Human

The Terrible Truth

Asha

I scream as my head is filled with memories of people and planets and chaos.

My skin tingles and I'm staring into a pair of eyes that beam. But my minds eye is flicking between images that date back centuries. The pain is unbearable. My fists clench around something and I hear a scream escalate over my own. My brain feels like its burning and I see fire, destruction, hell. Images of women screaming and men grasping children flit past and my chest tightens. I can't breathe.

Then I'm ripped away from the chaos and horrors and I fall against something, I'm momentarily blinded as the light left shadows dancing in my vision. The stinging sensation fades and I check out my surroundings. Twigs? Hut? Yeah I'm in some sort of hut. A figure pulls its self up a few meters away from me with bronze skin and eyes that glow, I shriek and try to scramble back but an arm about my waist hugs me and a hand is placed over my mouth. I struggle and my head collides with something erupting a moan from my kidnapper and his grip slackens. I clumsily pull myself up, scrambling about on my hands and knees until I manage to stand up right. I turn around and my vision focuses on Ray with a bloody nose and I'm back on my knees again crawling his face in my hands.

"Shit. Ray I'm sorry I didn't mean to. I thought you were tryna hurt me. " I gush trying to get him to focus on me.

He simply nods and smiles, blood trickling down his chin "I know."

I nod and smile, tears already in my eyes. I've never been so happy to see someone. I pull him forward and take his lips in mine, he gladly returns it. I  rest my forehead against his, I have his blood on my face, but I honestly don't care. He's here and that's all that matters.

Then I remember the figure and I stand up acting as a shield to Ray. He mumbles something and then speaks up. "She saved our lives. She looks different sometimes."

The figure shifts and a woman stands in its place. I'm confused but I step forwards and she, it? Flinches. "Child, please stop where you are." I do and then frown. I was in a bad situation when I blacked out. I feel fine now. I still wear the same clothes but I seem cleaner.

The woman feints and grabs onto a stretcher but takes it down with her. I rush forward and try to pull her up but as soon as our skin makes contact I reel back plagued by the images again. I stumble back and Ray is there once again to catch me.

I shake him off "Help her." Ray shuffles to his feet and grabs the woman beneath her arms and hoists her into a sitting position. He doesn't react to contact and holds her back tenderly. She nods in thanks and her head lolls slightly.

"Thank you Ray West." She looks at me "I've never been bettered by one of your kind before."

I am shocked hearing this and jump to defence "But I didn't want to better you. I just woke and grabbed you in panic."

"I know that child. I meant being able to connect with my soul. Its impossible considering the power I harness in comparison to you."

I nod "I panicked that's all. I didn't mean to see all that. It-"

"All what?" Ray looks at me concerned.

I share a glance with the woman's glowing eyes and then search for Ray's, I take a deep breath. "I saw the beginning of the world, every birth, every life, every death." I stop and ponder how I can drop the reality gently, "I also saw the end of the world, I know how we are all going to die."

Ray nods and bites his lip, "Then I guess we've got nothing to lose." He helps the woman up and crosses over to me grabbing my arms with a gentle squeeze "Let's make sure we go out with a bang eh?"

I smile sadly and he tilts my chin up looking at me with eyes so deep I could get lost, he leans in and I shut my eyes as our lips touch, his hands coil my waist and I ring my arms around his neck. I push and he pulls and I guess I fall into this one because I don't pull away. I lose myself in his arms and press myself closer, laughing softly as we kiss.

At least I will die happy.