Deadlands

Chapter 17 - Finite

We all scavenged the immediate area for some usable firewood. Due to the sudden constant fluctuating temperatures in these fields, everything is either covered in ice or wet. The air became thicker as the breeze died down. Mind you, it wasn't long before it kicked back up again. Out from across a couple small hills behind Meridale and I, we heard a cry.

"I found some wood!" cried one of the other members.

"Perfect!" I yelled. "We'll be right there!"

We all met on a small hill. It happened to be flat and it seemed to fit all of us with the tents and fireplace. It wasn't safe, but we needed rest. We set the wood ablaze and I quickly dried out my foot, socks, and boot. Benson took off his small backpack and took out a lute. Then, as we all sat next to the warming fire, he gently played the worn down and out of tune strings.

I woke to sound of thunder right above us. I jumped out of my tent and looked up at the sky. It was overcast... I remembered the storm that headed back towards Filton, and thought the clouds might have been from it. The clouds began to glow red. Lightning strikes not more than ten feet behind me. Needless to say I nearly fell into the coals of the fireplace. I flipped myself around to find two of the men who destroyed the village back there. Without thinking I made their bald heads split open with a great light exploding out from the inside. My eyes were pierced so I turned away, covering them with my hands. As I heard the bodies drop, I turned back around. After removing my hands from my eyes, I saw the green dust fluttering around my fingertips and knew I was the only one who did that to the two men now dead in front of me.

"Flutters, Ferrin!" Aehrith yelled surprised, "How the hell did you do that?"
I just stared at my hands...
"I've never killed someone before..." I mumbled. The bodies of the two men began to turn into ash, drifting away in the frigid morning's breeze. My eyes were dark and wide open. I have never felt so... wrong. Then I felt the pull of "Mir's reach". With that she pulled me back into the depths of my mind.

"Yes! Fuel me, Ferrin!" She screamed while she bounced up and down on the stairs to the chair with the goggles.

"What?!" I asked, more confused than ever. I rose from the seat, and began making my way outside the room.

"It's already working and you didn't even do a fraction of anything!" She yelped. She skipped her way over and hugged me tightly. Her smile brighter than ever before. "I feel younger than ever! Do I look like it?"

Seeing her happy and bright filled me with great delight. I've never seen this side of her... it's beautiful.

"Surely, Mir. You do." I answered with a smile. She ran down to the bridge and I followed her. The sky showed the world around us, with Aehrith and Meridale looking down at me again. They were almost blurred out from whatever material covered the top part where the white walls stopped. I guess I fell backwards or something once I was pulled back into my mind. Makes sense, at least. 

"Hey Mir," I questioned, "Could you maybe gently lay me down when you pull me back in... Or at least tell me before you do this again?"

"Sure..." she said, now looking a little sad, "Sorry if I hurt you..."

"I'm sure it's fine."

Mir grabbed her chest, yelped, and I freaked out.

"Mir!" I shouted over her gasping. She let out a sigh and I jumped over to catch her from falling over. She looked up at me  and I watched her skin go white.

"You've grown pale again..."

"...I... I can tell..." She said in a rough, whispered voice. 

"I guess this sudden jump of power is finite." I said.

"You need to keep killing them, Ferrin." She said in my arms. "My life and yours depends on it."

My stomach sank. I looked at her with widened eyes and she looked up in a blank daze. She closes them and begins to get up. I help her. 

She points me over to the chair and tells me: "Go quick. Make me proud."