucifer's icy hallway and him opening the door and spewing mocking remarks.

After that? Blackness. Not a shred of memory had been retained and I worried no one would tell me what the fuck had happened if I opened my eyes and woke up completely.

Or maybe I didn't want to wake because not only did I feel tension in the air, I also felt...dread. Horror and so many other negative emotions I was nearly swallowed whole. It was as if I was drowning in negative energy and I was going to waste my time waking up to this realm to die.

But I couldn't ignore the sharp, crackling pains throughout my body. I knew I'd awaken and I knew I'd face whatever awaited me.

"God! What do we do now?! She's dead!" Laveda. Her voice was a mournful wail, barely indistinguishable, but I caught it and I knew exactly who she was talking about- me.

Dead? I was dead?

I didn't feel dead. I could feel the rough beat of my heart, the sharp air biting my throat as it traveled to my bruised lungs and the awful pounding of my head as well as all the other bruises on my body.

If I was dead I sure as shit would've thought it would've been different, like idunno... I reincarnated or some shit. I mean, I was already in Hell- I'd have to reincarnate.

I probably would've laughed at my joking mental voice, but Sagiv let out a growl, confirming I very much wasn't dead.

The growl wasn't directed at me though, but more at Laveda who sucked in a breath and only let out small whimpers.

Sagiv must have known I was awake or he just hated her sniveling- again.

We seemed more human now than when we started this journey. I found it odd, but my main concern was why- if Sagiv knew I was awake- he couldn't speak to me through our mental connection?

I sighed mentally. It was time to wake up, completely and I knew it- especially since it seemed everyone was a complete mess without me.

I tried to move, but my bruised and aching limbs wouldn't obey and nor would my lips to croak out a sound. Not even my eyes would flicker open.

I heard Sagiv purr, close to my ear. So he did know I was okay-ish.

I was just in...like a coma? Yeah, it seemed that way. I had thought I was afraid before of waking up- and maybe I had been- but I never considered I might actually have something wrong with me as well.