Welcome to Almusilaa

Chapter Eight

I came to very slowly. There was a blanket on top of me. I was so cold. So very cold.

"She's waking up." It was Charlie's voice. Her voice was distorted, but it was hers. I tried to reach towards her, but something was wrong.

The air was cold against my face. My nose was ice cold. I began to get feeling in my body. My body.

I opened my eyes.

"Ash?" Charlie. She sat by me and stroked my hair while Mrs. Suffrage stood by her.

"How do you feel?" Mrs. Suffrage asked me cautiously. I tried to open my mouth, but it was clumsy.

"Go...goood...tirred..." I slurred. I tried to move my head, but it was so heavy. Slowly, my body started to not feel so heavy, like lead was being drained from my body, leaving me lighter. I slowly moved my head to see everyone staring at me in concern. Mrs. Suffrage was standing back in front of the curtain, allowing me space.

Charlie sat in a chair beside me while gently stroking my pale pink hair. She smiled at me gently as I made eye contact with her.

"Where's Abigail?" I asked, clearer this time.

"She's sleeping, the process drained her." She said. "Can you sit up?" Mrs. Suffrage asked me.

I very slowly got up. Though it wasn't as bad as when I first woke up, my whole body felt like it was heavy and slow. Charlie had to help me.

I spread my fingers out in front of me. I had fingers again. But they trembled. I closed my fists in front of me to try to hide the shaking but it was no use. My heart was beating in my chest hard and fast. Something was definitely wrong.

"What's wrong with me?" I asked, leaning heavily on Charlie. Mrs. Suffrage gave a heavy sigh.

"The process didn't fully work. We don't know what's wrong. You're soul is in your body, but it's fighting against it. It wants to get out." She said. Though my body was slowed, my mind was not. Eleanor had been right.

"What will happen to me?" I asked.

"We don't know. Anything could happen." She said. "We just have to watch you."

I lay back down.

"Can you please leave?" I asked. Charlie got up but I asked her to stay. Mrs. Suffrage made her promise to shout out if my condition got worse.

As soon as the curtain swished closed behind her the tears I had struggled to hold in escaped.

"I'm so sorry Ash." Charlie said.

"It's not your fault." I choked out. "What happened to... you know."

"Jean took it away. They're not sure what will happen so they're preserving it just incase."

"Does the council know?"

"Yes. They haven't given any word though on what they will do now."

Someone walked up to the curtains.

"Can I come in?" Lauren asked.

Charlie looked at me. I nodded and Charlie called out that she could come in.

"Hey Ash." Lauren said as she pulled the curtain away to let herself in. Lauren brushed her clay covered hands over a pink and yellow apron Mrs. Suffrage had found her. It contrasted with her black shirt and spiked leather necklace.

"I know I've already seen your human body, but you look different. It's weird to talk to you as a human I guess." Lauren said awkwardly.

"Trust me, it feels weird." I smiled weakly as I wiped my tears away.