World Fail

Chapter 2: 404

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I woke up with a gasp, my heart pounding in my chest. The air was heavy, and I started to choke on the thick smoke filling my lungs. The forge was usually smokey, but now it was like someone had a bonfire going. The room was so dark that I couldn't even see, and the heavy scent made it impossible to smell. Clawing at what I was hoping was the door, I struggled to pull myself into a standing position. Finally, I caught ahold of the metal ring that served as a door handle and frantically tugged at it. Shit - it's stuck! I put all of my weight into pulling on the door until it finally burst open. Collapsing on the hallway floor, I sucked in deep lungfuls of the cold, clean air. When I tried to sit up, it sent me into another coughing fit, red spattering on the ground. In the midst of all this, I heard a soft tread approaching. It was too light to be Skylar, yet too quiet to be Ellis. Swiping at the blood caked on my lips, I looked around wildly, trying to place the sound. A figure flickered at the edge of my vision, backing away when I turned to look. Finally managing to catch a faint whiff of the intruder, my eyes went wide. Pine and ink....that can't be - "Frida?"
At the sound of my voice, the figure fled the hallway, leaving only the lingering scents. I leaned against the wall, trying to bring my thoughts into some kind of order. Did they ....did they start the fire? I couldn't be sure, but Skylar needed to know about this. I didn't want to worry her too much though, so I took a few minutes to clean myself up. The crimson had left stains on my pale scarf, but I could just fold it a little differently to hide that. Heading towards the main hall, I wondered where I would find her. It was nearly four in the morning, so she should be in her room...but she might have also gone to the smaller kitchen for a snack. My stomach rumbled, which made up my mind about where I would check first. All of my senses were on edge as I headed for the kitchen, making me flinch at everything from a flickering of light to my footsteps. If I'm not killed, this whole situation is going to drive me mad... I could see candlelight filtering under the door to the kitchen - someone is either cooking or neglected to turn out the lamps. Pushing open the door a little bit, I took a deep breath to see if anyone was in the room. A strange mix of scents swirled around the room - everything from nutmeg to the scent of fresh parchment. Nothing distinct to any of my friends though. Throwing caution to the winds, I fully opened the door. The room was empty besides a lantern on the main prep table. "That's what the light was from..." I mumbled to myself. I glanced around, then shrugged. I was here, I might as well eat something. Well since I have to talk to Skylar...maybe I'll make cookies or something for the druid and me to share. The recipe wasn't too hard, so I made a double batch. Once they were finished, I set them all out on a cooling rack while I looked for one of the less delicate platters. I finally found one that I was sure wouldn't shatter if it got knocked off the bed, and ran my hands over it. No cracks or scratches, meaning there was no chance of anyone getting cut on it. I ran it under a stream of water as well, in case there was something on it. Honestly I was being a bit paranoid... Better safe than sorry though.
The hall leading to the druid's room was dark, but I didn't want to risk a lantern. One of the others might see me, and with the current situation, I would be under an onslaught of questions. Balancing the platter on one palm, I quietly knocked on the door. "Little bird?" I whispered. No reply. "Skylar?" Still no reply. My breathing grew uneven as I stared at the door, my anxiety instantly suspecting the worst. Nonononono- was the only thing going through my head. Heart racing, I forced the door open, setting the platter down on the bedside table. "Skylar??" I whisper-called again. As before, the only thing that replied was the echo of my own words. This can't be happening... I could feel a panic attack coming on, but I would be of no use if I collapsed here. My entire body was trembling as I tripped over myself to sit on the druid's bed. Hugging my knees, I rocked back and forth, trying to ground myself. "Five to one.." I whispered. It only took me a moment before his words came back to me.
                             ~
"I know you're scared darling, but it's okay. I'm here, just me. The hunters are gone." He had his arms wrapped tightly around me, whispering comfort and rocking with me. I didn't know who this man was, but he stopped the hunters. He found me - he saved my life. "Five things, okay? Can you do that?" I nodded, my gaze darting around. "T-tree...letter.." My heart was still racing, but I had to focus. "Quiver..arrow..and sky." I whispered. "That's right..okay, now four things you can hear." We continued like this until my breathing was even again, my body no longer shaking. He took my hands and helped me up, still holding me close.
                            ~
Four things you can hear... I could hear my own ragged breathing, the eerie whine the winds made, the creak of the bedsprings, and the faint notes of someone's music box. I went down the list again and again, repeating it like a prayer. Finally I had calmed myself enough to properly analyze the situation. First things first...alert someone else. Frida would think I was attacking them if I came in at this hour, so that left Ellis. Her room wasn't too far from this one thankfully, so I took the lantern from Skylar's bedroom and hurried down the hall. As I had done before, I knocked and called out. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing the wide-awake witch. She held a spellbook, chakra dangling around her wrist. "Lilith? What are you doing out so late?" Her tone wasn't concerned or worried, more curious than anything. "Skylar...Skylar is gone."