Renagade

Part 5

It was almost as if the further they got from Precipice the more her body cried out to go back. She had to stop, and she did. Chaunce came and checked on her, placing his hand on her hunched back, but she waved him off, coughing. "I'm fine," she choked out. She tried to reach down to summon a bit of her strength to ease her pain, but she could not. That once warmth well that had brought her so much comfort and pain was retreating into itself, like metal in the dead of winter. Her vision swam as she placed a hand on the dwarf shoulder, shaking Chauncey's hand away. She just needed a minute.

"Uh...boss, she gonna look so good?" Hedda looked at Chaunc and caught the woman as she began to fall. Baelish, unaware of how slow the pack had become ran back. Sweat beamed on his face, though still he kept his staff aloft. Bending down, he took by the chin and looked into her eyes. They were glassy and cloudy. He shook his head, having seen soul wounds like this. It was amazing that she had even made it this far.

Eveyln tried to focus, but the waves were too loud and the sun was too bright. Everything was too much for her to handle. Flashes of sound and the echoes of screams began to fill her head. No...not now. Please not now. She couldn't face her sister again. She just couldn't. She flailed her hands and bit back a scream. Demi, oh her sweet sister. A pool of blood threatened to undo Eveyln. Her blood was so dark against the white marble..it reflected so much. She drank something that was given her and the pool of blood shrank and her sister's face grew fuzzy. She began to recognize the people around her. There was something different about these people. They were real.

"We must hurry, my strength wanes. We have to get her to Valenport, and then I can fix her. Hedda, please?" The giant nodded and swung Evelyn into his arms, like a babe. She protested quietly, but was glad of the relief, though only for a brief second. The crew ran quickly and try as he might the young woman bounced unceremoniously against the Aikien's chest. Each bounce, shot rolling pains through her body, and After the first few minutes he ceased apologizing and Evelyn forced herself to suffer and closed her eyes.

Baelish was the first to the caves, but held aloft his staff. Hedda ducked into the small entrance and had to put Evelyn down.

"These caves were designed to keep the slaves from escaping. Keep close. We do not know what manner of beasties still lurk in the twists and turns of them," Iz grabbed Eveyln's hand, and forced her to walk. The essence of decay and salt permeated the air like a heavy blanket, but they pressed on single file. Occasionally, she heard Hedda curse as his horns scrapped the low ceiling, raining dirt and debris. Isabella held her torch high, the fire burning black against the wet cave walls, through her eyes could have seen well in the near darkness.

They walked and they walked. It felt like eons, but her eyes finally adjusted to the dimlit caves. Isabella, was kind enough to mention a puddle after, Evelin had stepped in it. She rolled her eyes, but it was nice to have someone watching out for her, after all those years. Chauncy stood behind her, always careful not to touch her, but always waiting to help her. More than she would have liked to have admitted, her thoughts, though sluggish, were on him constantly. Every step sent shockwaves through her body, but still they pressed on.

Isabella stopped suddenly, and Eveyln knocked into her. Chauncy's breath was hot on her back, and sent an unwanted shiver down her back. "What is it?" They listened.

"Spide-ies. There's a widening up ahead. Prepare," she whispered. Though all Evelyn could hear was a soft dripping above her own panting. Isabella's hand tightened around hers and pulled her forward. "You stay out of the way and don't let one of those things sting you," she whispered. In the dark, she nodded and moved forward.

Cautiously they stepped into the opening, and before she could even react, something attacked her. She was knocked to the ground and an enormous weight and glittering eyes pressed her into the dank ground. She rolled away, as someone pulled the creature off of her. She ran. Endless tunnels and turns. Left and then right and then left again. Evelyn could do no other than to put as much distance as she could between the creatures. She heard her name but she did not turn back. Something chased her, but she ran harder. Fear raced up her spine as she ran, she could feel the power deep inside of her unfurling, but she had to get out of there. There was no time to dampen it.