Rebellion

Chapter Sixteen

Blackness. Pain. Complete and utter pain. It consumed my mind in a far away void, and I desperatley tried to find ground, but it seemed endless. This tunnel, continued, and there was no way of escape. There seemed no end, no way for me to end this pain. This suffering. This darkness. I only wanted it to end.

Please I begged. I can't do this.

But another side of me fought on. Made me stay in this complete void. I knew now that I was teetering on the very edge of death itself. Like balancing on the edge of a knife. Dance too far in any direction, and it is over.

I swayed in and out of reality. At one time I would hear voices around me, and the next moment I would return to the void. I hated it. I only wanted to fully awake, I truly did, more than anything, but the darkness would drag me back and keep me in it's grasp.

I am now back in reality. Just for the moment. I know it won't last long. I can faintly see the lights of the room through my eyelids. I hear someone else in the room. They're talking. Quietly, and I can't quite make out their words. I muster what strength I have to focus on the voice speaking.

"-and I hate to see you like this. All your fire is gone from your eyes, and I miss that. That spark. I'm sorry Neera. That....that I didn't follow you immediately, and that I had to fight...and...and cause you to run....I can't help but blame myself...I'm sorry...." the person gently grasped my hand. "Please. If you can hear me, give me a sign, anything...I need to know that you're still holding on,"

It was a male voice. One i recognized. Who was it..? He wanted a sign to show that I could hear him. Using utter will power, I made my hand squeeze his hand. I knew it worked, for I heard him choke out a sob.

"Thank you," He whispered.

His hand never left mine, and for some reason, his grasp seemed to keep me here, in reality. I tried prying my eyes open, but they would not. I tried s much while he was here, to see who was here, staying at my bedside.

"Korah!!!" The male shouted. "She's stirring!!! Get a Doctor!"

I heard shuffling, and movement. Then, a sharp pain in my left arm. A needle? Whatever it was, it caused memory to wash over me like a tsunami. The fight between Callum and Briss, running, Delst attacking me, becoming wounded, and looking into Briss's eyes as I found darkness. So was it him who was here by my bedside? I forced my eyes open, and was instantaneously blinded by the lights. I lifted my hands to sheild my eyes from the bright light. I heard doctors running around on all sides of me, removing equipment from me, stabbing me with needles, and discussing what to do next.

And that voice the one that brought me here. The one that I simply can not figure out, is here, talking to me, his hands stroking my hair, crying.

I turn my head towards him, and move my hand away from my eyes, to finally see who has stayed by my side.

Callum.

It's him. His blue/grey eyes are blood shot and teary as I look upon his face, his smile that of relief. He brushes a piece of hair from my face, and takes my hand that covered my eyes.

"Welcome back Dragon," he tells me.

I smile, and can't help the tear that falls. "You stayed with me this whole time?"

"Yeah," He nodded. "After the doctors were finished working on your wound, i refused to leave,"

I furrowed my brows. "And what of Briss?"

Smirking, he said, "We came to an agreement,"

"What kind of agreement?"

"Don't worry about that Neera. Really, it's the least of your worries right now," He gently kissed my forehead. "Once you are completely done recovering, your training will continue. We're expecting an attack any day now,"

I nodded, agreeing. "So, what exactly was wrong with me?"

"Your brother managed to stab you deep enough to puncture your stomach. You had internal bleeding, and it took ages for the doctors to fix it all up. You were on the verge of death Neera,"

I blinked slowly, and processed this. I already knew that death was close for me. I knew it all too well. But what hurt me the most was the fact that my own brother had managed to do this to me. My own family. Callum squeezed my hand, showing his continuous support in such a small gesture.

"Callum...?"

HIs attention was fully on me now, his gaze never wavering. "Yes?"

"Thank you. For staying. I'm...I'm glad it was you,"

He chuckled "Well, you better be, cause I'm what you've got now,"

I giggled, and winced in pain, my abdomen exploding in pain like wildfire.

"Careful now," Callum soothed.

I laid flat on the cot, and looked up at the lights. My eyes drooped, and i forced them open.

"It's okay Neera. You may still need rest. It's okay. I'm here,"

I nodded and squeezed his hand once, before sleep found me, and I drifted off once again.