Terrence was pulling Kairi along through too many twists and turns for her to keep track of. She couldn't help but keep glancing around, waiting for Henry to jump out around the next corner wielding a cleaver or machete. It didn't help that this entire situation was like something out of a horror film — giant, shadowy, silent manor and all. Thank god she had kept her pants to herself or else they'd both be so absolutely dead. Of course, she was hardly a virgin, but she was pretty sure that adage was out dated anyway. Her slight attempts at reassurance were not completely successful and she still had a steely grip on Terrence's hand, all thoughts of impropriety long gone and overrun by absolute terror.
The last thing she ever wanted to do, ever again, was end up toe to toe with yet another absolute psychopath. She didn't think she'd be able to survive another round of something like that. She sighed heavily and was utterly thankful that Terrence turned up when he did. At least she was not alone. This terrifying moment, holding on to Terrence and running through the halls made her think back to Sherlock. She couldn't die, after all they had been through, this surely couldn't be happening like this.
She was having a hard time breathing at this point and it wasn't because of the pace they were keeping. Her chest was wound like a drum, her breathing was shallow and sharp and her stomach broiled almost violently. She was sure in the next few moments that she would most likely throw up the paltry amount of food in her starved stomach. They continued to wind through shadow filled halls, Terrence pausing every few steps, listening for something Kairi was too terrified to hear. Every vein seemed to be pumping acid through her system. She felt like she couldn't focus, couldn't breathe, her mind was a violent sort of static that made her ears want to bleed. The world was contracting and expanding around her so rapidly, it felt like matter itself was beginning to cease to exist.
"Terrence…" Kairi managed to beg through her gasp. He turned back to look at her, confusion in his eyes rather than concern.
He stopped in what he deemed a safe place and Kairi dropped to her knees and wretched up whatever acrid bile was left in her stomach. She dry heaved for a few moments, anxiety twisting every fiber in her being and choking her. She was frozen and vaporized all at the same time, her body was going into sensory overload, the trauma, the fear, everything was so familiar and there was that poignant feeling, a sickening familiarity to the fear flowing through her veins. This compelling cataclysm that raged within her just brought back so much untempered agony.
"Kairi," He whispered, "We need to go."
Kairi hacked in some air and shivered at the sensation of it filling her lungs, the exhale came out as a sob and Kairi was just so afraid, "I can't."
"Shit." Terrence spat out, Kairi would almost call it angry. "We need to go, now." His voice was firm.
Kairi couldn't look at him as she rocked back onto her heels. Her arms wrapped around her knees and she hugged herself, "I can't, I can't, I can't…" She continued, softly, like a child seeing a monster in the shadow of her bedroom closet.
"Well, fuck." Terrence rasped and grabbed on to the forearm wrapped around her knocking knees.
"Wha-?" Kairi managed before being yanked to her feet. Her knees wouldn't follow the same path as her hips and she leaned heavily on Terrence who was gripping her arm fiercely, to the point of pain. She tried to adjust but he wouldn't let up on his pace, so she stumbled along, her shoulder stretching and her ankles rolling on themselves. The effects of the panic and the resulting outburst had her in a muddy haze. Eventually, she got the sort of brain reboot that happens after adrenaline pumps through the body twice before there's even time to complete a full sentence. Her limbs felt ultimately spent and she almost couldn't stay awake, until she felt the sharp pang of nails digging into her flesh.
