Don't You Fret, My Dear

Voices

"Too big of a risk..." I hear someone whisper.

"She's just a girl. She's only just finished basic training, barely even a soldier..." I hear another voice say. I walk down the hall and see light shining from a cracked doorway. I tiptoe slowly towards it. 

I know I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I know I'm the "she" they're referring to; and I don't have anything better to do, I'm lost anyways. 

I get to the door and peek in, I see the king and a couple palace guards sitting around a table. They're looking over a map by lamplight. 

"We have no idea what we're up against. And neither does your so-called "help", your highness. Why did you want her here in the first place?" One guard argues. 

"We should be training more men to fight. We should be stationing watch-parties at important borders. Instead, you've brought some stranger here on no other basis except some fairytale!" Another guard raises. 

"Sargent, please refrain from shouting" The king stops him. "You both have seen what this world holds, what dangerous magic is out there; don't question my decisions just because we're being forced to bring in someone new. I've told you before that this is something I've dealt with before, years ago. Before Corona even existed. You've got to trust me." 

"Whatever you say, your highness. But I WILL be preparing my men the way I always have, and we WILL start stationing anywhere we see fit. We're not taking orders from a stranger."

"You WILL, if it becomes necessary. Until then, train like normal and be prepared to follow any order I  give. Keep an eye out for anything unusual. You know the drill. Now, I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Sarge." 

I see the king rise from his seat and I immediately sneak down the hall, hoping he doesn't catch me.

Eventually, I find my room and collapse onto the bed. I kick off my boots and crawl under a thick wool blanket. 

The day's events racing through my head, I eventually find sleep.

                                                  *                     *                    *                   *

"......Kattt....." a scraping voice hisses, "....kattttt...." I hear it again. 

I feel....something....grabbing my arms, wrapping around my body. I can't move, I'm paralyzed. I struggle to pull my arms out from its grasp.

".....barely even a soldier...." spits out the Sargent, then his voice warps to something sinister, unrecognizable, "you can't help them...you can't save them.......barely even a soldier.....barely even a soldier..barelyeven a soldier.....barelyevenasoldierbarelyevenasoldier....." a voice taunts. 

I break into a cold sweat, I can't breathe. I can't move. I'm staring at the ceiling, I see dark forms circle in, swirling like tendrils of smoke, closing in on my field of vision.

"SAVE THEM!!" 

I jerk awake, shaking, a cold sweat dripping down my back. I try to catch my break, cough, then blink a couple times to let my eyes adjust. I'm in the same room I fell asleep in. No dark forms, no voices. Just me. Just me. 

Just me.