Blessings of Anathema

Chapter LXV: Pablo VIII

What.... happened?
Where... am I?
My body... it's so sore...

I'll try to move. I shifted my body a bit but stopped. I have to use the bathroom badly, it hurts. I heard someone move. I'm scared to move. Who is that? Wait... am I strapped down?
What is this place? A fire? It's dark and smells bad. Was I taken away? Where is everyone? Someone help... someone...
The figure I heard move leaned towards me. It reached out his hand and I started wobbling out of panic. "Pablo calm down. It's me, Proph." Proph? I stopped moving and sat still. He reached around me and unbuckled a strap. It freed me from this grip and I sat up.
I made eye contact with Proph and he smiled at me. "Welcome back." He said. I looked around the room again. The people in here... they're all my friends. I felt by eyes begin to burn, however I fought back the sensation to cry. "What happened to me?" I asked. "I think you better let your brother tell you that." Proph said. "You know how he is about information. If just one things wrong he won't shut up about it." He said. I chuckled and felt a strong pain in my stomach. I reached down and grabbed it.
"Are you okay?" Proph Asked. "Yeah, I just gotta use the bathroom really badly." I said. Proph laughed. "Well we don't have one in here, you're going to have to go outside." He said. I nodded and slowly began to move my body off the stretcher.
This pain in my body. It's not from damage. It's from lack of motion. A stiffness. My tendons haven't been flexed enough. It's awkward to move. I took a step and stumbled. "You need help?" Proph Asked, reaching out to me. I held out a hand to ask him to stay away. "No. I'm fine. My body is just stiff is all, I just need to stretch it out." Proph sat back down and I slowly made my way towards the door.
I opened it and was hit by a wave of fresh air. It's only slightly chilly. It smells much better out here. I shut the door behind me and made my way to the side of the bridge, using the walls of it as leverage. I unzipped my pansy's and began to urinate.
It...
It stings.
Probably from the build up of bacteria inside my bladder from not emptying frequently. That's not a one day process though... how long was I out?
I made my way to the middle of the bridge, next to a small stream that splits the sides and sat down. I began to stretch. The sun is beginning to rise, morning will come soon. The suns rays through the morning chill feels quite pleasant.
Images of Alyza went through my head. She... she attacked me. I thought I was strong but I'm... I'm worthless. I snickered. I was a fool thinking I could end this on my own. I was a fool thinking I could be any help at all. To rely on a power that I can't even control? I really am pathetic.
Come to think of it.... why am I alive? She bested me easily. I was helpless. Her toy to dispose of. Why didn't she?
"So Ghost are real?" I heard behind me. I turned around to see Dalton standing a few feet away. "Because I'm looking at a dead man." He said before smiling. I just stared at him in shock.
He sat down beside me and looked out into the stream. "For a second there it didn't look like you were going to make it. You pulled through though. But that Yurie of yours.... it was strained a lot." He said. "What do you mean?" I asked. He pointed at the stream. "Take a look at your reflection." He said.
I crawled to the stream and looked down into it. My eyes widened at the sight. My Yurie.... it's climbing up my neck, now. I looked away and closed my eyes. So then it is real... everything I remember. Auro was right, the Yurie will act as healing aid if we're wounded. This thing really is my entire lifeline. I'm flatlined without it. Damnit
"What happened that day?" I asked. "What do you mean?" He asked. "I was attacked by Alyza. Her words.... she was set on either killing or kidnapping me... so why didn't she?" I asked. "That's what happened to you!? We just found your body. Had no idea what happened." He said. I turned around and looked at him in his eyes. "Cut the bullshit. Right before I passed out, she hesitated her attention away from me. You were there... what happened?" I said. He took a sigh. "Fine. I didn't want to tell you because it's kinda embarrassing but we found Alyza attacking you. We tried to stop her but we couldn't overpower her and she escaped from us. We couldn't avenge you." He said. "I see..." I dropped my head.
Even so, they were able to force her into retreat. I couldn't even react towards her. Am I really that far behind? Damnit. I'm just a liability. "Is Auro involved?" I asked. "Nah, I doubt it. Though I do think he knew what was about to happen. Of course with his current position I see why he left instead of saying anything. Though it's hard to tell which side he's on, sometimes." He said.
I see. Auro could be a major ally... or a major threat. "How long have I been out?" I asked. "A couple weeks." Dalton said. I squeezed my fist. Damnit. I can't even wake up on time. "Couple weeks? Sounds like I got you beat?" I looked up and Dalton turned around to be my by Ray who was walking towards us.
"Ray?" I asked. "That's me." He said, walking towards me. He kneeled down at me and put his hand on my head. "It's been a while. You've done well." He said.
Those words cut deep and I felt my eyes burning again. I've done .... well?
"Ray! Pablo, you're awake!?" I heard yelling so I looked up. The rest of the group was walking towards us. Ray helped me up and we all had a big greeting. It felt nice.
"Sorry to break this up." Said Dalton. "But we need to catch you up immediately, Ray. We're heading out first thing in the morning." He finished with. "That soon?" Ken asked. "Yes. There's no doubt that they suspect we're coming. The longer we wait, the better defense they could put together." Dalton said.
"Pablo is coming, too." Dalton said. I looked up in shock. "What?" The group said. "I don't think his body is ready." Marz said. "His body is fine. Pablos presence is dire to complete the mission" Dalton said. "And your presence is dire to kill a good mood" Proph said. We all started laughing at that except Dalton who seemed a bit annoyed.
I get it, the situation is serious. He has a huge chip on his shoulder. Even so, is that chip worth bringing me? I don't know if I have confidence in myself. I probably can't even use my Yurie. I... I....
I don't care.
At least not right now. I looked up at the group and smiled. Yeah, it's been rough. Yeah, it's not getting any easier any time soon; but for now, at this very moment....
We're all together for the first time in years.