Seventeen:
Blood and darkness swarmed in my mind’s eye, gathering shadows, and dispersed light. All were reduced to pain and decay. Scarlet bile burned throughout my body. Lengthy years had taught me never to presume I’d known misery. Because there was always something more painful just waiting to be unleashed.
“She’s burning up! How could anything do this to her?!”
Aurelia demanded in a dire tone. Her voice was so distant. I could vaguely make out the silhouettes of figures. My eyes only seemed to compound the sense of agony.
“She’s awake!”
Anne informed them. I felt a gentle squeeze of my hand.
“Mavis, you’ve been poisoned.”
Anne informed me, and I murmured disjointed pieces of information. My babbling didn’t even make sense to my own ears.
“Mavis, slow down, you’re delirious
