Shrike's Heart (#2)

[idolpro]

The woman before you is beautiful—fair of features, with lovely golden skin and luxurious long black hair, petite. You have the immediate and distinct impression that she's just let go of your hand, and she steps back, and smiles.

It's not quite a happy smile.

"I'm sorry," she says. "There's just nothing I can do, as things are. But the way is there; it just needs to be lit."

You open your mouth—maybe to say something, or to express confusion—but you have to cough, and taste something metallic, spattering black blood onto the ground in front of you. Then you realize—blood seeps from opening wounds in your arms, your chest, your stomach, your face. It rims your eyes and trails from your nose and you feel like you're dissolving—

—and you fall through the ground like it's the surface of a lake, and go down, down, down.

> Wake Up

Comments

[constellationprize]

Um - um -

[ he's obviously unwell, but this is.

stepping forward, watching the others around him, she's not entirely sure what she could be doing - in lieu of any better ideas she kneels nearby, a hand extended towards the man's head. ]

Is there... um, is there anything that you need...?

[handpuppets]

[ he coughs again; there's a worrying sort of whistling noise that comes through. surely that's not good, right? ]

I'm—I'm, fine. My brother—if you can get him out of here...

[ the brother is clearly dead. his chest doesn't rise and fall at all. ]

[constellationprize]

[ . . .

swallows, thickly, ]

. . . Okay. We definitely will, but -

[ and inhales. when she next speaks her voice is soft, gentle, as she reaches to stroke at his hair ]

We'll do our best to help you too, okay? Don't worry - it's okay... You'll both be okay.

[handpuppets]

[ he smiles, weakly. ]

I... thank you. You're really kind...

Even in all of this.

[constellationprize]

Shh.

[ just carries on stroking his hair, touch firm but not too harsh. she is a trained headpat hand. ]

One of us is going to get medicine for you, and we'll get your brother someplace safe too, okay...?

[handpuppets]

Thanks... you're really kind, Miss. All of you.

[ his eyes start to flutter closed, a little, and then his head jerks up a little bit, like he's trying not to fall asleep. ]

[constellationprize]

Oh -

Um, please don't fall asleep! I'm sorry, I'll stop - I wanted to calm you down, but ...

[ not that much... were the headpats too powerful... ]

If - ... if you're calm now, then that's okay. Do your best to stay awake, okay...?

[handpuppets]

I'll—try. I've—I've got to, right?

Everyone says I have to try.