Cold
It's cold
I felt my bones chattered
I tried to draw my limbs closer to my body but was met with restraints.
It's metal
What's going on? "Mhmmgg", panic ensued as I struggled against the fabric in my mouth.
"Oh goodness you're awake, that's bad".
Maria?
I struggle harder against my restraints
"It's ok dear we won't be doing this anymore plus that drug is supposed to keep you sleep for a month. Well sooner or later it wouldn't work anymore. Back to the drawing board with that". my heart sped it up causing me to dry heave.
"While it makes me so very upset, we have not to use for you anymore". I felt a hand at the base of my stomach and shivered. My already racing heart incited a panic attack.
"Oh calm down you don't even remember any of it anyway. Well hopefully, although you won't be too happy seeing these scares I bet", she snickered. "Well since your up might as well expedite your exit".
A bell sound went off and heavy footsteps followed. I tried to pull harder against my restraints but cried out as felt one break skin. "I'm not repeating myself, calm down. You're lucky I'm not just killing you." That can't be Maria, she would never do this to me. She wouldn't, she just wouldn't.
The heavy footstep got closer and what sounded like a door burst open cause me to yelp. "Take her to the portal I'll meet you there".
What is she talking about? Multiple handS began to touch me and I screamed. "Shut up!" A sharp and sudden pain on my cheek silenced me. "I have no patience today, not even for you."
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I finished the last bit of paperwork and decided to lay down. My back has been bothering me ever since the kidnapping incident. What idiot decides to kidnap children here of all places. I sank into my seat and stared at the blank sky. The moon hadn't appeared yet meaning it's probably around midday. I know I have a meeting right when the moon rises so maybe I have enough time to nap. As if right on queue to interrupt my peace my assistant, Marci, barged in.
"What did we discuss about knocking". Her usually soft baby face tense cup in disgust. "Whatever what is it". "There's a zduhac being set down from Venus. The portal is being prepared. She'll be here soon."
I groaned. Why did grandfather even sign that contract, we can't just accept every exile! "Her profile please". I looked through the brown folder.
Oh, she's is or was a high-ranking officer. My face turned sour as I realized her profile was otherwise empty. Even parentage is left blank. I looked to find her offense to see it also left blank. Even her photo looked old and dated, it was black and white! "Marci is this all there is?". She shrugs her shoulders. I sighed, "well whatever we'll just ask. Is a living area being arranged". "Yes sir".
I nodded and she dismissed herself. What is Maria doing sending someone down here so suddenly? I have other things to do!
The fly to the portal was tiring. This was ridiculous and an explanation better follow this mess. The portal's howl made me take a few steps back. The grounds shook as the gully opened
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I was being hanged upside down and fear radiated in my bones. I have to think and fast. Both my ankles were being held meaning I had two men to deal with. I tried to calm my beating heart." I'm going to miss you Laytonya you were my favorite. I enjoyed your company your a truly sweet girl". Nails pierced my skin as my blindfolded and the cloth in my mouth was snatched off revealing Maria but she was different. Her once pale blue skin was ghostly and beige. Her eyes were a piercing blue. "Oh, my fault you must not recognize me. No matter, I'm sending you to mercury. Killing you was the original goal but plans have changed. I looked down and my heart stopped. They're going to drop me. I grabbed the metal railing and tugged my right l t cause one of my captors the get pulled toward. He let go trying not the fall over. I used all my stretch and lifted myself to wrap my cuffed around his neck and head-butted him. He fell backward. I quickly stood up and recovered, the other zduhac male came charging towards me. I roundhouse and felt my heel connect with his side causing a satisfying crack. Regaining balance I lifted the same leg and made sure my heel connected with his head, dropkicking him to the floor. I have to get out of these cuffed. I pulling the chain though I jumped onto it, snapping it in half.
