Chapter 20
1692 Words
20
Pain slashed through my skull, like thunder and lightning striking the earth. A mind-numbing headache seared through me, one that assured me I was alive but made me wish I was dead.
"She's coming around," a voice said, so loud it added to the excruciating agony.
I just wanted to wake up so I could slap the person that dared speak this loud. But my limbs wouldn't move. I couldn't even open my eyes.
The voice spoke again. "Give her some space."
Something touched me. It could've been a hand or a burning hot poker. I couldn't tell. It hurt in a way I'd never experienced before.
"Ylva? Can you hear me?"
I could hear her, yes. But I couldn't reply. My mouth was dry as the desert, my tongue raw like sandpaper. Everything ached, everything protested. This body couldn't do anything but feel excruciating, overwhelming, all-encompassing torture.
"Ylva. Follow the sound of my voice. Let go of the void."
The void? What void? The Veil? No, I couldn't be in the Veil anymore, not if my body was here on earth. But then what was she talking about?
"Mmflabil," I gurgled, unable to make coherent words, let alone string a sentence together. "Flarghebl."
"There you go. Keep talking," the voice encouraged. It sounded a little like professor Rada, but it wasn't nearly as angry or cold.
Whoever it was, they were trying to help me. Even if that meant listening to the nonsense I said.
"Whaglum. Fleblli. Pweeflutl."
Wow, none of those were actual words. Great job, Ylva.
"Herflum. Hghleep. Help."
That was a word.
"Help."
Hands were pressed on my chest and something plastic shoved in my mouth. Air filled my lungs, relieving some of the stress on my body.
The magic within me whispered and with a sigh, the wind came alive. Weak, at first. But with every puff of air, it grew stronger. The tornado strengthened until it roared through me as strong as before. A weight fell from me and my body became my own again.
I was back.
"Ylva?"
"Yes?" I replied, peeling my eyes open despite the glue that seemed to hold them shut. Little by little, the world returned to me. Shapes and lines, colours and shadows.
A tiled floor, wooden chairs, shoes. A hand, a blurry face, grey eyes. A voice. "You're doing well."
I was doing well. I didn't feel like it.
My whole body screamed in protest and pain. The wind magic raged through me, but I could barely feel it. If this was the price of resurrection, I'd rather stay dead. This was punishing.
With all the power I had, I sat up. The hazy shapes sharpened, I recognised the scenery.
A classroom. Sunlight. Professor Rada.
"Ylva? Can you hear me?"
"Yes," I croaked.
"That's good." Rada pressed a wet towelette on my forehead and pushed a tissue against my nose. The strong scent of clove burned the hairs and shocked me awake. My eyeballs rolled around my sockets, electricity shot through my fingers, and slowly, but surely, I regained control over myself again.
"How are you feeling?" The professor helped me sit up, concern swirling in once stern eyes. She seemed genuinely shocked, whether it was by my disobedience or my return from the Veil.
"I'm..." I paused, searching my feelings. "Actually, I don't know how I feel."
"I can't believe you're here," she said, staring at me with confusion carved across her features. "How did you come back from the Veil?"
"I..." I racked my brain, but it hurt whenever I tried to use my recent memory. "I don't know."
"You should be dead."
"Gee, thanks," I muttered, staring at my hands. They were no longer translucent or see-through. I was back, even if it didn't feel like it.
Rada shook her head. "I've never seen a student get back after they severed the thread. You're incredibly lucky."
"I guess so." I didn't feel like it. I hadn't managed to save Hyde or find the thief. I'd risked everything and it had all been for nothing. Even if I knew where to find the dusk thief, I had no idea how to explain or describe it.
I looked up at the older woman. "Professor?"
"Yes?" she replied.
"I..." Doubt swirled through me, somehow filling me with dread. I didn't know why, but it suddenly didn't seem like a good idea to tell her about what I saw. Maybe she wouldn't believe me. Maybe she'd blame me for not retrieving them. Maybe she already knew about it…
"Nothing."
"Are you sure, Ylva?" she asked, staring at me intensely.
"I'm sure," I lied. I pushed myself up from the floor, weak in my knees. "I just want to sleep."
"Okay," Rada said, but her voice betrayed her suspicion. "I'll escort you to the dorm."
"No!" I flapped out before I could stop myself. Surprise coloured the professor's voice, so I quickly regained my composure. "No, that won't be necessary. I'm fine."
"If you say so."
"I'm sure." Wobbly on my legs, I shuffled out of the classroom and towards the hall. Every step sent shooting pain through my entire body. I dragged myself through the long hallways, sweating like a pig on the High holidays.
Torture. Pure torture.
