Iviris

5

After the fight, Eklan leads us into a large community room. For being a community room, not very many people are in here. Twelve to be exact.

He grabs my arm before I can leave his toxic presence. "I recommend you set up your goodbyes soon. You won't make it much longer."

When he leaves it is like a weight is lifted off of my chest. The sharp pain in my arm returns. The blood drips like a melting popsicle.

I feel a poke on my back and I turn around. 6. She is holding out a wet cloth in one hand and pointing to my arm with the other. I kneel down beside her.

"Thank you."

She nods and I take the cloth from her hand. The crimson blood stains the white cloth. It is destroyed now. The wound stings a little when I press on it with the cloth, but I have to in order to clean it out.

No one in this room seems to associate with anyone else. A few people watch screens, others read books, and some play cards. I make my way to a door labeled Bunks. I push open the door and find my way to one with a set of clothing on it. I take it in my arms and then proceed to the shower room.

The other woman from the arena is in the shower room freshening up. I place my clothes on the counter and grab a towel. I pull the curtain to the shower shut and rip the clothes from my body.

The cool water rejuvenates my skin, bringing me back to life. I feel like a completely different person.

I killed someone.

I killed multiple people.

I was almost killed.

A faint humming tune fills my ears. It is light and flows like the wind. Soothing, yet sad. And then the tune picks up. As if the wind is that of a tornado.

I later a half-used bar of soap in my hands and run it over my body. The suds engulf me.

I wonder hoe Maziere is doing. Did he even notice I was gone? Did he see me in the arena?

I rinse the soap off of me and shut off the water. I wrap myself in a towel and open the curtain.

My clothes- they're gone.

Without thinking, I burst through the shower room doors. "Who took my clothes?"

All of the people in the community room were standing there, staring at me. Looking at me. In just a towel. And the leader of it all...

"Oh? You mean these?" She laughs.

Ryn. The girl from the arena. The one singing the sorrowful tune in the shower room. 6 wedges her way through the circle of people and hands me another set of clothes.

Her voice is quite and gentle. "Sorry."

She hands me the clothes and disappears behind the circle. Everyone is still laughing and cheering Ryn on. I turn around, fully aware that half my butt is showing because the towels are way too short, and re-enter the shower room.

I put on my under garments first, then slide on my pants, shirt, and socks. I lean over the counter and stare into my reflection.

"Okay, Brizille. You've got this. You are okay."

I breathe in.

I exit the shower room, pushing past the crowd without making eye contact with Ryn, and sit by the young girl.

"Hi. I'm Brizille."

She looks nervous. "H-Hi."

I fold my hands carefully on my lap and she does the same. "Your name is Kianesca, right?"