The Rainlands: Grand Delusion

Chapter 23: Waking from Death

Eastrain was lit in flames. Levi watched in horror, as it burned. He remembered the scorching heat on his face and the pain of finding out everyone he knew was dead. Masks, so many masks everywhere, there was one here, another there. Jonas' voice cried accusations in his head.

"It was Levi! He let the outsiders in! It's all his fault!" The child continuously yelled for Levi to be punished, and Levi couldn't say anything in retaliation, for it was true. It had all been his fault. It was his fault that everyone in Eastrain had died. He had brought the outsiders to the island. If it wasn't for his stupid desire to go outside, if he had just listened to Elder Shisshion, all would be well. After what felt like endless accusations, Levi found himself staring at the dead corpses on the ground. They stared back, faceless, the animal masks merging together into blank white circles which just watched him, hated him. Jonah's mocking face appeared in front of him. His fingers glowed orange, then white hot. He plunged them into Levi's side, the burning nails stabbing terrible holes in his flesh. Then Levi was back on the beach.

Anton yelled at him to run, but he didn't listen. Elder Shisshion and Dan told him to stay inside. He watched Anton die once more, ran through by the foreigner's blade. Only this time Anton screamed as he died, blamed Levi. Told him that he should die too, that he didn't deserve to live. He grabbed Levi's arm, though Anton was dead. The kindly man's face turned wolfish, elongating into a snout. His pale yellow eyes hungrily glared at Levi before he buried his terrible teeth into Levi's shoulder, ripping, tearing. Levi screamed, and screamed but there was no escape. Then things changed again.

Darkness. Darkness which clouded his mind, made him lose himself in its velvety folds. Sickly black which poisoned him and made him feel oh so sick. This was his new world. Just darkness. Until Jasmine appeared. She was terrified, hidden behind her fox mask, but even still he could sense it. Or perhaps it was how she screamed. She cried out for help, but Levi couldn't move, he was still frozen. He desperately wanted to move. Something was coming for her. And she needed help. Needed him. But he was too weak, too useless. The shadows in the darkness clawed for her, and he heard her screams intensify.

"Please! Please! Why do you haunt me? How long will you cling to me? Why won't you let me go!" Please, anyone, anyone, help, HELP! HEEEEELPP!!" She screamed and Levi bolted awake. His eyes shot open, and he moved. His legs twitched but his left arm was stuck under something warm. Then he saw her. Laying on his arm, her head shaking, her mask tilted as she jerked in her nightmare. She was uncontrollable, sobbing. He felt warm tears on him. I...this is...a hospital? But the doctor said I was going to die. How can I feel...alive?

"Jasmine?" Levi whispered, unable to believe how he was able to move again. He wondered if this was still some part of a dream, but it was too real, the colors too vibrant. My arm! My side? What's happening? He examined himself, found his chest wounds stitched shut, and almost shouted when he discovered pink scar tissue already starting to form underneath the bloody scabs. What? How long has it been? This is impossible, I can't be healing already! Levi stared at his arm, which as he remembered had been deeply wounded, to the point where he could see the bone before. There were bandages on it, but as he peeled them back, his heart pulsed, shock coursing through his body. It's healed too. This is...was I out for weeks? Jasmine, I need to ask Jasmine!

He feared that maybe this was one of those stories he had heard of where someone was injured and falls into a coma. That maybe he had been lost for weeks. But even still, if this was real, then he was grateful to be alive. He weakly moved his arm out from under Jasmine, but as he did, she moaned.

"N-No! Don't go! I, I needed you! Don't leave me alone again, don't let him find me!" She whimpered and Levi felt guilty, witnessing her weakness. He readjusted her mask, so it was straight again, and tried to sit up.

"Jasmine? Jasmine! It's just a dream again, I'm alive! I've right here!" He practically shouted into her ear, shook her shoulder, but this time, she did not wake up. The nightmare was too deep. Then a voice came which was not hers, from outside the room.

"You can't come in here! I have a critical patient in there who I just operated on last night! He's not going to make it but you can't go into a sterile environ-!" The voice cut out into a choked gargle and Levi heard something hit the floor. Wasn't that the doctor?! What is going on? A second later, a hand pushed on the door to the room, but it didn't budge.

"He said she was in here. We'll have to take her!" The voices sent a blast of adrenaline through Levi, so strong it was painful. That accent! They're from the Deathless City! Outsiders! And they want Jasmine? What's going on? Did they find out who she really is? Oh no, I have to get her out of here!

"N-no..." Jasmine's voice had faded into a plaintive whisper. She didn't seem to be able to wake up no matter what Levi did to her and he remembered that she had taken something. Did she drug herself? But why? Ugh, it doesn't matter, I have to get her out of here! He tried to get up. Failed, but surprisingly his body moved. I can move! Come on, it's just like getting up after falling on the trail. I can do this! Levi was just glad to be alive. He wasn't about to sit around as men from the Deathless City came in here. Jasmine, you got us here, saved my life. This time, I'm going to save you! He vaguely had a blurry memory of her carrying him here, the panic in her voice as he slipped in and out of wakefulness. He tried again. This time his legs and arms responded. He pushed himself up and felt dizzy.

Bang! Bang! Bang!