The Heavens Below

Wake: 2

   My eyes opened.

My head pounded and spun. I couldn't hold onto anything.
    I blinked into the greyish blue. A felt a cold droplet fall on my nose . I blinked.
I moved my fingers. Moss? Mud?
    I tried to turn my head and my neck refused to budge.
    I'm on the ground, somewhere.

Why am I on the ground? Did I fall asleep?
   Where's Eliza?

       Where's Jasper?

  For some reason thinking of him made me sick. I tried to think of why. I took a few deep breaths.

    I tried to move my arm. It didn't hurt exactly, but I couldn't.
     I tried the same with my legs. Again, nothing.
     I tried to move my wing.

  White flooded my vision and the world cracked into focus. I shouted in pain as fire ripped through my wing into my side. Up my shoulders into my neck. I clenched my teeth, hissing.
      I gasped and looked around.
  My back was propped against a tree. My arms and legs splayed out in front of me, held tight against me with heavy rope. I squirmed and my body hurt more, I grunted.
   My chest began to flood with cold and panic. I dug my claws into the dirt and pulled. Nothing. I wheezed and kicked and fought.
     Pain ripped through my sides again. I looked up at my wings.

      Oh.

   I went limp. Between black feathers and flesh, there was a bump. My wing was spilling blood onto the ground. I felt the fire and itching down into my shoulder. I couldn't move it past that point. Tears swam in my eyes.

    "No.."

   I moved my other wing a little. But my left wing, just past the elbow, remained motionless. 

   It's broken.

I blinked at it. Shaking my head.

  "No..no..please.."

  I couldn't move my arms. I couldn't move my legs. I couldn't breathe.

     I hunched over. Fire spread through my ribs. I gasped for air and leaned back, sharply.

    Eliza. Where's Eliza? Where's Jasper?

  White clouded the edges of my vision and I fought to stay awake.

My son? Where's Arthur? Where's Maria?

Wait...Maria?

   I swallowed and shook my head. The fog pulled me in and out.

   I shut my eyes and tears streamed down my face.

    It hurt too much to shout. It hurt to think.

Even then. What could be done?

   I'm dying. Death is coming slower than I'd had hoped it would.

      I glanced around. Animals. That's going to be it. A bear. Maybe not even. I couldn't fight off a rat, in my state. Not that I would try.

If not it'd be water. I'd be hungry first. But no water in the end would be it. What a shame.

     I shut my eyes.

  Eliza. My kids. All of them.
  It isn't fair. This isn't fair.

I was all Eliza had. Me and Jas. And now she's alone. I can't be there anymore.

    Most of my kids won't remember what I even look like.

     I don't know where I'm going now. I don't know if I'll see anyone there. Jasper or my parents. I could hope, but even then.

   I'm already dead. I'm looking my death in the face. And I don't see anything there.

  I shut my eyes again. The fog pulling me back in, a mercy.

   My last thought is of red feathers and strings and green eyes. He's laughing.