Crusade ~ World from Ashes {Complete}

4

"How are you feeling?" Kilia asked me.

She was sitting in a chair on the other side of the bed. A simple red t-shirt and black pants framing her figure. On the table next to her was a black pouch, but I didn't know what the contents were inside of it and she hadn't said a word about it just yet. I kept glancing at it and back at her in suspicion. Even though her lab coat was long gone, I still wasn't sure I could trust her.

"I-I..." my voice cracked as I tried to get words and turned away from her to look at Ryker. I was much more comfortable with him next to me and looking at him made it easier to deal with things. I knew it was bad to get attached to him in such a way, but at that moment, I couldn't help it.

Ryker was probably aware of the repercussions to allowing me to be attached to him like that, which was why he frowned at me often and made me do things myself. Still, having him near me was a must; otherwise I just couldn't get my body to move or my voice to be heard aside from soft whimpers of fear. Though I hated every second of my weakness, I couldn't help it either. I tried, I honestly tried, but it was near impossible without him.

"Answer her, Takye. It's alright."

I didn't turn to her, my gaze dropping from Ryker's to his chest. However, I answered her despite not moving to look at her, "Fine..."

"As much as I would like to say that's great, I need to know a little more than just that, Takye. How are you feeling? Tell me what your body feels, and then I can help you."

My fingers tightened on the blankets, "I have a headache. I'm a little hungry, keeping food down is easier now though. I feel... lighter."

"Lighter? How so?"

I shrugged a little, "It's hard to describe. I just... Feel better. Like I was in a haze for so long but it's nearly gone now."

I could hear the smile in her voice, "Good. That's very good. It means that most of the drugs given to you are nearly gone. You should be back to your normal self sometime later today or tonight then."

"How much longer do I have to stay here?" my voice was soft, like a whisper and the uncertainty that wavered there was very clear.

"In bed? Well, that's up to you Takye."

"N-no... I meant... Here, in this house, this place."

Ryker moved a little. His fingers brushed up under my chin and lifted my head to look at him. He was frowning again and I wasn't sure if it was out of irritation or what. I just stared up at him, unsure of what to say if anything at all. Ryker heaved a bit of a sigh as he sat there, eyeing me.

"Where would you even go?"

I turned my eyes away from his icy amber ones, "I..."

"Do you even remember where you're from? I certainly don't remember where my home was. What would you do? How would you survive? Takye... There is nothing to go back to. Everything is in ruin now and if you leave you're signing your own death warrant. You understand?"

Though his tone was heavy and harsh, Ryker's words held a certain level of worry to them that I couldn't ignore. Slowly, I nodded. I did understand. He was absolutely right. I had nothing to go back to. I couldn't remember where I was from aside from that awful hellhole of a prison. To top it all off, to survive was impossible on my own. Why had I asked such a stupid question in the first place when I knew I couldn't even get myself to leave Ryker's side without having a panic attack?

I sighed a little, "S-sorry..."

Kilia shifted behind me, "Don't be. It's a natural question. You don't know us and I can tell you don't trust us aside from Ryker. But you'll get there. It's going to take time and none of us expects you to change overnight Takye."