When I come to, I'm a bundle of aches and pains. Every single bone in my body hurts, I feel every muscle twitch, and contract, every sinew strain. I'm acutely aware of every sensation in, and outside my body. The way the fabric brushes against my skin, the way I can hear Harold weave his web, the air that rushes into my lungs, my senses are in overdrive. I'm hypersensitive to sound, and touch and I'm afraid to open my eyes, even though I already know it's night time, or I'm somewhere where is pitch black.
Oh, no. I begin to fervently pray that I haven't ended up back in the dungeon from hell, at Micah's mercy. What mercy? I'd laugh but I don't think I can. My jaw seems to be locked tight, and what I'm experiencing at this very moment feels a lot like when I was on that damn sacrificial altar. I'm catatonic.
" You need to calm down," That never works. But hearing Graham's voice does make me feel a little bit better unless he has been caught with me. Damn.
Shay yawns beside me, but it is so loud that I hear myself wince, the sound almost shattering my eardrums.
" You seem to be experiencing some sensitivity to low-frequency sounds," Graham says quietly, but I also hear the way his breathing changes rhythm in time with his speech, the way his teeth clatter against each other, and even his pulse. Or is it my own? I can't distinguish between the two.
" Mason?" I regret asking, as soon as the words leave my mouth because of the head-splitting ringing in my ears.
" No speaking," Graham says softly and stands up from the bed but the wave of sounds that hit me is too much to process. Everything is too much to process. What is happening to me?
It is overwhelming, and I finally understand how bats feel. I need to flee and be somewhere where there is no sound, no light, no other living thing.
My wish is granted to some extent. Because I find myself back in the white plains but this time is different. It is no longer deserted as it once was. There is plenty in there, and all want to eat me.
Oh, joy. Slowly I push myself off the snowy ground and look around me. I suppose this could be one of the effects of absorbing and releasing so much power at once. I've opened the floodgates and I have no idea how to close them. Where is Mason? I could use him right about now.
One of the furry monsters charges towards me the moment he senses my presence, with his jagged teeth on full display, stomping the frozen snow that breaks beneath his weight. A growl resounds in the distance, and I think I've had enough excitement in one day to last me a lifetime. I'm about to lie down and just take it when a pair of arms fold around my waist, enveloping in their familiar warmth.
" Close your eyes," He says softly, " You created them, and you can also make them disappear. You're letting fear dictate your thoughts," I find it hard to close my eyes and wish the nasty monsters away, since I hear more growls in the distance, charging towards us, shaking the ground beneath our feet.
" Deep breath. You can do this," He encourages, and I find his faith in me endearing.
With the monster a few feet away, I close my eyes and imagine the white plains devoid of any sentient life. A chilling shriek echoes right a few paces in front of us and then nothing. Quiet. Dead silence.
With I sigh of relief I open my eyes and find the white plains just like I remember them. Nothing is everywhere you look. Nothing but endless blinding white.
" Next time I suggest more people-friendly creatures," Mason says playfully, and I look up at him to find him smiling but the events of this morning wipe away the smile off my face.
" You believed her," I mumble more to myself than to him, but in the white planes nothing gets lost. Not even sad little girls, seeking answers.
" No. I know Ava better than you think. I play my part, and that's all there is to it," He suddenly stops speaking as if he'd said something he wasn't supposed to.
" You made a deal with the mayor. What does he have on you?" Mason sighs and rests his forehead on the back of my head. He doesn't seem overly enthusiastic about this whole marriage, and I firmly believe that there is more to it, hence my question.
" Nothing that you should worry about. For now, he has won," He seems desolate, and I realise that I might've judged him a little too harshly.
Whatever it is, is related to the Quarter.
" Do you want to talk about it?" I'm swept off my feet, and all my anger seems to dissolve as if it never existed.
" No. This kind of conversation tends to kill any remaining will to live, and any mention of Ava's name does away with my sex drive," He chuckles, and I find the sound so soothing, that I let myself go and fully lean into him.
He purrs in my ear pulling me closer," Why didn't say anything sooner?" I look over my shoulder at him, but he has settled watching in the distance, a bit absent.
" I thought it would be best for you to stay away. It was one of Ava's demands when I agreed to the marriage. You were not to set foot in our home. And I was to cease all contact with you," Marvellous. There is no easy way of getting rid of Ava then. Whatever her father has on Mason is not an easy obstacle to overcome.
" Can we speak of this some other time? I'm too content right now. Please don't ruin it," I can feel the smile spreading on his lips, even though I can't see it.
I nod, and he offers me his hand, I take it, as he lowers us both to the frozen ground.
" Maybe next time choose somewhere a little warmer," I settle between his legs, with him resting his chin on my shoulder.