Lights flicker when I force my lids to open.Searching around I see two of things, two chairs, two water jugs even two sets of my own feet. I briskly shake my head in an attempt to get my precise sight back.
A squeak of wheels sends my head thumping and I grab my head harshly, hissing between my gritted teeth. Once the noise subsides I use the handles beside me to haul into a sitting position. A searing pain travels down my side and leg causing me to yelp. Shit. That fucking hurts. I look down to see bandages wrapped tightly around my my abdomen.
What deja vu is this?
After the pain nulls I begin to recognise the room and the location, Im back at the institute but how? The last thing I remember was being shot twice and dropping to the ground as the truck with Peter and Grayth drove away. How am I alive?
No memory comes to explain my living status. The only thing I see is me in the field with Lin. Was that a dream or did I actually meet Lin in limbo? I mean God doesnt exist right so how could I have actually met her.
I swallow and flinch at the rawness of my throat and attempt to slowly wiggle to the right of the bed to grab a jug off the bedside trolley. A new wave of pain sends me curling inwards and knocking the jug straight to the floor. In frustration I smack the bed before roaring 'FUCK' for good measure.
A scuffling sound moves to my left distracting me from the pain and putting me on guard. Whats down there? How did anyone get past Mara to be here in the first place? I attempt to peer over but to no avail.
More shuffling sounds before Layla's head pops up, her brown hair everywhere and eyes half dazed with sleep. But within a minute Layla notices I'm awake.
'Erza! Oh my god you woke up. We thought we would never see you awake again. Mara said you had to choose to wake up and I was so afraid you wouldnt but you have and Im so happy.' Layla clambers on the bed and cries into my chest.
'Hey I promised I would come back even if it took me a while.' I brush her hair as she continues you to cry. Relief floods through me that I came back alive and I silently thank Lin for waiting for me.
'Hey whats going on? I'm trying to sleep here'. A sleepy Peter groans.
'Peter! Peter! Wake up! Erza is awake.' Layla leans over the bed and shakes him out of my sight.
'What!' Peter tone is changed in an instant and he stands.
His red hair is tussled and his shoulder covered with bandages but when his emerald eyes meet mine they are alive as can be. His eyes glaze over me before swelling with water and his hand presses to chest as he breathes out shakily.
Layla grabs Peter hand to pull him closer, he winces as his injury jostles but does as she wishes until he is right beside me. He turns and grabs a chair before plonking down on it and his eyes dont leave me for a second.
Goosebumps litter my skin and anticipation rises, I have no idea what he is going to say next. Will he berate me? Will he yell? Or will he sit in sullen silence. Jesus I cant take this silence.
'Is your injury okay?' I hurry out.
Peter raises a red eyebrow before responding. 'You got shot twice and nearly died but ask how I am? Jesus you dont make sense.' Peter sniggers.
'Mara said you were lucky Dad found you when he did or you would of lost too much blood E.' Layla whispers.
Crap. Thats pretty severe.
'How did they find me?' I pick the fluff off the blanket to hide my nerves under Peter's scrutiny.
The atmosphere is so tense. Why isnt there lots of people in the hallways like normal, i mean anything for some background noise.
'The Laith guy hadnt left yet so when they were driving back through they spotted Collings van chasing us at the last minute they rammed into their truck. That allowed some guy to jump out and grab you. He was screaming your name.' Peter explains and tenses his jaw when finished.
He is mad. Okay not mad furious. I have to explain myself.
'Lay do you mind getting your dad for me?'
'Okay. But I will be back soon.' Layla hurries off the bed and between curtains, her footsteps becoming quieter by the minute.
I sigh and brush my curls out of my face.
Better now than never.
'Listen I know your mad_' 'MAD?_You think Im fucking mad?' Peter bellows his eyes dark and slitted.
'Well I nearly died and before I could even make it up to you so of course I think your mad.' I force my emotions down refusing to lose control.
Peter eyes widen before he slams his good arm against his chair.
'Jesus Erza. You would after leaving us you would understand how we felt. I mean you came back to get us because you were scared of our fates but you dont think we werent scared for you? That I wasnt scared for you?' Peter's body is tense and his arms are stationed on his waist, his face is contorted, his eyebrows furrowed.
'I just wanted you to have your freedom Peter, it didnt matter what happened to me.' My legs jitter beneath the blankets and I curl my arms around myself before meeting Peter's burning gaze.
