Desnuerhiel

Chapter 5

The first thing that hits me as I awake is the pain, there is no part of me that doesn't hurt. The only problem with that is that I have no idea why I am in pain. My brain seems fine, but it feels sluggish, as if the dark tendrils of sleep were fighting to claim me as their own again. Deciding I need to get up and walk a bit, I push myself up, or at least I try to, but I can't seem to move. I try raising my arm next. Nothing happens. Not even my eyes will open. No amount of thrashing seems to help either. I was stuck here.

I start to panic. What is happening? Am I paralyzed? Even though I can't move I feel my body start hyperventilating.

Suddenly, a feeling of peace and tranquility washes over me. I hear a voice in my head, one that is not my own. It sounds familiar but I just can't place where I've heard it before.

"Do not struggle child, you will awaken soon, there is no need to worry."

The voice is soothing and I feel myself start to relax. Although I was calm now, I am still concerned that I am now hearing a voice in my head, hopefully I'm not going insane.

I feel the disembodied voice chuckle lightly at my thoughts. "No, you are not going insane Katherine Everett. I am real, you just cannot see me."

"Who are you?" I think to the voice.

The voice pauses for a moment then answers- "I'm afraid for now I must remain anonymous. I apologize. But I will answer your other questions, if time permits."

"Where am I? Why can't I move?" I think rapidly, hoping it has answers.

"As for your location, you are in the healer's room. The healer has temporarily put you into a deep sleep. You were injured. Do you not remember?"

I try to think back but only see flashes of memories- a beautiful song, a small light in the darkness, a man hidden in shadow.

"Yes, yes. I see what you're trying to do. Do not strain yourself. Ask me and I shall show you what happened."

"Please, I want to know" I think quietly, almost afraid of what I'll see.

"Very well, Katherine, brace yourself."

I don't have time to brace myself, for as soon as the voice finishes I feel as if I am being sucked down into a black hole, my insides feeling like they are going to spill out and my head is going to burst. But as quickly as it had started, it stops. All at once the world feels stable again and open my eyes. What I see confuses me however. As I look around I see a familiar room, and in the middle of it are two motionless figures: a man hidden in shadow and me.

"Is this...real? Am I me? Or is that me? What's going on?"

"Be calm, child. Yes, you are yourself. You are merely looking at a memory from a different angle than through your own eyes." As if on cue, the memory started to move, as if someone were unpausing a movie with the play button on a remote.

I stand and watch as the memory me reaches out to grab the man's hand. Watch as he tries to pull me towards him when I hesitate. And watch as he chokes me in retaliation for my non-compliance.

I see myself stop struggling under the weight of his hands. Hear myself whisper something to him. Watch as he jumps up off of me. But it is too late, the life is already leaving my body. I stare in disbelief as a small amount of gold colored smoke escapes my dead lips; it twists and twirls as it slowly rises towards the ceiling. It glows with intensity, so much so that I have to squint my eyes to look at it.

"What...what is that?" I ask the voice.

"That, my dear, is your soul."

"My soul? Does that mean... I'm dead?"