"ARGHHH!", I let a tear slip from the pain. "Ha! Well you aren't a high-ranking officer for nothing". She looked completely different. She- she looked human. The only difference was her deep-set blue eyes. I took a step back. "what no fight in you left for me. How disappointing although fighting won't do much". "Maria what going on? I don't understand." she stared at me with a blank expression. Suddenly she doubled over in a rage of laughter. "How naive you are my goodness! Read the room Laytonya I'm abandoning you, I'm throwing you away". I felt like someone stabbed me. I fell to the ground in shock. "You know all those horrible nightmares you've been having well that was me. Oh and the best part! Your dear mommy and daddy", I was being lifted off the from by my neck cutting off my airway. I struggled against the invisible force. "I killed them just like this, I still remember your screeching figure in the corner screaming for them. Really it is my fault I made the wrong assumption about you all these years. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil." I felt myself losing consciousness as the grip got tighter. "But! Because I am Maria THEE Merciful, ill let you live. In fact, you can start a whole new life down there, in that hell hole of a planet. Well, supposedly it is". I couldn't register what she was saying anymore.
Divine One why did you let me live? For me to experience this? Why what did I do? Grant me mercy.
"I almost pity your ignorance". She reached out her hand and placed it on my forehead. She mumbled something under her breath and I felt a sharp pain. "That should keep your mouth shut about me".
I floated toward the center of the portal
She turned from me a starting walking towards a door. My chest twisted watching her walk away.
My only hope
A wretched smile covered her face as she looked over her shoulder. "No hard feelings ok?". I couldn't even scream as I was let go. Everything was a lie. Her compassion, her love, even that sweet smile. No one was in my corner.
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My patience was running thin. It had been five minutes since the portal opened. Counting the trees was beginning to become irritating. I walked towards the eye of the portal hoping to see something. I squinted my eyes as a tiny dot grew bigger a bigger. Finally my goodness, I immediately flinched as a small water droplet touched my face. "Ugh, I hope that's water." A human shape took form and it looked a little odd. This person was rather limp. Shocked, I realized this person wasn't conscious. I scurried to find the area they would land. "You've really picked the best time to faint". A long fluffy long ponytail became clear as well as the sound of metal.
She lands abruptly in my arms. A chilling sensation ran through my spine. The portal began to close and I quickly got out the way.
I laid her gently onto the grass examined her to confirm my suspicion. My eyes were immediately drawn to her red-orange marble skin. Her hair was full and surrounded her body like it was trying to keep her safe. Last time I checked Zduhac didn't grow hair. the fresh wound on her face and chained hands grabbed my attention next. Her skin was covered in black bruises especially the large one around her neck. As I looked closer panic insured. I put an ear to her chest and heard a faint heart beat.
"She's alive! good, ok healer I need healers!" I formed the com-bubble to contact the nearest healer. Familiar red kinky hair and pale freckled skin formed in the blue bubble". "Fran! Good it's you I need help. I'm by the portal." I immediately hung up and kept listening to her heartbeat get quieter and quieter. Shallow breathes coming from her mouth.
I ripped off a bit of my tee shirt and cast a water spell. After clearing up some of the blood, the wound turned out to be shallow. My hand brushed against her long black eyelashes. The light of the mon reflected off them making her glisten. I flinched away flustered. "Geez I haven't even heard you say a word and you've got me feeling strange things" I chuckled. Fast footsteps approached and I immediately knew is was Fran. She stopped in from if me huffing, she was never that athletic. "Glad your here this woman-"
"You got some darn nerve calling me like that and you didn't even tell me which side of the portal do you know I ran around this whole freaking portal looking for you. Now move and get your nasty shirt off of her before she gets an infection. My gosh! she's bruised up!"
"Geez Hi to you too."
"Her breathing and heartbeat are concerning", I snickered. "Uh yeah I know". She sneered at me. She placed an ear on her chest. A few seconds went by before she nodded and prepared to cast a spell
"Frenzies occur before our eyes and bloodshed bring up sorrow. The piercing pain of the knife and an angels heart is finished. Master of serenity aid me in my calling, the heart of another will surely diminish."
Her right hand turned green a produce greenery and flowers. She placed that hand on the woman's chest and put the other on top and pressed into her chest rhythmically.
Healing magic always amazed me.
"Her heart rate is coming back up I'm gonna heal the wound on her face" I simply nodded and watched. Unfortunately this magic ain't for me.
She stopped pressing into her chest and the plants started to to wilt away.
Her breathing sounded natural again. "Thanks Fran, you're a lifesaver", she flicked my forehead and went off to where ever she was going.
I picked up the woman, "I should probably take her to the recovery center".