Nightmare

Bright crimson liquid pooled under his body and lifeless eyes stared into nothingness. She had done it. She had killed him. He was like a brother to her and she had killed him.

She leaned back against the wall behind her and slowly sank down to the floor, letting her revolver rest next to her. "What have I done?" She asked as her face became hot and salty tears began to cloud her vision.

"You killed him."

The voice was full of venom and hatred as it seemed to roll over her and a hot breath prickled the back of her neck. Instantly she was alert. Her body became tense, her breath quickened and her forefinger flexed on the trigger of her revolver ready to fire at the first sign of danger.

Quickly she scanned the room around her, even checking over her shoulder even though she was leaning against a wall, but all she found was emptiness. No one else was there... at least no one living. Her eyes darted to the body of her once close friend to find his empty eyes gazing at her, instantly she looked away from him, not being able to bear the thought of having killed him.

'Wait a second... he was laying face down...' she thought before looking back at him, only to find that he was now standing over her.

Her breath hitched and her body froze as his lifeless eyes looked down into hers. "You killed him."He spoke, but the voice that came was not his, there were several voices laced into one and each one seemed to lash out at her. "You killed him. You must pay for your sin."

With each word he spoke, a pain like she had never felt before pulsed though her body. She opened her mouth to scream, but it was lost as his hands wrapped around her neck.

-_-

Ariana jolted up, her hands instantly going to her neck and her eyes scanning her surroundings. He wasn't there and she was outdoors, resting on someone's forgotten bedroll. It was dark, and there was nothing... nothing but the bright lights of a city long forgotten and not touched by war in the distance.

Her hands shook as she stood. There was no way she would be able to sleep after that nightmare, so she might as well make use of her time and continue on her way.