Alone (A13)

Prompt A13: a shuddering breath

There is a haze over her in semi-consciousness. A fog that makes everything a bit warm and comfortable. Yet, she can’t stay; not even if she tried. There is a pressure in her side that grows sharper and stronger as she begins to wake until she jerks with a shuddering breath.

The pain rolls over her in waves, and Adeline curls to the side as her hand flies to her wound. Tears flow from her eyes as she exhales. The pressure of her hand makes it worse. The wound in her shoulder throbs. She closes her eyes against the tears.

I’ve sent word to father, and he’s going to bring the General down upon you.

Benny’s words echo in her head. When he said it, she couldn’t think of a retort. The fear paralyzed her body for the second he needed to surprise her. She was looking at Dusk when he stabbed her. His eyes were wide in shock and yet narrow in anger. Maybe they were wide and then narrowed? She doesn’t remember. She just remembers staring into his eyes as she fell. The wound in her shoulder hurt more, but this one took her breath.

She heard his snarl as the room faded in and out of view, and then he grabbed her to hold her. She wanted to say a lot to him, just in case, but the thing that mattered most was getting word to Evie. She asked Dusk to. Dusk’s never let her down before, but she threw him into a war she was trying to keep him out of. Was it the right call? Is he okay? Did the mad dog already bring destruction upon the orphanage?

“Dusk…” she tries, but her voice is hoarse and doesn’t go far. He shouldn’t be here. He should be with Evie at the Orphanage. “Tarsys…” She tries again, but coughs on the word. It doesn’t matter. No one answers.

Wherever she is, she’s alone.