Students stared at me, again, but I no longer cared. I just... had to.... get back... to... my... room...
Why was this f*****g school so big? Who needed such big classrooms and wide halls? Nobody cared.
With my last energy, I scraped along the wall through the dormitory. Just one more step, just one more step. Just one... more... step.
Exhausted, I fell on the door handle and into the room. Saved. I was here. Now I just had to drag my limp body to my bed and sleep until the end of the world. Hell yes.
"Ooh, Ylva! Good that you're here, I need your opinion. Would you say that Pickles' tail has grown or not? I could swear—" she finally looked at me, her jaw dropping. "What the— Ylva! You look awful."
She rushed over to me and wrapped her arm tightly around my waist. Overcome with the support and reassurance, I collapsed in her embrace.
"What happened to you? My goodness, you look like you've come back from the dead."
I held up my hand, sweat pearling on my forehead. "Hah, hey, fun story—"
"You need to rest. Here, let me help you get in bed." Ryoko helped me in bed, her hands firmly on my hips. Her grip was surprisingly strong for her slender frame. Unexpected, but extremely welcome right now.
"I'm okay," I protested weakly, but it was nice having someone fuss over me.
"You're not okay. Here, let me fluff your pillow and shake your duvet. You need to rest." My roommate pressed me down on the bed and piled blankets on top of me.
I sat back up. "Actually—"
"No talking." She shoved me down again, my head thudding into the pillow.
"Ouch," I protested, bouncing up again. "Hey, can you stop doing that?"
Ryoko shot me a guilty look as she sat down and flattened the sheets. "Sorry. I'm just trying to take care of you. You look like sleep would do you well."
I shot her a bemused smirk. "Awww, is that right?"
The Dragon blushed red as she batted her eyes down. "Shut up."
Warmth radiated off of her and warmed my stomach. "You care about me," I teased, half-grunted. Somehow that revelation had my stomach twisting and turning in knots.
"Wow. Half-dead and you can still flirt with me," she noted, shaking her head in bemusement.
My eyes widened. "Flirting? W-What? I'm not flirting with you?"
She stared at me, the golden ring around her eyes flaring up. "Ummm... Yes, you are?"
A lump formed in my throat. "No, I haven't..." I protested weakly, preparing for the awkwardness that would follow.
Ryoko's face fell. "You haven't?"
"I... Umm... I... What?" I stuttered, not daring to look at her. I felt half-dead earlier, but now I was certainly ready for the chopping block.
The silence that followed, rivalled the void of the Veil. With every passing second, my heart thudded louder and my stomach clenched tighter. Ryoko visibly collected her thoughts, the wait torturous.
"Right..." She took in a deep breath and looked up at me, the gold gone. "So you— we. We haven't been flirting?"
"Not that I know of?" I replied truthfully, batting my eyes down in shame. Had I been leading her on?
The tension brewed, twisting and coiling my heart into a tight spring. Panic boiled up, feeding my worries. Did I ruin everything? Should I apologise some more? Just marry her out of sheer awkwardness?
Gods, I didn't want to hurt her. Regardless of what I thought of her in the beginning, I did like her. She helped me with the potato salad, went on my nightly adventure for Hyde, and had shared plenty of rice cooker dinners with me.
I did care for her. Just not in the way she thought... She'd been flirting with me? That was what it was?
She took another breath, somehow composing herself in front of my eyes, and nodded. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed."
"No, I'm sorry. I..."
"You're not into girls, I get it."
"I— I've just never considered it. I don't really think much about love. I've been so focused on becoming a Valkyrie, everything else has been secondary to it."
Ryoko sighed. "I understand. I'm sorry for making things awkward."
"Ryoko..."
"I won't inconvenience you. You need rest." She smoothed the blanket and stood up to close the curtains. "There. Sleep, Ylva. It'll be better in the morning."
Without giving me the chance to reply, she grabbed her jacket from her wardrobe and headed out. The door slammed shut, the sound echoing in my ears.
A strange, gut-wrenching feeling took hold of me, raging through me louder and harder than the worst storm. I'd hurt Ryoko, even if hadn't been my intention. I'd mislead her, without even realising.
Gods... If I had more energy, I'd run after her. Unfortunately, my body was made from lead and held me anchored down in the bed. Sleep knocked on my eyelids, dragging me down into the endless abyss.
Maybe after I slept, I could have a proper talk with my roommate.
Yes... Sleep first, talk second.
I needed it. Everything else could wait. There was nothing more important than recovering from my trip to the Veil. Nothing.
And yet, as I drifted off and all the thoughts fell away, one stayed with me. Golden eyes and summer. Ryoko...
- Writer
