Disgust (2)

"You know. I really hate guys like you. The ones who think they can stomp on people just because they're down." 

"Stay back!" 

Aeliana's vision blurred, the pain in her body dulling to a distant throb as her consciousness began to slip. The voices around her—the sharp growl of the wiry man, the cold, cutting tone of Luca—faded into a muffled hum. 

Her chest heaved as she gasped for air, but even that felt too heavy, too distant. Her body refused to respond, the weight of her illness and exhaustion dragging her further into darkness. 

'Why is he here?' she thought faintly, the question drifting in and out of her fading awareness. 

But another thought whispered in its place, cold and resigned. 

'It doesn't matter.' 

Her eyes fluttered shut, her trembling body going still as her mind slipped into a realm far removed from the cavern's oppressive reality. 

******