Carmine (Completed)

Chapter 19

The night gripped everything and my eyes couldn't adjust.

Nothing.

Nothing graced my eyes.

My urge to throw up was high. Every second eased my shattered body into a cold embrace that I never imagined. The embrace of death, I did not want to imagine that, never that.

I was able to wrap my hand with a torn portion of my robe. That woman cut a deep path between my middle and ring finger. Half of my left hand could fall off the way it dangled. Thank Ashuor, it was not cut further. Holding it together, the pain was unbearable. I released tears intermittently as if that would ease the pain, but I must bear it.

My breathing kept steady as I pushed down the pain. Nothing echoed or rebounded these walls, except my breathing. It was hoarse and filled with worry. Slowing my movements I tried to calm down, to slow my heavy breaths.

I needed to stay calm! Focus, just hold it in. Hold y-

I doubled over and spewed fluid onto the floor. A gasp escaped me when I fell backward. My hands gripped the stone tiles for dear life as I heaved my neck forward and vomited again a sliver of slim fluid. The slobber graced my lips gingerly.

I clutched my fingers inward, breathed out, and drew my head back in an attempt to ease the pain in my throat. My hand went under my throat, holding it I looked into the dark space and tried to figure out what became of me.

Was I going to die here?

Clearing my now sore throat, I leveled my body. My lower back ached and it became harder to withstand this pain. It was like I was at war with my body.

War? Was that it?

The spear tightened in my grasp.

I swear when I found out who was doing this to me...

But first, I needed out of this place. I gripped the top of my forehead and slid it down in one motion which also meant the sweat and then the grime of my last lunch.

"Ack..." I flashed my hand to get the vomit off. That did not work so I wiped my hand off on the floor which made my hand wet.

God...

I wiped my mouth on my dress skirt and my hand as well. My feet carried me back from the scene of my disgrace. I needed to find my way to safety, but how?

My eyes picked up on nothing.

I said, "Should I scream or, no that will just give me away. Who can I trust in this place if not the priest?"

My breathing got steady. I froze and tried to listen. Nothing, but I heard something far off. Was it steps, no it was softer, longer in range or it just kept going? They must be voices.

I moved forward. The darkness was no friend of mine. I could not make out what was in front of me and hitting my foot against a wall or column was common. At least I assumed it was a wall or column, until I could launch my hands forward to feel the cold stone, I was never sure of the initial collision. It was unnerving and annoying.

This must be the sparsely used part of the temple hence why they did not light many of the candles around here. Maybe this was better, I was not easily caught. It was not likely I would run into anyone through the darkness. They would probably have a torch and I would be alerted to them coming.

Unless monsters were lurking, oh, I really wished I was back home in my bed.

I kept moving forward and kept my yelps of surprise and pain to a minimum. Now I was hearing the occasional noise, I never deciphered it though. My toes bumped against the wall often and decided to silently curse my bad luck. I laid my body against the wall to my right.