A Flicker of Hope

FREYA

I could hear the screams, they were sad and hollow and sounded more like a long wail. I had no idea they were mine. Hands were insistently tapping and tugging at me, trying to draw me out of my cocoon.

No! I did not want to leave; I was safe here, and the pain couldn't reach me here until it did. It pierced through my skin and my heart and embedded its sharp barb in there, pulling and ripping its way out. Those screams became clear.

I jumped awake, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. Ana was on the bed beside me, her black hair falling to her waist in a tangled mass of disarray, and tears running down her face.

Her hands were tightly gripping mine. She embraced me in a tight hug immediately.

“My lady, my lady.” She cried. I felt drops splatter on my legs and realized that tears were running down my cheeks as well.