'What happens to you matters Erza. This is where your damn wrong.' Peter's fist clench with every word fired.
'I dont have a death wish Peter. But I owed you guys a life outside of that place and if that meant my life forfeited i was okay with it.' I lay back against the pillow resigned.
'Well you dont know how it felt to see you fall to the ground like that covered in your own blood.' Peter's eyes are downcast as he turns his head and his hands now tucked into his trouser pockets.
'Then tell me?' I suggest.
Peter looks back at me anguish prominent in his gaze. 'It felt like you would die before I had a chance to really know you again.' He confesses his voice becomes airy.
Thats what he is worried about losing his chance to decide forgiveness.
'Well I'm alive Peter. I made it so you dont need to make yourself sick over it okay?' I meet his eyes and their guarded expression reflects back to me.
'Are the others okay?'
'Grayth is alright. Kyran is beside himself over your condition.' Peter's feet nudge the floor as he avoids my gaze. What is he hiding?
'Uriel. You havent mentioned Uriel.'
Peter looks down.
'She is alive.' Alive? What the hell does alive mean?
Before I can stop it my fangs have elongated and claws have forced their way through.
'So help me god if anything has happened to her and your not telling me I will get up and look myself.' I growl out.
Peter meets my eyes with a look of concern before summoning his own power. Wind wraps the bed and the curtains blow into the hall.
'You try it and I will force your ass back in bed.' Peter purses his lips and his wind picks up speed as a warning.
I wont be intimidated by him.
'Tell me Peter now.'
Peter meets my eyes before slowing his wind to a stop.
'Uriel had compulsory surgery before you came so she is in a vurnerable condition right now. Happy are ya?' He sarcastically adds.
I withdraw my power. Happy? How the fuck can I be happy.
'What surgery and why.' I hold Peter in my gaze and do not look away until he responds.
'They removed her damn uterus Erza. They took her and we couldnt do shit to stop it.' He holds his head in his hands and breathes heavy.
They did what? But why? How? Uriel did nothing wrong. She is a kind person who fights to survive how does she deserve this shit. Come on higher being. If there is a so called higher power than screw them. How the fuck do you let something like this happen to people. Why?!
'Bbut why? Why do this? Is killing us not enough if by some miracle we do survive they wont even allow us to have kids now.' I demand. My breathing accelerates and I grip my bed handles in a sad attempt to stabilise myself.
'Thats the exact reason Erza. They want to kill us off even future generations now.' Peter declares.
My chest tightens. My muscles tense. My legs shake. I grip the handles so hard they creak under the pressure.
'He is going to pay for this act Peter.' I speak with a tone that even I fear.
Peter's eyes are sharp and he grins sadistically.
'That was always the plan.'
I dont respond and I focus on my breathing willing my power to not activate. My side feels wet and my energy fades.
I fall back against the pillow and close my eyes.
'Peter I need Mara.' I slur.
Peter levitates in the air and rushes out the curtains.
Fuck I pushed it too far. My side pulsates filling me with nausea. A cough rattles me.
Mara is beside in an instant.
'You need to stop pushing yourself. Rest and you boy.' Mara black eyes stare into my soul and I nod weakly.
Lin. Her death. The dream. I have to tell Mara she has a right to know.
'Mara' I croak.
She continues unwrapping the bandages ignoring my call.
'Mara. Your sister.'
'I know she died Erza. No need to speak about it.' Mara quips.
How cold is this woman? Her sister fucking died and thats her response.
'No there is. Lin died protecting us. She died with honour. There is a need to speak about that.' My tone is urgent desperate to pass on the message.
'Thats who she was Erza.' Mara replies coolly.
Frustrations spills over. 'Your sister died and thats what you can say about it?'
Mara doesnt respond but works diligently.
'She appeared to me before I woke up. She made me promise to look after Katie and sing her the lullaby.'
Mara stills.
'What lullaby?' Mara voice stutters.
I cough before singing.
'Go through the wind. Float on the sea. Look at the stars. And think of me.' I break off at the end.
Mara's eyes dont move off mine and her hands shake as she continues with the bandages behind her Peter sits slack jawed and eyes filled with wonder. No clue whats shocked him so bad.
'She must of appeared to you if you know that lullaby.'
Mara finishes wrapping my bandages and leaves without a second glance.
Me and Peter say nothing as we wait for Layla to return with Laith.
Sometimes silence is better than words.