Shining Truth

Prologue

The cave was just a few feet away. I flew inside, changing as I landed. The floor near the opening of the cave was damp and wet. I began walking forward, deeper into the cave. Ahead was a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. Its dim glow was unsettling to me. For some reason it felt as if it were swinging, which made me feel nauseous. Maybe it was swaying, but if that was the case, what was swaying it? I couldn't feel any wind. But I could feel a presence.
As I walked deeper into the cave, I heard a whoosh noise, as if something was soaring through the air quickly. Then suddenly, I felt something hit my side in a sharp pain. An arrow was in my flank. It had broke through the skin and was lodged deep in my stomach now. I collapsed on the ground in pain. A figure stepped out from the shadows and into the light.
Before me stood Xavier. He was my old friend, but he had betrayed me when I was younger. He helped in getting me captured. I both thank him, and regret him doing it. Now, my friends were gone. He had hidden my family from me. It was all his fault.
It didn't help that I was just laying here, with an arrow in my side and him standing above me. He was smiling. I hated that smile. That smile that made my stomach churn and boil, like a pot of soup. Slowly, I grabbed the arrow in my side firmly. I winced. My sudden movement made it hurt worse. He laughed.
I hated that laugh. It made my head throb. It was the laugh that meant I was dead. Ground beef. Chopped liver. I was obviously becoming hungry. I hadn't eaten in a while, now. My stomach growled and the pain became more abundant. I grabbed the arrow and swiftly took it out. I felt the barbed tip rip my flesh away and it took the skin with it on its hooked edges. I glanced at the arrow, its tip gleamed with a sickly green tint. A poisoned tip? I thought, He really is running out of options! I laughed. More pain. My gut was clenching and tightening. I let my arm fall and the arrow roll out of my hand.
Xavier stared at me, waiting expectantly. He was always an impatient person. I couldn't blame him. I was, too! I hated waiting. When you know something is about to happen, but the ever long suspense that comes with waiting, it tears you from reality. And when that something finally does happen, it almost always seems sudden.
I grasped at my side. I could feel the warm liquid between my fingers, and I felt the blood pumping from my wound. Tears welled in my eyes, making them sting. The feeling of being feeble and weak was strange to me. I could take a hit, but this was different. I had come alone. It was my fault. I felt the room becoming darker. The swaying feeling intensified. I knew I was close to death. I was going to die alone, on the filthy floor of this terrible place. I, me, Yui.